Good Sam Club / AAA plus RV

[IslandHtsCampers]

Just returned home from a 9 day trip through the Smokies, Atlanta and Carolinas. While returning home our truck broke down and could not be repaird roadside. I contacted Good Sam Club upon determining we would need assistance about 2 pm. After numerous phone calls, I was informed at 8:15 pm that they exhausted all of their resources and could not assist us. We were on US 301 in Maryland- only 17 miles from the National Mall in DC. I was very upset that Good Sam couldn't assist us. I contacted AAA and they had my pickup truck on a flat bed heading to my local service center withing 2 hours. Our fifth wheel was rescued by a family member who also has a pickup with a hitch. That rescue was a 407 mile round trip.
I used to have AAA plus RV. I downgraded to AAAplus and signed up for good sam because the sales person at a campershow said they would not have a problem at all to assist us with our setup. I had heard horror stories about AAAplusRV.
I had never felt "stranded" and hope to never have go through a similiar ordeal again.
Have any of you had similiar problems and what kinds of roadside assistance programs do fellow campers have and used successfully?

 

[gillenkl]

Sorry to hear your story - also one of my fears while traveling. We have AAAplusRV but have never used it.

 

[becky1960]

We broke down on the Turnpike 30 mi north of disney having lost two wheels on the 5th wheel. We hav AAA Rv+ and called them, it took about two hours because they had to find a Lowboy trailer + 18 wheeler. Their service was ok, but there is a clause about Portal to Portal not being covered. We were lucky as the driver took us to a Large RV repair shop about 15 mi away. Our cost was $ 360.00, the portal to portal charge. AAA found the shop and told driver, who by the way was great..

 

[iuki]

Just returned home from a 9 day trip through the Smokies, Atlanta and Carolinas. While returning home our truck broke down and could not be repaird roadside. I contacted Good Sam Club upon determining we would need assistance about 2 pm. After numerous phone calls, I was informed at 8:15 pm that they exhausted all of their resources and could not assist us. We were on US 301 in Maryland- only 17 miles from the National Mall in DC. I was very upset that Good Sam couldn't assist us. I contacted AAA and they had my pickup truck on a flat bed heading to my local service center withing 2 hours. Our fifth wheel was rescued by a family member who also has a pickup with a hitch. That rescue was a 407 mile round trip.
I used to have AAA plus RV. I downgraded to AAAplus and signed up for good sam because the sales person at a campershow said they would not have a problem at all to assist us with our setup. I had heard horror stories about AAAplusRV.
I had never felt "stranded" and hope to never have go through a similiar ordeal again.
Have any of you had similiar problems and what kinds of roadside assistance programs do fellow campers have and used successfully?

We have had both. We dropped AAA Plus RV and have had Good Sam ERS for several years now. Never had a problem with Good Sam. AAA will only tow to the nearest repair facility. Good Sam will tow both the RV and tow vehicle to where you want it towed. I was surprised to hear that you had a problem with Good Sam.

 

[storyteller]

We have had both. We dropped AAA Plus RV and have had Good Sam ERS for several years now. Never had a problem with Good Sam. AAA will only tow to the nearest repair facility. Good Sam will tow both the RV and tow vehicle to where you want it towed. I was surprised to hear that you had a problem with Good Sam.

Wow... sorry to here that.
We've used ERS they were great, went out of their way. Hope you never break down agian, but if you do, wish you better luck.

 

[djbogue]

I switched to Coach.net from Good Sams after reading about the horror stories on rv.net. I have never used either and hope I don't. Coach.net seems to get quite a few recommendations from the forum members on rv.net.

 

[LeftyRN]

We have heard stories about all and when we have plans for extensive traveling (7 months 16000 mile trip) I actually had service with both plans at the same time. Did not need either for that trip but have used AAA RV plus the majority of our time RVing (about 20 years) over that time have had the need to use 3 times and AAA was always who we had at the time and who we called. Never good and always a crap shoot. No easy answer. All timing luck and where you break down.... unfortunate but that's our experience. Good Luck

 

[iuki]

Wow... sorry to here that.
We've used ERS they were great, went out of their way. Hope you never break down agian, but if you do, wish you better luck.

I must have confused you, I LOVE Good Sam's ERS.

 

[retired and happy]

We have used Good Sam a number of times with three motorhomes. Never had a problem, and even got two tows for one breakdown...first home, then to a repair facility I chose. Nothing but good words about Good Sam's ERS.

 

[DznyRulz]

Go to the rv.net forum set up for Good Sam Roadside Assistance and tell your story there. You will most likely be asked by someone high up on the GS ERS food chain, probably Zach or Brandon, to get in touch with him. I'll bet they offer to reimburse your expense since they weren't able to assist you at that time. The reason I say that is because they will find it unbelieveable that they couldn't render assistance just outside the Nation's Capital (where I live). There have to be more tow trucks in the DC Metro area than in the rest of the country, large cities not included.

 

[IslandHtsCampers]

We have had some better luck recently. My wife, after numerous phone calls, found someone in good sam management who called their handling of our situation deplorable. They have authorized to reimburse us for towing expenses. My truck was repaired and everything was covered by our extended warranty.

Now it is time to start planning our next trip to the fort!

 

[storyteller]

I must have confused you, I LOVE Good Sam's ERS.

gotcha

 

[Stackie]

I have used GS ERS on two occasions and received outstanding service. Your post is disturbing, considering this stretch of 301 is heavily traveled with RVers avoiding the Baltimore and Washington traffic.