Maintenance & Restoration

Eddie Longest · 05-17-2013, 08:48 PM

Today while towing a trailer with my diesel truck I either had a fuel pump or fuel line failure and I found myself broken down in a small town in Friday evening traffic. I was able to get the truck and trailer out of the traffic into a parking lot. I had Good Sam Platinum Emergency Road Service so I gave them a call. At first they wanted to send a mechanic to check out the truck. I told them I had figured out what was wrong with the truck and needed to get the truck and trailer to my house for repair. They did not have a local tow company under contract so they contacted a local tow company and made arrangements to get me, my wife, the truck and trailer to my house. They let me talk with the tow driver to tell him what was need to get the truck and trailer home. I unhooked from the trailer, he loaded my truck on the rollback and hitched up to the trailer and took us about 20 miles to my house.
In less than two hours this all took place. Good Sam Emergency Road Service really did a great job. I would not tow without it.
Eddie

mary and bob · 05-17-2013, 09:05 PM

Good to hear a positive report on Good Sam's service. They are always trying to sign me up. If you have a 5th wheel trailer, how did he hook it to the rollback. Was there any problem with having your rig towed home rather than to the tow operators shop?

Brian B-P · 05-17-2013, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary and bob

If you have a 5th wheel trailer, how did he hook it to the rollback.

A Scamp 19' is not a fifth wheel trailer - it does not use a 5th wheel hitch (unless the coupler has been replaced with a pin and plate) - so common wheel-lift tow trucks can tow it with a ball mounted in the lift arm. This is the same as any conventional trailer, although the coupler is high... but not too high for this equipment (especially since the Scamp can be towed somewhat nose-down). Most of the roll-on flat-deck wreckers I've seen have a wheel lift as well.

Is that how yours was handled, Eddie?

cpaharley2008 · 05-18-2013, 04:32 AM

I've always looked at my Good Sam as I do at life insurance. Hoping to never use but also hoping it works. Glad to hear.

Eddie Longest · 05-18-2013, 06:51 AM

Yesterday I was not towing my 5th wheel and I am not sure if the lift arm on the rollback yesterday would have raised high enough to move it. When calling for service the GS rep. let me talk to the tow operator and make sure he had exactly what was required to move the truck and trailer. I guess the mechanic option which they offered first could have been a better option in a 5er situation but I knew that could possibly led to out of pocket expense for the actual repair. GS's first concern was that the vehicle was out of traffic and in a safe place.
As far as towing it to my home. This is the second breakdown tow service I had, the other was years ago and both tows were to my home shop. They tell you if you have the vehicle towed to your home you have to pay for the second tow if it needs to be towed to a shop later. I both cases my home was closer than to where the tow truck came from.
The tow driver attached a ball to the wheel lift to move the trailer yesterday.
BTW: I have no connection to Good Sam other than to pay for premiums.
Eddie

keekers · 05-18-2013, 09:23 AM

Eddie, Glad to hear about your positive experience with Good Sam. I just signed up a few days ago and got 3 extra months as a bonus. I too have it but hope I never have to use it.

Perry J · 05-18-2013, 11:16 PM

The only time I ever needed Good Sam was when the fuel pump quit on my Toyota Sunrader in my side yard.

They sent a truck 65 miles to haul my Sunrader 3 miles to the mechanics shop.

That was good service.

rgrugg · 05-19-2013, 07:16 AM

We broke down in Colorado west of Creed way out in the boonies. Drove our Jeep into Creede, found a phone, called Good Sam. They sent a tow about 80 miles out of Pagosa Springs over Wolf Creek Pass through construction to pick us up. Towed us to a campground in Alamosa, dropped the camper off the truck there and then took the truck to the local Dodge dealer. That was about another 80 miles. He then had to do the third 80 mile leg back to Pagosa Springs. This was late on a Saturday afternoon. He had his wife with him, I tipped him $20 so they could get dinner. Three days later in New Mexico we had the same problem. Good Sam again towed us to a backyard mechanic who FIXED the problem. I've also used Good Sam for tire repair and lockout service. All very satisfactory service. I keep G.S. road service on automatic renewal to avoid the possibility of the renewal notice coming when we're far away from home. This way, I'm never without having the service whenever and wherever we are.

Bob Miller · 05-19-2013, 07:31 AM

Where to Tow:

I don't know about other road services or states, but in California, AAA is required to tow you to wherever you want to be towed for free, if it's within the mileage specified in your membership. Considering that mine is good for a 150 mile tow for both car and trailer, I can pretty much specify where to tow.

When I had a transmission seal fail, AAA towed my Sunrader Adventure from my drive way to the Transmission shop of my choice about 40 miles away, passing at least 50 closer shops along the way.

mary and bob · 05-19-2013, 07:37 AM

Very interesting reports here on Good Sam's service. I've considered getting it. As a long time, now retired truck mechanic, I've had to do my share of road calls and repairs along the road. But there were times where roadside repairs were impossible and we had to call for a tow truck. Those guys are in a class of their own, they would go out in all kinds of weather, at any time of the day or night, and go whatever distance was required. We've even had them tow a customers truck around to their deliveries before bringing it back to our shop. Not work that I want to do, so I have a lot of respect and appreciation for them, and always made sure to tell them so. Anyone here have any experience with AAA RV service.