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Topic: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service (Read 5 times) previous topic - next topic
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Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service
Yahoo Message Number: 50529
Two questions:
 [1] Mine is up for renewal.  Renewal is $99.95.  New is $79.95.
Anyone have any experience with waiting and getting it for [2] #2 son skidded off an icy driveway into the ditch and called Good Sam's 800# for a yank of my PU truck.  He was told it was not a covered item.  I believe they were invoking the clause in the brochure that states the following is NOT COVERED...off-road area..."An off-road area is defined as an area OFF of any of the following: hard-packed or graded dirt public road, paved street, driveway, parking lot, highway, freeway, expressway or adjacent shoulder."  That sure reads to me like anytime you end up in the ditch or even the median strip of an Interstate, that the tow/yank is on you, not Good Sam.  Even if you get stuck on a soft campsite and need a tow, you're out of luck.  Icy and slick roads are a fact of life in the North so treating it as not covered, in my mind, isn't a good deal.  Yeah, I understand they don't want to yank the yahoo that was four wheeling in the swamp.  But skidding into the ditch or median strip or off a driveway is hardly out of the ordinary.  I've asked Good Sam, via e-mail, for an explanation, and so far I've heard nothing from them.
Any thoughts or experiences?

John & Cheryl 1989 22' RL Big Red
Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50578
Quote
[2] #2 son skidded off an icy driveway into the ditch and called Good Sam's 800# for a yank of my PU truck.  He was told it was not a covered item.  I believe they were invoking the clause in the >
the swamp.  But skidding into the ditch or median strip or off a
 
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driveway is hardly out of the ordinary.  I've asked Good Sam, via e-mail, for an explanation, and so far I've heard nothing from
them.

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Any thoughts or experiences?

John & Cheryl 1989 22' RL Big Red
John & Cheryl, Last week a small caravan was headed for Quartzsite Az.  One of our group flipped his trailer and truck, totalling both.  The tow truck driver informed our friend that his "Good Sam" insurance would not cover the two thousand dollar tow bill.  He explained that it was for roadside assistance and not accidents.  Maybe this is the category that skidding into a ditch is put into.  If you have both the accident insurance with good sam AND the roadside assistance program you're covered according to the tow driver.

Made me stop and think.

Kayo
Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50944
I'm a bit remiss in following-up, been busy.  Anyway, here's the e-mail response I received from Good Sam's:

Thank you for your e-mail.
 Please note that Good Sam RV ERS does not provide benefits as a result of acts of God or nature, as stated on page 10 of the Member Benefit Brochure.  Page 10 also states that we do not cover you in off-road areas. An off-road area is defined as an area OFF of any of the following: hard-packed or graded dirt public road, paved street, driveway, parking lot, highway, freeway, expressway or adjacent shoulder.  Your son was not eligible for service in this incident based on the location of the vehicle and the circumstances of the disablement.  We apologize for the confusion this may have caused.

That reads like my hunch was correct.  If you are in the ditch, the median strip or stuck in soft ground in the campground, you're paying for the tow with Good Sam.  Good Sam's definition of road is just that...road.

#2 son skidded off an icy driveway into the ditch and called Good Sam's 800# for a yank of my PU truck.  He was told it was not a covered item.  I believe they were invoking the clause in the the swamp.  But skidding into the ditch or median strip or off a driveway is hardly out of the ordinary.  I've asked Good Sam, via e-mail, for an explanation, and so far I've heard nothing from
Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50972
We have Good Sam Emergency Road Service and have used it basically for flat tires. So far no problems. However, any of us could be in a bad accident tomorrow.  That does not sound like a time to quibble about coverage. My preference is to be prepared in advance.

What road service is good for RVers in the event of an accident? Or even sliding off the road in a rain or snow storm? What luck has anyone had in more dire circumstances in an RV with AAA? Are there any other good road services for RVers out there?

Judy
Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50974
We have Coach-Net offered at a discounted cost through our FMCA membership.  It is also available at a higher fee w/o membership.
Might want to check into it.
Sylvia H.
Re: RV emergency road service
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50976
"What road service is good for RVers in the event of an accident? Or even sliding off the road in a rain or snow storm? What luck has anyone had in more dire circumstances in an RV with AAA?"
 Let's take the last one first. Over the years I've heard a lot of stories from people who tried using AAA when their RV broke down. the majority were not happy with the results.
Typically, the responders had neither the equipment nor the knowledge to deal with an RV; they were strictly "car people." The consensus among RVers I've talked with is that while AAA is very useful if all you drive is a car, it's a poor choice as an emergency road service provider.
 Now as to the accident/sliding off the road scenario...I haven't been in this situation (yet!), but shouldn't your RV insurance cover things like this?

Andy Baird
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: RV emergency road service
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50977
FYI, when I bought my LD and called AAA about upgrading my coverage, they informed me that they just don't cover RVs at all -- this is AAA of Southern New England, which includes Massachusetts, RI, and probably CT.
Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50978
Quote
What road service is good for RVers in the event of an accident? Or even sliding off the road in a rain or snow storm? What luck has anyone had in more dire circumstances in an RV with AAA? Are there any other good road services for RVers out there?

Judy
While maybe not the majority thinking on this sort of thing, I'm a believer in only insuring for catastrophic risk and of weighing the risk/benefit against the cost of insurance. Roadside assistance doesn't come close on either count. Nor does mechanical repair co- pay insurance.

The money I've saved over the years by *not* having such insurance will likely more than pay for any future flat tire I may suffer on the roadway of life (g). After all, the insurance companies make their money by assessing the risk, and then spreading that risk amongst their policy holders by charging them more than the company will pay out in future claims. They're pretty good at being on the upside, which is why they usually have more money than we do!

bumper (I'll take my chances!!)
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer
Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50979
I agree about insurance -- I have big deductibles, etc.
 But there are two benefits to roadside assistance -- one is the insurance/ payment factor, and the other is the value of having an 800 number to call where somebody knows where to FIND someone reliable to come out to help you when you're stranded
Re: RV emergency road service
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50980
wrote: while AAA is very useful if all you drive is a car, it's a poor choice as an emergency road service provider.

True in my experience. AAA isn't a viable choice for RV road service, i.e., their "RVPlus" plan, because its policies and coverage aren't consistent; they vary from district to district, especially when it comes to towing.  Your RV might be covered for towing in your "home" district, but if you break down somewhere else, the RVPlus coverage won't necessarily have the equipment or personnel to handle your needs. If you travel out of your home coverage district -- and I would expect that most RVers do! -- you might want to look elsewhere for RV road service coverage that will show up when you need it -- with a BIG tow truck!

Emergency road service coverage from Good Sam and CW (the latest incarnation is called "RoadCare from Affinity Road and Travel") are essentially the same; both use the same providers, and even the same dispatchers. The coverage from CW is a little cheaper, but the coverage is the same. I had occasion to use "RoadCare" when my previous RV blew a fuel pump in heavy fast-moving traffic -- this was a *lot* of fun. The tow truck showed up within an hour and hauled us to a sort-of-nearby dealer for repairs. The service worked, and there were no (hidden) charges.

Other entities and plans for RV emergency road service, e.g., FMCA, Allstate RV Road Service, are out there; a search will turn up several.

A complete RV Insurance policy package will very often include emergency road service; check your policy (for the existence of the coverage and any exclusions) before "double-covering". My policy (through Farmers/Foremost; "TraveLine Towing and Emergency Road Service") includes this.

I understand the choice of "self insuring" -- I do this for routine and "big stuff" maintenance and repair -- but I wouldn't travel without an emergency road service plan.  I just hope that there's cell coverage if and when I need to call them! :O

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Servi
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50981
While maybe not the majority thinking on this sort of thing, I'm a believer in only insuring for catastrophic risk and of weighing the risk/benefit against the cost of insurance. Roadside assistance doesn't come close on either count. Nor does mechanical repair co- pay insurance.

Couldn't agree more.  I work in the life insurance industry, not in sales but a home office, and I see too many people so uncomfortable with risk.  Insurance, by definition, is designed to cover rare events, but if the event were to happen to you, the financial impact would be catastrophic.  For example, home owner's insurance.  Thankfully, very few of us have our house burned to the ground or blown away by a tornado [can you tell I'm a Midwesterner?].  But if it does, the loss is tremendous.  But that's not the situation with a broken window...you cover those losses.
 When it comes to roadside assistance, I make sure I never run out of gas.  Carry jumper cables in every vehicle.  Properly maintain them in the first place.  Lock out service?  I carry an extra key on every vehicle that's accessible from the outside.  My worst scenario would be a tow, but that's never happened to either myself or my wife in our lifetime, with a combined 70+ years of driving.  And even if it would happen, the auto insurance carrier would only pay $100 of the tow charge.  For that they want $12 per year.  Nope, not a good deal.  I always figure insurance should never cost more than 2% annually of the expected loss.  If "towing" was $2 per year, yeah, I'd be a buyer....but $12 [12%], nope.

Just my 2 cents.

John & Cheryl 1989 22' RL Big Red
Re: RV emergency road service
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50985
"having an 800 number to call where somebody knows where to FIND someone reliable to come out to help you when you're stranded in an unfamiliar place, especially in a vehicle that might require special equipment that most garages don't have...can be priceless."
 I'm curious...how do you handle this, John? Lacking a central 800 number to call, if you break down in the middle of nowhere, just how do you go about obtaining assistance? You don't know the names of any local garages, so whom do you call for a tow?

Andy Baird
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: RV emergency road service
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50986
My memory isn't the best but I think roadside assistance is included with our Foremost insurance. We got stuck in Texas last year when we stopped for gas. A hose broke and we lost all of the coolant in our LD. When we unhooked the bugchaser, Ladybug's toad, we discovered that the transfer case was broken. So, we were stuck in a parking lot with two disabled vehicles. Bottom line, Foremost had them both towed to a sevice station a few miles away and it was free. We had problems again with Chaser's transfer case when we got to New Mexico. I called Foremost and they sent a mechanic to drop the drive shaft so we could tow our sick Jeep to our next destination.  No charge for that either.

Karen - missing Chaser, who now has a new home in Montana
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: RV emergency road service
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50988
Maybe I missed something but I'm assuming John means he already has an ERS service such as Good Sam's. We've used our Good Sam ERS service three times to be towed in our LD. Calling their 800 number was just great as they then contacted a local tow company to come and get us. Once was near a small community and twice we were near bigger cities but regardless the service by Good Sam was quick and very helpful. Well worth the $99.95 annual cost! Marti in Seattle

 "having an 800 number to call where somebody knows where to FIND someone reliable to come out to help you when you're stranded in an unfamiliar place, especially in a vehicle that might require special equipment that most garages don't have...can be priceless."
 I'm curious...how do you handle this, John? Lacking a central 800 number to call, if you break down in the middle of nowhere, just how do you go about obtaining assistance? You don't know the names of any local garages, so whom do you call for a tow?

Andy Baird

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Marti
2011 Blue MB
Seattle
Re: RV emergency road service
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50989
Quote
I'm curious...how do you handle this, John? Lacking a central 800
number to call, if you
 
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break down in the middle of nowhere, just how do you go about
obtaining assistance? You
 
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don't know the names of any local garages, so whom do you call for
a tow?

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Andy Baird
I have "Dial-a-Prayer" programmed into my cell phone.

bumper

Oh, okay . . . firstly, the risk of a roadside failure that is beyond my capability to handle it, is low. Assuming I have a way to make a phone call (and that would be needed trying to call for tow service coverage as well), then I can look up auto repair or towing services on my Garmin. Failing that, I can call my office in CA (staffed 24/7) and have staff do the leg work . . . this would really be no different than calling a friend to help with research, except the friend might not be home.

Bottome line, in some 45 years of driving I can count on zero fingers the times I've been disabled so that I needed a tow. In all cases of roadside failure, and there've been only a few, I've been able to fix, band-air, or otherwise limp home.
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer
[Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: RV emergency road service
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50990
The comments about essentially self-insuring make sense, if you are able to do the work. We take excellent care of our vehicles, but still need reliable road service. The last time we used Good Sam was for a blow out on the driver's side on extremely busy highway 99 south of Modesto, CA.
 I am not physically strong enough to change a tire and my husband has had one knee replaced (the second will be done June 7) and has been told not to kneel. How you change a tire without doing that is beyond me.  I once read that your average life span on the side of a highway is 20 minutes. I wanted him longer than that!

We did need a tow once. It turned out the starter motor on our big Dodge V10 truck died, but it acted like the battery was dead. Good Sam towed us no charge. The postings here about needing service and having to pay thousands of dollars and GS not providing it are disturbing!

Judy
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Servi
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 51003
Quote
But there are two benefits to roadside assistance -- one is the insurance/payment factor, and the other is the value of having an 800 number to call where somebody knows where to FIND someone reliable to come out to help you when you're stranded in an unfamiliar place, especially in a vehicle that might require special equipment that most garages don't have.  That can be priceless.

Joanne, I couldn't agree with you more!
 We have Good Sam's ERS, and have occasion to use it twice: Once, when we were pulling our fifth wheel with our MDT, and we had to call for a tow because of a problem with the MDT, and again when we had a flat tire on the fifth wheel and were without a spare -- on a Sunday (long story).  Anyway, in both cases, we were on a freeway in the middle of nowhere.  I don't know what we would have done if we didn't have ERS so that we could call someone for help.  I wouldn't have had the faintest idea WHO to call, or even how to reach them if I did know!

There's no way I'm leaving home without our ERS!

Linda & Earl 2004 24.5' TK, Red From Quartzsite
Linda Hylton
Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 51007
Linda and Earl said: "There's no way I'm leaving home without our ERS!"

I guess I'd skip it if we could get "bumper" to travel with us :-).

Karen
 
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Servi
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 51072
While we have never had a serious problem, we have generally found AAA Plus RV to work for us.  They have pulled my car when it was stuck in a muddy field, but never my RV.  Guess I have been lucky!  Never had to pay for services rendered.

Allen

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