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Scott_M's avatar
Scott_M
Explorer
May 11, 2014

Any thoughts on Raodside Assistance Plans

I am not sure if this is the correct forum to post this, but since it involves out fifth wheel, I’ll start here. We just purchased out first fifth wheel last year and it came with a free 1-year membership of Coach-Net roadside assistance, which is about to expire.
We have had instances in the past when we had a Class C and we needed a tow and all we had was AAA. We got the tow and had to pay for it, fortunately, we were close to town and a repair facility and also had a few flat tires that AAA covered.
My brother and sister-in-law were pulling their fifth wheel through Arizona in the middle of nowhere when the fuel pump on their truck failed, not once but twice on that trip. I don’t think that they had any particular roadside plan. The first failure, the responding company would only tow the truck, leaving the fifth wheel on the side of the road. He had to stayed with the fifth wheel and his young son because only is wife and daughters would fit in the tow truck. They were stranded in the desert in late June for about six hours before his wife could find someone to come with a truck to hook up the fifth wheel and pull it to the repair facility.
Anyway, I get bombarded with mail and email for roadside assistance plans from Good Sam, Coach-Net and AAA. After reading the information for each of the plans, none of them are overly clear about what specifically is provided. If my fuel pump goes out, do they tow only the truck and leave the fifth wheel on the side of the road? With the exception of AAA’s highest level plan which dispatch two trucks for extraction (and ultimately towing mentioned in the FAQ’s), I only see things like “tow your disabled vehicle…” in the remainder of the plans. What experience, good or bad, has anyone else had with roadside assistance plans when it involves towing the tow vehicle.
  • One thing I have found good about GS ERS is that they cover all vehicles registered in my name.

    I have never needed them for the trailer, but....One time they sent a flatbed for my wife's SUV with a failed transmission and another time they sent a wrecker to get my son's Honda motor scooter and bring it to the house with a clogged fuel filter.

    No problem. Just sign the ticket.
  • I have GS ERS,and have used them several times over the past 8 years of full timing.
    They do tow the truck and the trailer to a repair facility.Been there,done that.They sent two tow vehicles out,put the truck (with waterpump out) onto a flatbed and hooked the fifth wheel up to a semi tractor,took both to a Dodge dealer,where we spent the night.
    Naturally I had to pay for the repairs the next AM,but only needed to sign the paper for the tow.

    My only "problem" was that the hitch plate got greasy.Big problem,right? :)
  • I have had all three. Only used CN once with good results. Never used the AAA. Currently have GS tow service which I used twice on the same trip last year. I switched from AAA because of some,of the stories on here of them not towing because of being out of coverage area.
    I originally had CN.Stopped using them because were we like to go in southern Missouri was out of their normal, coverage area. Found this out when we had a flat on previous TT. They would have sent someone out to change it but would have been 3 hr wait in 100+ degree weather. Ended up just changing myself.
    Had to use GS this summer in same area twice. Had to wait several hours each time,but I was out again of normal service area. Operator kept me infomed of progress and eventually they got both truck and 5er towed.
    All in all I would just go with which ever one has the best price between GS and CN. They both use same providers.
  • I'm getting ready to buy Good Sam's plan. They have 3 different plans, and I really think the cheapest is all I need.
  • I've always used GS ERS. My last long trip I had to call them twice. First was for a broken fuel line in my truck. They towed the truck and 5er to a repair facility. They paid for the tow, I paid for the repair. The very next day the clutch in the truck went out just as I was pulling into a rest area. ERS arranged for a mobile mechanic to come to me the next morning. They paid his standard service call fee, I paid for the actual repair.

    Hope this helps you make a decision. I won't hit the road without it anymore.
  • I have the Good Sam's. As I read the coverage, they tow your truck and fiver if needed.
  • I have it so I would say it is worth it. I have used it three times. The problem I see without it is "who do you call if you are stranded along the highway?" With road service you have a number to call that will get you assistance.

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