While camping this weekend our Suburban’s power steering & brakes failed and we used our membership with AAA emergency road service to have it towed home. Making a stressful situation worse the following is a summary:1. The initial representative informed me of the restrictions before asking any of the details (if the tow truck shows up and we are not around it only waits 5 min, only a one time tow per occasion, etc.)2. ~45 min. after the initial contact a tow truck operator called from several counties west of us (~150 miles away) saying they were on the way. We quickly established that AAA needed to be contacted again.3. Second call to AAA…..apparently the first representative was more worried about the restrictions than sending a tow truck operator close to my location. The next representative bounced me to the correct region and to make a long story short we were on our way home ~2.5 hrs after my initial AAA contact.Is this considered typical for emergency road service? We have been with AAA for years and expected a better / more quality response.

VAfan wrote:While camping this weekend our Suburban’s power steering & brakes failed and we used our membership with AAA emergency road service to have it towed home. Making a stressful situation worse the following is a summary:1. The initial representative informed me of the restrictions before asking any of the details (if the tow truck shows up and we are not around it only waits 5 min, only a one time tow per occasion, etc.)2. ~45 min. after the initial contact a tow truck operator called from several counties west of us (~150 miles away) saying they were on the way. We quickly established that AAA needed to be contacted again.3. Second call to AAA…..apparently the first representative was more worried about the restrictions than sending a tow truck operator close to my location. The next representative bounced me to the correct region and to make a long story short we were on our way home ~2.5 hrs after my initial AAA contact.Is this considered typical for emergency road service? We have been with AAA for years and expected a better / more quality response.Yes and No. Personally, I've had great ERS, except on a couple occasions where they had a little difficulty getting communications relayed. I truly believe this is why wireless cellphones came into existence.

What level of AAA ERS to you have?I believe they have three or four levels of service available and they're not all the same. Since we're out and about a lot in our motorhome, I upgraded our coverage to their highest level after we got our motorhome just in case.

I've been equally underserved by AAA RV and Coachnet. I'm now with Good Sam and haven't needed them - yet.

We gave up AAA when they told us they won't tow our truck. Its on the exclusion list.

Jim Shoe wrote:I've been equally underserved by AAA RV and Coachnet. I'm now with Good Sam and haven't needed them - yet.They *ALL* may contract with the *SAME* tow operator/s in any given area.Or to put it vice-versa..... a tow operator may have contracts with several Motor Clubs - including more than you listed.To answer the OP's question (typical?) = Yes, No, Maybe..:?It all depends on the tow operator/s..:WBTW - the 'qualifer' questions (to you) are "SOP".~

Typical emergency road service? | Good Sam Community

mgirardo
Explorer
May 01, 2013
VAfan wrote:
The basic problem was the initial representative was located in the Delaware region and should have transferred me to a representative in the Tidewater region where I was located. Instead she had a tow company from 150 miles away contact me.

The last time I required a tow and was out of my region, my region took my info and had someone from the AAA region I was in to call and followup and then arrange the tow.

-Michael
Elizabeth24
Explorer
May 01, 2013
On our way back from AZ in Shelby MT we pulled into the Town Pump and all suddendly no power steering, no power brakes and steam coming from under the engine hood, (blown water pump) we were pulling our 25 ft trailer.

Called AAA and tow truck was sent, we unhooked the trailer and the truck was towed to a fantastic facility, (Brian's Mechanic) and then the tow truck came back and towed the trailer to Lewis & Clark RV Park. All of this happened within an hour. We were very thankful that we have RV plus on our membership and that we broke down where we did, although it meant that we had to stay an additional day in Shelby, the service and cost of repairs certainly made up for this inconvience. Everyone from the town truck driver, the garage and RV Park were super!

We have had great service from AAA,CAA in both Canada and the US. When we broke down in Valleyview a few years ago, we had similar service.
VAfan
Explorer
May 01, 2013
VAfan wrote:
While camping this weekend our Suburban’s power steering & brakes failed and we used our membership with AAA emergency road service to have it towed home. Making a stressful situation worse the following is a summary:
1. The initial representative informed me of the restrictions before asking any of the details (if the tow truck shows up and we are not around it only waits 5 min, only a one time tow per occasion, etc.)
2. ~45 min. after the initial contact a tow truck operator called from several counties west of us (~150 miles away) saying they were on the way. We quickly established that AAA needed to be contacted again.
3. Second call to AAA…..apparently the first representative was more worried about the restrictions than sending a tow truck operator close to my location. The next representative bounced me to the correct region and to make a long story short we were on our way home ~2.5 hrs after my initial AAA contact.

Is this considered typical for emergency road service? We have been with AAA for years and expected a better / more quality response.

Thanks for the responses everyone. When I picked up my trailer from the campground yesterday I passed by the tow company that AAA finally contacted to help me – only ~10 miles from where my truck was located. I understand mistakes happen and plan on keeping AAA. Hopefully next time the representative will be more concerned about providing quality service than reading me the riot act.

The basic problem was the initial representative was located in the Delaware region and should have transferred me to a representative in the Tidewater region where I was located. Instead she had a tow company from 150 miles away contact me.

Apparently it helps to know the region you are located in or at least make sure your representative is in the region you are located.
Eurocamper
Explorer
May 01, 2013
I've been a AAA plus RV member for years and have always received good service from them including an elaborate recovery from Yellowstone National Park.

I had a steering pump failure that left me stranded with my trailer on the slopes of Mt. Washburn in the heart of the park. I discovered when I called AAA that Yellowstone Park Service Stations (YPSS) has exclusive right for any towing in the park, AAA can not do any towing there.

Not to worry, they said. AAA took my information, contacted YPSS and arranged for them to tow my truck and trailer to Gardiner, Montana.

There AAA had two tow trucks waiting to meet me. They took me and my trailer to Bozeman, Montana where they delivered my truck and me to the dealership and my trailer and my wife to a KOA that the driver recommended.

The AAA tow driver waited for me to conclude my business at the dealership and then shuttled me over to the KOA. AAA couldn't have been more professional and accommodating.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
May 01, 2013
Only thing I can add is that it is "typical" to only allow 1 tow per incident. In other words, they don't want to pay for a tow to your house because you think you can fix it, and then when you can't, pay to tow again to a repair garage. They will however, usually tow a 2nd time if the repair garage it was taken to is unable to do the repair, such as you need a transmission shop or specalized service of some kind. This would be typical for most road service coverages by various companies.
noe-place
Explorer
May 01, 2013
Coach Net since we've been rving (ten yrs) and only needed them once. That was on a holiday weekend. After exhuasting all attempts to get the MH running, the agent sent a tow truck which took me straight to the nearest rv repair center. Technician took me right in and diagnosed the problem. Had to wait overnight for the part to arrive since parts store was closed. Got part next morning; tech installed part and I was home in a few hours. CN paid $700 tow bill and I paid parts and labor.
mgirardo
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
We had an incident where our TV failed 70 miles into a 150 mile trip. At the time we had AAA Plus and Coachnet (was free for 1 year with RV purchase). Both companies contacted the same tow truck company to tow the TV, HTT and family of 4. The big difference was that AAA Plus allowed us to get to our destination 80 miles away while Coachnet would only take us to the nearest service station (for TV) and campground for us and HTT. I even offered to pay the difference, but they would do it.

We've been with AAA for 15 years. We have used it many times for our vehicles as well as friends and family. I don't expect immediate service and the only time I've had to wait excessively is when I needed to tow both the TV & HTT. The first time was early evening on a Saturday and the other was mid-day on a Sunday.

I like AAA because lots of stores, restaurants, theme parks, etc. offer discounts for members. We've had it in 3 different regions and have never had issues getting service when outside our region.

-Michael
tjar66
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
GS tow company took 90 minutes after we said we didn't want to buy a new overpriced tire. Initial quote was 20 minutes.
Laman
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
AAA left my wife and daughter stranded on a rural road at night with a flat tire, left me stranded on interstate because they don't dispatch for diesel fuel, left another daughter stranded on the side of interstate for two hours before they called back and said they did not have an contractor in the area which was only 15 miles from Tampa!

CoachNet has been great in the 3 times we have called, quick response and follow-up.
et2
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Have AAA RV plus. Keys locked in company car they were there in 20 minutes ( in suburbs). Last year tire change needed on the road for the fiver ( tire bulge). They quoted me a two hour wait. I told them that was too long. We were within 10 minutes of a city in two directions. I did it myself in 25 minutes. I called back and cancelled.

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