Welcome to the latest video from RV Miles. Have AAA? We'd love to know what your experience has been. Have a thought on the topic covered? Let us know in the comments below. Please remember to keep comments kind and on topic, and we promise to do the same. If you find value in this video, please share it around and don't forget to hit the "like" button and subscribe to the channel. Those quick actions help put RV Miles in front of more and more RVers just like you. Thanks for watching and don't forget - the RV Miles Podcast now has a new home on TH-cam. We hope you'll join us there as well! th-cam.com/users/rvmilespodcast - Jason and Abby
I have Good Sam (National General Insurance). I have not checked them out much, but when I bought my Class C RV used, from Tom's Camperland in Mesa, AZ, they signed me up for "RV Complete". Supposedly super friendly RV assistance, but who knows. I have yet to look at the details.
Excellent video. Thank you! I just canceled AAA and went with Coachnet. You reminded me of the nightmare experience last winter ( see below comment) with AAA.
Got stranded on I-95 in Georgia towing a fifth wheel. Fortunately, we had AAA RV towing service specifically for that purpose. They never found a tow truck for us and left us stranded at night for hours despite repeated calls to them. We ended up calling on our own to get a service truck. Never again would I use them for an RV.
Same thing happened to me in California on the 5 near Mendota. No word on when they could get anyone to come out for a tow. Only advised me to call 911 if I had an emergency. Had to call a place in Fresno for the 89 mile tow at night. $2000.00. AAA reimbursement maximum for a non- contract vendor is $500.00.
Same here tho it was Good Sam's roadside assistance could not find us a tow my brother came got us..can u tell what the tow cost u..our $480 for a tow home just 58 miles from our home..thanks you brother for the tow ur our HERO..n another state not sure what we would do
Georgia AAA has been a disaster to try and use!! They do not have tow truck partners willing to tow RVs!! Im on day 4 of trying to have my class C towed. I DO NOT RECOMMEND AAA for RVs!
@@tglass0000 Wait, I'm confused. I thought they go anywhere? I have used them in rural, middle of nowhere North Dakota and they come out within 90 Minutes Or So, so I'm not sure why they wouldn't come out in even more populated areas like California? I have the service where they tow 100 miles and I have never had a problem with it. A single free tow Pays for more than the entire Year's membership Fee!
We had a HORRIBLE experience with AAA last year! We were 80 miles out of Ely, NV when our pick up broke down while pulling our 33 ft 5th wheel. We were stranded on the side of the 2 lane busy highway for 28 hours. AAA could not locate anyone to tow us! The tow company that could tow us wouldn’t deal with AAA. AAA said we were on our home! I finally located someone about 18 hours later that would tow us and then waited overnight for someone at AAA to approve. It was really a nightmare.
AAA left me in the lurch twice, done after being a customer for over 20 years. Went with Coachnet and the experience was SO much better than the last few times I used AAA even not counting the ones where they left us holding the bag. BTW it was AAA of the Carolinas that screwed me over both times. There's nothing more useless to me than a service that doesn't actually help me when I'm on the side of the road.
Wait, I'm confused. I thought they go anywhere? I have used them in rural, middle of nowhere North Dakota and they come out within 90 Minutes Or So, so I'm not sure why they wouldn't come out in even more populated areas like Carolinas? I have the service where they tow 100 miles and I have never had a problem with it. A single free tow Pays for more than the entire Year's membership Fee!
@@jackwilliams5474 AAA of the Carolinas doesn't (or didn't) offer the Plus RV product, and at least twice refused to provide service for me when towing my travel trailer in their coverage area.
@jackwilliams5474 I just found out in Oregon they only pay $500 for RVs, but cars are still Hundred Mile tow, and one-time 200-mile tow, which isn't very much money for RVs, , they changed their policies, that's why I'm online trying to figure out if there's a better alternative to AAA
I've worked for AAA for the last ~6 years. The change you're referencing affected members who Upgraded to RV on or after 04/01/2020. Anyone before that got an additional year of the previous coverage, before being ushered into the 500$ per call cap up to 1000$ total coverage. Working closely with both sides of the house, I can assure you, YOU'RE RIGHT! If I owned an RV, I would go with Good Sam. I've talked to many members who still use us for ERS coverage for their vehicle, but use other companies for their RV because of the hoops AAA made them jump through for the coverage. I do enjoy the informative way you made the video and read the disclaimers verbatim. Well done and keep it up!
We paid extra for RV coverage with AAA. We were very clear asking them what they would cover in different situations. We needed to be towed about a half mile off a road in South Dakota. They said they would only tow us if we were on a road. Even if we were right next to the road, they wouldn't help us. They never said that originally when we signed up with them. Long story short, we found other RV'ers that could tow us. We cancelled AAA. So far we have never been in a situation where we haven't been able to get out of with the help of another RV'er.
@@docholiday1034 We were already members and wanted to add on off road. They said, absolutely we can tow you if you are stuck off road. There is no contract to look at when you're speaking to someone on the phone. You have to take they're word. At the time, I would have never guessed they were lying to get more money out of me. That's fine, we cancelled on the spot when 6 months later they refused to help. We saved the money and learned to be more self reliant.
Good video and explanation of limitations and potential headaches with AAA for RV's. I learned some new points from this video, and few on my own the hard way. I've been an AAA member for decades and happy with their services in general (autos, flat tires on trailers, etc.). Yet, recently learned to read the fine print better when shopping for roadside assistance for RV's, and hence, added another service in addition to AAA premium plus for RV's. In our case, we had a 5th wheel and our truck died on I-5 in northern California. We had no idea what was wrong and towed it to the closest shop to diagnose the problem (one large tow truck towed both the truck & 5th wheel together). That counted as 2 tows 1 for the truck and 1 for the trailer. It turned out that the problem was severe enough that the repairs couldn't be done there, and we needed to tow it again another 98 miles to the closest truck dealer (still >200 miles from home). The second tow, for the same incident, also counted as 2 additional tows, and now our 4 tows for the year were maxed out for remaining 9 months of the year. In exploring our second tow options, we found that we could get the truck towed 200 miles, but the trailer only 100 miles. If we wanted to go further or all the way home, and the additional cost is $10/mile/per vehicle. As well, they would tow the trailer to the truck dealer, but not to a RV storage facility or a campground. So, after the second tow, we got home in a rental car, and went back a few weeks later to retrieve our rig. With that said, the AAA cooperation, dispatching, tow service, and timeliness were all fine. The two tows (2 x 2 = 4) were covered, and it got the job done. So, we learned about the AAA policy limitations, and are seeking better RV coverage to supplement AAA. Now, I worry about the fine print in the other services that I may have overlooked this time, and maybe I will I need stuff-happens supplement for my new supplement to my AAA coverage. happy trails...
So, we just broke down in New Mexico. In addition to the points you covered. AAA has changed their RV Plus and RV Premier tow plan. Apparently as of 2020 they only cover $500 for a tow...any tow. Although the AAA Sites on all say 200 miles there is as you point out a small asteric. You have to dig into the site to see the limitation. My agent didn't know about the change, so the training has not trickled down. Our first quote was $3600 to get us off the highway. You are correct about the different clubs. We broke down in Lordsburg New Mexico, near the border or Arizona and the New Mexico club said the closest heavy tow was San Antonio. We were WAY closer to Tucson but they wouldn't let me talk to the Arizona tow group because I wasn't over the border. 20 miles away. My husband was able to temporarily repair the RV and we slowly drive 30 miles until we broke down again. This time in Arizona. Three hours later we had a heavy tow. We were told our out of pocket would be $350. After getting to the Cummins Service Venter the bill turned out to be $1089.00. Working to get some reimbursement from AAA
Several months ago, my son was involved in a no-fault 3 car accident out of state (in IL). While the other 2 cars (both IL plated), were hauled off for repair w/in 1/2 hour, it took AAA over 4 hours to provide roadside assistance. The problem is when you are involved in an accident in one state while having initiated service in another, the Club from the state where the accident occurs needs confirmation from your state where you originated the service. Apparently, after 15 or so calls to both our home state (VA) and IL, they finally managed to get confirmation and let out a contract for towing, but only after we pleaded w the tower to act before he was in receipt of the AAA contract to assist. During this time, my son was subjected to a hostile tower elsewhere that forced his way into the car and took my son's phone after threatening to call the police. All this information was shared w AAA Customer Service and their Executive Group. I wanted to cancel our service, but apparently, they will not allow that. How illegal is that? Buyers beware, look elsewhere. AAA is not what it used to be. They have become grifters!!!
We have both AAA RV Premiere snd SafeRide. We have been AAA members for over 40 years for our cars and they have gotten us out of some weird jams over the years. We had our first RV assistance last January when we had a flat on our left outer dually at a rest area in West Texas. Not only did it take 2 hours for the tow truck to arrive the mileage for the truck to get to us exceeded the $500 cap before they even touched our flat. So we had to pay the difference out of pocket. Yes, we were reimbursed without question by our Home Club. We also called SafeRide but it was going to be 90 minutes for them. Next time we’ll try SafeRide first.
Thanks for sharing ... As a long time AAA member, I will need to review their terms of service. We have had great experience with them when we needed them, but that was years ago.
I've got the AAA RV coverage. I have a small travel trailer and a motorcycle. One of my road services was for a dead battery on the bike. I made it to within a few miles of home, and had the driver bring me home where I fixed it myself.
The limitations you describe also apply to Good Sam , we have the platinum plus package. Our tire blowout occurred on Sunday. They were unable to find a place to tow us , they recommended we stay at the service station until the next day ! They simply look on the internet for local providers and many times have NO CONTRACT with them . Bottom line is , if you can contact vendors directly it’s cheaper & less frustration as they also don’t have a true network !
AAA in PA could only find me a small tow truck for my F350 dually and I had to find my own truck to move my trailer and family off the road. I had to spend the night in a hotel and when I asked about hotel reimbursement.... crickets. I had to take time off work to hunt down reimbursement. Total sadness.
Only time I used my 3A was about 4 years ago when an engine belt broke. We were about 50 miles outside Valdosta GA heading to FMCA event in our 40ft Class A. They responded quickly, and the tow was great and the large wrecker didn’t have a problem towing the entire rig (including our golf cart trailer). We were within our ‘region’ based on what you described. The changes are a concern and I was unaware of them, will rethink renewal of this towing program in favor of coachnet. Thanks for information.
Thank you Jadon for this news. It’s great know who’s best for Rv insurance just in case something happens while on the road. We used have AAA years ago for our cars. But it’s good to know there’s options out there to get roadside assistance that are better for Rvers from other companies. Thank you again Jason!
I think you are right about they try to get the lowest price party to do the job. We sat for 5 hours along the interstate waiting for a simple flat tire change with our spare because I have a bad back now, on a Sunday. The guy showed up in a small car, took a 3 ton Harbor freight jack out of his back seat and had our spare on in 5 minutes. He said he was 40 miles away when he got the call. We were only 20 miles away from a major city. I had to go get a hotel at 3 in the afternoon because I was so upset, I felt it was not safe for me to drive. By the way we were in a pickup truck. You don't see them coming on here saying sorry, we will try to do better.
Excellent advice. Thank you for mentioning other options besides Good Sam. I can vouch for their inability to provide towing service, even in-town, for our Toyota Camry.
Your information on this subject matter was impressive. I have been watching your channel for some time now , your content clearly shows the researched you do preparing your scripts and this was a great example of that. I have worked in Management for some of the largest towing companies in the US and have 1st hand knowledge about this subject matter ( 30 years of it) from the vendor side.
We have had AAA for years and on our two occasions, we had great service. One time in Fl we had a flat along side a busy highway (not interstate), and AAA came within one hour to change tire. Second time I had a flat in my driveway and AAA came pretty quickly to swap out my spare. My only comment would be to ensure the operator knows about travel trailers and where to lift up your trailer.
I have been a Washington State AAA premeire RV member since 2012. I'm in the far northwest region of the state. In 2019 we had a heavy snowstorm. The next day the county plowed the road. I got stuck in my truck at the end of my driveway from the berm left by the snowplow. I dug it out but was still stick. I called triple AAA for the first time ever. The women who answered the phone told me they were too busy and refused to dispatch a towtruck to my location. She said to call again tomorrow and she'd see if anyone was available. I was furious. I cancelled my policy the next day when I was told once again there was no one available to come to my house and tow my truck three feet. My friends came over after that and we got my truck out in thirty minutes by shoveling all the ice and snow out of the berm left by the snow plow.
I have had Florida AAA for many years, 22 to be exact. Every single time it has taken way too long for them to show up, 2+ hours for the cars and 5 to 6 hours for the 20" ClassC. The last time they didn't show up they didn't call me back. It turned out to be a different club for Alabama that didn't call me and Florida AAA didn't tell me. From start to finish took 3 Days and I had to pay $568 out of pocket for my 30ft Class A to be towed only 12 miles. Before I go full time on the road, I will switch to something else.
We just had to use AAA last week, if I’m understanding you AAA worked out much better for us than the other companies would have. We lost our serpentine belt on I95 in NC. We could not find a facility that would be able to service us for at least a week, I was able to have AAA take us to a Lowe’s and a mobile mechanic was able to come out the next morning and get us back on the road. Our membership is out of Southern California we were not billed. We did have to wait about 6 hrs for AAA to find a tow company though. I wouldn’t cancel our AAA but after viewing ur video I think I’d add one of the other companies, definitely see situations where they would be better.
good sam roadside left me stranded on HWY 395 north of Bishop California for three hours in 105 degree weather. I was at the Mono County #2 mile marker. The Roadside app through located me and gave the info to GS. Then the GS operator came on the phone and couldn't locate me. He understand that we were about 14 miles north of the Bishop city limits. Since he could not understand that, I had to walk nearly two miles up hill to the nearest cross street. My wife got worried because she basically lost sight of me and saw a good samaritan stop and pick me up. Together, we got the cross street and he, with his family, drove me back to my wife, broken truck and travel trailer. A local officer stopped to check on us and asked what kind of tow we had. We told him GS, and he said, after three hours GS would call and tell me they couldn't help me. Sure enough, after three hours GS called and repeated what the officer told me. Fortunately, we also had Wawanesa towing on our car insurance policy. They don't have RV towing, so I had paid out of pocket to get the TT to our camp site and the insurance took care of the truck. The tow truck driver told me GS called him many hours before and he refused the tow because they only wanted to pay for one tow. Towing a truck is one tow, and towing a travel trailer is a second tow. That's why we were on the highway in 105 degree heat for five hours, GS didn't want to pay for two tows as they advertised. I have the pictures still, but don't know how to upload them. Also, GS did reimburse me for the TT tow, and the Uber to Bishop to pick up the truck once it got the new water pump.
Jason, I appreciate your story. I commented on the RV Miles Facebook Page, but didn't get a response. I understand your position about "outside of the area" networks. However, I had an incident in Wyoming this last Spring that REALLY made me question the quality of Coachnet's services. I needed my tow vehicle (2017 F350) towed to a Ford dealership for an engine repair. We were in the Gros Ventre campground in the Grand Tetons. The local Ford Dealership (Jackson Hole Ford) couldn't get to my truck for almost 4 weeks. I found the next closest Ford Dealership in Idaho Falls, ID (120 miles away) that could squeeze me in the next day. I called Coachnet, and they would ONLY tow me to Jackson Hole Ford. They said their agreement says the "closest qualified facility" and they didn't care that that facility couldn't see me for a month. This wasn't just that customer service representative either. I told them it didn't seem logical to tow me to a place that couldn't see me for a month, and she agreed that sounded odd, and she checked with her supervisor. Her supervisor affirmed this decision and it was going to coast me $800 to tow it to Idaho Falls and they would not cover it. I also had AAA. I called them, they came out within two hours and towed me to Idaho Falls for no out of pocket money for me. Coachnet is USELESS if they can't get you to a place that actually FIX your problem. Awful customer service in my opinion.
@@RVMiles...thanks for replying. I currently still have Coachnet and AAA RV both. I wish I didn't have to have TWO, but I want to make sure I have coverage when/if I need it.
My brother-in-law was kicked off of AAA because they said he used the service too much. He paid for three service calls a year and over the course of 25 years used it from 0 to 3 times a year. According to the customer service the VP reviewed his account and said that he used it too much. He paid for up to three service calls a year, including towing, and was kicked off for using it with no way to appeal. He has come to rely on the service because he travels for work often and has used it so he didn't get stranded when he had trouble on the road. He managed to find a much better deal that could include family members for no extra cost, more service calls per year and a lower yearly rate. We had no idea there were many other options until this happened and our entire family and many of our friends have now switched over. I hope AAA reaps what they sow. It used to be a good service but now I would recommend doing some research into other options
Thanks for this! Our Winnebago gas class a came with a year of Coach-Net, and we have been so pleased (lockout service once) that we now cover our 22 year old college kid’s car thru them as well.
Second point, My was truck was not drivable, but not total. There was problem with rear alignment and differential ( the Toyota Tundra is fix), but to total me to tow my RV 150 mile it was going to cost my $2,000. There was no damage to the RV, just the truck and I had no way to get the truck. I had to called Coach-Net several time and they did not do a follow-up. One thing that make me mad is when you tell someone, we will get you and you don't. I worked Tech Support for IBM software group at RTP (now retired). I know if I told Fortune 500 company if I'll get back to you with an update in 2 hours, I make sure I got back to them within 2 hours.
AAA member since ‘70s. And they have always been valuable. However only RVing 5 years and in Ford Transit... did use them in Okeechobee when bogged down in an RV “resort” But thanks for info as I am autoclub South member now travelling the nation. I will print off that form ahead of time.
AAA just left us high and dry. They apparently have a new Customer Disloyalty Plan. We are full timers at a 42 foot allegro bus towing a jeep. The jeep is insured by AAA and we have roadside assistance. By the end of the week, the jeep will be insured by another company. And we will let their roadside assistance lapse. I have a little more reading to do, but it seems that Coach Net only covers towing if you had an accident and the FMCA roadside assistance only tows if there was no accident. Might get them both. Will never use AAA again.
AAA towing has saved me hundreds of dollars on towing my old Ford and trailer, but my advice is that if you ever need them to replace a tire on your trailer when it's parked make sure you put the scissor jacks up first. I've had a AAA guy just go right up to the side of my RV and start jacking it up without checking to see if the scissor jacks are down.
@@docholiday1034 I had a fuel pump fail while I was towing out in the desert. AAA towed both my truck and my trailer all the way to Lancaster California so yeah they covered over $200 of towing charged on just that one experience.
How disappointing! We’ve had AAA for years and they’ve bailed us out a couple of times. One time we blew a wheel bearing on our 36’ travel trailer. They sent out a tow truck and a low boy flatbed. The tow truck driver did an awesome job backing the trailer onto the flatbed. I can’t imagine dishing out for that bill and then hoping to get reimbursed.
Who you recommend for a 20ft travel trailer..our truck broke down just 58 miles from our home.good Sam's roadside assistance we paid extra for..after 5 hours could not find a tow.. AAA towed our truck as a member home but told us $480 for them to tow camper home less than 60miles We slept off the interstate overnight at a construction sight by busy I85. my brother came got us..but we travel all 48 states.. who will tow smaller travel trailer not a class A or 5th wheel thanks for the great info
Thanks for the great information as always, Jason! I was made aware that tows do not go into National Parks, State Forest campgrounds and State Parks? What have you heard regarding those areas?
Like you say AAA not recommend for big type Rv's but I have a Dodge 4x4 pickup with a diesel motor with a camper and a utility trailer and ATV and have had GREAT service with AAA plus but I 'am not one of those big boy Rv's 🇺🇸🤔thank you .
We have Coach-Net, and I was in accident with and the truck got damage. Coach-Net would not tow my RV, because I was in accident. I understand your concern with AAA. Therefore Coach-Net might be good, if your RV was not involved in an accident.
We had a problem recently getting a motorcycle towed from our home to a repair shop in town - it took three days to arrange! The AAA app kept saying the service was scheduled but nobody ever showed up. I tried calling and was told they don't cover motorcycles, even though we paid for the Plus membership that does. After some runaround, it turns out the telephone agent was in California and the California branch of AAA does not cover bikes. We're in New Mexico and it is part of our coverage. So, as Jason said in the video, the service you get may vary greatly from one area to another. Unless you specifically examine the coverages where you're going, you may be in for a rude surprise if you need service. We've had AA for many, many years for automobiles and they've been decent service providers, but it does seem they are losing contractors. I have been told by tow operators that the rates and reimbursement delays are causing them to not renew AAA contracts. It's just not worth it to them anymore.
I used to work for AAA. They are not good to employees or customers. Last I knew they paid the tow truck $19 to unlock a car and $35 for a 5 mile tow. I've been out of the business awhile and never made decent money hourly for any company that did AAA towing. $12 at the best I'm upstate NY.
AAA left me stranded in the desert. Actually, I called them, one hour later, called again and they said, nope we don't have the appropriate tow truck. Then demanded that we wait and see if they could find someone and wanted to charge us an additional $85. WTF.... I had AAA Premier RV... turned out I didn't know about the change in the policy. Later, I discovered from a AAA Branch Manager that the AAA uses "unregulated towing contractors" meaning that they can set the rate for whatever the traffic will bear. I only needed a 5 mile tow. WOW. I got reimbursed for a tow from another tow truck that took us for $200. Unbelievable. The branch manager was horrified to learn that the AAA driver told me over the phone that well we can take your vehicle, but, not us. What kind of emergency roadside assistance leaves clients standing by the side of the road. When I complained to the operator, he said you'll have to choose, I can take one of you .... either you or your wife. Not likely. This was the catalyst that prompted me to leave AAA after more than 40 years. We are CoachNet members now for towing. I hope they are better.
Was checking on towing services found out that if you have anything over a F350 Good Sam would not cover towing our small truck and toyhauler. Contacted FMCA since we also have a HDT and a 45' toyhauler. Was told I would need two policy's one for truck and one for the trailer. Will be checking with coachnet next. Want to be covered no matter what. Also check and make sure your insurance covers you for those times your coach maybe in the shop and it interrupts your trip. IE (motel, Airbnb ect. Another thing to look at if you do any type of business out on the road make sure you have commercial coverages. IE: (TH-cam monitized, making jewelry, ect). Make sure your personal equipment is covered. You would be surprised if your insurance doesn't cover your personal belongings. Still planning on getting out on the road full time this next year. Brian and Cindy "xtreambydesign with passion"
we have AAA. our motorhome boke down on the NJ GSP in aug of 2022. called AAA and they had no trucks able to tow our motorhome. they couldn't tell us when a truck would be available. lucky for us Ford was able t get a truck out right away. AAA was a wasted of money for us.
Oregon AAA only covers $500 for RVs, but cars Can be told up to 100 miles three times in a year and 200 miles one time, $500 is practically nothing when it's time to tow an RV, yes they've changed their coverage alright
So the reimbursement clause only applies for members within those particular state/region? For example, if my toe request for my membership in Texas they would pay for my requested tow up front?
“Squirrel”. My husband loved your blue outdoors shirt on the AAA info on TH-cam. Please tell me the brand. You have no men fashion tab in your amazon store section.
@@RVMiles Yes, you're right. That's all I used them for, because that's all I have. I just googled "AAA reviews", and your video came up, so I assumed it was a review for regular AAA, for cars. I should have looked at the title LOL!
You better check your facts. I have had AAA for over 40 years. I just had my class A with dual real wheels towed & I did not have to pay any money up front
I said *in some regions* they will not work on dual rear wheels. Not that they won’t tow them, but they won’t work on the actual dual tires. Which is 100% true. I do check my facts carefully.
As was said in the video, different areas have different clubs and that means different rules. What worked for you in one location may not be available in another. That's the problem with regional/local clubs operating under an umbrella name.
Nope to Good Sam's. I was broke down twice and I had to find my own help.Once was in a bad area. Thankfully I met some great ppl who helped me out.. No more..bye, bye GOOD SAM
IM RICHARD DALE WATTS,AT MY RETIREMENT WE SOLD A FOUR BEDROOM HOME WERE WE RENT ROOMS TO COLLEGE KIDS.IM A ENGINER,SHE WAS A TEACHER. WE BOUGHT A 33 FT RV.AND WENT TO VEGAS TO GET MARRIED.AAA,GOT MADE BECAUSE WE HAD ELEC.DRAW A MINOR SHORT.THIS SMALL LEAK RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY,WITH ELEC BREAKS IT WOULD NOT STOP ON TIME.ON A 3 DAY HOLIDAY I PLUGED IN,BOY THERE WERE HOT.IM WATTS ANY ELEC.IS WATTAGE.MORE MY FAMILY MADE THE MOTOR IN THE 1700.SIR JAMES WATT.I WOULD BUY SOLOR WITH EVERY RV.THE SLOW BREAKING IS A BIG FACKTER.I NOW HAVE GOOD SAM PLATINUM.
While insurance coverage varies, I've got to think an insurance company won't be in business long offering free ($2000 value) towing for a $100 per year membership. Insurance is not prepaid service, but rather to get you through an emergency. If you can afford a $500,000 class A (and the transmission repairs on it) you should consider setting aside some $s to self insure your winching cost.
“100 to 200 miles from your home”? What does “from your home” have to do with it? My understanding is that the mileage is the distance from place of breakdown to place selected for repair. If I’m wrong please respond with a reference that supports your wording that infers “from your home”. Thank you.
You are correct. A lot of people like the 100 or 200 miles because they can get their RV back to their home to work on themselves. That's why I think it's ideal for that type of scenario. But also, there's the local motor club issue.
Did you know... that Ford Motor Company has been building cars for over 100 years now. Henry Ford himself took an entire Society of people, with no better than an eighth-grade education. And turned almost all of them, into engineer's. In less than one generation. That's faster than it took for caveman to teach the entire planet, how to create fire. Another simple fact that's extremely easy to understand. People have the ability to become experts, after 16 years of doing something continuously. By that definition. You should have been an expert on your automobile, and how did Dr... By the time you got your driver's license. If you grew up in America, riding in the passenger seat of your mom or dad's car or truck. But you're not. And this is extremely sad. Because with the transfer of information, and the technological advancements that we've made in the automotive industry, over the last hundred years... you would expect that everyone on the roadway, would know exactly what they are doing there by now. But no... we've turned one of the most dangerous weapons of mass destruction, ever created by man. Into a rolling phone booth. That nobody, knows how to use. And by the way... AAA has been providing assistance to motorists for over 100 years. You're one bad experience, is infinitely miniscule to the tens of millions of people they have helped on the roadways. But by all means... use your Democratic voice to air your grievances.
Jason , we were just going to look into AAA. We are from New England and will be heading out west. I am so glad you featured towing companies. I have AAA for our cars and thought they would be the company for us but now I will be more diligent when researching The options, thank you. 🚐👍
Welcome to the latest video from RV Miles. Have AAA? We'd love to know what your experience has been. Have a thought on the topic covered? Let us know in the comments below. Please remember to keep comments kind and on topic, and we promise to do the same. If you find value in this video, please share it around and don't forget to hit the "like" button and subscribe to the channel. Those quick actions help put RV Miles in front of more and more RVers just like you. Thanks for watching and don't forget - the RV Miles Podcast now has a new home on TH-cam. We hope you'll join us there as well! th-cam.com/users/rvmilespodcast - Jason and Abby
I have Good Sam (National General Insurance). I have not checked them out much, but when I bought my Class C RV used, from Tom's Camperland in Mesa, AZ, they signed me up for "RV Complete". Supposedly super friendly RV assistance, but who knows. I have yet to look at the details.
Excellent video. Thank you! I just canceled AAA and went with Coachnet. You reminded me of the nightmare experience last winter ( see below comment) with AAA.
Got stranded on I-95 in Georgia towing a fifth wheel. Fortunately, we had AAA RV towing service specifically for that purpose. They never found a tow truck for us and left us stranded at night for hours despite repeated calls to them. We ended up calling on our own to get a service truck. Never again would I use them for an RV.
Same thing happened to me in California on the 5 near Mendota. No word on when they could get anyone to come out for a tow. Only advised me to call 911 if I had an emergency. Had to call a place in Fresno for the 89 mile tow at night. $2000.00. AAA reimbursement maximum for a non- contract vendor is $500.00.
Same here tho it was Good Sam's roadside assistance could not find us a tow my brother came got us..can u tell what the tow cost u..our $480 for a tow home just 58 miles from our home..thanks you brother for the tow ur our HERO..n another state not sure what we would do
Georgia AAA has been a disaster to try and use!! They do not have tow truck partners willing to tow RVs!! Im on day 4 of trying to have my class C towed.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND AAA for RVs!
@@tglass0000 Wait, I'm confused. I thought they go anywhere? I have used them in rural, middle of nowhere North Dakota and they come out within 90 Minutes Or So, so I'm not sure why they wouldn't come out in even more populated areas like California? I have the service where they tow 100 miles and I have never had a problem with it. A single free tow Pays for more than the entire Year's membership Fee!
@@jackwilliams5474 I was in an area that they service, but had no one available to send out to me.
Too funny! Halfway through the video an ad came on for AAA 😂
They are watching all of us
We had a HORRIBLE experience with AAA last year! We were 80 miles out of Ely, NV when our pick up broke down while pulling our 33 ft 5th wheel. We were stranded on the side of the 2 lane busy highway for 28 hours. AAA could not locate anyone to tow us! The tow company that could tow us wouldn’t deal with AAA. AAA said we were on our home! I finally located someone about 18 hours later that would tow us and then waited overnight for someone at AAA to approve. It was really a nightmare.
AAA left me in the lurch twice, done after being a customer for over 20 years. Went with Coachnet and the experience was SO much better than the last few times I used AAA even not counting the ones where they left us holding the bag.
BTW it was AAA of the Carolinas that screwed me over both times. There's nothing more useless to me than a service that doesn't actually help me when I'm on the side of the road.
Wait, I'm confused. I thought they go anywhere? I have used them in rural, middle of nowhere North Dakota and they come out within 90 Minutes Or So, so I'm not sure why they wouldn't come out in even more populated areas like Carolinas? I have the service where they tow 100 miles and I have never had a problem with it. A single free tow Pays for more than the entire Year's membership Fee!
@@jackwilliams5474 AAA of the Carolinas doesn't (or didn't) offer the Plus RV product, and at least twice refused to provide service for me when towing my travel trailer in their coverage area.
@@andrewfidel2220 Ok Andy. I was just referring to getting regular cars towed, I never had a RV or anything so that might be different.
@jackwilliams5474 I just found out in Oregon they only pay $500 for RVs, but cars are still Hundred Mile tow, and one-time 200-mile tow, which isn't very much money for RVs, , they changed their policies, that's why I'm online trying to figure out if there's a better alternative to AAA
We have used Good Sam Roadside since 2011 and they have saved our bacon twice in the middle of nowhere. It also covers our car/truck.
I’ve had Coachnet since May 1999 when I bought my first Class A
22 + yrs.
Also, Coachnet covers all your family vehicles (cars) for the one fee too.
Excellent advice we’re calling them
We've had AAA for about 3 yrs. We have used them 3 times when we broke down on the interstate, no problems with so far.
Same!
Just found out Oregon only covers $500 for RVs which can be burnt up pretty fast, so here I am online searching for a better options
I've worked for AAA for the last ~6 years. The change you're referencing affected members who Upgraded to RV on or after 04/01/2020. Anyone before that got an additional year of the previous coverage, before being ushered into the 500$ per call cap up to 1000$ total coverage. Working closely with both sides of the house, I can assure you, YOU'RE RIGHT! If I owned an RV, I would go with Good Sam. I've talked to many members who still use us for ERS coverage for their vehicle, but use other companies for their RV because of the hoops AAA made them jump through for the coverage. I do enjoy the informative way you made the video and read the disclaimers verbatim. Well done and keep it up!
We paid extra for RV coverage with AAA. We were very clear asking them what they would cover in different situations. We needed to be towed about a half mile off a road in South Dakota. They said they would only tow us if we were on a road. Even if we were right next to the road, they wouldn't help us. They never said that originally when we signed up with them. Long story short, we found other RV'ers that could tow us. We cancelled AAA. So far we have never been in a situation where we haven't been able to get out of with the help of another RV'er.
@@docholiday1034 actually the contract I signed said within 50' of a paved road or in an established campground.
@@docholiday1034 We were already members and wanted to add on off road. They said, absolutely we can tow you if you are stuck off road. There is no contract to look at when you're speaking to someone on the phone. You have to take they're word. At the time, I would have never guessed they were lying to get more money out of me. That's fine, we cancelled on the spot when 6 months later they refused to help. We saved the money and learned to be more self reliant.
In the New York (Long Island) area, AAA wasn’t even an option for a Class B van. They told me there was no coverage offered!
We have been with CoachNet for years. Have 40 foot bus conversion. Towed a couple of times. Great customer service.
Good video and explanation of limitations and potential headaches with AAA for RV's. I learned some new points from this video, and few on my own the hard way. I've been an AAA member for decades and happy with their services in general (autos, flat tires on trailers, etc.). Yet, recently learned to read the fine print better when shopping for roadside assistance for RV's, and hence, added another service in addition to AAA premium plus for RV's. In our case, we had a 5th wheel and our truck died on I-5 in northern California. We had no idea what was wrong and towed it to the closest shop to diagnose the problem (one large tow truck towed both the truck & 5th wheel together). That counted as 2 tows 1 for the truck and 1 for the trailer. It turned out that the problem was severe enough that the repairs couldn't be done there, and we needed to tow it again another 98 miles to the closest truck dealer (still >200 miles from home). The second tow, for the same incident, also counted as 2 additional tows, and now our 4 tows for the year were maxed out for remaining 9 months of the year. In exploring our second tow options, we found that we could get the truck towed 200 miles, but the trailer only 100 miles. If we wanted to go further or all the way home, and the additional cost is $10/mile/per vehicle. As well, they would tow the trailer to the truck dealer, but not to a RV storage facility or a campground. So, after the second tow, we got home in a rental car, and went back a few weeks later to retrieve our rig. With that said, the AAA cooperation, dispatching, tow service, and timeliness were all fine. The two tows (2 x 2 = 4) were covered, and it got the job done. So, we learned about the AAA policy limitations, and are seeking better RV coverage to supplement AAA. Now, I worry about the fine print in the other services that I may have overlooked this time, and maybe I will I need stuff-happens supplement for my new supplement to my AAA coverage. happy trails...
So, we just broke down in New Mexico. In addition to the points you covered. AAA has changed their RV Plus and RV Premier tow plan. Apparently as of 2020 they only cover $500 for a tow...any tow. Although the AAA Sites on all say 200 miles there is as you point out a small asteric. You have to dig into the site to see the limitation. My agent didn't know about the change, so the training has not trickled down. Our first quote was $3600 to get us off the highway. You are correct about the different clubs. We broke down in Lordsburg New Mexico, near the border or Arizona and the New Mexico club said the closest heavy tow was San Antonio. We were WAY closer to Tucson but they wouldn't let me talk to the Arizona tow group because I wasn't over the border. 20 miles away. My husband was able to temporarily repair the RV and we slowly drive 30 miles until we broke down again. This time in Arizona. Three hours later we had a heavy tow. We were told our out of pocket would be $350. After getting to the Cummins Service Venter the bill turned out to be $1089.00. Working to get some reimbursement from AAA
Several months ago, my son was involved in a no-fault 3 car accident out of state (in IL). While the other 2 cars (both IL plated), were hauled off for repair w/in 1/2 hour, it took AAA over 4 hours to provide roadside assistance. The problem is when you are involved in an accident in one state while having initiated service in another, the Club from the state where the accident occurs needs confirmation from your state where you originated the service. Apparently, after 15 or so calls to both our home state (VA) and IL, they finally managed to get confirmation and let out a contract for towing, but only after we pleaded w the tower to act before he was in receipt of the AAA contract to assist. During this time, my son was subjected to a hostile tower elsewhere that forced his way into the car and took my son's phone after threatening to call the police. All this information was shared w AAA Customer Service and their Executive Group. I wanted to cancel our service, but apparently, they will not allow that. How illegal is that? Buyers beware, look elsewhere. AAA is not what it used to be. They have become grifters!!!
We have both AAA RV Premiere snd SafeRide. We have been AAA members for over 40 years for our cars and they have gotten us out of some weird jams over the years.
We had our first RV assistance last January when we had a flat on our left outer dually at a rest area in West Texas. Not only did it take 2 hours for the tow truck to arrive the mileage for the truck to get to us exceeded the $500 cap before they even touched our flat. So we had to pay the difference out of pocket. Yes, we were reimbursed without question by our Home Club.
We also called SafeRide but it was going to be 90 minutes for them. Next time we’ll try SafeRide first.
Thanks for sharing ... As a long time AAA member, I will need to review their terms of service. We have had great experience with them when we needed them, but that was years ago.
remember--YOU ARE PAYING -- it's YOUR TERMS OF SERVICE..not THEIRS
I've got the AAA RV coverage. I have a small travel trailer and a motorcycle. One of my road services was for a dead battery on the bike. I made it to within a few miles of home, and had the driver bring me home where I fixed it myself.
The limitations you describe also apply to Good Sam , we have the platinum plus package. Our tire blowout occurred on Sunday. They were unable to find a place to tow us , they recommended we stay at the service station until the next day ! They simply look on the internet for local providers and many times have NO CONTRACT with them . Bottom line is , if you can contact vendors directly it’s cheaper & less frustration as they also don’t have a true network !
AAA in PA could only find me a small tow truck for my F350 dually and I had to find my own truck to move my trailer and family off the road. I had to spend the night in a hotel and when I asked about hotel reimbursement.... crickets. I had to take time off work to hunt down reimbursement. Total sadness.
Only time I used my 3A was about 4 years ago when an engine belt broke. We were about 50 miles outside Valdosta GA heading to FMCA event in our 40ft Class A. They responded quickly, and the tow was great and the large wrecker didn’t have a problem towing the entire rig (including our golf cart trailer). We were within our ‘region’ based on what you described. The changes are a concern and I was unaware of them, will rethink renewal of this towing program in favor of coachnet. Thanks for information.
Thank you Jadon for this news. It’s great know who’s best for Rv insurance just in case something happens while on the road. We used have AAA years ago for our cars. But it’s good to know there’s options out there to get roadside assistance that are better for Rvers from other companies. Thank you again Jason!
Sorry Jason I meant Jason not Jadon.
Thank you for this info, we are AAA members with their roadside service. We will be moving on from the RV part of our membership.
I think you are right about they try to get the lowest price party to do the job. We sat for 5 hours along the interstate waiting for a simple flat tire change with our spare because I have a bad back now, on a Sunday. The guy showed up in a small car, took a 3 ton Harbor freight jack out of his back seat and had our spare on in 5 minutes. He said he was 40 miles away when he got the call. We were only 20 miles away from a major city. I had to go get a hotel at 3 in the afternoon because I was so upset, I felt it was not safe for me to drive. By the way we were in a pickup truck. You don't see them coming on here saying sorry, we will try to do better.
Excellent advice. Thank you for mentioning other options besides Good Sam. I can vouch for their inability to provide towing service, even in-town, for our Toyota Camry.
Your information on this subject matter was impressive. I have been watching your channel for some time now , your content clearly shows the researched you do preparing your scripts and this was a great example of that.
I have worked in Management for some of the largest towing companies in the US and have 1st hand knowledge about this subject matter ( 30 years of it) from the vendor side.
I switched from good sam to AAA . I will look in to the new rules, thanks for the info!😊
.
Coachnet subscriber here. I read everyone's fine print when shopping.
Thanks I was going to consider getting rv assistant and didn't know this about AAA.
I love AAA. I've had them for years for my car.
We have had AAA for years and on our two occasions, we had great service. One time in Fl we had a flat along side a busy highway (not interstate), and AAA came within one hour to change tire. Second time I had a flat in my driveway and AAA came pretty quickly to swap out my spare. My only comment would be to ensure the operator knows about travel trailers and where to lift up your trailer.
Progressive RV Insurance took care of us. I was real pleased with their service.
State Farm only covered towing my RV up to 21 miles. I had to pay $4.00/mile beyond that. It took 12 hours for the truck to arrive.
I remember when State farm was good. DAMN IT JAKE!!
oof thanks for the info
I have been a Washington State AAA premeire RV member since 2012. I'm in the far northwest region of the state. In 2019 we had a heavy snowstorm. The next day the county plowed the road. I got stuck in my truck at the end of my driveway from the berm left by the snowplow. I dug it out but was still stick. I called triple AAA for the first time ever. The women who answered the phone told me they were too busy and refused to dispatch a towtruck to my location. She said to call again tomorrow and she'd see if anyone was available. I was furious. I cancelled my policy the next day when I was told once again there was no one available to come to my house and tow my truck three feet. My friends came over after that and we got my truck out in thirty minutes by shoveling all the ice and snow out of the berm left by the snow plow.
Make new friends and keep the old one is silver and the other gold
I have had Florida AAA for many years, 22 to be exact. Every single time it has taken way too long for them to show up, 2+ hours for the cars and 5 to 6 hours for the 20" ClassC. The last time they didn't show up they didn't call me back. It turned out to be a different club for Alabama that didn't call me and Florida AAA didn't tell me.
From start to finish took 3 Days and I had to pay $568 out of pocket for my 30ft Class A to be towed only 12 miles.
Before I go full time on the road, I will switch to something else.
We just had to use AAA last week, if I’m understanding you AAA worked out much better for us than the other companies would have.
We lost our serpentine belt on I95 in NC. We could not find a facility that would be able to service us for at least a week, I was able to have AAA take us to a Lowe’s and a mobile mechanic was able to come out the next morning and get us back on the road.
Our membership is out of Southern California we were not billed.
We did have to wait about 6 hrs for AAA to find a tow company though.
I wouldn’t cancel our AAA but after viewing ur video I think I’d add one of the other companies, definitely see situations where they would be better.
good sam roadside left me stranded on HWY 395 north of Bishop California for three hours in 105 degree weather. I was at the Mono County #2 mile marker. The Roadside app through located me and gave the info to GS. Then the GS operator came on the phone and couldn't locate me. He understand that we were about 14 miles north of the Bishop city limits. Since he could not understand that, I had to walk nearly two miles up hill to the nearest cross street. My wife got worried because she basically lost sight of me and saw a good samaritan stop and pick me up. Together, we got the cross street and he, with his family, drove me back to my wife, broken truck and travel trailer. A local officer stopped to check on us and asked what kind of tow we had. We told him GS, and he said, after three hours GS would call and tell me they couldn't help me. Sure enough, after three hours GS called and repeated what the officer told me. Fortunately, we also had Wawanesa towing on our car insurance policy. They don't have RV towing, so I had paid out of pocket to get the TT to our camp site and the insurance took care of the truck. The tow truck driver told me GS called him many hours before and he refused the tow because they only wanted to pay for one tow. Towing a truck is one tow, and towing a travel trailer is a second tow. That's why we were on the highway in 105 degree heat for five hours, GS didn't want to pay for two tows as they advertised. I have the pictures still, but don't know how to upload them. Also, GS did reimburse me for the TT tow, and the Uber to Bishop to pick up the truck once it got the new water pump.
Jason, I appreciate your story. I commented on the RV Miles Facebook Page, but didn't get a response. I understand your position about "outside of the area" networks. However, I had an incident in Wyoming this last Spring that REALLY made me question the quality of Coachnet's services.
I needed my tow vehicle (2017 F350) towed to a Ford dealership for an engine repair. We were in the Gros Ventre campground in the Grand Tetons. The local Ford Dealership (Jackson Hole Ford) couldn't get to my truck for almost 4 weeks. I found the next closest Ford Dealership in Idaho Falls, ID (120 miles away) that could squeeze me in the next day.
I called Coachnet, and they would ONLY tow me to Jackson Hole Ford. They said their agreement says the "closest qualified facility" and they didn't care that that facility couldn't see me for a month. This wasn't just that customer service representative either. I told them it didn't seem logical to tow me to a place that couldn't see me for a month, and she agreed that sounded odd, and she checked with her supervisor. Her supervisor affirmed this decision and it was going to coast me $800 to tow it to Idaho Falls and they would not cover it.
I also had AAA. I called them, they came out within two hours and towed me to Idaho Falls for no out of pocket money for me.
Coachnet is USELESS if they can't get you to a place that actually FIX your problem. Awful customer service in my opinion.
Coach net has now been sold to an rv dealership chain, and I think that might be why.
@@RVMiles...thanks for replying. I currently still have Coachnet and AAA RV both. I wish I didn't have to have TWO, but I want to make sure I have coverage when/if I need it.
Thanks for the timely advice! My AAA is expiring this month. I won't be renewing and moving to Coachnet instead.
My brother-in-law was kicked off of AAA because they said he used the service too much. He paid for three service calls a year and over the course of 25 years used it from 0 to 3 times a year. According to the customer service the VP reviewed his account and said that he used it too much. He paid for up to three service calls a year, including towing, and was kicked off for using it with no way to appeal. He has come to rely on the service because he travels for work often and has used it so he didn't get stranded when he had trouble on the road. He managed to find a much better deal that could include family members for no extra cost, more service calls per year and a lower yearly rate. We had no idea there were many other options until this happened and our entire family and many of our friends have now switched over. I hope AAA reaps what they sow. It used to be a good service but now I would recommend doing some research into other options
Thanks for this! Our Winnebago gas class a came with a year of Coach-Net, and we have been so pleased (lockout service once) that we now cover our 22 year old college kid’s car thru them as well.
Second point, My was truck was not drivable, but not total. There was problem with rear alignment and differential ( the Toyota Tundra is fix), but to total me to tow my RV 150 mile it was going to cost my $2,000. There was no damage to the RV, just the truck and I had no way to get the truck. I had to called Coach-Net several time and they did not do a follow-up. One thing that make me mad is when you tell someone, we will get you and you don't. I worked Tech Support for IBM software group at RTP (now retired). I know if I told Fortune 500 company if I'll get back to you with an update in 2 hours, I make sure I got back to them within 2 hours.
Great information jason, we have not had to use AAA or we didn't use good sounds when we had it. We definitely will look into coachnet.
Danny and Lynn
We have coach net for the RV and we are AAA members for our cars 🚘🚌
I also have Coach-Net. They not only cover our travel trailer but also our tow vehicle. Good coverage.🙂
AAA member since ‘70s. And they have always been valuable. However only RVing 5 years and in Ford Transit... did use them in Okeechobee when bogged down in an RV “resort” But thanks for info as I am autoclub South member now travelling the nation. I will print off that form ahead of time.
In a Ford transit there a guy boondocking by me I see if you lol.
AAA just left us high and dry. They apparently have a new Customer Disloyalty Plan. We are full timers at a 42 foot allegro bus towing a jeep. The jeep is insured by AAA and we have roadside assistance. By the end of the week, the jeep will be insured by another company. And we will let their roadside assistance lapse.
I have a little more reading to do, but it seems that Coach Net only covers towing if you had an accident and the FMCA roadside assistance only tows if there was no accident. Might get them both. Will never use AAA again.
Thanks Jason! We cancelled our Triple A and switched to Coach-Net!
AAA towing has saved me hundreds of dollars on towing my old Ford and trailer, but my advice is that if you ever need them to replace a tire on your trailer when it's parked make sure you put the scissor jacks up first. I've had a AAA guy just go right up to the side of my RV and start jacking it up without checking to see if the scissor jacks are down.
@@docholiday1034 I had a fuel pump fail while I was towing out in the desert. AAA towed both my truck and my trailer all the way to Lancaster California so yeah they covered over $200 of towing charged on just that one experience.
How disappointing! We’ve had AAA for years and they’ve bailed us out a couple of times. One time we blew a wheel bearing on our 36’ travel trailer. They sent out a tow truck and a low boy flatbed. The tow truck driver did an awesome job backing the trailer onto the flatbed. I can’t imagine dishing out for that bill and then hoping to get reimbursed.
Got stranded in Ga on I95. Good Sam did nothing. We had to call our own. $400 ............ Maybe GA just sucks with towing companies.
They never came....twice in Colorado and Texas
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH PLATIAM PLUS GOOD SAMS.THEY DROPED ME ,AND I PAID IN ADVANCED. MY FAMILY MADE THE FIRST MOTOR IN 1700.10 HP.
Wow… well I know when I finally take the RV plunge who I will not be using. AAA has saved me many times but it was all local.
Who you recommend for a 20ft travel trailer..our truck broke down just 58 miles from our home.good Sam's roadside assistance we paid extra for..after 5 hours could not find a tow.. AAA towed our truck as a member home but told us $480 for them to tow camper home less than 60miles
We slept off the interstate overnight at a construction sight by busy I85. my brother came got us..but we travel all 48 states.. who will tow smaller travel trailer not a class A or 5th wheel thanks for the great info
Did you have AAA RV or just regular AAA?
Thanks for the great information as always, Jason!
I was made aware that tows do not go into National Parks, State Forest campgrounds and State Parks? What have you heard regarding those areas?
Interesting and informative, as always Jason. Gave us quite a bit to think about for our roadside assistance needs. 😎👍 Thanks! Safe travels!
Like you say AAA not recommend for big type Rv's but I have a Dodge 4x4 pickup with a diesel motor with a camper and a utility trailer and ATV and have had GREAT service with AAA plus but I 'am not one of those big boy Rv's 🇺🇸🤔thank you .
We have Coach-Net, and I was in accident with and the truck got damage. Coach-Net would not tow my RV, because I was in accident. I understand your concern with AAA. Therefore Coach-Net might be good, if your RV was not involved in an accident.
We had a problem recently getting a motorcycle towed from our home to a repair shop in town - it took three days to arrange! The AAA app kept saying the service was scheduled but nobody ever showed up. I tried calling and was told they don't cover motorcycles, even though we paid for the Plus membership that does. After some runaround, it turns out the telephone agent was in California and the California branch of AAA does not cover bikes. We're in New Mexico and it is part of our coverage. So, as Jason said in the video, the service you get may vary greatly from one area to another. Unless you specifically examine the coverages where you're going, you may be in for a rude surprise if you need service.
We've had AA for many, many years for automobiles and they've been decent service providers, but it does seem they are losing contractors. I have been told by tow operators that the rates and reimbursement delays are causing them to not renew AAA contracts. It's just not worth it to them anymore.
I used to work for AAA. They are not good to employees or customers. Last I knew they paid the tow truck $19 to unlock a car and $35 for a 5 mile tow. I've been out of the business awhile and never made decent money hourly for any company that did AAA towing. $12 at the best I'm upstate NY.
Thanks for sharing this information. I hadn’t a clue about AAA . Wow. Cheers
Great information as we had no idea! We’ll be making a switch!
Thank you. I have AAA and Coachnet. This was some great info
AAA left me stranded in the desert. Actually, I called them, one hour later, called again and they said, nope we don't have the appropriate tow truck. Then demanded that we wait and see if they could find someone and wanted to charge us an additional $85. WTF.... I had AAA Premier RV... turned out I didn't know about the change in the policy. Later, I discovered from a AAA Branch Manager that the AAA uses "unregulated towing contractors" meaning that they can set the rate for whatever the traffic will bear. I only needed a 5 mile tow. WOW. I got reimbursed for a tow from another tow truck that took us for $200. Unbelievable. The branch manager was horrified to learn that the AAA driver told me over the phone that well we can take your vehicle, but, not us. What kind of emergency roadside assistance leaves clients standing by the side of the road. When I complained to the operator, he said you'll have to choose, I can take one of you .... either you or your wife. Not likely.
This was the catalyst that prompted me to leave AAA after more than 40 years. We are CoachNet members now for towing. I hope they are better.
AAA no longer gives 100 mile tows on Plus RV. Now they only give $500 toward the tow, at least here in Oregon. Absolutely USELESS.
Was checking on towing services found out that if you have anything over a F350 Good Sam would not cover towing our small truck and toyhauler. Contacted FMCA since we also have a HDT and a 45' toyhauler. Was told I would need two policy's one for truck and one for the trailer. Will be checking with coachnet next. Want to be covered no matter what.
Also check and make sure your insurance covers you for those times your coach maybe in the shop and it interrupts your trip. IE (motel, Airbnb ect. Another thing to look at if you do any type of business out on the road make sure you have commercial coverages. IE: (TH-cam monitized, making jewelry, ect). Make sure your personal equipment is covered. You would be surprised if your insurance doesn't cover your personal belongings.
Still planning on getting out on the road full time this next year. Brian and Cindy "xtreambydesign with passion"
As always, detailed, useful, and well
presented!
we have AAA. our motorhome boke down on the NJ GSP in aug of 2022. called AAA and they had no trucks able to tow our motorhome. they couldn't tell us when a truck would be available. lucky for us Ford was able t get a truck out right away. AAA was a wasted of money for us.
Oh my that’s very good information, I had no idea!
Thank you for this valuable information. Any thoughts on travel assistance for medical emergencies or trip interruption?
FMCA’s travel assist is included with their membership. It’s very good. We had to use it and can attest.
@@RVMiles do you want to share your member number to get referral credit?
Great info! Thank you!
Oregon AAA only covers $500 for RVs, but cars Can be told up to 100 miles three times in a year and 200 miles one time, $500 is practically nothing when it's time to tow an RV, yes they've changed their coverage alright
Wow! Great information. Thanks!
So the reimbursement clause only applies for members within those particular state/region? For example, if my toe request for my membership in Texas they would pay for my requested tow up front?
Have had my Rv towed in California by AAA many times & never paid any fees
It's important to remember that different areas have different rules. Your experience may have been very different if you were in another state.
thanks for the great info
I heard if you have a van conversion and you don't have the RV option they wont tow you on your plan.
Get the RV plus I did
“Squirrel”. My husband loved your blue outdoors shirt on the AAA info on TH-cam. Please tell me the brand. You have no men fashion tab in your amazon store section.
Haha, I thought the same thing. I had a shirt just like that. It was my favorite until I wore it out. I'd like to know the brand too.
Well I guess I'm off topic here but I have no RV. For regular cars/pickups, towing, they seem to be just fine.
They're great for passenger vehicles.
@@RVMiles Yes, you're right. That's all I used them for, because that's all I have. I just googled "AAA reviews", and your video came up, so I assumed it was a review for regular AAA, for cars. I should have looked at the title LOL!
You better check your facts.
I have had AAA for over 40 years.
I just had my class A with dual real wheels towed & I did not have to pay any money up front
I said *in some regions* they will not work on dual rear wheels. Not that they won’t tow them, but they won’t work on the actual dual tires. Which is 100% true. I do check my facts carefully.
As was said in the video, different areas have different clubs and that means different rules. What worked for you in one location may not be available in another. That's the problem with regional/local clubs operating under an umbrella name.
OT: have you noticed any problem in getting diesel fuel along I-70?
actionable data!
Nope to Good Sam's. I was broke down twice and I had to find my own help.Once was in a bad area. Thankfully I met some great ppl who helped me out.. No more..bye, bye GOOD SAM
Good information
Good info!
Good Sam for me. Haven't had to use it yet, knock on wood!
@@docholiday1034 Sound advice.
AAA has been getting worse and worse every year. I still have it but next year I'm going to do a hard search for something else.
Will cotch net cover a van?
CoachNet limited extrication 100 ft. Off the road? Hmmmm boondock alert.
They all do. Some won’t pay for the truck to leave the road at all.
they won't tow super c's now.
If you have to be extricated more than once perhaps put that extra money towards a driving lesson.
lol
Meanwhile AAA's Publicity and Marketing teams are in full panic mode about all the recent cancellations of RV RA
IM RICHARD DALE WATTS,AT MY RETIREMENT WE SOLD A FOUR BEDROOM HOME WERE WE RENT ROOMS TO COLLEGE KIDS.IM A ENGINER,SHE WAS A TEACHER. WE BOUGHT A 33 FT RV.AND WENT TO VEGAS TO GET MARRIED.AAA,GOT MADE BECAUSE WE HAD ELEC.DRAW A MINOR SHORT.THIS SMALL LEAK RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY,WITH ELEC BREAKS IT WOULD NOT STOP ON TIME.ON A 3 DAY HOLIDAY I PLUGED IN,BOY THERE WERE HOT.IM WATTS ANY ELEC.IS WATTAGE.MORE MY FAMILY MADE THE MOTOR IN THE 1700.SIR JAMES WATT.I WOULD BUY SOLOR WITH EVERY RV.THE SLOW BREAKING IS A BIG FACKTER.I NOW HAVE GOOD SAM PLATINUM.
While insurance coverage varies, I've got to think an insurance company won't be in business long offering free ($2000 value) towing for a $100 per year membership. Insurance is not prepaid service, but rather to get you through an emergency. If you can afford a $500,000 class A (and the transmission repairs on it) you should consider setting aside some $s to self insure your winching cost.
“100 to 200 miles from your home”? What does “from your home” have to do with it? My understanding is that the mileage is the distance from place of breakdown to place selected for repair. If I’m wrong please respond with a reference that supports your wording that infers “from your home”. Thank you.
You are correct. A lot of people like the 100 or 200 miles because they can get their RV back to their home to work on themselves. That's why I think it's ideal for that type of scenario. But also, there's the local motor club issue.
YIKES!😱
I wonder if coachnet knows you are an influencer when they provide that excellent service
We were pretty small potatoes when we had to use them
@@RVMileshow long ago did you use their services? have they changed policies for the worse like everyone else seems to have done?
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Sneaky.
Did you know... that Ford Motor Company has been building cars for over 100 years now. Henry Ford himself took an entire Society of people, with no better than an eighth-grade education. And turned almost all of them, into engineer's. In less than one generation. That's faster than it took for caveman to teach the entire planet, how to create fire. Another simple fact that's extremely easy to understand. People have the ability to become experts, after 16 years of doing something continuously. By that definition. You should have been an expert on your automobile, and how did Dr... By the time you got your driver's license. If you grew up in America, riding in the passenger seat of your mom or dad's car or truck. But you're not. And this is extremely sad. Because with the transfer of information, and the technological advancements that we've made in the automotive industry, over the last hundred years... you would expect that everyone on the roadway, would know exactly what they are doing there by now. But no... we've turned one of the most dangerous weapons of mass destruction, ever created by man. Into a rolling phone booth. That nobody, knows how to use. And by the way... AAA has been providing assistance to motorists for over 100 years. You're one bad experience, is infinitely miniscule to the tens of millions of people they have helped on the roadways. But by all means... use your Democratic voice to air your grievances.
What grievance? It would have taken you less time to actually watch the video than it did to type out this comment.
Jason , we were just going to look into AAA. We are from New England and will be heading out west. I am so glad you featured towing companies. I have AAA for our cars and thought they would be the company for us but now I will be more diligent when researching
The options, thank you. 🚐👍