Community Forums

davidceder · 08-19-2022, 11:26 AM

I currently have Good Sam RSA. I have only had one experience with them several years ago and it was not very good. It was for my truck, not my 5th wheel at that time. I currently own a class A and thought I would change my service to Coach-Net based on some threads I have read. I also have RSA with StateFarm Ins. but am hoping for something more geared to towards a motorhome.

So, what say you guys? Change or not. Of course Coach-Net is more expensive but it wont matter when I am stuck on the side of the road.

bobphoenix · 08-19-2022, 12:49 PM

Road Side Assistance, through you insurance company, is a double edge sword...
Yes, they provide it to you at a very reduced rate of dedicated RSA servicers... But... If you make the call to use you insurance company provided RSA... you are actually making a claim against your policy...

Good Sam sounds like the end all, be all, for all needs RV... But my experience was a lot less than stellar... As it turns out... (and this is impossible to find the information through your RSA agreement... If you suffer a breakdown during a civil disobedience event (For instance: If you're in Washington DC and a protest breaks out and you get your tire slashed...) Good Sam will not provide you with RSA under your policy... They will be happy to come out and service you RV, but you can expect to be charged the full amount of the service...
I know that example is a bit extreme, but it was pose to the agent on the phone when I needed RSA on my Toad...
What happened was, while driving around the area where we were camping, the Toad lost an engine cylinder. It was a Mini Cooper [BMW] and under warrantee. I needed it towed to the dealer (nearest one was 75 miles away) and they said NO! "You only get 25 miles and only to the nearest service center (Firestone Tire Center)... Anyway, one thing lead to another and now I have AAA with RV First tow free, up to 350 miles, trip interruption and pet insurance... (It a little more money than Good Sam, but not much...)

JNSNWT · 08-19-2022, 01:35 PM

I used our State Farm RSA once with excellent results. I picked the service company,I made the calls, I paid the bill and SF reimbursed me 100%.No problem

Yes I understand that making a claim might cause my rates to increase but that’s why I pay for insurance. In case I need it.

bonzocfi · 08-19-2022, 02:01 PM

I have State Farm ERS as well and it plays out just as JNSNWT stated. According to my agent, it is not considered a claim.

richpatty · 08-20-2022, 08:14 AM

I have had Coach net for over 10 years and the three times I have used them have been good experiences.

PanJH · 08-20-2022, 08:28 AM

There are numerous threads about the good/bad of roadside assistance. If you look at post #13 in the thread below, you can read about my extremely frustrating dealings with Coach-net.
https://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/roa...ns-566406.html

NCC-1701A · 08-20-2022, 01:02 PM

A study of major roadside assistance providers based on a survey of RVers was just published out in today's RVTravel.com newsletter.

I participated but I'm not sure the survey had enough questions, like what type of RV do you have? But overall it probably gives a good representation.

Also...coach net is pricey year 1, but the renewal cost comes down substantially and is very competitive.

mahdi · 08-20-2022, 10:48 PM

I had AAA RV Premium. I down graded it for the cars only. My experience was horrible. I had a tire blow on the side of the road. Called the toll number got Washington AAA. After a 10 minute questionnaire, they connected me to California AAA. Another 10 minute questionnaire they told me that they are northern California and connected me to Southern Cal. By then I left my wife in the truck to give them the same info and went down and changed the tire on my 5th wheel myself. It took me an hour and no one showed up. That was 2013. I got Coach net RSA and down graded AAA to the lowest level. Do you know you are allowed 3 RSA calls a year with AAA?

davidceder · 08-21-2022, 08:52 AM

Hey Enterprise;

Thanks for the heads up on that article. Was good timing for me. Well except for the category "Average wait time for the service provider to arrive" there is one clear winner, and not by a point or too but a very clear winner. I realize there are always going to be horror stories with any of these. I waited over 5 hours on the side of I40 outside Flagstaff with Good SAM service. I blew a front tire on my truck pulling my 5'r. I had 20 cases of wine in the truck as I was heading home. It was really hot so I had to put a thermometer on the wine and run the truck every so often to keep the wine cool. I finally changed the tire by myself but it was tough. 20 inch tires on a one ton, not exactly feather weight. Provider showed up just in time to torque the wheel and stow the bad tire. So that is my story.

Thanks agin for the heads up on the article.

robertlipp · 08-30-2022, 03:45 PM

Our experience with Good Sam was horrible. I’ll spare the details other than to say Good Sam only has interest in their bottom line, not your safety. May they rot in $&@$

arboldt · 08-31-2022, 08:00 PM

You need to look beyond the name or sponsor of the RSA to the organization administering it.

We've had our MH since April 2016, So far, we've had RSA from Coachnet, GS, FMCA, and Escapees. FMCA and Escapees, (and I think, GS) are all administered by Safe Ride.
I used Coachnet once, and they were excellent. I needed a tow, and they arranged that within an hour or so, and arranged for repair at a facility. All very smooth. I only switched because of rising cost.
A little over a year ago, I also needed assistance. Escapees plan administered by Safe Ride. At my first call, the rep said I was not eligible for a mobile mechanic (I was, and this eventually got me back on the road). They said there were 3 facilities. I called the nearest, and they would not work on a gas vehicle. The second would not work on RVs. Only the third would fix it. But they would only pay for a tow to the first (the nearest facility) even though that place wouldn't repair my MH. I eventually spoke with a supervisor, who did authorize that tow. Several hours later, with no tow arriving, I called back. By then the next shift came on and cancelled that authorization, so would only tow to the "nearest facility" that would not fix the issue. In the course of several calls, one of the reps slipped and gave me the name and phone number of a mobile mechanic - he fixed the problem and got us back on the road.

When my existing contract expires, I will not renew with a RSA administered by Safe Ride.

gcannon · 09-01-2022, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidceder

I currently have Good Sam RSA. I have only had one experience with them several years ago and it was not very good. It was for my truck, not my 5th wheel at that time. I currently own a class A and thought I would change my service to Coach-Net based on some threads I have read. I also have RSA with StateFarm Ins. but am hoping for something more geared to towards a motorhome.

So, what say you guys? Change or not. Of course Coach-Net is more expensive but it wont matter when I am stuck on the side of the road.

I am an insurance agent all of the companies are good and bad service, the best way to handle this is to pay that tow truck up front and send your receipt in for reimbursement. When the tow truck company finds out you are paying, they will be there faster than if it is a warranty claim. Years ago I was also a tow truck operator and the cash customer came first because the RSA paid only about half of what a cash customer pays. An example I remember AAA paid us $7 to change a tire, for that price hell NO

Granite17 · 09-02-2022, 12:04 PM

Can’t say enough good things about Coach-Net! On our way to Alaska this summer I had a flat on an inner drive tire on our 2022 London Aire 35 south of Cheyenne in the middle of no where.
Called Coach-Net and they were fantastic! They continued to check in with me every 15 minutes until they located a new 315/80R22 tire.
Once located they had a mobile unit roadside to replace the tire and we were back on the road in under 3 hours. I was impressed.

BBelanger · 09-02-2022, 04:23 PM

I caught a sharp curb in the city and took out a drive tire. Good Sam got me a tire company in a reasonable time to come and replace it. I had Michelin, they replaced it with an off brand saying that's what GS ordered. I paid the tow guy about $1100, GS sent me a check for $750.

Bill