I have been a member of AAA for over twenty five years and have their "plus rv" add on roadside insurance. I have always assumed naively that AAA would come to the rescue wherever I was.But I am approaching 73 and don't relish the idea of wrestling a big Dodge Ram pickup wheel around---or dealing with other disasters of ths sort, so I called AAA to check. To my dismay, the gal I talked to said they won't come unless I am on a paved road. When pressed, she said it was "at the discretion of the driver." I looked it up in the AAA guidebook and it says that AAA will not service (among ithers) any vehicle on a Forest Service road! Well---it makes that "plus rv" add-on kinda' weak.So, does anyone know of any roadside assistance program that will deal with such real life issues as a breakdown off the beaten path?

Hello Mr. Davis - Thank you for your post. Good Sam Roadside Assistance would cover you for roadside assistance and towing on any improved road - such as Interstate highways, state, county, local, or improved forest service roads. In addition, GSRA covers you anywhere on your personally owned property. In summary, we would cover you "where you should be". If you attempted to go "off-road" to get that perfect view to camp, and become stuck, we would absolutely assist in locating a provider to assist, but at your expense.I hope that makes sense. If you would like to discuss further, send me a private message on the forum and we can chat.Thank you again for the post.

Good Sam willSEE BROCHURE HEREPage 13 is the page you are interested in.They have served me well.

RoadsideGuy wrote:Hello Mr. Davis - Thank you for your post. Good Sam Roadside Assistance would cover you for roadside assistance and towing on any improved road - such as Interstate highways, state, county, local, or improved forest service roads. In addition, GSRA covers you anywhere on your personally owned property. In summary, we would cover you "where you should be". If you attempted to go "off-road" to get that perfect view to camp, and become stuck, we would absolutely assist in locating a provider to assist, but at your expense.I hope that makes sense. If you would like to discuss further, send me a private message on the forum and we can chat.Thank you again for the post.You cover us on dirt roads as well. That is what the OP asked

Coach-Net has about the same "improved roads" policy, and as said, some situations are at the discretion of the responding driver.

To clarify, Good Sam Roadside Assistance DOES cover improved dirt roads also - Not a 4x4 path, or trail. Any improved road that is a graded, maintained road applies, and is not up to the discretion of the driver that is sent.Thanks for the posts!

Back Road Assistance? | Good Sam Community

Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Apr 09, 2016
Naio wrote:
AAA told ME they would cover any improved road.

I think maybe to OP got an operator who was not knowledgable.

A bigger concern for me, on FS roads: Is there cell service / is it even possible to call AAA?

Different AAA regions may have different rules or interpretations, just as not all regions even offer RV coverage.
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Apr 08, 2016
beemerphile1 wrote:
An "improved" road is any road that receives city, county, state, or fed maintenance. Even if that maintenance only involves grading the dirt once a year.

At least that is my opinion.

While I generally agree with your statement:

Unfortunately your opinion doesnt count. The only definition that counts is the one GSE is using.
Naio
Explorer II
Apr 07, 2016
AAA told ME they would cover any improved road.

I think maybe to OP got an operator who was not knowledgable.

A bigger concern for me, on FS roads: Is there cell service / is it even possible to call AAA?
Art_Davis
Explorer
Apr 07, 2016
Hondavalk wrote:
JaxDad wrote:
Art Davis wrote:
darsben wrote:

For my $0.02 worth, there's a looooong way between "covered" and "serviced".

We spent 4 hours freezing on the side of an Interstate in WV in a blinding snow storm while GSRS tried to find a towing service willing to tow us for the discounted rate they were offering. Of course with their phones ringing off the hooks with people willing to pay full pop all the towing contractors told GS the same thing, "If they're still there when we get caught up, we'll do it.".

Has been my typical experience with a variety of different RS assistance service companies. 2 plus hours if using them or a 1/2 hour if calling them directly. For as often as then I use them I think I've saved more money just paying for the assistance and enjoy not having to make a 1/2 dozen phone calls and waiting for them to find somebody to come out.

I think this makes sense: self insurance, so to speak. But there is a question in my mind as to what a reasonable charge would be. With AAA I've never known what the final bill was. So how do you know you aren't being ripped off by an unscrupulous operator?
beemerphile1
Explorer
Apr 06, 2016
An "improved" road is any road that receives city, county, state, or fed maintenance. Even if that maintenance only involves grading the dirt once a year.

At least that is my opinion.
4x4van
Explorer III
Apr 06, 2016
"improved road"? I've been an avid off-roader all my life, so to me, if I can tell that it's a "road", it's improved! :)

And I love the statement "where you "should" be". Well, again, my idea of where I should be may be significantly different than someone else's idea! :)
garyhaupt
Explorer
Apr 06, 2016
For those members in BC, BCAA's policy is that a tow truck operator has to be able to maintain a speed of 50k's, regardless of road surface.

Gary Haupt
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2016
Old Duck wrote:
I have a client who had a $1350 tow bill paid in full and reimbursed in two weeks.

If they had Coach-Net or GSRA/Allstate, there would have been no wait for reimbursement, just sign and go...
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2016
darsben wrote:
RoadsideGuy wrote:
Hello Mr. Davis - Thank you for your post. Good Sam Roadside Assistance would cover you for roadside assistance and towing on any improved road - such as Interstate highways, state, county, local, or improved forest service roads. In addition, GSRA covers you anywhere on your personally owned property. In summary, we would cover you "where you should be". If you attempted to go "off-road" to get that perfect view to camp, and become stuck, we would absolutely assist in locating a provider to assist, but at your expense.

I hope that makes sense. If you would like to discuss further, send me a private message on the forum and we can chat.

Thank you again for the post.

You cover us on dirt roads as well. That is what the OP asked

The REAL issue is the DEFINITION of "IMPROVED Road"

Can that be given here please?
RollandB
Explorer
Apr 06, 2016
Art, hello from a fellow Oregonian! Check with your insurance carrier what they cover on Towing and Road Service. I pay about $5 for six months on my truck and about the same for my 5er. Coverage is for reasonable and customary charges. I have a client who had a $1350 tow bill paid in full and reimbursed in two weeks.