Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Good Sam
| Good Sam [message #117112] |
Tue, 01 March 2011 16:40  |
pbrownsd
Messages: 56
Registered: December 2010
Location: Hayden,ID
Karma: 0
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Just got some Good Sam membership info in the mail. How many of you have this? Worth the money?
1976 Glenbrook
Hayden, ID
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| Re: Good Sam [message #117113 is a reply to message #117112] |
Tue, 01 March 2011 16:45  |
zhagrieb
Messages: 676
Registered: August 2009
Location: Portland Oregon
Karma: 0
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I rarely stay in campgrounds so their discounts are of no value. I had one towing experience that was useless (they would only tow me to a nearby trans shop working out of an old gas station (no lift, no yard space, no experience with Toronado/GMC). I gave up my membership then.
Glenn
Glenn Giere, Portland OR, K7GAG
'73 "Moby the Motorhome" 26'
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| Re: Good Sam [message #117159 is a reply to message #117112] |
Tue, 01 March 2011 21:42 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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| pbrownsd wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 15:40 |
Just got some Good Sam membership info in the mail. How many of you have this? Worth the money?
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I'm not sure they and Camping World will be around much longer.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: Good Sam [message #117165 is a reply to message #117159] |
Tue, 01 March 2011 22:20 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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| Bob de Kruyff wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 19:42 |
| pbrownsd wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 15:40 |
Just got some Good Sam membership info in the mail. How many of you have this? Worth the money?
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I'm not sure they and Camping World will be around much longer.
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Interesting observation Bob, any background other than the very poor RV market these days?
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] Good Sam [message #117176 is a reply to message #117165] |
Wed, 02 March 2011 00:29 |
Mitch
Messages: 272
Registered: May 2009
Location: Tacoma, Wa
Karma: 0
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I got a renewal form from Good Sam, but I'm mulling this.
It seems to overlap most of the roadside coverage that comes with my Auto/RV insurance.
YMMV
----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Allen
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 8:20 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Good Sam
Bob de Kruyff wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 19:42
> pbrownsd wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 15:40
> > Just got some Good Sam membership info in the mail. How many of you have this? Worth the money?
>
>
>
> I'm not sure they and Camping World will be around much longer.
Interesting observation Bob, any background other than the very poor RV market these days?
--
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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Mitch
Tacoma, Wa.
'80 Spitfire
'03 Windstar
'77 Jaguar XJ6-C
X(very)'76 PB 26 "The Beast"
Where it rains, always.
It's wet, No sun, Gray.
Go to Oregon.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Good Sam [message #117202 is a reply to message #117124] |
Wed, 02 March 2011 08:40 |
mlincoln
Messages: 107
Registered: August 2006
Location: Salt Lake City
Karma: 0
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Jim, you mentioned that the folks at CoachNet "understand GMCs". Could you elaborate?
Has anyone else had experience with CoachNet, now apparently NMC? I'm interested in whether they will in fact tow to a GMC-experienced and competent facility, or whether the unlimited mileage tow is to the nearest place they deem acceptable. If to the nearest place they select as acceptable, does anyone have any experience with the quality of their judgment regarding shops' GMC repair capability? Finally, if the first acceptable place turns out to be a poor choice in some apparent and defensible manner (e.g. engine rebuild needed, no prior experience with the GMC engine), has CoachNet/NMC proved responsive, for example to allow a subsequent tow to a better experienced shop for the same incident?
Thanks in advance,
Mike Lincoln
1978 Coachman Royale
Ann Arbor, MI
Currently Allstate roadside assistance but have never used it
On Mar 1, 2011, at 6:40 PM, James Hupy wrote:
> Use coachnet from fmca, they understand GMCs. Cost is comparable. We used it
> first trip out. Towed with no damage to the coach, to a good repair
> facility. No out of pocket expense, no hassle.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC Royale 403
>
> On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:40 PM, Pete <pbrownsd@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Just got some Good Sam membership info in the mail. How many of you have
>> this? Worth the money?
>> --
>> 1976 Glenbrook
>>
>> Hayden, ID
>> _______________________________________________
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> _______________________________________________
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| Re: Good Sam [message #117210 is a reply to message #117165] |
Wed, 02 March 2011 09:25 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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| idrob wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 21:20 |
| Bob de Kruyff wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 19:42 |
| pbrownsd wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 15:40 |
Just got some Good Sam membership info in the mail. How many of you have this? Worth the money?
|
I'm not sure they and Camping World will be around much longer.
|
Interesting observation Bob, any background other than the very poor RV market these days?
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Rob--I've read several times that the parent company (can't recall the name right now) is in financial trouble and struggling. I hope I'm not spreading a bad rumor. I believe I have read this several times on RVTravel.com
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Good Sam [message #117212 is a reply to message #117202] |
Wed, 02 March 2011 09:31 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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As I recall in talking to the people at the toll free number, they contact
the repair facility and see if the facility meets with your criteria for an
acceptable repair facility. I know that they gave me more than one choice.
My requirements were only for a facility with a power bleeder for brakes as
I had replaced the MC beside the road, did not have my power bleeder with
me, and my mity-vac hand pump could not extract all the air from the system.
Turns out that the Large GMC dealership with a 40 bay truck and motorhome
facility didn't have one either. I didn't find this out until after the tow
and my motorhome was up on the rack. The service manager called me back into
the shop & explained after 4 hours that they couldn't get the air out by
pumping the brake pedal and wanted to start replacing a lot of other parts.
I worked on the coach with the technician in the shop and finally got enough
pressure equalization to center the spool valve enough to turn out the brake
warning light. Took her down off the rack and drove home after they
extracted over $400.00 for labor. When I got home, I hooked up my power
bleeder and got rid of the air in the system in about an hour & that
included jacking, blocking, rear wheel removal & replacement and bleeding.
Never leave home without a power bleeder now. This story just sheds light on
the need to be towed to someone who knows their way around a GMC. Funny
thing is, I talked to the service manager before they towed the coach and he
assured me that they were familiar with them. My coach was older than the
technician that they assigned to work on it. I am sure I taught him
something about GMC brakes while I was there. Other GMCers have had really
good results about being towed to where they wanted to be towed when using
Coachnet. What I would do is call their number which is 877-250-67 three
two, or online at www.coach-net.com and check them out. Shop around.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC Royale 403
On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 6:40 AM, Michael Lincoln <mlincoln1@gmail.com> wrote:
> Jim, you mentioned that the folks at CoachNet "understand GMCs". Could you
> elaborate?
>
> Has anyone else had experience with CoachNet, now apparently NMC? I'm
> interested in whether they will in fact tow to a GMC-experienced and
> competent facility, or whether the unlimited mileage tow is to the nearest
> place they deem acceptable. If to the nearest place they select as
> acceptable, does anyone have any experience with the quality of their
> judgment regarding shops' GMC repair capability? Finally, if the first
> acceptable place turns out to be a poor choice in some apparent and
> defensible manner (e.g. engine rebuild needed, no prior experience with the
> GMC engine), has CoachNet/NMC proved responsive, for example to allow a
> subsequent tow to a better experienced shop for the same incident?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Mike Lincoln
> 1978 Coachman Royale
> Ann Arbor, MI
> Currently Allstate roadside assistance but have never used it
>
>
>
> On Mar 1, 2011, at 6:40 PM, James Hupy wrote:
>
> > Use coachnet from fmca, they understand GMCs. Cost is comparable. We used
> it
> > first trip out. Towed with no damage to the coach, to a good repair
> > facility. No out of pocket expense, no hassle.
> > Jim Hupy
> > Salem, Or
> > 78 GMC Royale 403
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:40 PM, Pete <pbrownsd@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> Just got some Good Sam membership info in the mail. How many of you
> have
> >> this? Worth the money?
> >> --
> >> 1976 Glenbrook
> >>
> >> Hayden, ID
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> GMCnet mailing list
> >> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Good Sam [message #117218 is a reply to message #117212] |
Wed, 02 March 2011 10:17 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| James Hupy wrote on Wed, 02 March 2011 07:31 |
...
My requirements were only for a facility with a power bleeder for brakes ...
... Turns out that the Large GMC dealership with a 40 bay truck and motorhome
facility didn't have one either. I didn't find this out until after the tow
and my motorhome was up on the rack. The service manager called me back into
the shop & explained after 4 hours that they couldn't get the air out by
pumping the brake pedal and wanted to start replacing a lot of other parts. ...
|
Two comments:
1. Even though a "professional grade" power bleeder* isn't cheap, it still could be "paid for" in a few uses. Besides bleeding the brakes better, it makes brake bleeding into a one man job. Seems odd that a "good" shop did not have one.
* A "less than professional grade" bleeder can be made rather cheaply: <http://www.bmw-m.net/TechProc/bleeder.htm>
2. If they couldn't get the air out before changing parts, what made them think they could do it after?
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: Good Sam [message #117220 is a reply to message #117112] |
Wed, 02 March 2011 10:21 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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I have had AAA, Good Sam and CoachNet. There are some major differences in how they operate. AAA is the most expensive (at least they were 1 year ago when I was looking). They will tow you up to 100 miles a day to a facility of your choice. You pick the facility, they free tow you if it is 100 miles or less. If you are more than 100 miles away, you pay the extra mileage fee. However, the tow truck driver I had said that he had calls in the past where someone got towed 100 miles to a campground one day, claimed to fix it and had something else go wrong, and then got picked up a day or two later to go another 100 miles. Not sure if that would work or not, but he said he had calls like that.
Both Good Sam and CoachNet cost about the same (with the FMCA discount). They both advertise "unlimited towing", which is a complete crock of crud. They will tow you unlimited miles, but only to the "nearest qualified repair facility." For Good Sam, they will find a repair place that is the lowest number of miles and that is where you get towed. Once I managed to convince them to tow me 15 miles to a GMC place I trusted versus 13.6 miles to the nearest possible. It took me over an hour with the manager and I should have just paid the $10 or so for the extra mileage since I consider my time worth more than $10 an hour. They then proceeded to send me notices asking me to please take care of maintenance on my RV and stop abusing their service. I dropped Good Sam like a bad hat after that experience.
CoachNet works the same as Good Sam. HOWEVER, in my experience, they actively look for 3 or 4 nearby repair places and then ask you which one you prefer. Feel free to ask them to connect you to the service departments and ask if they understand the GMC. I also find their reps amazingly friendly and helpful and eager to please, as opposed to the Good Sam rep who was reading out of a book of rules and couldn't care less. That could have been a personal experience. I will say that CoachNet has a rule about coach ages. They will not cover a motorhome over 40 years old, or at least that was the rule last year, so if you have a 73, you won't have coachnet for long unless they allow grandfathering.
For my money, I prefer CoachNet despite what I consider ridiculous advertising like "unlimited towing". AAA is not a motorhome focused group, though their 100 miles is at least the best defined and the least likely to cause you trouble in most places. However, the need to find your own repair place is just a real problem if you are somewhere without internet or someplace you don't know well. My Good Sam experience just irritated the crud out of me, so I probably won't go back to them.
Anyway, I've been on a hook 3 times, once each with these services, but those are my experiences. Your mileage may vary...
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: [GMCnet] Good Sam [message #117239 is a reply to message #117182] |
Wed, 02 March 2011 14:50 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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G'day,
Below you will find an email I sent in last year after we discussed this
subject at length following Dan's engine failure.
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
G'day,
There have been a number of discussions under with different subject lines.
Below I have summarized what was said. As you can see I have not drawn any
conclusions from the information I have merely provided a summary along with
some observations and suggestions.
1) Dan G. noted the following regarding Progressive: "The adjuster I was
dealing with put me in touch with road side assistance. That is where I
should have been to start with. I got a call this morning from a very nice
lady, Vickie. She said because the GMC has a special drive train that they
were paying the 1086.00 tow bill in full."
2) Ken H. noted: "I've been very happy with Allstate Motor Club's RV Road
Help plan for many years."
He contacted them recently regarding their tow service and they advised; "As
stated in your membership handbook 'Towing to the nearest service facility
and/or minor on-site labor.' However we would like to assure you that your
vehicle would be towed to a capable place of repair.
When calling for emergency roadside assistance we would request you to
inform the customer service representative of any special equipment that
your eligible vehicle or RV requires when it has to be towed and / or
repaired."
3) Ken B. noted: "If you do not get satisfaction from Progressive, file a
complaint with your home state Insurance commission."
4) Steve F. noted: "Not on your freaking life would I ever go back to
Allstate." He detailed his reasons for making this statement.
5) Bill B. noted that the Good Sam contractor towed his GMC from the rear
which caused problems which "will likely end up in court." State Farm
reimbursed him for the extra charges he paid to get it towed to Tom
Hampton's shop.
6) Andy M. noted that he has Allstate RV Road Help and the three times he's
used it the services were satisfactory.
7) Wesley C. noted that he has AAA RV Towing and despite some difficulties
that he "Will still stay with them."
8) Gary K. noted that on two occasions State Farm Insurance has reimbursed
him for two expensive tows, $455 & $1230.
9) John S. noted: Be sure the tow provider rep knows that the vehicle to be
towed GMC is a front wheel drive GMC Motorhome with an Oldsmobile engine.
Even though I told them I needed a wheel lift wrecker capable of lifting
4000# and towing 12000# or a low boy trailer, they did not relay that
information to the wrecker company. The first two wreckers they sent could
only use a sling so I sent them packing.
10) Hal K. noted: The folks on another list I receive (RVK9) swear by
Coach-Net. Most of them wouldn't have anybody else. In the two years or so
I've been a member no one has complained about them.
11) A number of people noted that if you are ex US Military USAA insurance
is a good option. They provide insurance through Progressive.
I realize I am demonstrating an acute grasp on the obvious with what I have
written below but I intend to print a copy of it out and have it onboard
when we travel. I KNOW that I will be upset if and when I need a tow and it
will help me keep my head on straight!
I will have a hard copy of: http://www.bdub.net/GMCServiceComments.pdf on
hand also.
When you call the tow service provider representative:
1) CALM DOWN, TAKE A DEEP BREATH, SPEAK SOFTLY, BE POLITE AND PATIENT!
2) Get the name and direct telephone number of the representative you are
speaking to so you can call back "in case we get cut off."
3) Write down their name, date and time of your conversation, and ask for a
case reference number.
4) Ask / confirm that your conversation is being recorded.
5) Take lots of notes as to what is said! Repeat what the rep says to you to
confirm it after you write it down.
6) Have a hard copy of the TOWING VEHICLE section out of Maintenance Manual
X-7525 Page 0-4 & 0-5 in your hand when you call the tow service provider.
7) Advise them that the GMC MUST be towed from the front or put on a vehicle
long enough to accommodate it; read them the sentence under TOWING AT REAR
on page 0-5.
8) Ask for the name, phone number, and contact at the shop where your GMC is
to be towed and to confirm they have experience working on GMC's.
9) Most likely they won't be able to tell you if the shop has experience on
a GMC so if it is during normal business hours call the shop yourself while
you're waiting for the tow truck. Ask if they have any experience working on
1973-78 GMC Motorhomes. Most likely they will not have any experience so
call the tow service provider rep back and pass that information on to them.
Ask them how a shop with no experience working on a GMC could be qualified
to do so?
10) When the tow vehicle arrives ask the driver if they have ever towed a
GMC before. The answer will most likely be no so give him the copy of the
TOWING VEHICLE section out of the MM and ask him to please take a minute to
read it.
11) Confirm that the tow vehicle has sufficient capacity to lift the front
wheels of a GMC (GAWR 4,2000 pounds) tow the 12,000 pound GMC.
12) Confirm that the tow company is insured and is responsible for any
damage suffered while the vehicle is under tow.
13) When you arrive at the shop ask again if they have experience working on
a GMC.
14) Ask the shop if they have the Maintenance Manual, Parts Book, and
special tools for working on a GMC.
15) Ask the shop how long it will be before they can look at your GMC.
16) If you are unhappy with responses from the shop call the tow service
provider and advise them. Ask if you can be taken to shop that does have
experience, manuals, and tools!
All the above may sound pedantic but if "something happens" and you wind up
in court you can easily demonstrate that you did your best to inform the tow
service provider, the tow company, and the repair shop of any special
requirements for towing a GMC and repairing it.
At the end of the day it may all come to naught but at least you won't kick
yourself for not doing something you could/should have!
If anybody has any additional thoughts regarding this subject please feel
free to comment.
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Richard MacDonald
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 9:43 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Good Sam
On 3/1/2011 5:40 PM, Pete wrote:
>
> Just got some Good Sam membership info in the mail. How many of you have
this? Worth the money?
I will not renew, twice I called and requested they stop sending all
kinds of offers, I still get junk mail every week from them or others
who they gave my personal info to.
Just my experience.
Richard
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: Good Sam [message #117245 is a reply to message #117112] |
Wed, 02 March 2011 15:51 |
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My insurance company, State Farm, will, and did, pick up all of my towing charges to a competent and capable repair shop. Good Sam was a HUGE disappointment when I needed them. Hopefully they invested the last dime I sent them because they will never ever see another one.
Bill Brown - '77 Buckeye Cruiser
Coshocton OH
carguybill@sbcglobal.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] Good Sam [message #117272 is a reply to message #117202] |
Wed, 02 March 2011 18:43 |
pbrownsd
Messages: 56
Registered: December 2010
Location: Hayden,ID
Karma: 0
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Member |
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I have Coachnet and used them twice on my one and only trip so far. I felt they had geat customer service and no hassle. However the tow truck driver that showed up had no idea the GMC was front wheel drive. He spent considerable time under the MH looking for the drive shaft to disconnect the rear wheels!!
1976 Glenbrook
Hayden, ID
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