People with good Sam roadside assistance

We have had GS roadside since 2005. Used it 5 times. 3 flat tires changes (2 on personal car-1 on a travel trailer that were changed on site) 2 flat tires on our Mazda Miata (one was a blow out on the highway and one was while we are parked in a RV park) both of the Mazda flats required the car be towed as it doesn't carry a spare. We wanted to go to a specific tire shop on both tows as on one we had warranty on the tire and the other the only shop within 100 miles that had the tire we needed (both of the shops we needed to go to were not the closest. We just made arrangements with the tow driver to charge GS to the closest shop and we paid for him to go on further. Worked great. GS has been wonderful.

I have had GSERS for 6 years and have had to use them only once. I was stuck with my front axle buried in mud. They kept calling me and letting me know when and how long before the tow truck would be there to pull me out. I am very pleased with GSERS and will stay with them.

I have ad GCRS and I would expect them to pay for the tow. Had problems with GSRS and switched to CoachNet and feel there service is superior.

Just a story of my tow company. I was disabled (40' DP motorhome). In Parker, Az. Nearest repair in Lake Havasue City. I was towed there, about an hour away, no charge. The repair facility decided the could not make the repair. I was again towed, this time to Tolleson/Phoenix Freightliner, again no charge. This was a three hour tow +-. I'll stay with my tow/ERS guys. I had GSERS and let it go. I know I had double coverage, just covering my butt in case....

Grandpere wrote:

tomgagne wrote:
I am looking for input from people with good Sam roadside assistance. I will keep this brief and only cover the relevant points. I broke down this weekend and was lucky enough to make it to a camp ground. I called good Sam and they dispatched a mobile mechanic, Mechanic arrived and determined he could not fix my coach and it needed to be towed (same company tows) to his companies shop. Who do you expect to pay for the tow? Again I'm only looking for those of you with good Sam roadside assistance and if you were in the same situation who would you expect to pay for the tow.

Change campground to rest area and you have just described my breakdown. GSRSA dispatched a mobile mechanic, I did not request one, when he found he could not fix it there GSRSA dispatched a tow truck and took us to the mobile mechanic's shop. What graveled me was that the mobile mechanic is only paid one way by GSRSA so I had to fork out almost $200 for his return trip to the shop, the tow itself cost me nothing.

I'm not sure that your mechanic understood the road service conditions, or if he just wanted to rip you off. I have never heard of a situation where the mechanic is ONLY paid to come out to your coach and that the customer has to pay for the mechanic to get back to his shop. :R

I have used my GSERS, but ask for a mobile mechanic if I know it is something they can take car of. If I am not sure, I always error on the side of caution and would have them tow it. I have 2 ERS services, specifically for the scenario you outlined as most will cover a tow, or a mobile mechanic, but not both, so in the scenario you outlined, you would pay for the tow, not GSERS.

Sorry didn't work out like you (or many of us) thought it would. I think GS offers the mechanic rather than tow because a mechanic service call in many instances is much less expensive for GS than a tow. GS is in business to turn profits not tow RVs around the country. I doubt GS own a tow truck. They are just a broker.

I have used GS twice in one day.
1) thought I needed a battery jump. They sent someone to jump would not start.
they thought the battery was shot.

2) replaced battery still wouldn't start. Called GS again (same day) and they set out a tow truck. I wanted it towed to the Ford dealership but there was a closer repair shop. They paid to the repair shop and I paid the difference to the Ford shop.

Great service.

GSRA benefits brochure. "ROADSIDE MECHANICAL REPAIR- ...we will attempt to bring a mobile mechanic to your location as an alternative to towing your vehicle."

I also carry USAA towing on my vehicle insurance. Will provide almost the same coverage as Good Sam (Tire/battery/gas/tow) for $6.00 every 6 months except you have to arrange and pay the tow and submit a claim for reimbursement.

Tom- As you can see in the posts, the tow is covered in some cases and not others with identical circumstances. Might be worthwhile to go up the corporate ladder for a more acceptable solution....

Thanks for the feedback and varying opinions. The provider and the tow are from the same company, GSRA offered the mechanic while I was on the phone with them. Btw The tow/repair company has been fantastic. I have the latest brochure for the service,it's on the web site, I don't see where it's states one or the other.

The mechanic quickly determined that he couldn't fix it, I called GSRA back, and since I was in a "safe place" they wouldn't authorize the tow. Again thanks everyone, I think the general expectation and the interpretation of services provided in the member benefit brochure is flawed at best.

And yes don't ever accept the offer of a mechanic unless you're a mechanic and you tell them what to bring.