I had an experience today which impressed upon me the difference in wait times on the phone when seeking road side assistance. I was driving a lady friend's Subaru wagon. There were four of us in the vehicle (three women and myself). I did a dumb thing by leaving the keys in the ignition and locking the doors after we exited. Upon returning we had no choice but to call a roadside assistance company. Fortunately the car's owner and I had roadside assistance coverage.My lady friend called AAA and was put on hold for such a long period of time that she finally tired of waiting and hanged up. I then proceeded to contact my provider (Coach Net) and reached a representative in less than 10 seconds. I wasn't put on hold at all and we proceeded with exchanging the necessary information. I asked if the car was covered even though it wasn't mine. She said yes (I thought that was nice). Well, the upshot is that while I was talking to Coach Net my friend remembered there may be a spare key under the front bumper. She looked and sure enough there it was. I thanked the representative and we continued on our way.So there it is. Immediate response by Coach Net as opposed to an interminable wait for AAA, and the fact they covered a vehicle which wan't even mine. BTW, this was the first time I ever called Coach Net for assistance.

Kudos to CN also. I've had them for years and only had to use them once when the MH fuel pump went out. Covered the spectrum of things to attempt to start the MH and when those failed CN got me a tow and everything went fine from there. No complaints and I just renewed for '14 the other day.

I have AAA and Good Sam Roadside Assistance. AAA tows for 3(three) miles without extra charge if there is service station within the 3 miles. I believe the Good Sam will tow 8 miles if there is service station that will work on your brand of vehicle. I had my truck towed 10 miles by AAA and was charged $28 extra to go the extra 7 miles to a Chevy dealership with NO brakes and NO pwr steering ( I wanted a Chevy dealer deal with it) not some greasy kid. I did not know the restrictions of 3 miles when I called the AAA. I will be giving up AAA when it comes due to renew, you can be sure!!!

RV_wanderer wrote:So there it is. Immediate response by Coach Net as opposed to an interminable wait for AAA, and the fact they covered a vehicle which wan't even mine. BTW, this was the first time I ever called Coach Net for assistance.Unfortunately, your - "so there it is" - experience is pretty meaningless..:S"SOP" = the person with any (the) ERS only needs to be present - not the driver or owner of the vehicle. The wait on the phone can happen with any ERS..:RI've had exactly the opposite with AAA. Instant answer to the call.And - there was a tow truck who saw me pull over when the car engine died crossing an intersection (fuel pump) - waited for the call for the tow. Had a tow operator "on scene" in about 2 minutes from hanging up with AAA.However - AAA (you need the "upgraded" plan/s for RVs) - is probably *not* the best choice. AAA is *not* the same throughout the US.Lastly - with *any* ERS - Coach Net, Good Sam, Allstate, AAA, etc. - you will get a tow operator who contracts with your Motor Club.Often you will get the *same* tow operator no matter which Motor Club you belong to (as they have contracts with all/some/most).Your potential "wait time" is not just with the dispatcher for your Motor Club - but the dispatcher for the tow operator he/she contacts for service where you are.Then - your service (or wait for same) will be rendered depending on location (urban/rural) call load, weather, etc.So - there it is - in the real world..:WBTW - I keep my basic AAA (in CA for maps & DMV services) and have another ERS for my RV - which I won't "plug" as they are all about the same.The Motor Club that rings *your* chimes is the one *you* should have!.:COnly one that is 100% reliable 100% of time with instantaneous service is the Dead Presidents Motor Club or a CC..

I plan on giving up triple A when mine is up. last week we had a flat on my new dodge in route 75 in Florida. We called triple A and there response was terrible. We were near Ocala and they told us someone would call us back. In the mean time my wife realized that Dodge had given us a free two year road side service. She called them and they were able to pin point where we were by GPS, and they said that they would have someone out in twenty minutes. Triple A finally called back and said they were having someone come out from fort Lauderdale. Needless to say my wife told them to cancel.Jack L

I've had one experience with non-AAA road side assistance.Had a flat late in the evening as we were pulling into a motel for a quick stop rather than a CG.Good Sam Roadside Assistance tried to find someone open at 11pm, but I told them not to bother. I was checked in and going to sleep.They called me back at 7 am and told me a local company would send their first driver out when he reported for work at 7:30.He called us at 7:30, asked about the details of the trailer - type and weight, tire size, if we had a spare, location, etc.He was there at 7:45, and had the tire changed.He had stickers on it for AAA, Coach Net and Good Sam on the side of his tow truck, along with a couple others I can't remember.Got us on the road by 8, and when I asked him about the availability of replacing the blown tire with a spare, he called his dispatcher - who gave him three locations that should carry the right size tire. One was their shop. We called Walmart - and they weren't sure they had it in stock and if so could get to it before 1 pm. Same thing from Goodyear.The company which sent out the truck to change the tire had us on the road by 9 with a new spare.Very right that the contractor who does the actual work is often the same - and also that the quality varies greatly. This one in Calera OK was fantastic.I did like how GS RA kept us informed, and called back at 8 to make sure someone had showed up. And at 9 to make sure we had found a place to get a good spare. And followed up the next day to make sure we were happy with the service.AAA has never called back to follow-up the four or five times we have needed them for the wife's car over the past 20 years.

Coach Net vs AAA. An Experience. | Good Sam Community

ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Dec 17, 2013
RV_wanderer wrote:

So there it is. Immediate response by Coach Net as opposed to an interminable wait for AAA, and the fact they covered a vehicle which wan't even mine. BTW, this was the first time I ever called Coach Net for assistance.

Unfortunately, your - "so there it is" - experience is pretty meaningless..:S

"SOP" = the person with any (the) ERS only needs to be present - not the driver or owner of the vehicle.

The wait on the phone can happen with any ERS..:R

I've had exactly the opposite with AAA.
Instant answer to the call.
And - there was a tow truck who saw me pull over when the car engine died crossing an intersection (fuel pump) - waited for the call for the tow. Had a tow operator "on scene" in about 2 minutes from hanging up with AAA.

However - AAA (you need the "upgraded" plan/s for RVs) - is probably *not* the best choice. AAA is *not* the same throughout the US.

Lastly - with *any* ERS - Coach Net, Good Sam, Allstate, AAA, etc. - you will get a tow operator who contracts with your Motor Club.

Often you will get the *same* tow operator no matter which Motor Club you belong to (as they have contracts with all/some/most).

Your potential "wait time" is not just with the dispatcher for your Motor Club - but the dispatcher for the tow operator he/she contacts for service where you are.

Then - your service (or wait for same) will be rendered depending on location (urban/rural) call load, weather, etc.

So - there it is - in the real world..:W

BTW - I keep my basic AAA (in CA for maps & DMV services) and have another ERS for my RV - which I won't "plug" as they are all about the same.

The Motor Club that rings *your* chimes is the one *you* should have!.:C

Only one that is 100% reliable 100% of time with instantaneous service is the Dead Presidents Motor Club or a CC.

.
RVER
Explorer
Dec 17, 2013
I have AAA and Good Sam Roadside Assistance. AAA tows for 3(three) miles without extra charge if there is service station within the 3 miles. I believe the Good Sam will tow 8 miles if there is service station that will work on your brand of vehicle. I had my truck towed 10 miles by AAA and was charged $28 extra to go the extra 7 miles to a Chevy dealership with NO brakes and NO pwr steering ( I wanted a Chevy dealer deal with it) not some greasy kid. I did not know the restrictions of 3 miles when I called the AAA. I will be giving up AAA when it comes due to renew, you can be sure!!!
noe-place
Explorer
Dec 17, 2013
Kudos to CN also. I've had them for years and only had to use them once when the MH fuel pump went out. Covered the spectrum of things to attempt to start the MH and when those failed CN got me a tow and everything went fine from there. No complaints and I just renewed for '14 the other day.

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