Having arrived via the Bus Coach world, I keep an eye tuned in that direction too. What I find very interesting is the serious bad mouth / negative feelings toward Coach Net, perfering Good Sam road service. So, while sitting back, thinking it over and reading the issues involved, it appeard most of the issues are based on either poor PM care & feeding of their toy or driving it into a very poor location.
A converted bus can be a major investment with major $$$$$ to keep it up to snuff as you have no central location for parts.
Then a small reward when the need to sell happens, so I am wondering why this group has so much "Dumb" needs for rescue. Guessing they run it until it gets shakey and a little more. Each bus is an individual, one of a kind.
Have not seen that showing up on this forum YET, hope it does not.
Just my thoughts
Merry Christmas
Dave M
Coach net has helped us for two breakdowns. One a blown hydraulic hose on our 93, and once for a blown tire. When I blew a brake line they couldn't help. I found no fault with that. I re-up with them every year... Cheap insurance.
Dave M. If you don't know this already, you are better off self-insuring rather than going with any outside service. If you simply don't have ready access to $2,000 (an amount that should cover just about any incident you have happen, except a blown engine or tranny), then I would suggest that you look very very closely at all the exclusions that you find on either Good Sam or Coach Net services. For those who do all their own maintenance (oil changes, etc.) you will find that to have your engine covered, you have to be able to PROVE that you never let the oil remain in the crankcase any longer than 90 days. That's right, every three months or more often if conditions warrant it or Good Sam for sure can and will refuse to help you.
Something most important to realize is that Good Sam is directly affiliated with several other RV related companies and is part of the Affinity Group...the single largest RV related organization in the US and probably the world. Paying out on claims goes directly against their grain, because they want to make money. One of the founders and part of upper management knows nothing and could care less about RVers, RVing and is in it for just one thing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
I never had Coach Net, so I can't speak from personal experience. I know several people who do and I've never heard a bad word spoken about them. I did have Good Sam for about three years, till they pulled out that super fine print in one of their contracts, that I mistakenly signed without reading every single line item. I also had a program called STAR. Stay as far away from them as you can get. You will find the only coverage you will get with them is that you are REQUIRED to have your transmission worked on at a place called OK Transmission, brakes & exhaust you are required to take it to MIDAS muffler. Anything to do with engine work: PEP BOYS. The people who work at these establishments have never seen a motorhome, but that's the only place you can take your motorhome if you have the STAR Maintenance Agreements.
What I decided was to add the "RV Premium towing rider" to my AAA (Auto club membership) for $55/year (South Dakota AAA) and it covered lockouts, ten gallons of fuel (that alone almost pays for itself—if they haven't changed the qty. or membership cost), towing and or flatbed haul for 1st 10 miles.
John,
Don't confuse emergency road service (CoachNet, Good Sam ERS) with extended service contract (something also offered by Good Sam, as well as quite a few other companies; and often mis-termed "extended warranty"). Emergency road service providers don't inquire as to your maintenance history - they are strictly there for breakdowns/towing/that sort of thing and don't cover cost of repair.
Now, as to which emergency road service is best, CoachNet is our choice. They are motorhome-centric (although their coverage does also extend to your household-owned cars and passenger trucks.) AAA does not have MH-capable contract service providers in many areas of the US so it's probably not the best option for some folks.
Michelle
CoachNet is the way we went as too. I can not comment on their service's other than what I have read and hear from others is all good. We will be happy to keep paying them the annual premium hopefully without making any emergency/breakdown calls to them. The peace of mind is worth the dough.... :)
Dean
I started with "RoadCare", Camping World's ERS, a sister company of the Good Sam ERS. My very first call for help, they sent me a, just released, client of the Alabama State Prison System. I kid you not. He was driving a old beat up Ford Ranger. Had his girlfriend with him. He couldn't fix my rig, but he did get it operable again, but with no reverse gear. The second call, same trip, they stranded me in Grove City, Oh, a suburb of Columbus, Oh for the whole weekend. They didn't even send anyone out. They could not find anyone to replace a broken alternator belt. I ended up jumping the house batteries to the chassis batteries and running the house generator so I could get out of town and to a truckstop where I found a road service company to fix me up. The best part of the deal was that I had just purchased that motorhome from Camping World. That was the end of my dependence on anything related to Camping World, CW's Road Care or anything related to Affinity Group, including Good Sam Enterprises.
I switched to CoachNet and have not looked back. CoachNet has been there, in my book, above and beyond anything I ever expected of them. Some people may say "Don't Leave Home Without It", referring to American Express. Well when I say that, I am referring to CoachNet!!! They have been professional and above board the whole time I have been with them!
I also have the Coach Net, I agree with John C on the self insurance. My reason for the Coach Net is more for emergency tire work, I no longer can fight a tire problem, yes could contact a truck stop but know when you mention RV to them, they get light headed.
Only called once for help, they could not find a service due to the hour, weekend etc,etc but they gave me the closest shop that did not have road service, it turned out VERY good and a block away and I drove it over to them.
FWIW
Dave M