| Author |
Message |
R.J.Bob Evans (64.110.227.72)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 7:35 pm: | |
My wife bought towing coverage from Good Sam. She asked if they would tow "large motorhomes" - they said yes. Anyone have any experience with Good Sam or FMCA towing their bus? |
TWO DOGS (158.254.225.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 8:21 pm: | |
they talk big....but the wrecker never shows up.... |
Frank Allen (152.163.252.199)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 8:26 pm: | |
i have the fmca and used it a couple of times did just fine, i can recomend it
Frank Allen |
David Anderson (168.215.176.185)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 9:39 pm: | |
RJ,
Go to the "keyword search" in I@n's utilities area on this BNO board and type in:
"towing insurance"
There are tons of threads in the archives that came up that talk about comparitive roadside plans.
David Anderson |
Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.132)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 9:51 pm: | |
I have had Good Sam (Affinity Road and Travel Club) for a couple of years, and last March I had the un-opportunity to call them when my bus quit running (blower drive hub gave up). I was in Quartszite broke down on the main drag in a no parking area. When I called them they asked me what I had, how much it weighed, and if it had air brakes. We even had a three-way conversation with the towing company so they knew exactly what I needed to move the bus (flat bed or pull it with a three axle wrecker). I told them the wrecker was fine, I had plenty of air pressure I just needed to get pulled off the road. I had to wait about 2-3 hours for the wrecker to come from another town, but they got there and pulled me around the corner where I spent the next few days fixing the bus (the tow was actually a little more involved than just that). So I would say they came through for me. All I did was give them the bus milage and information, never paid a dime, and I probably had a $500-600 tow bill. |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.32)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 11:27 pm: | |
Never had to use them on the bus yet BUT, the stick and staple has used them quite a few times. Seem to have good coverage everywhere I have needed them. They will cover just about anything you own and if you have any trouble with the operator, they take care of that problem promptly after they take care of the operator.
Cant say that I was unhappy with the response up to date as long as a wrecker was available....
Never once had to pay a dime other than the yearly subscription.
I can't say the same for the Former Amoco (Now BP) motor club. That bad experience is a totally different unhappy story.
"imagine"
cd |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.165.113)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 10:28 am: | |
After some pretty serious research on this and some of the RV boards, I chose FMCA/Coach-Net. I don't think you can go wrong with them. I stayed away from GoodSam primarily because of the nightmares of junk mail that the Affinity Grp. spams you with once you get in their system. (I've heard) |
H3jim (68.107.62.94)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 11:58 am: | |
I bought Good Sam jsut before my trip from New Jersey to San diego when I purchased it. They towed me 70 miles (1995 Prevost H3). teh driver had been sick for a month and this was his first two since beingn back, and he didn't have all his tools. Having said that, it was around midnight on the eve of Thanksgiving. They showed up and towed me, which is why I bought the coverage.
I can attest to the spam mail havign joined. It seems as if I get somethig every few days from them. Still, $80 a year, and teh first tow would have been over $700, not too bad.
I understand they do not tow you if you are off road, something I plan on doing for boondocking at times. |
Jayajay (64.12.116.135)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 10:31 pm: | |
I've had GS for four years, and only needed them once. The phone person asked all of the right questions about size. air brakes etc. and the service prompt and proper. I just renewed for another year. I've not met anyone that has anything bad to say about them. ('cept maybe two dogs) Cheers...JJ |
TWO DOGS (63.185.97.20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 9:18 am: | |
sit 12 hours on the side of the road...then try to think of something 'nice' |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.208.164)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 10:47 pm: | |
Hello everyone.
Truth be known, the tow companies are tied into all of them. In the boonies, you'll be waiting for the same big tow truck regardless of which service provider you signed on with.
Emergency roadside services are just a coordinating service with an 800 number. They tie into the tow industry's nation wide network and the RV industry's dealer network and have the right tow dispatched. If they are really good, they have even have a copy of the bus garage index, so they can send the converted coach to a bus facility! Unlimited towing even frees them of finding you help, since you've usually found your own to take advantage of the towing!
What seperates the good from the money hungry, is whether they send the right tow truck for your rig, have suggestions of where to tow it to, how much the flat rate tow is going to be worth to the guy doing the driving, and whether they make good on screw ups.
It always is a good thing to suggest to the tow truck driver upon arrival that you are planning to tip him for not damaging your bus, and that it BELONGS to you. To put the tip in perspective, without your roadside service, he could charge you a couple hundred just to show up. That's what it's worth. Most that I'm aware of are paid flat rate for the tow through the service, at a lower level than the going rate, so the driver isn't happy to begin with. You best get him happy before he starts messing with your coach.
Also, remember that to the tow driver, buses are usually driven by guys who don't own the equipment, and tow drivers behave accordingly.
Let the tow driver know he's going to be taken care of, and as long as he's halfway smart he'll take care of you.
Sounds like I'm knocking tow folks and emergency roadside programs, I'm not. These are good services for those of us who are not able to wrestle with flat tires any longer, or who want to travel with confidence and not worry about who to call for a tow.
Stick with big name programs that are member driven. You can be sure that Good Sam members wouldn't put up with crap for long and would demand that their representatives find good value for their money!
Insurance carriers with profitable policy add-ons are another thing....
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Don KS/TX (66.82.9.66)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 11:40 pm: | |
What always gets missed in these discussions is that your primary insurance company for the bus will probably add on the identical coverage as the aftermarket sellers, and with mine it only costs $6.00! (I am with USAA)
Same 800 number, same network, same service, just not paying for all that junk mail postage and pressure salesmen at Camping World. Try it, you might save a few bucks. |
Jeff (Jeff) (68.10.1.118)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 7:11 am: | |
I am a Good Sam Life Member. It seems as long as you are spending money with them, they are great. I go today and meet with the local Zoning Board. Someone, (not a neighbor) has turned me in to the city. I have a 40 foot 'motorhome' in my back yard. I live at the end of a circle. There are no neighborhood rules keeping me from having my motorhome. The city does have an ordinance that is forty-four years old stating no RV over 28 feet. I was not aware of the limit before my purchase. I am applying for a variance. I asked Good Sam the first part of April for assistance. I've E Mailed them, I E Mailed the local representatives. NOTHING! I did E Mail the east coast representative and he has asked for me several times for assistance. I still have nothing. I am not Happy with Good Sam. Maybe if I was buying their Emergency Road Service or their Health Insurance, it wood be a different story. When this variance request is over, Good Sam is going to get an ear full. May even read it in their "Highways" Magazine if they have the testicles to print it. I have AAA for towing now. I have never had to use it when I had the travel trailer. I will have to evaluate like you what to do when I get my bus conversion - motorhome on the road.
Jeff
"Take Another Road"
Member 4:10 Club
Rustless not Busless in Buckroe
1988 TMC RTS-06
6V92-TA DDEC IV/V731
da Bubba |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.51)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 3:44 pm: | |
Pardon
Is Good Sam Emergency Towing supposed to offer some kind of Legal Assistance?
I was only aware of the TOWING assistance.
Perhaps you are thinking about the Good Same Club membership itself. Again, I did not see any promise to run to the aid of Legal problems, eh, maybe thats just me.
Might be why you feel you are being snubbed.
As for the nationwide towing service, as with the cellular phone coverages, there are holes in the towing areas. For instance, Joliet Illinois is in the coverage, but no towing outfit wants to go there for a tow job. it's just big business.
"Imagine"
cd |
TWO DOGS (63.185.65.164)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 9:41 pm: | |
Imagine....1999...AAA...waited 12 hours..called every two....Alanreed,Tx.
2002...west of san Antoino 10 miles..(good sam) waited 8 hours...never showed..
2003....AAA...flat tire....10 miles north of Amarillo.....never showed...lost$114.00 worth of groceries...140 degrees in car... |
Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (67.136.86.149)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:37 pm: | |
State Farm reimbursement policy.
Sat at side of road with 32ft motorhome and 26ft trailer with car and golfcart loaded. Called 911 and 30 mins later tow truck hauled me over the Tehachapi Hills and left me to continue my journey. Problem was a loose carburetor.
$250 bill, well worth it. Fully covered by insurance.
Peter. |
TWO DOGS (63.185.81.72)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:05 pm: | |
That's what I have now....State Farm.....one rep. read me the policy...."get your own service...(tow....flat tire ,etc)state farm MAY or MAY NOT pay"....still better odds than waiting for somebody that never shows up....
AND...the tipping .....well...it's kinda like a waitress....if she is pleasant & does a good job....she gets a tip....if not....she don't get nuthin' |
DaveD (142.46.199.30)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 9:22 am: | |
Out of three calls for help from Good Sam, only wone was actually completed. In one case the dispatcher disagreed with my daughter (who was covered) as to the make of her car, in the second case after at least an hour of calls and waiting they informed me they would not send someone unless I plowed my driveway first (I had driven off the edge of the driveway and become stuck with my pickup, but the truck was within easy winching distance from the road. I went out and shovelled the driveway by hand - I needed to get to the airport first thing in the morning and the truck was blocking me from using any other vechicles. My neighbour happened by and pulled me out with his tractor) and in the third case it was a dead battery when my daughter-in-law left the lights on all day in a parking lot. Good Sam sent someone in that case but by the time we had completed the request my cell phone battery was almost dead, we spent an awful lot of time on the phone, getting details, waiting for them to call back and trying to explain to the dispatcher where the city we were in (population approx. 875,000) was located. About the only thing they didn't ask me was what clothes I was wearing.
Dave Dulmage |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess) (65.130.8.165)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 1:09 am: | |
I've been very glad I had Good Sam ERS coverage twice. Try getting help near St. Anthony Newfoundland from just any company. The nearest appropriate wrecker was 4 1/2 hours away no matter who the Emergency Road Service company was. Good Sam was prepared to send it. They were wonderful. We actually hired a local heavy equipment operator to pull get us out of the mud before dark after we verified that he wasn't a cowboy and knew how to avoid damaging the bus. Good Sam reimbused us. You should always travel with several hundred in cash for such emergencies. Some of the help available may not take credit cards and it is asking a lot to ask a them to take a personal check. The operator would have, but I did not think it was curteous. Actual cost, $100 US, for perfect work. |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess) (65.130.8.165)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 1:14 am: | |
Jeff,
Have you tried Family Motor Coach Association? I think I have seen them helping with zoning and local ordinance problems. I don't think I have seen anything in Good Sam's publications about helping on that issue. Good Sam Covers all camping and RVing including tents so they might end up in some fights that should not be won. FMCA is motorhome only. I am a Good Sam Life Member too. I wanted to be in an organization that did not exclude other types of RVers and campers. But for real motorhome issues, I would go to FMCA which I also belong to. |