Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Topic: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs (Read 1761 times) previous topic - next topic

Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

March 29, 2012, 04:17:23 pm

Hi guys and gals,

I have carried Coach Net insurance for several years and recently received an ad for Good Sam/Camping World coverage. The Good Sam policy appears considerably less expensive but wonder if anyone has thoughts about the the differences in coverage? I suppose one should consider Progressive and companies too...

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #1 – March 29, 2012, 04:49:49 pm

Jim, I am not sure who the call center is for the Good Sam service. I have had Coach Net for several years and they have always performed well. I have never ( knock on wood ) had to be towed but on three trips they sent a road mechanic out that got me rolling again. They seem to have a pretty good handle on MH systems and will try to talk you thru a problem if they can.
Gary B

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #2 – March 29, 2012, 04:54:29 pm

Gary,

It may be that Good Sam is too new to know very much about it. The want $59.95 per year. Progressive is rumored to be endorsing he wrong political flavor for me.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #3 – March 29, 2012, 05:02:16 pm

I am not sure what you mean by Good Sam being "new". We have had Good Sam ERS since 2007. The "Platinum" level is about $100 per year.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #4 – March 29, 2012, 05:11:28 pm

Carol and Jeff,

Maybe the $59.95 price is the new feature. That seems pretty low compared to Coach Net. Perhaps there is more to it than price.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #5 – March 29, 2012, 05:18:05 pm

Quote from: Jim Frerichs – March 29, 2012, 05:11:28 pm

Maybe the $59.95 price is the new feature. That seems pretty low compared to Coach Net. Perhaps there is more to it than price.

Could be a "teaser" rate to get you signed up. Lots of services do that to get you as a customer. Renewals in the future might not be at the same rate.

Beware the "auto-renewal" feature, too. If you use a credit card to sign up, they'll often automatically renew your "membership" at a higher rate. Then when you try to cancel, you end up with a prorated refund....

-M

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #6 – March 29, 2012, 05:21:44 pm

Steve and Michelle,

Yep,I agree. Though I really want to know the differences in the policies and the track records. 'Curious minds want to know'...

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #7 – March 29, 2012, 05:50:56 pm

Over the years, before our FT, we had Good Sam Club Road side service. It worked as advertised. We now have CoachNet and are very satisfied with their very professional service.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #8 – March 29, 2012, 06:23:13 pm

This is what I posted in the past on the subject: "I had Camping World's Roadcare (Good Sam's sister outfit) first. Was on my way home with a SOB, new to me, used motorhome which lost all voltage due to a broken alternator belt. Happened just outside Columbus, Oh on a late Friday afternoon. Called them and they left me hanging until I fixed it myself on Sunday morning . Think I'd still be there if I had not fixed it myself. They said that there was no one available for that type of emergency road repair work on weekends. They were willing to tow me to a RV shop the did not open until Monday, all I needed was a new belt. That was the last time I used them. Switched to CoachNet shortly there after and have had a excellent relationship with them, even when I needed them when I purchased my U225. Needed a tow to Cummins and told them what kind of coach I had and they said it did not match their records, and I could only have one coach covered on the policy (still had the old SOB). Told them I had just purchased the Foretravel and was on the way home with it and the the SOB coach was for sale. The rep talked to her supervisor, and came back and said that they would cover the tow. No problem at all. Am very happy with CoachNet !!! Highly recommend them .

But there is something good in everything. We found a excellent Mexican restaurant while broken down there. In fact we have stopped at the restaurant when passing through Columbus other times! Fiesta Mariachi Mexican Restaurant. Love the Coctel de Camarones!"

And I will continue to hold that line. Now one has to remember that Good Sam Club and Camping World are wholly owned subsidiaries of Good Sam Enterprises. They have contracted with Allstate's ERS call center to provide service. If you go over and read all the threads on Emergency Road Service on the forum sponsored by GSE, Coach Net is clearly the most respected. They win over and over and over. Now when Good Sam tows a coach from Alaska to the lower 48 and from Nova Scotia to Montreal as CoachNet has done, I might consider them, but they are going to have to seperate themselves from Camping World first.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #9 – March 29, 2012, 08:12:31 pm

Sue and I have had the Allstate service for ten years or so. I'm not sure why we went with them but they've been pretty good, actually. We have had them two or three times over that period with the last time when my left front tire on an SUV disintegrated at 70mph on the freeway near Spokane, WA. They had an AAA truck there (!) within 20 minutes.

We converted to the RV program and will see how they do. I think it's about $80 a year.

Craig

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #10 – March 29, 2012, 08:32:07 pm

Have had only the Good sam policy since 1996 .Called them a few times , always had prompt response . Don't see how anything could be any better . Been towed , tires changed , helpful in every way .My last premum was $235.00 for 3 years . Now I Don't feel the same about Camping World .Too many boys with shiney tools that don't know what to do with them . Brad Metzger

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #11 – March 29, 2012, 11:11:30 pm

The Wrecker outfits rate CoachNet up with the best. Say the pay is alway right there. Allstate just runs the call center part for GS!!!

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #12 – October 13, 2012, 05:09:57 am

I've been reading though your site and came up with this thread so I thought I would add my 2¢.
About 5 years ago an elderly lady drove her 40+ DP Winny to Florida in the fall. By the spring she wasn't or didn't feel capable enough to return to Cape Cod. I volunteered. While driving north on I95 I had a blowout in smaller town Rhode Island while in the passing lane. The road, thick with traffic I was not able to move the coach to the right side of the road so I parked it in the emergency median strip just barely behind the line. The coach had a Good Sam Policy, so I contacted them and they said someone would be coming out within the hour. Two hours had past and no Good Sam. In the meantime the State Police arrived, so I invited them in and they proceeded to explain to me that the coach needed to be on the other side of the road. I was in a pickle, the traffic on I95 was moving at 70mph, down from 75mph because of the coach. The police called for back up and the local fire-truck and police department arrived. You had to see this to believe it. They placed cruiser about 1000 yards behind us, the fire-truck about 50 feet behind us and two cruisers in front of them with one cruiser out in front of the coach. I was to drive the coach with the blown tire in unison with all the other vehicles shifting to the right of the road. The backed up traffic was tremendous and plan was ingenious and we successfully ended up in the grass on the right side of the road without damage to the rim or the road. Now three hours had past, and the local police chief joined the State Police inside the coach as I explained that Good Sam was on their way. 4 hours had past when I got the call that the guy was on the way. In the mean time the local Police would stop by and ask if I was OK or did I need anything. While I was really peeved at Good Sam, the service and care I received from the police in Rhode Island amazed me. So this truck shows up with the tools to remove and replace the wheel, except the spare tire mount was stubborn and he really didn't want to lie on the ground and fight with it, so he said nothing could be done, packed his tools and left. 5 hours has past and I'm not a happicampa at this point, so I called Good Sam to read them the riot act. They finally conceded to try again but the second guy had to drive down from Massachusetts and it could take a few hours because he was on another job 45 miles away. I told them I would buy a new rim and tire and replace it myself if they just brought me one, but oh no, that not the way they do things. Finally after 9 hours the second guy shows up, now even the police think Sam's not Good. The second guy, was competent, removed the spare with the right tools and I was on my way after 10 hours on roadside of I95.
Good Sam did fix the problem, but I wouldn't say that the service was good. Many thanks to the Police of Rhode Island...who knew?

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #13 – October 13, 2012, 08:30:11 am

Aren't they ALL connected to Afinity ?

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #14 – October 13, 2012, 09:02:13 am

We are satisfied customers of coach net! Recently lost air to rt front airbags due to failure of rt travel solenoid which in turn led to a broken windshield. Pulled into a campground for the night and called Coach Net and related our predicament. At 8:00am next day a glass co. called- and by 10:00am we were on our way! And in add., the CN tech. guy even told me about the " mud dauber"- ( we all know that thread), and had me raise the coach with engine running then dump air with the 4- arrow button. Did this twice and voilà, the rt. airbags inflated. We all know the explanation. This happened on way to Mich. and eventually to FMCA, Ind.
On our way back to Fl., had a left front tire blowout resulting in fairly sig. Fiberglass damage. Again- called CN. In one hour they had contacted the proper tire co. who had the 295-80-22.5 that I needed and the proper tow truck which took us to the tire facility that was expecting us! Thankfully the rim was not damaged, except for roughening of the outer edge. We were back on the road four hrs. after the blowout! For us- Coach Net is worth every cent of the $109.50/ yr. For Platinum Plus that we pay.
At present we are sitting outside the gate of Extreme Graphics in Nag. TX. finishing up the fibgls. and painting by Rance- which should be done be Mon. Then on to Thousand Tr., Lake Connor in Willis TX. Will look forward to meeting as many of you at the Grandvention!

Ed Pan

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #15 – October 13, 2012, 10:20:24 pm

I have used both, the Platinum Good Sam and Coach Net. I have had slightly quicker service with Coach Net but that may well be the tire shop or wrecker service. I think the price for the premium service is about the same for each and well worth the annual investment.

It was a Good Sam referred Wrecker Service that taught me that "they don't have no jet tow trucks in Ft. Stockton, TX. Just relax buddy he will get there".

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #16 – October 14, 2012, 12:15:19 am

I now have CoachNet, and have had it for several years all because Camping World's Road Care (A subsidiary of Good Sam Enterprises) left me hanging several years ago, for a whole weekend, in Columbus, Ohio. They could not find anyone to replace a alternator belt. I ended up making a temporary repair so I could get out of town to a truck stop where I found assistance in locating a local mobile repair service to fix me up. He said he would have responded if they had contacted him. Prior to that they had I had a transmission cable failure and they sent me a guy just out of prison. He did not work for the tow company, was just a friend. Showed up in a old beat up Ford ranger pickup with his girlfriend. He did end up disconnecting the cable and transmission lever and put me in drive so I could drive the rig. Had to get if properly fixed when I got home. I dropped the Road Care and switched to CoachNet, and never looked back. CoachNet has always taken good care of us, and went out of their way to help. I highly recommend CoachNet. If you tow a trailer behind you, you will need their premium plan.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #17 – October 14, 2012, 08:17:37 am

Do ANY of the road service companies provide anything but either/or service?

The two times I have needed service, I was offered a tow OR a tech. If the tech could not fix the problem, the tow would be at MY expense.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #18 – October 14, 2012, 05:55:56 pm

Pat,

You do know you don't need to be stopped by the alternator, right? Just start the generator and flip the boost switch and go.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #19 – October 15, 2012, 07:07:12 am

When the incident occurred in Rhode Island towing was not an option. No trucks capable of moving the coach I was told. I asked the police if they had anyone on their list to tow me, at my expense, but no one was available or willing. Apparently there are locations where towing is not an option.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #20 – October 15, 2012, 10:31:55 am

We've had Coach-Net, KOA/Allstate, and now have Good Sam. Coach-Net did a good job but switched to KOA/Allstate on price. Had no trouble with them. Switched again to Good Sam on price again. Good service as we expected. Anyway, upon renewing with Good Sam this time I sent in the form with credit card information. Since I'm not a new customer I didn't expect the "teaser rate." I got a call a week later that I should have phoned in the renewal because I'd have saved $40.00 if I had. Told them to credit the account but they said basically, "too bad, shouldn't done it by phone..." GRRRRRR! Told them not to bother next year since they obviously aren't honorable. Don't know who I'll go with next year.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #21 – October 16, 2012, 05:22:58 pm

No answer to my question above: REPLY #17. Anyone have an answer?

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #22 – October 16, 2012, 06:45:52 pm

Duane, the answer is yes, but it depends on the tow truck driver, his skill level, and company policy with regard to towing RVs. I had an air problem show up a few years ago when I was ready to leave my aunts farm about 23 miles west of Eugene, OR. I could not build air pressure above 70 lbs. CoachNet walked me through a few possible issues. They decided to send a big rig tow. The driver backed his huge tow truck the 100 yards into the barn yard. He found the dryer was bad and took time to plumb a bypass around it. Then he told me of a good independent truck shop where I could get it fixed if I chose to, but it was safe to travel. The tow company's policy was not to tow big motor homes if it can be avoided. CoachNet paid the bill. I drove the FT to the shop. In a few hours we were on our way. The truck shop is J2R Truck & Trailer of Junction City, OR. They repair a lot of logging trucks and equipment,so it is not the cleanest shop I've seen. But,good honest people. I've no record of the tow company. Just a good memory of the driver.

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #23 – October 16, 2012, 09:45:33 pm

When I was bringing my newly purchased Unihome from Knoxville TN to Lakewood NM I sprung a severe air leak, could barely keep enough air pressure up to prevent the brake release button from popping out. I pulled into a rest area and decided I would call Good Sam Road service in the morning. I called God Sam in the AM and explained my situation. A couple hours later two guys in a beat up pick up truck showed up. I was not impressed with their equipment. Nevertheless I described my problem and without a lot of optimism went into the coach and waited to see what would happen. Five minutes later one of the men knocked on the door and told me I had brake line resting on the drive shaft had a hole in it. I asked if they had a brake line and they replied that they did not BUT they would make one up and reroute it. Fifteen minutes later they were finished and I was on my way. Was I a happy camper, you bet. Do I still have Good Sam Road Service, you bet.

Roland

Re: Coach Net vs Good Sam, etc. roadside assistance programs

Reply #24 – October 18, 2012, 12:47:14 am

Quote from: Duane Budd – October 14, 2012, 08:17:37 am

Do ANY of the road service companies provide anything but either/or service?

The two times I have needed service, I was offered a tow OR a tech. If the tech could not fix the problem, the tow would be at MY expense.

My understanding is that you are correct.

In my case, I wanted them to send a Tech to replace the belt. They said that there were none available in the whole Columbus, Ohio metro area. That is a big area, and I finally found one on my own. They had offered to tow me to a closed RV shop that would not reopen until Monday morning, where I would have to wait to schedule a appointment. I turned that down knowing what was wrong. Plus I was in a very safe place and under constant Police observation. I should have asked them to find me someone to fix me up. I was home early Sunday evening. And yes I did run the generator, but the coach being sob, required me to run a battery jumper. I was on my way home with a used, as is, coach I had just purchased from Camping World. Second breakdown that trip! I was not very happy with them, but learned my lesson well!

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