Good Sam Roadside assistance vs AAA RV premier

Our experience with AAA has been very positive. We've used it up and down the East Coast without issue. We've used it more out of region than in region and never had any problems. We are AAA Plus members with RV.

I've never tried Good Sam ERS, but we did have Coach Net for a year, it came free with our Hybrid TT. The one time we needed it, it didn't work for us. Coach Net would only tow us to the nearest repair facility. Our destination was 60 miles further away from the nearest repair facility. I even offered to pay the difference. AAA towed us to our destination campground, parked the TT in our spot and then towed the TV to the local GM dealer. Both AAA and Coach Net contacted the same tow truck company to tow us.

All that being said, I have heard that out west AAA is not as good as other ERS companies. I have no experience there as we've never had an issue outside of the East Coast, fortunately. However, AAA will reimburse us for services they offer that another region does not offer.

-Michael

Dutch_12078 wrote:
AAA is regional, and not all regions offer the same services. Also, carefully compare the details for any towing distance or cost limits, etc. We found Coach-Net was a good fit for our needs, with GS second, and AAA not even in the running.

*This* AAA assessment is correct.
You can't rely on what you "think" AAA covers across the USA.
However, basic AAA is great for maps, vehicle registration, short (non RV) services close to home, etc..;).

For the poster that likes to have a "back-up" ERS - look into American Motorcyclist Association (*NO* MCs required).
$49 AMA Membership includes roadside assistance and 35 miles of towing of/for whatever you are driving/towing.

IMO - Best ERS = US Rider
(*NO* hay burner ownership req'd - will tow anything you have)

Lots of good ERS: comparisons, experiences & opinions here

Lastly - for the OP....try a search. Both current and archives.
The subject - "Emergency Road Service" - has been on here more than "numerous times" over the years..:R

Watch for posters who have *actually received* service, tows, etc.
Pay attention to the good and the bad..;)


.

We have had Coach-Net, Good Sam and AAA. I have had GS and AAA respond to problems in "out-of-the-way" places. I prefer AAA because the people manning the phones are more helpful (they listen!), and so far I have found the service people that AAA sends more professional. Some good and bad with all but the bottom line is don't RV from home without one of them.

Read the policies carefully. Most will only tow you to the nearest approved facility. If you have a specific shop in mind and it is further away, the additional charges will be on you. Usually not an issue when travelling but when your car breaks down near home and you want it towed to your favorite mechanic, it might cost you extra. Some policies will give you a mileage limit but make sure that it is for where YOU want to tow to, not to the nearest shop. I think Good Sam now has an extra cost policy that allows for this. I plan to look into it next month when my AAA policy expires.

I have found that GS and AAA have one very different aspect that makes one better for some circumstances and the other better for other circumstances:

GS - they will send out a mobile mechanic first and they will not send out a tow truck until they make contact with a repair shop AND that repair shop is willing to accept your RV.

AAA - they will send out a tow truck, but it is your responsibility to decide where to have your RV taken.

What this means is that if you are broken down on a Sunday before a holiday, GS will have difficulty getting you towed. They aren't going to be able to reach the repair shops to get a "Yes, we will take the RV" easily in this type of situation.

In the same situation, AAA will send out a tow (usually quicker), but you will need to tell them where to take your RV. This is much more effective if you are fairly close to a familiar area (hometown, frequent vacation spot, etc.) and have a shop (or home) in mind to drop the RV at.

If you break down on a weekday afternoon far away from home and/or in an unfamiliar area, then GS will be able to confirm the repair shop and send out a tow pretty easily.

In the same situation, AAA will send out a tow truck, but you will have to do a lot of legwork to figure out where to take your RV.

If your breakdown is fairly simple and parts are easily obtained, GS will send out a mobile mechanic that will get you back on the road without needing a tow. The more hard to find parts are, the more complex the problem, etc. and this will slow down the amount of time you spend waiting to get that tow (GS won't usually tow unless a mobile mechanic has been dispatched first and can't solve the issue).


For me, I have both. I figure for an extra $100, it gives me that much more security. Neither is terrible; neither is perfect. It just depends on the particular circumstances.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
AAA is regional, and not all regions offer the same services. Also, carefully compare the details for any towing distance or cost limits, etc. We found Coach-Net was a good fit for our needs, with GS second, and AAA not even in the running.

That about sums it up in the real world of RVing.

AAA is regional, and not all regions offer the same services. Also, carefully compare the details for any towing distance or cost limits, etc. We found Coach-Net was a good fit for our needs, with GS second, and AAA not even in the running.