Emergency roadside service

[BroncoHauler]

Here was my best experience, given the circumstances, with Good Sam ERS.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3665&hilit=+ipr
(BTW, the tow truck was the coolest tow truck ever to haul me. Complete overkill, but it sure was pretty. Pics in the above thread).

Bottom line, Good Sam offered to tow me to an RV campground for the night, and then tow me to the closest Ford dealership.


Herb

[rob_gendreau]

Yeah, extrication services can be important; i.e. you go in a ditch. Here's what Good Sam's Platinum+ says:

For each disablement event under this agreement, Member, Associate or Extended Family Member is entitled to a maximum of two hours of either Towing Preparation Services or Recovery Services. Towing Preparation Services include any of the follow- ing services: winch-out, extrication services and preparation for towing. Recovery Services include winch-out or extrication ser- vices to allow the vehicle to proceed safely under its own power.

AAA-SoCal DOES seem to cover it (but only for us with RV coverage):

EXTRICATION/WINCHING SERVICE
If your vehicle becomes stuck, it will be extricated or winched when it can be safely reached from a normally traveled road or established thoroughfare . Extrication of vehicles parked on streets, driveways, parking lots or alleys which become snowbound or flooded is not covered under AAA membership . If special equipment, more than one truck or more than one person is required, the associated costs may be at your expense .

AAA-SoCal also specifically excludes some roads, like forest service roads (!):

The following services are not provided under the membership benefit:
• Service to a vehicle located in an area not regularly traveled by private passenger vehicles (such as a beach, open field, creek bed, private
logging or forest service road) .

But they came a few hundred yards up a USFS road for us. Remember, the contractor WANTS to tow you to get the $$ from AAA, and in the boonies they probably tow off pavement quite a bit. But Saline Valley? no way

Wonder if there is specific insurance for big extrications? Or does one just say it's an accident and file a claim?

BTW, my friend in Mammoth had State Farm, but he used AAA for the first 100 miles of the tow and the overage he'll claim with them. It was a HUGE hassle to deal with the contractor for State Farm; make sure you have lots of cell battery.

[Gnarvan]

I have both State Farm and AAA RV+. I added AAA RV+ when I checked with State Farm to see if they would tow a motorcycle and found out they wouldn't. It sounds like I need to have a chat with State Farm about getting Gnarvan towed. Just in case.....knock on wood.

[yvrr]

We have AAA for our automobile and Good Sam for our 4x4 SMB which weighs just over 10,000 lbs. I've used the Good Sam service just once...in Palm Springs when a front wheel bearing burned out. Good Sam sent out a roll-back and the driver was a little concerned with the weight but picked it up without a problem and hauled it to the local Ford dealer, no issues.

[rob_gendreau]

Originally Posted by yvrr

We have AAA for our automobile and Good Sam for our 4x4 SMB which weighs just over 10,000 lbs. I've used the Good Sam service just once...in Palm Springs when a front wheel bearing burned out. Good Sam sent out a roll-back and the driver was a little concerned with the weight but picked it up without a problem and hauled it to the local Ford dealer, no issues.

The Platinum+ Good Sam policy covers both the owner's autos, motorcycles, trailers and RV. Is there a reason you went with AAA for the car? I'm still thinking double coverage as well, but I'm curious if you've ever considered just going with Good Sam.

Rob

[carringb]

Here's my experience with Good Sam from the "other side" (provider side)...

GS is very flexible with coverage, and on numerous occasions have allowed charges well beyond their stated coverage, just to get things done. The flip side is.... They essentially phone dispatch, so it can take a LONG time to find a provider for specialty work. We've been sent hours away for a local God Sam motorhome tow because most small towns simply don't have the equipment, but GS has to call each one to find out what they have. Things are much simpler with AAA because their computer system automatically filters the providers with the proper equipment, and the dispatch is sent to the provider while the customer is on the phone. On numerous occasions, I've showed up while the customer was still talking with the AAA dispatcher! If you are at a campground and your rig won't start... the extra wait isn't a big deal. If your rig stalls in the middle of an intersection of a major highway, AAA is worth it (at least in Oregon.... I've head bad stories from other regions)

[daveb]

I've been towed several times and have yet to be hassled by AAA. I always tell them it's a van that weighs 10K+. If I recall, you can have them tow you to the place of your choosing W/I 200 miles twice a year. Last year I upgraded to the plus service and that covers my SMB trailer. The one time Good Sam towed me it was kind of difficult. They kept sending me from operator to operator. I spent 40 bucks worth of Sat phone call minutes. Finally I put my foot down and told them NO MORE OPERATORS...get me that tow. A few hours later it showed up. The next time I called for a tow I knew the routine and communicate with them to get the lowboy sent. Seems like a similar rule to AAA... you're are going to the nearest repair shop. A least it has been the nearest dealership although that might depend on where you are. I admit I don't know the rules; only what I've been through. At least with AAA I was able to go to the dealership of my choice and actually passed one while being towed

AAA usually has sent a heavy duty flat bed or heavy rear lift type. Only once did they send the wrong tow and it was a nerve racking ride off the Grapevine to Bakersfield. My van seemed bigger that the flatbed. I also wasn't too pleased with the Vegas tow as it seemed like too small of a truck as well but they got me to the shop quickly.
I have Good Sam/GMAC insurance but not the roadside premium package. It has served me well but prefer the AAA.
As another backup, I also have RV tow service through FMCA but have never used it and I don't know how good it is... maybe there are some on-line reviews you can look at. Like I said, it's a backup.

[Viejo]

My van is a 7.3 so naturally I have very limited experience with tow trucks but the one time when I blew up the rear end, AAA got me a 20mile tow to Santa Rosa and the driver took me to an excellent rear end shop. No real hassle but it did take a bit of talking to make sure they sent a big enough rig.

And that shop! They replaced both wheel bearings, one axle and all the diff parts in 7 hrs for $1100. The GDMF Ford dealer in Novato had quoted me $3000 and 5 days for the same job.

[rob_gendreau]

daveb, can I assume you're in the NorCal AAA? If so I dunno why they said I'm NOT covered. Although given the raft of misinformation they've given me I doubt if I'd renew even if they said I was covered. I get different answers depending on who I call, which doesn't inspire trust. Maybe if they ever respond to the email about it....

Maybe we should start a list of good repair shops in case we get stuck in one another's vicinity and need a recommendation, something we could download and put on our phones. I don't need the cheapest or even the best for emergencies, just someone who can do competent work and get me driving again.

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by Viejo

And that shop! They replaced both wheel bearings, one axle and all the diff parts in 7 hrs for $1100. The GDMF Ford dealer in Novato had quoted me $3000 and 5 days for the same job.

Wow, that has to be the deal of the century.


Herb