I am trying to decide if Roadside service is worth the money prior to leaving for vacation this year. It will be about a 3500 mile round trip with our truck and TT. I have looked at all the popular carriers and am having a hard time justifying spending that money when I dont really see what it is they do, that I cant. For example, why wait an hour for someone to come change a flat tire on my truck or trailer when I can do it and be back on the road in a fraction of the time?My truck is new and included roadside service with the purchase. I feel that Im pretty handy and usually fix anything that goes wrong with the trailer like a faulty pipe or other issue like that. Is there something that I should consider that Im missing? For 180.00 I could buy a new tire myself and have it mounted on my rim and not pay the labor costs that the "assistance" people still require you to pay.

Well, if you're sure you can handle whatever may happen - even if it happens 80 miles from the nearest anything - then you should not bother with it. Just MHO...

I guess the other question is too if its something I cant handle like say a spring hanger broke off the frame and needed to be welded back wouldn't I be financially responsible for the repair once whoever arrived on scene fixes it? Labor costs for stuff isn't covered correct? So roadside assistance is just getting someone to you then you work out what to do? Or am I misunderstanding what this gets you

I think pretty much along the same lines as the OP. I make sure the trailers bearings and such don't leave me on the side of the road and I can change a flat in 15 minutes. My truck has towing insurance through auto policy.If the truck had to be towed and they charge me extra for the TT then I'm probably still ahead after not having paid for road side assistance all these years.There will be a day when I'm not so limber though and I may change my ways then.

Last time I had a blowout it was rear drivers side in the middle of a large city on the freeway during rush hour of course. I was glad I had road service.

It's insurance like anything and you never know what's going to happen. Think about this - while on a cross country trip, at a stop we noticed that our exhaust melted the spare mounted under the TV bed. Jeesh, now what we thought - what if we get a flat? Well, I called Good Sam and explained the situation. They confirmed my cell number, hung up, and called back with exact directions to the nearest tire service. We drove there, the service removed our melted spare from underneath in their work yard with the RV still connected, replaced, remounted, and this time back in the bed to prevent that from happening again. To us that was well worth having roadside service. Ours covers all our vehicles and whatever vehicle we are driving so that's al we have. Peace of mind is priceless.

road side service a waste for me? | Good Sam Community

47 Replies

HappyKayakers
Explorer III
Aug 09, 2013
6.7 tow rig wrote:
I guess the other question is too if its something I cant handle like say a spring hanger broke off the frame and needed to be welded back wouldn't I be financially responsible for the repair once whoever arrived on scene fixes it? Labor costs for stuff isn't covered correct? So roadside assistance is just getting someone to you then you work out what to do? Or am I misunderstanding what this gets you

ERS will cover the 'show up' charge for a mobile mechanic. You get to pay for the repairs. Maybe more importantly, ERS will find the mobile mechanic for you. I'm pretty handy with a laptop and Google but not everybody has a website.

If you do your own repairs, you still need to consider where/how you're going to get the spare part that you didn't pack.
Lantley
Nomad
Aug 09, 2013
Are you going to tow it yourself as well? Does the included new car roadside assistance cover your trailer?
ReneeG
Explorer
Aug 09, 2013
It's insurance like anything and you never know what's going to happen. Think about this - while on a cross country trip, at a stop we noticed that our exhaust melted the spare mounted under the TV bed. Jeesh, now what we thought - what if we get a flat? Well, I called Good Sam and explained the situation. They confirmed my cell number, hung up, and called back with exact directions to the nearest tire service. We drove there, the service removed our melted spare from underneath in their work yard with the RV still connected, replaced, remounted, and this time back in the bed to prevent that from happening again. To us that was well worth having roadside service. Ours covers all our vehicles and whatever vehicle we are driving so that's al we have. Peace of mind is priceless.
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Aug 09, 2013
Last time I had a blowout it was rear drivers side in the middle of a large city on the freeway during rush hour of course. I was glad I had road service.
ScottG
Nomad
Aug 09, 2013
I think pretty much along the same lines as the OP. I make sure the trailers bearings and such don't leave me on the side of the road and I can change a flat in 15 minutes. My truck has towing insurance through auto policy.
If the truck had to be towed and they charge me extra for the TT then I'm probably still ahead after not having paid for road side assistance all these years.
There will be a day when I'm not so limber though and I may change my ways then.
6_7_tow_rig
Explorer
Aug 09, 2013
I guess the other question is too if its something I cant handle like say a spring hanger broke off the frame and needed to be welded back wouldn't I be financially responsible for the repair once whoever arrived on scene fixes it? Labor costs for stuff isn't covered correct? So roadside assistance is just getting someone to you then you work out what to do? Or am I misunderstanding what this gets you
bertnspike
Explorer
Aug 09, 2013
Well, if you're sure you can handle whatever may happen - even if it happens 80 miles from the nearest anything - then you should not bother with it. Just MHO...

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road side service a waste for me?

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