Road Side Assistance Packages? Should I have one or Not

[Midnight Rider]

Do you recommend having a road side assistants Company like Good Sam or AAA? If so who do you recommend and why?
Thanks in Advance.

 

[Lantley]

I like the idea of roadside assistance however the reality of roadside assistance is another matter.
All the top companies advertise that they will provide towing in a reasonable amount of time.
However my experience as been they are not able to provide assistance in a timely matter or provide assistance at all.
The assistance companies have a very loose network of providers that they try to entice to give you a tow with low bid offers.
Too often the tow providers do not accept the price being offered leaving the RV'er stranded on the side of the road.
In the end you are better off adding a towing rider to your RV insurance policy and seek reimbursement for towing from your insurance policy.
There are websites like "trucker down" that can locate towing providers for you

 

[TG74]

Luckily, we haven't had to test our roadside assistance coverage, but I prefer to have it as part of my insurance policy. In my opinion, the companies that offer standalone roadside assistance tend to focus more on marketing and selling their customers additional services than on the roadside service itself.

It costs us $21/year to add roadside assistance coverage to our full-time RV policy with Progressive. Here is their overview of what it includes:

Roadside Assistance coverage covers labor costs incurred at the place where the insured's RV becomes disabled as a result of a mechanical/electrical breakdown, dead battery, flat tire, and/or lock-out. We will also help if the insured runs out of gas or other fluid or becomes stuck in snow or mud within 100 feet of a road or highway. And, if necessary, Roadside Assistance will cover towing to the nearest qualified repair facility. Coverage extends to trailers and vehicles being towed by a RV anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.

 

[J. Thomas]

I have always used Coachnet. Price seemed reasonable and they came out and replaced a ruined tire once, when I needed them. That tire repair, on a 100 degree + day, made it all worthwhile for me.

 

[Coacher]

Eventually every one of the big names will leave you stranded and every one will come through. There are hero tales and horror stories all over.

I have used AAA RV+ and have been very pleased. For me having someone to call when thousands of miles from home is a nice peace of mind. Doing an internet search on the side of the road isn't on my list of fun activities.

 

[Lantley]

Eventually every one of the big names will leave you stranded and every one will come through. There are hero tales and horror stories all over.

I have used AAA RV+ and have been very pleased. For me having someone to call when thousands of miles from home is a nice peace of mind. Doing an internet search on the side of the road isn't on my list of fun activities.

The problem is. You can be 1000 miles from home or 10 miles from home, you're at the mercy of the service provider available. Your Roadside assistance person is in a call center nowhere near your local.
If there is no service provider willing to accept the low ball rate that your roadside assistance offers your out of luck!
So far I've been out of luck twice! My experience did not play out like the advertisement.
An internet search on the side of the road got me going long before Roadside assistance got me going.

 

[Coacher]

And that has certainly been the experience for many people. I know I am on borrowed time until they can't help me. But until then I'll continue to pay the money. It's less than a tank of gas.

The repair shop they found me in Santa Rosa New Mexico alone is with 20 years of membership.