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gordiegaffer

Coach Net Or FMCA Roadside Assistance?

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We use the roadside assist that is included with our insurance from AARP The Hartford on our class A. They have the best coverage IMO. We have used the Michelin Advantage with FMCA to purchase new tires and saved 413.00 dollars. Last year had inside flat and called The Hartford and they told me road service would call me right back to get information. They called within 10 min and I told them I carry a spare unmounted. They were there in about 30 min and  broke down the flat and mounted my spare and handed me a road service form to sign. I asked what I owe and he told me it was covered 100% by my insurance. I gave the guy a 30 dollar tip and three days later we were at a Michelin tire dealer getting 6 new tires the old ones were from were from 9 of 2011 it was time anyway.

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1 hour ago, Gordiegaffer said:

Is Coach Net worth the 150 dollar difference over the FMCA Roadside Assist?

FMCA is 4107 and Coach Net is $249

Gordie Connelly

2006 Winnebago sightseer 29 R

No Toad yet

I switched to the FMCA plan because Coach net increased in price. I used Coachnet one time and had no complaints. Yes I looked at Good Sam's but I see a lot of complaints.

Bill

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While I have only needed road service in my RV twice, Good Sam sent a wrecker big enough to tow my Prevost, helped me locate a good service center (along with the Prevost Service help line) and safely towed me to my choice of service centers without issue.  YMMV (but hopefully not!)

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I had a bad experience with Bad Sams. I had a tire blow on my fifth wheel on I 10 and 75 called Bad Sams and waited 3 hr on the side of the road while the young women tried to find me service. I called back 3 times. I finally limped into the weigh station just ahead and changed the tire myself. That's why I am looking for a new service for my new to me Class A.  I also sent an email to Good Sams and never received a response.

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I just moved from Good Sam to FMCA Roadside Assistance. 

FMCA appeared to have many more benefits/services tailored to the Motorhome owner. 

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As hermanmullins said if you are comfortable with your coverage that is what matters. I would suggest that you just check with your insurance company to see what they offer. I would have had no idea of the coverage that was included with my coverage with The Hartford if the rep did not explain it to me and read what was covered. To me it was as good or better than what the others were offering and is included in my premium . Take the time and check it out you just might be surprised. 

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It's not Bad Sam.  It's called Good Sam and there are many reasons they use this name.  If you are not happy with the service Good Sam provides then you should simply post that information.  I don't call FMCA non-Family Motor Coach Association when I am not happy with the direction the company takes.  Many folks like FMCA, Good Sam, Escapees, whatever.....Many folks don't.  That OK no matter which side you choose but posting actual experiences with these services helps everyone.

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To me, road service is a toss up....some good, some bad.  We had a RF blow out in May 2015, on I 55 southwest of Joliet, IL.  Spent five and a half hours about 12" off the road getting blown around by 18 wheelers waiting for GS.  When the truck finally showed up, the driver apologized for the wait and said 295/80R22.5s are RV tires and hard to find.  So there was a long wait, but an explanation.  A 315 tire would have been much faster.

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Had a recent experience with Coach Net.  Drove across from Zephyrhills FL to Sebastion FL.  Had checked tires for air before departure ( I have air compressor aboard) and tires were all OK.  On arrival, noticed that the right front tire was low.  Called Coach Net.  They would be happy to come and replace the tire if I had a spare but they would not do any repair to the tire as in repairing a flat or replacing a valve stem because of liability risk.  I called a local tire store and they came out next morning.  The problem was the valve stem pin - it was sticking.  Anyway, the gentleman checked all stems, replaced two, and was on his way in about 20 minutes.  

thankfully, I was in a safe place rather than on an interstate roadside.  But no question I was not pleased with Coach Net.  Maybe this is a problem with all the roadside services.  But I'm researching which company to use henceforth.

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I subscribed to Good Sam for 7 years, called on them four times over that period. Twice for tow purposes and twice for tire service. Not one time did I let them perform their service, one time for towing, I wanted the vehicle towed to a known shop, 12 miles further than the nearest service center, response was no can do even if I paid difference in mileage. One time refusal on towing because I can not allow my unit towed on a cable. Twice for tires, the tires that they would bring were twice the price that I paid a local service. I changed to AAA RV Roadside service, have used them four times in four years, Three times for towing, and one tire service, service and promptness was excellent on every call. I have had no dealings with Coachnet, therefore can't respond for them.

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I have had both Good Sam and Coach Net. Used GS twice, once with less than stellar success and once with what could be called very good response. When I considered to use CN found that they would only tow to nearest facility capable not to preferred. sometimes you know that a provider is better able to do work in a timely manner something a dispatcher could have no knowledge of. Just went back to GS as coach net was way to expensive and at least at this point GS was way less than FMCA. Available services are comparable and your chances of using for tire service is the greatest area of need. With reasonable preventive maintenance on road breakdown is not near as big a factor. Many concerns center around tires and a good idea may be to carry at least a bare tire when doing long distance or extended travels. This will lessen the supply problems many encounter. We all need to remember the laws of supply and demand, you need a tire and supply is limited price is probably higher than what you would pay if time was on your side.. 

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On 3/4/2017 at 6:41 AM, hobart said:

 "When I considered to use CN found that they would only tow to nearest facility capable not to preferred. sometimes you know that a provider is better able to do work in a timely manner something a dispatcher could have no knowledge of."

My experience differs from Hobart, I have both Good Sam and Coach Net. This summer I had to tow my MH on three occasions from one service center to another and from my home to a third service center. The nearest Service Center was 50 miles away, however I wanted my MH to go to Atlanta area a distance 150 miles from my home. While there were many truck repair and two  Freightliner Dealers closer in Macon and Albany, Coach Net agreed to haul my MH to a Allison specialist in Atlanta, no hassle. Before I called CN I called Good Sam and my insurance company, Progressive, they both would only haul the MH to Macon (50 miles) , unless I paid the additional mileage.  Found the CN dispatch knew what type of equipment to dispatch, followed up like a mother hen until the job was completed. The tow driver was told by the numbers, how to tow my motor home. Without a word, detached the driveshaft, applied an air hose to the air input on the air dryer,  checked to insure air bags were inflated, and  brakes released,  placed light bar on rear, Smooth trip.

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Years ago we had AAA road service worked for our small gas motor home. Since then we have had Coach Net that has served us well on several calls in 9 years. Because of Coach Net's increase in price, I started researching other providers. At the FMCA Convention in Chandler I went to the FMCA Roadside Assist presentation. The questions I had answered satisfied me. I have now signed up. The only difference between FMCA Roadside Assist and Coach Net that I found was that FMCA Roadside Assist covers listed vehicles and Coach Net covered any vehicle I was using. That limitation is not worth double the cost. 

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Our CN service is up for renewal but we have the basic plan which doesn't cover our toad and doesn't offer Mobile Mechanic. Speaking with customer service at FMCA today was told they are now using Safe Ride for their roadside plan. Searching online I haven't been able to find any reviews of their service. Anyone have any better luck?

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On 7/25/2017 at 6:11 PM, rossboyer said:

Check on VAS who is the provider of FMCA Roadassist. They use to handle Coach Net until a few years ago. 

I was under the impression that VAS and Safe Rider are different companies. Is that not correct?

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If you go to Vehicle Administrative Services (Vas), you will find:

"Because we are committed to the RV lifestyle, we offer our customers a premium RV motor club benefit through SafeRide Motor Club, Inc. This motor club has all the optional benefits of a typical RV emergency roadside assistance service mentioned above plus".

The FMCA Roadside Assistance seminar presenter at Chandler stated that VAS is the parent company.

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I am late to this party  so what about AAA? I have been a member for years and have no issues except that they will not deal with a trailer unless I upgrade to one program that will cover the coach.

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Re AAA, way to many cases of AAA either not bringing a tow truck big enough for a DP and/or a mechanic that is unfamiliar with the transmission and does not know if/how it should be rigged for towing.  For years we were members of AAA, but not since since getting back into RVing.

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Going to chime in on this one. I had Bad Sams (I am going to go there). I needed a jump start in Jupiter, Florida. It was a Sunday morning. One hour later they told me they could not get me anyone until Monday (for a jump start, really?). I had a 10 hour drive ahead of me that day. I had to call another wrecker company that came to me in about 30 minutes for the jump start and I had to pay them I think $100.00. Now in a county with 1.7 million people that is absolutely ridiculous. That was their one chance with me and it was really simple situation which maybe I learned the easy way and should be grateful instead of having to count on them in the middle of Nowhere USA. They are basically dead to me. 

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