how do towing services work?

Just keep in mind. All of them are super nice and great when shopping for their service. The important thing what is the service like when you need help. I agree with previous post. compare plans. Get the level of sevice you feel you need. I get the best plan coach net offers because I want some choice where I get towed. There is a particular chain of garages coach net doesn't tow to. I'm good with that. These are things you should check when shopping for the service not when you are having problems and need the service.

BTW: Coach Net will tow you to a "QUALIFIED" repair service. Not just the nearest garage.

:C :C :C

This is how they do it...

You need to shop around, as different plans have different services covered, and different limits, restrictions and exclusions. I find Good Sams ESP a good fit to my RV (motorhome) needs, more so than the road service plan included as a perk with my casualty insurance, or what I can get with the auto club in Oklahoma, although that's what I've been using for years with my other vehicles.

I haven't tested Good Sams ESP, haven't had a need on the road, and when the battery runs down while in storage, I consider that something to deal with myself, rather than something for emergency road service.

I have had my RV towed twice (Actually 3 times but they did not unhook between 1st and 2nd)

First twin tows were 800 bucks,, From wherever the blazes I was to the tow company (Quitting time) and then on to Savannah GA

Second tow was 450 Savannah to Roughly Darien (Actually Townsend 3 miles off the freeway) where I am today.

My Insurance (Towing rider on Motor home policy, Nationwide) had me a check for 800 within a week .. I paid for the 2nd tow... IN a few more years I'll have it towed again.

Then I'll drive it once more.

My experience was similar to that of djgarcia. The first year we had CoachNet we had a power failure on our TV. Both the truck and trailer had to be towed 45 miles to the nearest diesel mechanic. Fortunately there was a campground nearby and the tow operator dropped the trailer off there before continuing to the repair shop. The savings on that incident alone paid for the next five years' subscription fees; and I've used them twice since then to change tires when we had an imminent tire failure. I didn't have to pay out-of-pocket for any of the incidents. Hope this helps.

My AAA Plus + RV has paid for itself for many years to come now. We used it when my radiator blew. They towed the trailer and carried my van home to our shop to get it fixed up. We were stranded in NY on the last leg of a long trip. They brought us home to PA. A+ for AAA for us!

You have to carefully read what you are buying. Many of the less expensive plans only offer towing to the nearest approved facility. That means if your RV breaks down near home the provider won't tow it to your preferred mechanic if they are not the closest approved facility. Some more expensive plans do offer towing up to a specified limit to anywhere you wish. When I was looking last spring, I found only AAA RV Plus and Good Sam offered plans with these options, Coachnet did not. That was too bad because I really wanted to buy from Coachnet given the good reviews they are given here. I wound up going with Good Sam but I have to say I have only good things to say about both Good Sam and AAA from past experiences.

We have Coach Net, and are very satisfied with them. We had AAA and was left on the side of the road because the tow truck driver said our unit was too big for him (I used a bottle jack and fixed the tire myself)and ERS waiting times for service (and connection on phone to service writers) was very excessive. All of our vehicles are covered and have used them for battery problems and towed our hot rod to our new house from our old one, never a problem. Their
service equipment seems to be better. JMO.

gbopp wrote:
I don't know if they charge by the mile or hour. I do know they are not cheap.

I do think a Roadside Service policy would be a wise move.

By the hour, at least we do. From when the wrecker leave to building till it gets back. Some take a deposit or have a minimum time.

KC

mgirardo wrote:

suprz wrote:
I only ask because my towing coverage only covers up to 150.00. We take the hit for anything over that. I called Aaaaah local big rig towing place nearby and was told they bill 150.00 per hour and not per mile and there a 2 hour minimum charge. So I'm contemplating coach net coverage

We have AAA Plus with RV Coverage. In the last 10 years, we've only camped along the east coast with one trip to Houston. We've never had a problem getting service. We are covered by AAA South, but we've never actually used it in the AAA South region. The last couple times we needed it to tow our camper and tow vehicle, we were in PA.

We like AAA Plus because it tows up to 100 miles for free. If I am 90 miles from the shop I want to use, AAA will cover it. With CoachNet, if there is a shop closer to where I am broken down, that is where they tow, not the shop I want. CoachNet told us that we could not pay the difference to go where we wanted to. We had AAA at the same time and AAA towed us where we wanted to go.

In other parts of the country AAA may not have great coverage, but along the East Coast, AAA works well. Plus lots of hotels, campgrounds, restaurants and other retail outlets offer discounts to AAA members. Usually the discounts we get for being AAA members covers the cost of membership.

-Michael

My problem is that my RVing routes frequently take me to towns , areas, cities that I have no knowledge of the different RV repair shops!!!