Anyone using Good Sam

[computerspook]

Okay I have my 16-ft Scamp and I have my Jeep Commander to tow it. And then I have AAA with the RV option I figured that was going to work. I'm finding out that is a horrible idea. I've had problems now twice in the last year. In both cases their service was almost non-existent. Ended up having to call and get a hold of a friend who is local to the place I was at about 150 miles from home and luckily I had a friend there. And we had to spend most of the day fixing my camper so I can get it home. Because there just was not a good option to get it towed. They had no idea who could repair it and they didn't care. They just figured that they covered the first part of the distance and then I'd have to spend a couple thousand dollars to get the rest of the tow handle. And they were good with that and they also figured it'd take a while to find somebody to do this.

Then I just had another incident. And try to use my AAA. I was alongside the road in a not very safe location. This time it was for my Jeep so they did know where I could get it fixed. But trying to get my camper off a super highway, well after 2 hours of well we'll get back with you, they had somebody with a job or service call me and they said that they would get back with me and another hour later they said they found somebody and they would be there at 6 hours. Download I have a 16-ft Scamp. It isn't that big it isn't that big of a challenge.

I had started trying to call local tow companies and they basically said well you'll have to pay us because AAA doesn't pay. Or more specifically we have massive trouble getting them to pay. So we don't work with them anymore. In the meantime I'd call the mechanic they had recommended. And after a couple hours, he said why don't I just come out and look at it. And he was able to help me get it fixed good enough to get it to a shop and then he stayed after hours to finish fixing it so I can get on the road again.

By the way thank you A&R Diagnostics in Danville Illinois. Really great people. But AAA is obviously not going to be a working idea. So I'm looking at other options and I keep seeing about Good Sam and I'm wondering about them and I'm wondering what people's experiences with them are?

[D Jean Fullerton]

I use US Rider. Depending on where you are, there can be a wait, but they will tow your vehicle and your trailer.

[jerrybob]

I've had AAA auto coverage for over 50 yrs......have used them several times over that period....always had good service. Depending on location.....sometimes the wait is longer but I bet that is true for any service provider. A few years back.....I was with a friend towing a heavy equipment trailer loaded with old bulldozer parts.....we had a blow out on a freeway near Olympia Washington......it was busy traffic....I called AAA for service.....thought I had RV coverage.....apparently I didn't......the dispatch lady said I could add it immediately to my coverage.....I did....gave her a credit card number over the phone....she added RV coverage.....dispatched a truck and we had a tow truck there in about 30 minutes....they changed the trailer tire and we were on our way. I thought that was excellent service.

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by jerrybob

I've had AAA auto coverage for over 50 yrs......have used them several times over that period....always had good service. Depending on location.....sometimes the wait is longer but I bet that is true for any service provider. A few years back.....I was with a friend towing a heavy equipment trailer loaded with old bulldozer parts.....we had a blow out on a freeway near Olympia Washington......it was busy traffic....I called AAA for service.....thought I had RV coverage.....apparently I didn't......the dispatch lady said I could add it immediately to my coverage.....I did....gave her a credit card number over the phone....she added RV coverage.....dispatched a truck and we had a tow truck there in about 30 minutes....they changed the trailer tire and we were on our way. I thought that was excellent service.

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I've had AAA for 35+ years, and sometimes also have Good Sam when I am on my motorcycle or when I am planning to go long distances solo with my Scamp. Over the years I have found AAA to be more expensive but more professional service. I sometimes used both tow services when I had an older Ford Ranger that often gave me trouble. Once we even had a very LONG midnight tow from a secluded location on the Oregon Coast by a local independent and AAA covered it ! ( You might have to talk to supervisors ! ) With Good Sam I have found that the operators sometimes are young women ( or men ) who don't know anything about trailers, RV or kinds of service needed. They may be trained computer operators who have a prepared script and a computer but no experience with RVs. Or travel, or real maps, or the area where you are stuck ! ! David in Sonora and Fresno, CA.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by jerrybob

I've had AAA auto coverage for over 50 yrs......have used them several times over that period....always had good service. Depending on location.....sometimes the wait is longer but I bet that is true for any service provider. A few years back.....I was with a friend towing a heavy equipment trailer loaded with old bulldozer parts.....we had a blow out on a freeway near Olympia Washington......it was busy traffic....I called AAA for service.....thought I had RV coverage.....apparently I didn't......the dispatch lady said I could add it immediately to my coverage.....I did....gave her a credit card number over the phone....she added RV coverage.....dispatched a truck and we had a tow truck there in about 30 minutes....they changed the trailer tire and we were on our way. I thought that was excellent service.

That kind of has been my experience in the past with them. But the last two years there's been an awful lot of problems.

[jerrybob]

Originally Posted by computerspook

That kind of has been my experience in the past with them. But the last two years there's been an awful lot of problems.

Haven't used them for awhile so I don't know.....I can tell you that customer "service" has deteriorated across many industries over the past few years. Call centers are now directed overseas....product specialists know little about their products.....heck.....I know more about plumbing than 90% of the folks working in the plumbing section at Home Depot....and I ain't a plumber!! Sign of the times.....unfortunately.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by jerrybob

Haven't used them for awhile so I don't know.....I can tell you that customer "service" has deteriorated across many industries over the past few years. Call centers are now directed overseas....product specialists know little about their products.....heck.....I know more about plumbing than 90% of the folks working in the plumbing section at Home Depot....and I ain't a plumber!! Sign of the times.....unfortunately.

There seems to have deteriorated massively more than many. Last year at christmas, their emergency call center could not figure out where Indiana was. They were just sure that I should be able to call a tow truck in California and have them there in 30 minutes from california. But I will admit that these Indian call centers pretty much have nobody who has any idea about us geography.

I work out of dispatch centers many of which are Indian call centers. I just got a call from one of them. They claim to be in the US but they don't have the results that you would expect from anybody in the us. Including these people were just sure that somebody in Indiana would be happy to drive to Kansas in an hour and do a bunch of work for them.

[jerrybob]

Originally Posted by computerspook

There seems to have deteriorated massively more than many. Last year at christmas, their emergency call center could not figure out where Indiana was. They were just sure that I should be able to call a tow truck in California and have them there in 30 minutes from california. But I will admit that these Indian call centers pretty much have nobody who has any idea about us geography.

I work out of dispatch centers many of which are Indian call centers. I just got a call from one of them. They claim to be in the US but they don't have the results that you would expect from anybody in the us. Including these people were just sure that somebody in Indiana would be happy to drive to Kansas in an hour and do a bunch of work for them.

Sure hope Santa wasn't using them for directions....otherwise....a lot of kids in Indiana would have been dissappointed! LOL!

[Mr Lynn]

My account of our breakdown last July, on the Escape Forum,

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post449141

generated some comments on AAA and Good Sam. One said that AAA with RV service will only tow 150 miles max, and only from paved roads. So Good Sam might be better option for trailer—and for tow vehicle?

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by Mr Lynn

My account of our breakdown last July, on the Escape Forum,

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post449141

generated some comments on AAA and Good Sam. One said that AAA with RV service will only tow 150 miles max, and only from paved roads. So Good Sam might be better option for trailer—and for tow vehicle?

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hello Mr Lynn, how is the music at Harvard.?? (We've talked about it ) I have been towed long distances (250 mi + ) and have twice been towed by AAA with pickup AND trailer . Not a problem : the Pickup goes ON the truck, the truck has multi size and height tow balls to tow the trailer. The time at midnight I got the looong tow , I paid with visa, was reimbursed by AAA . Note: it may take receipts and lots of phone calls to AAA Supervisors to get it done. But I'm sure you will agree it would be worth it ; $1,300+ ! David in Fresno and Sonora .

[Meadowlark]

I used to belong to AAA. When my motorcycle broke down on a busy I-5 in Tacoma, WA, I was on hold for an hour and finally gave up. I won't use AAA ever again.
I've heard that many tow companies won't tow a truck AND a camper. If you're OFF the road, (and I don't mean back in the forest, I mean in the sandy shoulder along side a road,) many won't tow, either. If it's not a designated road (meaning,it has a speed limit sign or something), they won't touch it.
The last time I needed a tow it was because Someone in the Family thought we could turn around in the sand near the Pacific coast. Only because the road was designated as such because a speed limit sign was RIGHT THERE were we pulled out of the sand. I even took a photo of it, based on the advice of the tow truck driver. "For insurance pursposes," he said. He was very kind. He makes a good living pulling trucks out of the beach sand. Why WA state allows driving on the beach I don't know, but he makes good money. Although even then-sometimes people forget about the little thing the ocean does...called a tide? because I've seen at least twice a jeep on it's top, in the sand, after the tide came in and flipped it over. ;-) That one probably cost the driver a TON.

[Mr Lynn]

Originally Posted by DavidG

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hello Mr Lynn, how is the music at Harvard.?? (We've talked about it ) I have been towed long distances (250 mi + ) and have twice been towed by AAA with pickup AND trailer . Not a problem : the Pickup goes ON the truck, the truck has multi size and height tow balls to tow the trailer. The time at midnight I got the looong tow , I paid with visa, was reimbursed by AAA . Note: it may take receipts and lots of phone calls to AAA Supervisors to get it done. But I'm sure you will agree it would be worth it ; $1,300+ ! David in Fresno and Sonora .

Howdy David-- Some say AAA towing rules vary by their districts. Sounds like they said no, so you paid with credit card, then you talked them into reimbursing you. Congrats, but how many would be so good at cajoling?

[Casita Greg]

Originally Posted by jerrybob

Haven't used them for awhile so I don't know.....I can tell you that customer "service" has deteriorated across many industries over the past few years. Call centers are now directed overseas....product specialists know little about their products.....heck.....I know more about plumbing than 90% of the folks working in the plumbing section at Home Depot....and I ain't a plumber!! Sign of the times.....unfortunately.

Amen to that! You can't go to a store nowadays that has anyone on their staff who knows a hoot about anything. They are just walking zombies, with no trade experience or occupational skills. I too know a helluva lot more about just about any thing construction, remodel, etc. stuff than any of these people that work there do. I include carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, equipment installation, remodel work, upgrades, etc. in that statement.

In a way, I feel sorry for the stores. As much as they try, it seems that they can't hire anybody with skill sets, experience, or knowledge these days. They're all pretty much incompetent as far as "help" goes.

That said, I currently have AAA, but I'm seriously thinking of dropping them as well. And I have had the misfortune of using Good Sam many years ago. Good Sam is like Publishers Clearing House. If you want an unsolicited wheelbarrow full of junk mail each week, then join Good Sam. Just sayin'.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by Casita Greg

Amen to that! You can't go to a store nowadays that has anyone on their staff who knows a hoot about anything. They are just walking zombies, with no trade experience or occupational skills. I too know a helluva lot more about just about any thing construction, remodel, etc. stuff than any of these people that work there do. I include carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, equipment installation, remodel work, upgrades, etc. in that statement.

In a way, I feel sorry for the stores. As much as they try, it seems that they can't hire anybody with skill sets, experience, or knowledge these days. They're all pretty much incompetent as far as "help" goes.

That said, I currently have AAA, but I'm seriously thinking of dropping them as well. And I have had the misfortune of using Good Sam many years ago. Good Sam is like Publishers Clearing House. I you want an unsolicited wheelbarrow full of junk mail each week, then join Good Sam. Just sayin'.

That was actually another complaint I had about AAA, They sure send you a lot of junk mail. And while I was waiting for them to figure out how to tow me, which they never really did, one of their insurance people called me. She was aware I was long the side of the road waiting on an a tow so apparently figured that I had to time for a sales pitch.

[jerrybob]

Couldn't resist.......

Me: "My name is Matt, and I'm an alcoholic."

AAA: "This is AAA, not AA."

Me: "Yeah, I was just explaining how my car got in the lake."

[cactusone]

We've RVed full time and part time all over the Western US. We prefer Good Sam for towing insurance as their policy about where your rig can be located to qualify for a tow is the most generous we've been able to find. They do not require you to be on or just off of a paved road nor does it need any speed signs. What they do require is that it be a 'designated road' and that your vehicle be within 200' of such a road. Therefore you are eligible to be towed if your rig breakdown occurs say on BLM or National Forest designated roads, etc. Since our main use of our rigs has always been to explore the great open spaces of the West and we prefer boondocking over any other type of rv camping, we've opted for Good Sam.
Yes, they do spam you with mailings, but you can opt out of most of their junk.
Yes, the call center people can be inexperienced and not know a thing about where you are exactly. Unfortuantely that part it totally up to you! And GPS coordinates are very handy to be able to provide as well as other pertinant details. We've never had a response from an Indian call center when using Good Sam to report an incident.
Over the years, we have had incidents and needed to use Good Sam both nearby major freeways in AZ and CA, as well as in the boonies.
I must add the regardless of what roadside assistance type of cover you have, I believe that the norm can be long waits when you're not broken down in the middle of a city. Operators of tow equipment are not plentiful throughout the rural areas of the US, so we always expect long waits and are always prepared when we take our rigs out to potentially be stranded for a night or two just as a precaution.
Our longest wait has been for the better part of a day (or night) for a tow truck to arrive.
Sad to say, we've had multiple occasions when we've need to call for assistance, as we do a lot of travel and exploring. Overall, we've had good service based upon our modest assumptions. Only once has a tow truck driver damaged our vehicle worse that it was when he picked it up, and we're thankful for that!
Most times once we've actually gotten a driver, they've been excellent and gone out of their way to help us out.
And a few years ago when we were rear ended by a fully loaded semi who totalled our 5 day old travel trailer and seriously screwed up our pickup, the tow guys were on the scene within 15 minutes of our phone call to Good Sam. They helped us out a lot in our shocked states and allowed us easy entry into their storage yard so we could come and go to get our things.
Our latest escapade, we got lost driving on BLM roads in whoop whoop southern AZ, and wound up with our motorhome with toad stuck in deep sand. Managed to unhitch the toad with great difficulty, since there wasn't cell service where we'd landed. Drove til we found a signal and began trying to reach Good Sam. Unfortunately we couldn't get the 800 number to ring through for some reason...it wasn't a good signal...but we were able to do a Google search and find a relatively local tow company. The driver himself asnwered the phone immediately. Turned out that guy grew up in the area where we'd bogged down, had great skill and got us outta there after only a 2 hour wait, which was amazing considering where we were! He also clued us in to apply for a refund of the towing expenses with Good Sam, as he was a provider of theirs. He promply emailed us a complete receipt of our credit card payment with our location details spelled out as to which 'desinated' road we were just off of when we got stuck. And sure enough, Good Sam did reimburse us promptly for that tow, after a little mild reprimand about not getting authorization first when we called in to report the incident.
Anyway, a long winded reply to your query. Perhaps lower your expectations since you're not asking for lock out service or tows from a large city parking lot, and give Good Sam a try. We had AAA briefly until we figured out how limiting their emergency service was/is and would never use them again as their service parameters don't meet our needs.
Cactus

[ehoepner]

I’ve been a good Sam member since 2006. Broke down an hour north of Wheat Land, they sent a truck from Douglas Wy, 60 miles north on I25. The mechanic got me in , replaced several parts and I was back on the road after 1215 P M. A very good experience.

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by Mr Lynn

Howdy David-- Some say AAA towing rules vary by their districts. Sounds like they said no, so you paid with credit card, then you talked them into reimbursing you. Congrats, but how many would be so good at cajoling?

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Now that I think about it, the Midnight Operator at AAA (in Oregon ) suggested I get an independent tow truck and pay with credit card and they would reimburse me. She said that was in our contract. It was complicated by the fact that the tow truck was over the border in Calif, and so I had to work with both districts. But it worked out. Mr Lynn, I'm sure anyone who can play Hillbilly Music at Harvard can talk an insurance company into anything !