CoachNet

CoachNet

Recent status of CoachNet and HDTs?

Jack Mayer
28 July 2010
12:28 PM
The time has come to renew road service.  I WANT to drop Good Sam, but CoachNet is the only viable alternative and I keep hearing horror stories about CN and HDTs.  If you have CN Platinum will they tow it or not?  And will they handle the RV too, under the same policy.  I know they say they will, but I also know people in the past that were on the side of the road and CN REFUSED to service them when it was discovered it was an HDT.

So, what say you all? BTW, I would post in the CN section but no useful info seems to come from there....

Hogrydr
28 July 2010
01:36 PM
Jack
I have "Allstate motor club, RV Roadhelp"  They have told me, and I just checked with them again that they will tow anything that you have, Motorhome, fifthwheel, toter and I told them what I tow with, and they said if it belonged to me and was towing the fifthwheel they would tow it.

Including any other vehicle I own Motorcycle, car, FJ, and even a Jeep also for Wayland and JW.  They include a 2k arrest bond certificate.  It cost $100 bucks a year.  800/786-2277

Bob Speckman
28 July 2010
06:05 PM
"if it belonged to me and was towing the fifthwheel"

Does that mean it would not be covered if bobtail or towing just the Car/Jeep ?

RVGary
28 July 2010
06:12 PM
Called Good Sam this morning and they said no problem towing HD's..., 5th wheels, and autos.

What kind of problems have you had?  I might need to reconsider!

JUGGERNAUT
28 July 2010
06:18 PM
We're new to CoachNet.  Besides a phone conversation, we had sent them photos of Juggernaut.  Naturally if and when we need them, that may be another story.  Hopefully not.
Hogrydr
28 July 2010
07:34 PM
Bob
They were saying that they would provide an emergency tow on anything you owned, car, truck, motorcycles, ETC. give them a call and see what they say !!!
Jofox10
28 July 2010
07:45 PM
Well Jack
For another data point.  I got CN last March 2010.  Was on my way to Washington state in May, and when passing through Kansas, about 90 miles south of Wichita, a spring hanger broke and laid down.  Was my
rear axle on my RV, axle rolled back a bit and was pulling to the side.  Was lucky my axle didn't roll up under my RV and lose it out the back But I saw it soon after it happened and pulled over.  Called CN and really did not know how they would handle something as odd as this.  FIRST.. they WANTED to tow the truck and RV to the nearest campground service center.  Was no question if they would tow it or not, they WANTED to do it.  However, I knew it was an EASY fix and I insisted they send a service truck with a welder to do the repair on the road.  Was an easy fix, spring hanger was laid down exactly where it had been welded, so I knew it could be fixed easy.  CN DID say that if I opted to fix it and it did not work, then I would must pay for the service call.  Basically I get ONE service from CN per event, but I KNEW it would work if I welded it back.  I am sure the total charges for the service was around $300-$400.  They paid for the call out.  I paid for the service once they got to me.  They charged me $80 to do it.  I gave them a $20 tip, and it got me to Washington St.  They have my truck listed as a tractor truck, but know I pull a 5th wheel with it.  I had no problems whatsoever with the service I got. I know I got my annual dues back with that one call.  Don't know if ANY company is ever a silver bullet for whatever you expect from them, but in this case, I got what I paid for and expected. Will continue to use them until they show me otherwise.
FWIW
Clark
Jack Mayer
28 July 2010
09:19 PM
I have had no issues with Good Sam.  Had one flat repair with them.  I just HATE all the mail I constantly get from Affinity Group so I am severing ALL ties with them if I can.  Maybe some day the mail will stop. For example, I get mail every two  weeks. The time there were five pieces from various Affinity companies.
avan
28 July 2010
09:41 PM
I don't know how much more picky the ERS companies are with an HDT than a MDT but we've always carried our ERS as an endorsement on our Full-Timer 5ver policy.  Our TV policy is with the same company.  As part of the 5ver policy, the ERS covers both the 5ver and the tow vehicle, whether we are towing or not.  The cost for the endorsement is about $45/yr.  Our insurance company subcontracts its ERS to a couple of networks and one of them is CoachNet.  Presumably it gets a major discount from the networks for bulk coverage of its policyholders.

We've been towed a number of times and have had a road service/non towing call once and have never had to do anything other than sign the tow ticket for the tow company.  In fact just this morning we had the pleasure of calling for service under our endorsement and they arrived promptly, sent more than adequate equipment, towed our 5ver over to a campsite at Tom Sawyer's RV Park and then proceeded with the truck to the local IH dealer.  Interestingly, it was the first time I've ever been through the scales and I think the driver had a bit of a problem, permit wise, with being over length and overweight.  Whatever, we were passed through after about 4-5 minutes.

Bob Speckman
28 July 2010 - 11:20 PM
Thanks Jim
I was hoping that is what you meant. I need to get a new ERS and its NOT going to be Good Sam or as I prefer to call the Bad Sam.  They got in my pocket previously and did not perform when needed.

I heard only good things about CoachNet

D and J
29 July 2010
09:19 AM

avan, on Jul 28 2010, 08:41 PM, said:
... and I think the driver had a bit of a problem, permit wise, with being over length

Must have ben quite a sight to see that setup going up and over the levee into Tom Sawyer's

avan
29 July 2010
12:05 PM
It was, though DW was riding shotgun and I was sitting in the sleeper so I only could see the "train" through his windshield safety stickers to the mirror attached to his front bumper.  Elected not to look in that little mirror when he was going through the construction/concrete barricades on I-55 on the south side of Memphis.  DW had a good view of that and she said she was glad I wasn't the engineer on that train.  Pacing it off before we left, I figure we were between 110' and 115' in length.  Didn't bother him though - he pulled into a large gas station (well short of a
truck stop though) to get himself a cold soda.
Jim2
29 July 2010
12:10 PM
Jack
CN towed my Volvo 610 last winter when I got stuck in the mud. They were well aware it was an HDT and had no issue with that.  The issue in my situation was, since I wasn't along a public highway or in a campground they wanted to know if I was within 100 ft. of a "maintained road."  After convincing them that my ranch's 3/4 mile gravel driveway was "maintained" and used by FedEx, UPS & other delivery trucks, they sent a HD tow rig from 50 miles away at no cost.

Like any prepaid, flat fee service, they are forced to have some limitations & exclusions.  Those are spelled out in their plan terms & conditions.  But I'm sure there are some valid disputes & misunderstandings over varying interpretations of those limitations.  One of their exclusions is, they do not provide service for any commercial vehicles.  So if an HDT is still registered commercial, appears to be commercial or their tow driver calls it in as a commercial tow; it could lead to a misunderstanding.  They have no exclusion for non-commercial HDT in RV use.  Reading their detailed terms & conditions up front, can help you answer their questions the right way.  Some folks were not aware of the "one paid service per incident" limitation.  If you request they send a mobile roadside service
and for whatever reason they can not complete the fix roadside, then any tow charge for that same incident is not covered.  You also should try to talk directly to the shop before agreeing where to tow it.  If you agree to have them tow to Shop #1 and later find out that shop can't look at it for 3 days, but shop #2 across town can fix it today, they are not going to cover a 2nd tow for your convenience.

In my experience with them on both the stuck Volvo, a MH flat and a disabled pickup, CN has been more than fair and well worth the $110 annual Platinum plan fee.  I haven't needed to tow the Harley yet, but they also cover it.

Desolation Roe
29 July 2010
01:17 PM
Great thread!!  I just signed up for CoachNet as a direct result.  Pleasantly surprised at the Escapees discount.
MLC
29 July 2010
01:25 PM
Jack
Does your insurance offer a ER service, Progressive offered a ER for less than the Good Sam.  I dropped Good Sam this year.
1Rod
29 July 2010
04:32 PM
Good luck at getting rid of the mailings.  Once they have your address. I  haven't paid them a cent in over a year and still get the mailings and email messages.  Doubt that mailings from Good Sam will stop.  JMHO
Dennis M
29 July 2010
08:05 PM
Good Sam towed the Volvo with no questions asked a couple of years ago.  I had a no start in my storage barn and they came and picked up the Volvo only and towed it to the Volvo dealer - about 30 miles.
RandyA
31 July 2010
07:23 PM
I have carried AAA RV+ (joke) and Good Sam ERS in the past (also a joke IMHO).  Subscribed with CN when I was left stranded by GS-ERS locked out of my dually (no one on their call list would come out on Sunday night).

In December of '09 I dropped the left front wheel of the Volvo into soft soil.  Called CN, told them what the rig and deal was.  They asked if I wanted one wrecker for two hours or two for one hour.  They dispatched and paid full charge of a heavy wrecker to winch me out.

Last week the left rear wheel came off the fiver (read separate post on this forum).  I called Coach Net.

They understood that a wrecker could not pull the trailer with the axle on the ground.  They decided to dispatch a tire and trailer repair guy to see what could be done.  He advised that chaining up the axle and escorting me to a place that could fix the axle was the best bet.  Coach Net agreed.

When we got to the RV dealer he handed me a bill for $200.  Coach Net refused to pay for the labor to chain up the axle and would only pay for $177.50 that represented the initial call and escort.

I called CN back and reminded them of the agent's promise to "help me no matter what."  They informed me LABOR was not covered.  Labor? What gives here?  Is there a labor charge to hook to a wrecker?

I saved CN money by agreeing to chaining up the axle over a flat-bed truck to put the fiver on.  Made no difference - to them it was labor.

$200 out of my pocket - $177.50 from theirs.

Other advice?  If you break down make sure it is in the middle of a busy highway.  DO NOT try to get off the road to a safe place so you, others and additional damage to the rig will not ensue.  Once off the road it is no longer an "emergency" and the rules change.  My wheel and tire coverage was refused because of this.  If I had stayed on the highway it would have been covered.

Yea, I'll stay with CN, but I am not happy with them right now

Walkerl
31 July 2010
07:55 PM
Jack,
Our ERS is due and we are looking for an HDT so I called CoachNet to see if they would cover an HDT.  The lady knew EXACTLY what I was talking about and stated if it was singled then absolutely no problem.  I didn't ask further and haven't actually tried it
Bluenoser
31 July 2010
08:09 PM
So., I am leaving mine tandem.  Will I be unable to get CoachNet coverage?
JUGGERNAUT
31 July 2010
09:12 PM
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Walkerl
31 July 2010
09:35 PM
Sorry Bluenoser but I didn't think to ask that question.
JUGGERNAUT
31 July 2010
09:39 PM
What I was told; Good Sam will not cover any vehicle with LLC in the registration.  CN will cover all non-commercial LLC.  They also insisted my tractor was already singled.
JerryR
01 August 2010
12:41 AMM
Jack,
I had the same problem with GS junk mail.  When I called them to stop it I was told it was cheaper for them to leave me on their list then to take me off.  So I started saving their mailings and stuffed as many as I could in their prepaid envelope and sent it back to them overweight.  They had to pay for the overweight mailings and after about two months the junk mail just stopped.
Jerry
On The Road
01 August 2010
06:54 AM
We have AARP (Hartford) insurance on all our vehicles which are car, truck, fifth wheel, and Volvo HDT motorhome.  The Volvo was just added and when I got the policy it said they add emergency towing service, $1000.00 emergency expense, $750.00 transportation expense, total theft coverage (temp housing and travel expense to return home) $1000.00 fire department services, and $2500.00utility trailer coverage.  These were added at no additional cost.  Also emergency motor home roadside assistance at no additional cost. I called to find out if there
was a limit for a year and was no limit in number but a $500.00 per incident limit.

When I called to insure the HDT I read from the title that it said Volvo MH.  It took them a week to get back to me with the quote which was cheaper that Texas Farm Bureau, State Farm, Blue Sky.  I had to put a value on the Volvo which is what I had to do with the fifth wheel also.

This extra coverage covered only the Volvo.

rmader
01 August 2010
07:53 AM
Yes they won't cover a 3 axle truck
On The Road
01 August 2010
08:00 AM
I am a three axle truck, that was never a question during the application.  I did not ask that specific question and they (Hartford) did not question that item.  I think the key is that my title says MH and there are some MH with three axles.
RandyA
01 August 2010
10:51 AM
That is the first I have heard of the requirement of being "singled."

I wonder if that also applies to tag axle and bus chassis motor homes?  What about triple axle towables?  Other than having four more tires that might go flat on a non singled HDT - why would there be any differentiation?  Not trying to shoot the messenger, just don't get the justification of the lady's response.

I, for one, will be requesting a full printed policy with exclusions from CoachNet rather than the abbreviated info pamphlet supplied.

Nolan
01 August 2010
12:09 PM
Haven't sent back the prepaid envelope overweight.  But have sent them back saying take me off the list for whatever they have sent me.  They got the message.  We get Good Sam for the ERS.  Only have used it once in
almost 6 years.  Also get the Good Sam membership because we get $60. a year off our insurance for the truck and trailer.

I did email CoachNet earlier this year.  Never heard a thing

JUGGERNAUT
01 August 2010
01:38 PM
Since we're a registered motor-home under an LLC, the singling issue may only pertain to that.  The did want to make certain we were not a commercial vehicle.
Walkerl
01 August 2010
02:26 PM
My question to the Coach-Net rep was "do you cover the HDT's - the big trucks like Volvos, Freightliners and Kenworths that are converted to haul the heavy fifth wheels?"  She obviously knew what I was referring to and her answer was instantaneous -- "as long as they have been singled."  I didn't inquire further.

We did sign up for the Platinum plan and just received our cards and literature.  The only reference I can find in the booklet they mailed was under terms and conditions and states "all benefits are applicable to the member, spouse and his/her dependents (children under the age of 25) for any vehicle including motorcycles, tow dollies and trailers.  Benefits are not applicable to commercial vehicles or vehicles over 40 years old." (Page 17 Item #2 of booklet PPBG0207)

It says ANY vehicle but who knows if any is really any HDT

Bill & Val
02 August 2010
06:59 AM
We got CN a few months ago after talking to a rep at the Hershey RV show.  She told us that their policy had changed in the past couple of years and that they now would cover our LLC singled HDT.  We also have RoadCare from Camping World and have used it 3 times in the past two years for the truck including both towing to a shop and having them send a mechanic for a tranny sensor.  Each time we call it has taken a few
minutes to get them to realize that it's a Volvo HDT and not a Volvo car, but they have been very good.  We added CN because I understood that they were the best.
Bill
DonF
15 August 2010
11:29 AM
Our experience (FOUR call-outs with CN) was similar to "On the Road" -- no big deal, though the 4th call-out was problematic when they learned the Volvo was not listed as "covered" under our latest National. Interstate policy.

Turned out my insurance man failed to include the coverage -- the difference between Premier and Standard; got the mobile service from GS on that incident (just needed to re-air front tire on the Volvo parked at RV park with air sensor bleeding out the air, lost bead contact), then got the Volvo coverage added for another $40 per year; it took the ERS line item from $80 to $120.  This is CN coverage via the vehicle insurance (rather than the $239 policy you buy from CN directly).

We previously had CN thru American Modern, they covered pull-out of the mud on a private farm, full truck & trailer tow (when the radiator sprung a leak), and shop referral for a fuel leak that I didn't need a tow or roadside service, just a close by place to get the repair.

Had CN coverage since 2007, still have three axles, titled as MH under MT-LLC.
Don

rayscycle
18 August 2010
08:27 PM
We are not singled out and do not intend to single out.  Our KW rides great bobtail and does just fine with the Alfa also so why mess with a good thing!  That said, we have been looking for another ERS service. We talked to CoachNet, no go.  Talked to RoadCare from Camping World today, also a no go.  Guess it will be back to Good Sam ERS, even though their service is not very good.  It is better than nothing, but just barely.