Let down by Good Sam ERS twice in one day
Thought I had chosen well with Good Sam ERS, but now I’m not so sure.
A little back story:
On 07/25 we left Asheville, NC to stay at TopSail Hill State Park for 8 days. Just south of Greenville, SC we had a tread separation on a tire. I changed to the spare and all was well until the spare blew out just south of Atlanta. My current road side assistance was useless. I finally unhooked the travel trailer, located and bought 2 tires, changed another tire myself, hooked back up and continued on. Our 9 hour trip became 17 hours, and I told my wife not again. I would buy GSERS the next day.
On 08/02, 6:00 AM we headed for home after a week of fun and repairing the damage the blown tire did to our travel trailer.
About 15 miles south of Eufaula, AL on highway 431 we stopped at a rest area. I noticed tread separating on another tire on the travel trailer. I called Good Sam ERS to change the tire. Thought we would eat some lunch while we waited. The person on the phone said they would have to call me back as they could not find a provider in the area to change the tire. I said OK. After 30 minutes with no call back, I called GSERS again. They told me the only person they could find would be 3+ hours, and they could not get them to answer their phone to verify that time estimate. Did not instill confidence in me. I figured 60-90 minutes would have been reasonable. Since I was traveling with my 4 and 7 year old kids, I said I would just change myself. Letdown #1
Tire changed, we started packing everything up to be on our way. We noticed tread separating on another tire on the other side of the travel trailer. (2 year old tires with all these issues, but that is a different story.)
I called Good Sam ERS again. I was going to buy 2 tires (225/75 r15, a common trailer size). I couldn’t tow the trailer anywhere and I thought this would be easier than locating a tire shop myself. Amy with Good Sam took all my info, and said she would call me back within 15 minutes. 30 minutes later and no call back. So, I called GSERS back. She was still looking for a provider. I was told to expect a call in 15 minutes. Another 30 minutes and no call back. I called GSERS again. Finally, I got back in contact with Amy. She said there were no tires in that size within 150 miles of my location……AND that there was nothing further she could do for me. Major Letdown #2. Left on the side of the road with no help.
That’s right. I am within 45 minutes of Dothan, AL, an hour and 15 minutes from Columbus, GA, and a couple of hours from Montgomery, AL and there are no tires in that size to be had……according to Good Sam. Also, there is nothing they can do and they basically say you are on your own. Me, my wife and 2 small kids are stuck, if you believe Good Sam.
So, I hang up, stuck on the side of the road by Good Sam ERS for the second time in one day.
I make sure I can leave my travel trailer at the rest stop until I get tires. Drop the trailer. I make arrangements with some family from Asheville, NC to start south as I start north. At least I can get the wife and kids home and I will find tires and get the trailer home at some point. Small tire places in Eufaula, AL closed at this point. Not surprised. Head for Columbus, GA. Stop in the first place I see. Super Walmart Tire Center. They have 6 Goodyear Marathon tires in my size. 75 miles from the rest stop I was stuck at. 30 minutes later, I have a new tire on the rim. I meet family in LaGrange, GA and get the wife and kids headed home with them. They arrive around 11:30pm.
I take my new tire and head back to the rest stop south of Eufaula, AL. I change another tire and head for home. I arrive around 05:00am the next day. No help from Good Sam ERS. Just a wasted 3+ hours talking to them on the phone.
So, I paid $80 and was no better off than having no Road Side Assistance at all.
Is there good Road Side Assistance for RVs? Is this the best I can hope for? I guess I can get my money back and just carry 2 spares on long trips and hope for the best?
My story.
Sorry it was so long.
Thought others should know about the lack of service.
I could see some of this if I was in the middle of nowhere. Their 150 mile search area should have included Atlanta, GA by my map……..no tires. What a crock.
Randall
A little back story:
On 07/25 we left Asheville, NC to stay at TopSail Hill State Park for 8 days. Just south of Greenville, SC we had a tread separation on a tire. I changed to the spare and all was well until the spare blew out just south of Atlanta. My current road side assistance was useless. I finally unhooked the travel trailer, located and bought 2 tires, changed another tire myself, hooked back up and continued on. Our 9 hour trip became 17 hours, and I told my wife not again. I would buy GSERS the next day.
On 08/02, 6:00 AM we headed for home after a week of fun and repairing the damage the blown tire did to our travel trailer.
About 15 miles south of Eufaula, AL on highway 431 we stopped at a rest area. I noticed tread separating on another tire on the travel trailer. I called Good Sam ERS to change the tire. Thought we would eat some lunch while we waited. The person on the phone said they would have to call me back as they could not find a provider in the area to change the tire. I said OK. After 30 minutes with no call back, I called GSERS again. They told me the only person they could find would be 3+ hours, and they could not get them to answer their phone to verify that time estimate. Did not instill confidence in me. I figured 60-90 minutes would have been reasonable. Since I was traveling with my 4 and 7 year old kids, I said I would just change myself. Letdown #1
Tire changed, we started packing everything up to be on our way. We noticed tread separating on another tire on the other side of the travel trailer. (2 year old tires with all these issues, but that is a different story.)
I called Good Sam ERS again. I was going to buy 2 tires (225/75 r15, a common trailer size). I couldn’t tow the trailer anywhere and I thought this would be easier than locating a tire shop myself. Amy with Good Sam took all my info, and said she would call me back within 15 minutes. 30 minutes later and no call back. So, I called GSERS back. She was still looking for a provider. I was told to expect a call in 15 minutes. Another 30 minutes and no call back. I called GSERS again. Finally, I got back in contact with Amy. She said there were no tires in that size within 150 miles of my location……AND that there was nothing further she could do for me. Major Letdown #2. Left on the side of the road with no help.
That’s right. I am within 45 minutes of Dothan, AL, an hour and 15 minutes from Columbus, GA, and a couple of hours from Montgomery, AL and there are no tires in that size to be had……according to Good Sam. Also, there is nothing they can do and they basically say you are on your own. Me, my wife and 2 small kids are stuck, if you believe Good Sam.
So, I hang up, stuck on the side of the road by Good Sam ERS for the second time in one day.
I make sure I can leave my travel trailer at the rest stop until I get tires. Drop the trailer. I make arrangements with some family from Asheville, NC to start south as I start north. At least I can get the wife and kids home and I will find tires and get the trailer home at some point. Small tire places in Eufaula, AL closed at this point. Not surprised. Head for Columbus, GA. Stop in the first place I see. Super Walmart Tire Center. They have 6 Goodyear Marathon tires in my size. 75 miles from the rest stop I was stuck at. 30 minutes later, I have a new tire on the rim. I meet family in LaGrange, GA and get the wife and kids headed home with them. They arrive around 11:30pm.
I take my new tire and head back to the rest stop south of Eufaula, AL. I change another tire and head for home. I arrive around 05:00am the next day. No help from Good Sam ERS. Just a wasted 3+ hours talking to them on the phone.
So, I paid $80 and was no better off than having no Road Side Assistance at all.
Is there good Road Side Assistance for RVs? Is this the best I can hope for? I guess I can get my money back and just carry 2 spares on long trips and hope for the best?
My story.
Sorry it was so long.
Thought others should know about the lack of service.
I could see some of this if I was in the middle of nowhere. Their 150 mile search area should have included Atlanta, GA by my map……..no tires. What a crock.
Randall
