RV Roadside Assistance and Insurance

[DLane]

I earlier made a post concerning extended protection and insurance and quickly came to the conclusion from your comments that they are not worth the cost. With that understanding, I am trying to understand insurance and roadside assistance. I have seen insurance policies such as RV America's RV Insurance that includes unlimited roadside assistance to the nearest qualified repair facility as well as guaranteed total replacement cost for the first 5 model years of the coach along with a bunch of other coverages. Does anyone have experience with this type of combined coverage and have any comments whether it is better to purchase this type of policy or to purchase insurance and road side assistance seperately assuming you can buy it that way?

[DLane]

I earlier made a post concerning extended protection and insurance and quickly came to the conclusion from your comments that they are not worth the cost. With that understanding, I am trying to understand insurance and roadside assistance. I have seen insurance policies such as RV America's RV Insurance that includes unlimited roadside assistance to the nearest qualified repair facility as well as guaranteed total replacement cost for the first 5 model years of the coach along with a bunch of other coverages. Does anyone have experience with this type of combined coverage and have any comments whether it is better to purchase this type of policy or to purchase insurance and road side assistance seperately assuming you can buy it that way?

[buckeyes]

We have had CSP ( continued service plan) with Good Sam, and it more than paid for itself the first time our refrigerator went out. Our first coach was a 2002 Endeavor which we have since traded, but replaced it with a Newmar three years newer. I won't be without extended service coverage as the repairs today will eat up alot of money.
As far as insurance, we bought the GMAC policy through Good Sam also, and got hit at a rest area on the way home from the dealer. We had the coach a whole 5 days, but GMAC paid the claim, no strings attached.
The motorhome is a large investment, and we feel better knowing that we are covered from both ends, breakdowns and accidents.
Hope this helps.

[LindaH]

CSP and ERS are two entirely different things.

DLane is asking about ERS...Emergency Roadside Service.

We have separate ERS through Good Sam, not through our insurance company. Other good ERS provider's are Camping World (a clone of Good Sam's ERS) and CoachNet.

[blacktie.shooter]

For roadside assistance insurance, Coachnet through FMCA has paid for itself several times over by towing me twice, no hassle, prompt response.

[MtManLee]

I have coachnet and got it because of all the extra things they have to offer and that they do for you over other companies.
I have heard nightmares about good sams service, be sure to check with a lot of others before you make a decision. I have had AARPs and Allstate ERS as well and found both of them to be pretty good services when I had my tent trailer and also for my cars but with the motor home I went to coachnet.

[buckeyes]

In addition to previous post, we do have ERS through Good Sam. Have not used it, but when we traded coaches, we found it to be comparible but less costly than Coachnet.
Setting along a busy Interstate with a flat tire, knowing that someone else will do the changing at no expense was enough for me to want the service. We got the whole package, ERS, CSP, and insurance through Good Sam.

[GaryKD]

I have CoachNet through the Newmar Kountry Klub (Newmar owners social klub). Got a bit of a discount through the Klub and a multi year membership. I have never used it and hope I never need to.

[melvonnar]

I:ve got road service with good sam; have used it 4 times for blown tires, I'm satisfied with the service. one blowout in Utah they had to send a service truck 75 miles one way; the truck was there in less than an hour.

[Tom N]

In many areas there is only one wrecker service that can handle a large class A motorhome. Thus, no matter which roadside assistance program you subscribe to the same wrecker service will show up to assist you.

-Tom

[Craig H]

We have CoachNet and feel it is more than worth it. Even the tow driver told us that it is the best coverage. Wouldn't be without it.

[rvgrandma]

We have ERS thru Camping World. The negative is that for flats it only covers the cost to send someone out to change the tire. We thought it covered repairs too based on our first experience. We were in the mid-west at a rest stop. The guy who came removed the tire, fixed it and put it back on. There was no charge to us.

Last May we were heading to NV when a tire blew on the car dolly. The service to change the tire was free, but since we didn't have a spare, for the used replacement tire, mounting it and remounting it cost us $120.00. This also including having to weld a crack in the car dolly caused from the flat.

Warning - always have cash. This guy, after doing the work, informed us he only took cash. I called up ERS and complained on two points: first, I had purposely asked if it would cost us anything for the tire service. I was told only the cost was for the tire - the changing was free. Second: why were we not warned that the guy took cash only? We should have been forewarned about this since it was after midnight. Fortunately we had the cash although I didn't like letting someone know at 2am that we had that much cash on hand.


Recently we were boondocking in a casino parking lot in Pahrump, NV when we noticed the inside dually (all flats have been on the inside) flat. We called ERS and when the guy got there he was only going to take the flat off, put our spare on and leave. If we wanted him to take it and have it fixed, come back and put it back on it would have cost us $120.00.

We drove a mile down the road with the flat on a paid $30.00 for a repair.

Positive: if we ever need towed I will be very thankful we have it. Years ago my brother was traveling cross country in his MH when it kept quitting on him. He had to be towed over 8 times during his trek cross country. His insurance covered 3 tow and he had to pay the rest which really added up. He never did find out what the problem was and still hasn't.

Is it worth it? Yes - just know its limits.

[76dc]

On my fifth Coach since 1993 and have had Good Sam & Coach Net. Once use of Good Sam and four or five service calls and tows with coach Net. Each time I was towed to dealer or repair shop by Coach Net has been over 50 miles or more. they have also lined up service for me as I travel.
Have full replacement insurance with Progressive and have two windshields replaced and one claim for a key deer running into the side of coach. They have handled claims and repairs in very professional manner.

[jurzbill]

I elected to go with the GS road side service and it has been a home run from day one. I have used it some 6 times so far. Break down with old rv, tire change. With our Kountry Star we have been towed out of mud twice, flat bedded to Onan for fan belt replacement and a tire change.
I am very happy with the service they have given me.
The main thing is to have some sort of ERS no matter what company you use.
I see people on the side of the road trying to change their own tires or with hoods up.
I also have GS extended warranty service. I have not used it yet, fortunately. Some will say dont get an extended warranty, it is a waste of money. Put the money in an account you would spend on such a plan. Great, if you keep it there.
To each it's own.
But to be without insurance of this kind is not wise, in my opinion.