Roadside Coverage

[traveler1980]

Hi All,

I have AAA RV Premier and it was fine the one time I had to use it. AAA (at least here in southern PA) covers a tow of up to 200 miles. Now that Ken Frey has closed up shop, I’m looking at services that tow to the nearest “qualified” repair facility for situations where there’s a catastrophic failure (think engine or transmission), which for me I guess would be the Coop or Cinnabar. Does anyone know if Coach-Net or GS provides this type of coverage and have you had any success using it for long tows?

 

[RF_Burns]

Now this is just me and my way of thinking... AAA, Good Sam, Coach Net and other "ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE" programs cover you when you break down away from home. They give you some degree of protection from being taken advantage of when traveling. The idea that they should tow your vehicle from your home hundreds of miles to your preferred repair shop just doesn't enter my mind.

Road side assistance programs have been limiting their maximum tow ranges and limiting the total value of services rendered each year to protect themselves from this.

I had to bring my coach back home 700 miles with a blown engine. I had it put on a large roll-on truck.

Since you have it at home, a better idea might be to troubleshoot where the problem is and have either the engine or transmission (or both) removed locally and send only that by freight carrier to your preferred shop for repair. It would be much less costly than sending the whole coach!

 

[tmsnyder]

Here's my thought on towing. I had AAA Platinum/Gold? with RV coverage for 3 years with a previous RV. There's $1000 down the tubes. Totally wasted. I've since canceled it. I'm now 'self insured' . I've researched where my nearest tow company is that owns a few Landoll trailers and spoken to them. They charge $2 per mile.

On our trip to Florida I told my wife, hey if we really break down and I can't fix it, it's only $2000 to get home. We were about 1000 miles from home at the time.

I'd rather just pay for the tow service I want than pay for towing insurance from Good Sam, AAA etc. B/c in the end I know they'll end up finding a way to disappoint me.

 

[traveler1980]

Now this is just me and my way of thinking... AAA, Good Sam, Coach Net and other "ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE" programs cover you when you break down away from home. They give you some degree of protection from being taken advantage of when traveling. The idea that they should tow your vehicle from your home hundreds of miles to your preferred repair shop just doesn't enter my mind.

Road side assistance programs have been limiting their maximum tow ranges and limiting the total value of services rendered each year to protect themselves from this.

I had to bring my coach back home 700 miles with a blown engine. I had it put on a large roll-on truck.

Since you have it at home, a better idea might be to troubleshoot where the problem is and have either the engine or transmission (or both) removed locally and send only that by freight carrier to your preferred shop for repair. It would be much less costly than sending the whole coach!

Makes sense. I have a shop near me that can do some repair work on my coach (I’m still learning how to do many of these things myself), but in the event of a spun bearing or other major engine issue, the local shop wouldn’t be much help and at that point, I would want to hand things over to an expert. Paying for towing isn’t a huge issue. You really shouldn’t have a GMC if your cash flow is tight unless you can do everything yourself. I was just wondering if anyone had luck with a roadside service company covering long distance tows. There aren’t many shops qualified and/or willing to work on a TZE.

 

[lts70]

I have been looking into insurance and road side assistance as a first timer. It has been confusing trying to decide what is best.

I really like Todd's "self insured" comment. I think I will do some research on towing and before I plan a trip call around in that area to find a tow company that has the correct equipment in case I have a problem.

It would be cool if we started a "Towing Black List" of companies that have been used with success or company's that have been researched and confirmed to have the right equipment (Landoll / HD wheel Lift) to tow our coaches. Over time if everyone posted there info to one location we would have a quick refence that could save a lot of time and worry.

 

[Matt Colie]

Lane,

I think the towing list has some merit. If I get to suggesting this to Kim at GMCMI, I will tell her it was your idea.

Matt

 

[JSanford]

I have had AAA since I got my drivers license, when I got the GMC I added premier RV. I have not used my AAA card for anything other than discounts at NAPA and campgrounds and hotels in probably 15 years, but I still wouldn't be without it.

 

[pvfjr]

I always figured most towing companies factor their return trip into their costs. So if you break down 500 miles away on vacation, I'm not sure it behooves you much to find a local service to take you home. Hiring someone from home to come fetch you should result in the same number of miles driven, shouldn't it? It seems no matter what, there's a round trip involved.

Of course this doesn't factor in for freight movers, as they always try to schedule something in both directions so they're not making an empty trip.

 

[John S.]

I always figured most towing companies factor their return trip into their costs. So if you break down 500 miles away on vacation, I'm not sure it behooves you much to find a local service to take you home. Hiring someone from home to come fetch you should result in the same number of miles driven, shouldn't it? It seems no matter what, there's a round trip involved.

Of course this doesn't factor in for freight movers, as they always try to schedule something in both directions so they're not making an empty trip.

We use Allstate Motor Club, about 120 per year. When the Stretch engine took a dump in Jul 2019 they towed it from Shasta City, Ca to Manny's in San Jose, about 315 miles, with no questions. They had a BIG Wheel lift truck there within 1 hour and we had to keep moving in our towed car to keep up with him. He wasn't afraid of Manny's hill, either!

All in all, a good outcome to a bad situation, JohnS

 

[tmsnyder]

I always figured most towing companies factor their return trip into their costs. So if you break down 500 miles away on vacation, I'm not sure it behooves you much to find a local service to take you home. Hiring someone from home to come fetch you should result in the same number of miles driven, shouldn't it? It seems no matter what, there's a round trip involved.

Of course this doesn't factor in for freight movers, as they always try to schedule something in both directions so they're not making an empty trip.

I think that's true. Unless they can manage to pick up another load along the way somehow.

On facebook group someone recently had a 300 mile tow and it was $3 a mile. The place I called was $2 but fuel was cheaper then, so a safe bet would be $3 these days.

But I agree, find one near your home with a Landoll. That way you could actually visit them and see what trailer they have and even take your GMC over for them to see.

One advantage to finding one near the breakdown spot is that you won't have to wait as long.

Lots of ways to skin a cat. If there were a list we could call around and get the best price.

 

[SWP5767]

We have AAA RV+ and I figure with my aging fleet, I get my monies worth each year. With my kids cars, someone is being towed home each year.

 

[Agoogol]

I got the FMCA Roadside Rescue....https://www.fmca.com/index.php/fmca-rv-roadside-assistance.html

 

[Dan]

I got the FMCA Roadside Rescue....https://www.fmca.com/index.php/fmca-rv-roadside-assistance.html

I have the same from FMCA but it has increased significantly in price over the last few years.
Self insurance is sounding better each time.... besides I've probably already broken most stuff by now...right?

 

[boybach]

I have a pal with a flatbed tow truck

 

[tmsnyder]

I have a pal with a flatbed tow truck

I've got one pal with a good sized flatbed trailer and another with a Cummins 12v he would lend me....

 

[kidjedi]

I went through this decision when I first got my Argosy, and I kept my AAA RV coverage after the Argosy caught fire and I purchased the GMC. I did extensive research choosing which company offered the best coverage and cost. There were horror stories for ALL service providers. Some people will say AAA screwed them over completely and Good Sam saved their bacon. The very next post will say exactly the opposite. The one thing that had me choose AAA is that the tow doesn't have to be an "emergency." They will tow you from wherever, to wherever (within 200 miles) without having to know your reason. Now... several people have said that this is no longer the case, but my agent in Denver, CO assures me this is still the coverage I will receive. Who knows what they'll say if I ever actually need it (knock on wood). Also, there *definitely* seems to be differences in coverage depending on the region in which you are enrolled. AAA has a wide range of offerings depending upon where in the country you *physically* sign up for your coverage. Strange but true.

 

[traveler1980]

I went through this decision when I first got my Argosy, and I kept my AAA RV coverage after the Argosy caught fire and I purchased the GMC. I did extensive research choosing which company offered the best coverage and cost. There were horror stories for ALL service providers. Some people will say AAA screwed them over completely and Good Sam saved their bacon. The very next post will say exactly the opposite. The one thing that had me choose AAA is that the tow doesn't have to be an "emergency." They will tow you from wherever, to wherever (within 200 miles) without having to know your reason. Now... several people have said that this is no longer the case, but my agent in Denver, CO assures me this is still the coverage I will receive. Who knows what they'll say if I ever actually need it (knock on wood). Also, there *definitely* seems to be differences in coverage depending on the region in which you are enrolled. AAA has a wide range of offerings depending upon where in the country you *physically* sign up for your coverage. Strange but true.

I still have AAA and have had to use them once for an almost 200 mile tow from the MD Eastern Shore. Had zero issues other than it took awhile to locate a tow provider with a landoll. I’ve consider “doubling up” and getting Coach Net coverage, but haven’t pulled the trigger just yet.

 

[LQQKatJon]

I still have AAA and have had to use them once for an almost 200 mile tow from the MD Eastern Shore. Had zero issues other than it took awhile to locate a tow provider with a landoll. I’ve consider “doubling up” and getting Coach Net coverage, but haven’t pulled the trigger just yet.

Was that in 2021? AAA’s policy in 2021 now has a $500 per service call. $1000 per year max pay.

that no longer get a GmC towed even 50 miles.

i still have my aaa and will probably downgrade it back to the standard 100 mile. As it is the only towing insurance that will get me off the road and to where I want to go. Most times that is just to a safe place to park and work on it. I have that backed up with my auto insurance roadside.

i know of a couple 2021 tows that cost aaa members hundreds of dollars for a tow less then 100 mile. the last two gmc tows I know of were about 50 miles and cost $850. So they had to pay $350.

 

[LarryW]

My State Farm insurance includes towing. Wording is tow to nearest QUALIFIED facility. The two times I have been towed, 150 and 200 miles, when I called, they said they would tow me 25 miles to an RV dealer near there. I quoted the "Nearest qualified facility" from their policy. Then told them that this motorhome is a 1978 GMC, with FWD. Then told them that this is a speciality vehicle and that there were several "qualified" facilities in the country....One in Sandusky Michigan, two in Florida, and one in California. Now, which one would you like to tow me too? After a long pause (I guess they were checking the wording) I said...look...The nearest facility for me is my home in Menomonie Wisconsin. With that they agreed to tow me back home. I then picked the towing service from Menomonie and they came and got me with a Landau flatbed. Cost was just over $1000. Covered every penny of it. Maybe check your insurance for wording and see if "Qualified" is there and if they mean what they say. JWID

 

[kidjedi]

I still have AAA and have had to use them once for an almost 200 mile tow from the MD Eastern Shore. Had zero issues other than it took awhile to locate a tow provider with a landoll. I’ve consider “doubling up” and getting Coach Net coverage, but haven’t pulled the trigger just yet.

It seems like a lot of the "horrible situations" I've read about had more to do with people not knowing how to get the service to work better for them by doing a little leg work of their own. AAA will basically approve just about anybody you want, so if you can do the work of finding the best local outfit in town (or one that will come to you), I think the experience is likely to turn out better. Most of the people complaining seem to say "there was no service in my area," but I have a feeling they were just wanting to make a single call and have someone show up in an hour to tow them... but that is a highly unlikely scenario from *any* service, especially since the person "on the other end of the line" isn't always the brightest bulb in the bag.