what does your Emergency road service really supply

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what does your Emergency road service really supply

December 17, 2013, 10:57:53 am

While on a recent trip I noticed a low tire.
I called all 3 of my road/emergency service's to air up the tire. Good Sam, Coach net and USGA Insurance
All 3 said they would change if I had a spare, but no service of a low tire.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #1 – December 17, 2013, 11:09:21 am

@Bill l called a couple of years ago when I had Good Sam with a flat tire that I discovered in the campground. Asked if they would dispatch to a campground. They said yes they could dispatch for an air up. Anything extra would be my cost.

Policies may have changed since then. Maybe if you said the tire was flat instead of low? Sometimes there are keywords they base their decision on...

see ya
ken

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #2 – December 17, 2013, 11:10:39 am

My Coach-Net: "Unlimited Tire Assistance - Changing of your vehicle's flat tire, delivery of a comparable tire for towing of your vehicle to a repair facility."

and "Nationwide Tire Delivery Service - In the event of a flat tire and you don't have a spare, Coach-Net is ready 24/7 with a network of over 40,000 roadside assistance providers to render aid delivering a comparable tire or towing of your vehicle to a repair facility."

I do have a air chuck and air hose that will reach all the tires.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #3 – December 17, 2013, 11:51:23 am

Have to remember that if the road service supplies the tire, it will be at list price plus and they probably won't have the brand mounted in stock. It may take several days to get an matching tire depending on location. When we bought our coach, the seller took it to town to wash it just before we got there. She ran over a piece of metal and ruined the inside dual. The membership road service charged her $650 for a different brand.

We sometimes go days without cell service in our travels and would not leave the house without the spare on board. Never good to get complacent about modern technology.

Pierce

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #4 – December 17, 2013, 11:52:48 am

Quote from: Bill Chaplin – December 17, 2013, 10:57:53 am

While on a recent trip I noticed a low tire.
I called all 3 of my road/emergency service's to air up the tire. Good Sam, Coach net and USGA Insurance
All 3 said they would change if I had a spare, but no service of a low tire.

Bill,

Just got an Email from Family Motor Coach Association. They just introduced a new roadside assistance program through Allstate. http://www.allstatemotorclub.com/amcc/member_services/Promo.faces?_adf.ctrl-state=jhu02ymg0_14&PROMO_CODE=fmca&null=&_adf.ctrl-state=jhu02ymg0_14&_afrLoop=21985584979417175

I use Good Sam but this might be worth looking into also.

Jerry aka Murph

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #5 – December 18, 2013, 10:25:19 am

Quote from: coastprt – December 17, 2013, 11:52:48 am

Just got an Email from Family Motor Coach Association. They just introduced a new roadside assistance program through Allstate. http://www.allstatemotorclub.com/amcc/member_services/Promo.faces?_adf.ctrl-state=jhu02ymg0_14&PROMO_CODE=fmca&null=&_adf.ctrl-state=jhu02ymg0_14&_afrLoop=21985584979417175

I use Good Sam but this might be worth looking into also.

The last I heard, Coach-Net was still the premier ERS for all other ERSs to try to be compared to. They are rated at the top of the field by the towing outfits who contract to various ERS companies. And as a consumer, I personally put Good Sam at the bottom of the pile with a "worse than average" rating when I remember what their sister outfit, CW's RoadCare, did to me many years back. Let the buyer beware is all I can say!! Only once does one get away with sending me a just released state prison convict (less than a week out of prison) to work on my broke down coach, out in the middle of nowhere!!! Only once does one get the opportunity to strand me in a parking lot for a whole weekend in Columbus, Ohio with a broke alternator belt, saying that they could not find anyone to work because it was a weekend. I found someone myself on Sunday when they couldn't. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!!" Nope, you will not find me carrying a Good Sam ERS card in my wallet. Coach-Net has gone above and beyond what their contract requires for me! I consider them to be the prestigious and trusted company for others to strive to be like.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #6 – December 18, 2013, 11:21:16 am

Good Sam and Coach-Net were two of the people I called.
Both offered the same "new tire and change"
I was 11 lbs. low and wanted to get serviced to check for leaks before making a commitment.
Finally (not my plan), but AAA sent a service truck to service the tire.
It was the valve core leaking, they also changed that.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #7 – December 18, 2013, 12:28:40 pm

During my brief 1 year of Coach-net, I called them once when I found an inner dual tire with 0 air. They offered to send someone out with a new tire. I said I didn't think I needed one, but that was the only option they had for me (and no other advice). Then I called my free-with-insurance roadside service and got the same response (but for free). I ended up slowly and carefully navigating the coach back 20 miles to the tire store who found and fixed a loose air valve.

As I have stated some years ago, CN was located in Havasu (building still says Coach-Net on the front) and I would see their newspaper ads for hiring "consultants". They required GEDs, no experience, and were paying a pretty low wage. I think it would be the luck of the draw to be able to get good advice when you called. I now know, thru my own experience, to check the valve first if something similar happened to me again. That would have been helpful advice to have received back then. Now if something happened, I would try to get on the internet and come here for great advice.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #8 – December 18, 2013, 07:18:54 pm

Last year someone tried to steal my Pressure Pro sending units and instead they unscrewed the valve extensions to both inside duals. The bead was broken so I could not re-inflate them myself. I called Coach Net and they sent out a tire repair service who inflated both tires. I had to argue with CN because they tried their best to send out new tires but finally they relented and just sent out the service truck. There was no charge at all for this service.

My guess is that they their policy is to not send out a truck just to inflate a low tire. I'm sure they don't realize that as age and physical impairment takes it's tole, just inflating a tire is a major project. The last five years simple little things have been a major project for me. Maybe an explanation of a physical impairment might make them more flexible.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #9 – December 19, 2013, 01:23:06 pm

I guess for me this is all about gambling. The cost of the plan vs the cost coming out of my pocket if I need a tow. I know what a tow will cost me with Coach-Net paying for it, the cost of my yearly payment. But without Coach-Net, I am looking at something like a minimum of $500. And if I need a tow, without ERS, I know I would pay full price, because I am at the mercy of those responding to the situation. Two times in my motorhoming career (10 years) I have had to be towed. Both times the mileage exceeded 40 miles. Lets figure the cost at $150-$175 hookup fee + $5.50-$7.00 per mile, plus drive shaft R&R or cage brakes+ $30. Lets say that both tows ended up costing me $970. Now I know the cost of my ERS is slightly over the cost of both calls. Both ERS calls came off flawlessly. I did not have to find a phone book or make a internet connection to find a tow service. When you sitting on a interstate to interstate ramp, you have no idea of how far you have to walk to find someone to help. It was so nice to make one phone call and have everything taken care of.

I really like how Coach-Net has treated me since I switched to them. They have towed me twice and second time I had not notified them that I had a new to me coach although I still had the old coach I was replacing. They could have refused to tow me, but the "consultant" got the supervisor to approve the tow. When they raise their rates and changed their plans recently, they kept me at my old Gold plan and old Gold plan price. The new Platinum price would have been $40 more a year. I don't know how long they will keep me on the old plan/price cause I only sign up yearly, but I was quite amazed when the told me the price was not going up and that I could keep my old plan coverage which is almost identical to the Platinum plan. That action on their part makes one feel like a special customer.

The tire problem I understand your feelings. I have read over and over on other RV forums about motorhome owners who have called to have their tires aired up when parked in their own home driveways. My feeling is that you should have your own compressor at home to top off the air pressure in the tires. I think this the reason that they are cutting back on this type of service. They had to pay the cost of all those calls under the old coverage. Cut those type of calls out and their overhead goes way down. You have to remember that their profits are figured on the laws of averages. But, I do think that a broken bead should merit the response by the service provider where ever your are at. Most of us do not have the volume of air to make that type of repair,

But considering the quality of service I received from my first ERS company, I almost considered dropping the ERS type coverage completely. It was on my way home with a used class A motorhome I had purchased at the same place I got the ERS. The tranny would not go into reverse and I was in a rest area out in the middle of no where. He showed up in a old beat up pickup with his girlfriend. We were broken down in a interstate rest area out in the middle of no where. He could not fix the problem, but it did put the tranmission in driver so I could go forward. Forward but no reverse. On the same trip I had the alternator belt break. I got off the interstate and found a city parking lot to park in. It was a weekend and the ERS could not find anyone to replace the belt They wanted to tow me to a RV shop in a industrial area that would not open until Monday morning. I found a roadside truck service on my own to make the repair, and was home on Sunday night as planned. That ERS, Camping World's RoadCare, left a very bad taste in my mouth. I was beginning to feel that all ERS were like that, but then I read many reviews about Coach-Net. I switched to them and have been treated well ever sense. I have been a customer of Coach-Net for a full 4 years now. I have paid they $476 for those four years. I consider myself ahead of the "game"!!!

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #10 – December 24, 2013, 10:54:54 am

We have had Coach-Net for a good number of years and will probably continue to use them but with some serious misgivings.

Last July, while in a 50-amp site in the Seward Alaska city campground, the engine would not start. It was on a Saturday and we were trying to get to Soldotna to catch a plane to Lake Clark on early Tuesday morning. We called Coach-Net and they said they would get back with us. We paid for the additional night at the campground as it took them a long time to get back to us.

When I described the symptoms to the Coach-Net technician he said that I needed to change the fuel filters myself and our plan did not cover sending someone to do this. I changed the filters and that was no fun as I was 78 years old and the coach was lowered to it's lowest position. (Normally I do this at home without a problem.)

The engine still would not start so I called Coach-net again and after several hours they informed me that no one could come out until some time on Monday. Our site was reserved for a caravan on Monday and we didn't want to cancel our Lake Clark adventure.

I saw a wrecker and the driver was changing a tire on a towed car in the campground. I asked him to help me when he finished. He left after he finished but fortunately I had taken down his phone number and we called his office. He returned about three hours later and partly unscrewed the filter mounted on the engine from under the bed and filled it with Diesel.

With much priming it still wouldn't start but he finally got it going with ether. We paid him and went on our way and haven't had this problem since.

I'm still unhappy with the way Coach-Net handled this.

Robert

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #11 – December 24, 2013, 11:29:17 am

Hmmm, I wasn't going to say anything about our experience, but after reading Kent's post I thought I'd report what happened to us.

When we got back home after being gone for seven weeks or so I noticed that one of our new tires was completely flat. I called TCI since they put the tires on, but they said it would cost us a fortune for them to come out to air the tire up. I then called Coach Net. At first they said they would send someone out, and asked about what tires were on the coach. They called back and said that we would have to pay for the new tire if they put it on. I said that I didn't think I needed a new tire, just someone who could get the new tire I had aired up. They said they don't send a truck out just to air up a tire, because then whenever someone was a bit low they'd call. I eventually found someone to come from Bolivar (~30 miles away) to take care of it. He found that the valve stem wasn't quite right. He got the tire aired up and the valve stem properly seated. It cost us $70.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #12 – December 24, 2013, 11:40:01 am

I have been fortunate in my experiences with Coach-Net. I have called them on four occasions that I can recall and they were able to get me going without being towed. Going in to Denver in Heavy Traffic on I70 I lost all air. They sent a wrecker but even tho it was a brand new unit the operator did not know how to operate it ( even with my help and advice ). By the time he got it all together I had lost all air and efforts to keep air up using a long hose and his air was not working. He gave up and I insisted that Coach-Net send a mechanic, reluctantly they did, the greasy kid that crawled under and replaced a broken off fitting was done in ten minutes, in a truck stop later he replaced the fitting and charged me 80 bucks. If I had had access to a list of mechanics in the area I would not have needed Coach-Net so the help they did send was worth the cost.
On other calls they were able to get me info that I used to keep going, in fact I was impressed with their technical help.

Gary B

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #13 – December 24, 2013, 12:34:43 pm

Coach-Net has saved us twice. We never had to be towed but they were able to find someone to work on the coach in a place where we knew no one.

The value I see in the membership is having someone to call who can get someone there or in our case at an exit on I-40 telling us which way to turn to get to a Cummins dealership with a hookup where we could spend the night safely. It was a suspension problem Cummins couldn't fix (and it was a weekend) but the next morning (a Saturday) Coach-Net found someone to replace a ride control valve at a nearby truck stop and got us on our way. By the way, the truck stop had already told us they didn't work on coaches but after someone at Coach-Net called and explained that we most likely needed a ride control valve and the similarity to many trucks they agreed to do it. We were on our way by noon that Saturday for about $200 and it saved our vacation.

I will say that both times I called them I continually expressed my thanks and how grateful I was for anything they could do to help us. This one required several calls back and forth as they worked their way through finding us a solution.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #14 – December 24, 2013, 12:57:51 pm

As to tires I have a spare wheel and will be putting a tire on it. A local trucking company has a spare tire unmounted behind the cab of each tractor in order to avoid the cost of a new tire. This could be a good compromise if you don't want to carry a tire on wheel. I believe that Coach net will mount it for you - but I am not certain of this. Any tire company worthy of the title can demount and mount tires on the road.

Keith

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #15 – December 24, 2013, 02:26:47 pm

Quote from: Keith and Joyce – December 24, 2013, 12:57:51 pm

As to tires I have a spare wheel and will be putting a tire on it. A local trucking company has a spare tire unmounted behind the cab of each tractor in order to avoid the cost of a new tire. This could be a good compromise if you don't want to carry a tire on wheel. I believe that Coach net will mount it for you - but I am not certain of this. Any tire company worthy of the title can demount and mount tires on the road.

Keith

If they don't, and if you have access to the internet, you can find a local tire service who will. Thing is that you will have to pay both the service call and labor. Initial service call charges have gotten very expensive. I really don't see why the ERS companies will not work along those lines with tire service. Maybe it is because the tire company does not bring along a portable tire cage for use when blowing up the tire. I think that has become a insurance mandated requirement these days. I think the insurance cost for those guys has gone out of sight. Locally we had one large tire distributor close their doors, and a mobile tire service sold his contracts to another mobile service. He was working alone and said he could not keep up, but could not afford to hire anyone because of insurance cost either.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #16 – December 24, 2013, 03:31:16 pm

The tire cage is less important for inflation that it was in the days of split-rims where the ring would fly off. Zipper ruptures where the tire splits are the problem now and still require a cage. If you are inflating a tubeless tire and hear a popping noise run as it's starting to go!!! Our service trucks and wreckers all carried cages.

I called Coach-Net to clarify what assistance they would give but they are closed for the holiday. Here is what the website says:

Changing of your vehicle's flat tire, delivery of a comparable tire or towing of
your vehicle to a repair facility.

If they deliver a tire they have to mount it - no?

Keith

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #17 – December 24, 2013, 06:06:11 pm

Quote from: Keith and Joyce – December 24, 2013, 03:31:16 pm

I called Coach-Net to clarify what assistance they would give but they are closed for the holiday. Here is what the website says:

Changing of your vehicle's flat tire, delivery of a comparable tire or towing of
your vehicle to a repair facility.

If they deliver a tire they have to mount it - no?

Keith

Some are saying that they will only show up with a mounted tire, but I don't know. I know that they will not show up with a mounted tire for me, cause my wheels are no longer made by Alcoa, and are next to impossible to find.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #18 – January 22, 2014, 01:33:17 pm

We just received our renewal for the Allied Insurance we carry (through Overland Insurance Services). Apropos of the discussion regarding emergency road service and tire inflation... there was interesting language in the Notice of Policy Changes (FYI... as Texas residents, our coverage may be different than other states). Below is a scan from that Notice:

The Roadside Assistance Coverage endorsement has been enhanced to reflect the new coverages we will be able to provide due to our partnership with a roadside assistance company. Subject to the terms and conditions of the policy and endorsement, the following coverage changes will be effective on your upcoming renewal date if Roadside Assistance Coverage is purchased and shown on your Declarations page:
-- ln addition to towing, we will now be able to provide the following additional services at the site of disablement:
* extraction if stuck on or within 100 feet of a road or highway
* delivery of supplies such as oil, water, and other fluids
* service to the battery
* changing or inflating of flat tires
* five gallons of fuel
* lockout service, up to $100
-- We are partnering with a roadside assistance company to help provide these services. lf you use that company to perform these services, we will pay the company directly, and you will no longer need to send in receipts for reimbursement of roadside services.
-- The "Towing and Labor" provision has been renamed to "Roadside Assistance Coverage."
-- Your vehicle can now be towed to a location of your choice, up to 100 miles from the location of disablement, instead of the nearest qualified repair facility.
-- The "Emergency Expense Coverage" provision has been renamed to "Trip Interruption Expenses."
-- Exclusions have been added to further clarify our coverage intentions and the extent of this [roadside assistance] coverage. No coverage is provided for any of the following: labor performed at a repair shop; a subsequent tow for the same disablement; towing or storage resulting from the abandonment of your vehicle; vehicle storage charges; or repeated service calls for a disabled vehicle in need of routine maintenance or repair.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #19 – January 22, 2014, 01:50:58 pm

Robert said:

"With much priming it still wouldn't start but he finally got it going with ether. "

I thought ether was a no-no?

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #20 – January 23, 2014, 09:23:15 pm

As some of you might have noticed, I was stuck at a campground office unable to restart my coach..

Good Sams service was called.
Their...contacts did not show. Then GS called me to tell me 'another' service would show up.
Good Sams did respond the guys they called in.. began playing games...as "I" see it. The guy registered with Good Sams, only called other providers. the first one, never showed up. GS then called and said they'd send another provider.. they showed up but
Now I have an issue with Good Sams, as the outfit that showed up began playing games... with GS now, I have to fill out forms etc... to rectify if ever the money I had to pass on.

Good Sams were supposed to pay for: Getting the Service guys here and back.

I was supposed to pay for service and parts on site.

The guy spent 20 minutes and a hammer to get to the problem of "starter". 30 minutes on the phone with his boss...walking off so I could not hear.....then a $155.00 bill for his 20 minutes.. no parts necessary.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #21 – January 23, 2014, 10:41:34 pm

Quote from: Patricia – January 22, 2014, 01:33:17 pm

-- Your vehicle can now be towed to a location of your choice, up to 100 miles from the location of disablement, instead of the nearest qualified repair facility.

Now that is where Coach-Net has really shined in the past. While theirs says the nearest qualified repair facility, I know of one tow from Alaska to the lower 48 and another from Newfoundland to Quebec City, Quebec.

Re: what does your Emergency road service really supply

Reply #22 – January 24, 2014, 11:07:15 am

Ron, I use Coach Net and have been pleased. As I understand their terms and as it has worked out in real life... They will send either a tow truck or a road mechanic, one or the other, not both. You are liable for any charges by the Road mechanic EXCEPT the service call amount. On two occasions I have had them send a mechanic and both times it worked this way. Even if they have to tow you to a shop you are liable for any charges the shop makes that are repair related.
As Usual it is very important that everyone read and understand the terms of the contract. In my experience Coach Net has been very easy to deal with.
Gary B

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