On May 27th, my spouse and I were approaching an RV park in Provo, Utah, for the night on our trek north for the summer. After settling into our pull-through site, we began our routine hookup. As I walked around the back of our motorcoach to open the electric bay, I noticed a narrow “v-shaped” gouge in our left rear tire. Almost new, having no more than 3,000 miles wear on the back tires, I called to my spouse, “We’ve got a tire problem.” He walked back, looked at the tire and said, “We’re not driving on that.” He continued our hookup and I called Good Sam Roadside Assistance.
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When the unexpected occurs
Unbeknownst to us, our “Platinum” policy did not reimburse the cost of the tire as was implied. Huh! We were under the impression from a query call to learn about this program that we’d be required to purchase the tire up front, then submit a claim for part, if not all, of the tire cost (depending upon the wear-and-tear value of the damaged tire) … sans reimbursement for the service call. We understood the service call charge was akin to a “deductible charge.”
Concluding the incident report with Roadside Assistance, my spouse clearly communicated to the dispatch representative the tire’s specifications (i.e., 295/75R22.5), outside left rear load tire. After that, he was transferred to Tire Rescue. We thought it odd that member services was located in Denver, Colorado, and Tire Rescue was located in New York. A few minutes later we received notification that a tire facility would be dispatched to our location in approximately 90 minutes.
The tech arrived with the wrong tire!
My spouse introduced himself to the technician as he was rolling the tire toward our coach for replacement. My spouse spoke to the tech, “This is a steering tire. We requested a load tire.” The technician replied, “I repeated that same comment to them three times. They said their company policy is to replace with a steering tire.” By this time, I walked out to hear their conversation continue. My spouse said to the tech, “The aspect ratio is different on steering tires versus load tires.” The tech said, “You’re absolutely right.” My spouse replied, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but doing so will either ruin this tire or the inside tire quickly.” The tech replied, “Exactly.” My spouse said, “Take this one back and get me the right tire, please.” The tech agreed and stated he would return in an hour or so.
We immediately called back to Tire Rescue, questioning why they had ordered a steering tire, which was estimated at $130.00 more than the load tire. The representative commented that it was their policy to provide steering tires for replacement. That’s all well and good if you have nothing but steering tires on your RV. If not, use our experience as a “note to self – caveat” should you acquire any tire replacement policy.
Returning with the right tire
Approximately one hour later, the tech returned. My spouse walked outside as the young man was rolling the tire toward our coach saying, “I balanced it for you as well.” My spouse thanked him, responding, “At least it’s the right tread pattern and aspect ratio.” As he was tightening the lug nuts, the tech reiterated, “It’s a good idea to check lug nuts once daily when traveling.” We thanked him and he departed.
Following up
On June 3rd, I called Roadside Assistance asking how to file the claim for reimbursement and receive credit for the cost difference of the right type of tire that was replaced versus the higher-cost steering tire. First, we were told to submit the claim online and then the agent responded that Tire Rescue will have to wait until the facility that replaced the tire submitted their invoice and that could be up to thirty days. Not cool! It would have been better if Tire Rescue at least acknowledged the cost differential and communicated that to us accordingly. We shouldn’t have to follow up for the credit.
Two weeks later…
After three separate phone calls and elevating to two supervisory personnel, a Roadside Assistance coordinator vowed to forward the file to Tire Rescue requesting they follow up with a phone call back to us. Credit forthcoming? Who knows.
Live and learn!
##RVT1006
Stay away from Good Sam. I didn’t and was stranded on a highway in 107 degree heat for 6 hours. Now I use Coach Net. Also covers my truck.
Hearing some of the other complaints about roadside assistance I have to say you’re lucky you had someone eventually help you the same day with the correct tire.
That’s one of the nice things about having a travel trailer: Tires are cheaper and you can drive the tow vehicle to the nearest tire store and get your own replacement if necessary.
Nice to know that not only do I have a spare tire, it is less than one year old and properly inflated. Checked before every trip.
Pre-flight anyone?
It seems there are a lot of opinions about RV tires. How am I supposed to glean the truth out of all this noise?
I think I will just stick with Roger Marble.
Good call
We had less than 500 miles on our brand new diesel pusher and in a remote town. Luckily we were in a campground when my daughter heard a hissing sound. We called roadside assistance and told them the size of the tire, location and reinforced it with “tractor trailer size tire” A few hours later a pickup pulled up with two men carrying a small air tank to fill the tire, at that point told them that I had an air port and hose and low pressure was not a problem. They then took a 1/2” breaker bar and long pipe out to loosen the lug nuts and you guessed it snap went the bar, they left and returned with a 3/4” bar and the same pipe and it snapped, they finally returned with a 1-1/4” bar and this time they were successful. I told them when they return with the tire to make sure they had a torque wrench since the rear brakes are disc and I gave them the torque value, two days later they returned with a brand new torque wrench and a repaired tire. Glad I wasn’t along the road!
Interesting post. Wondering how one ‘checks the lug nuts’ on a 22.5 wheel? Look at them to see if they are all there?
With a long enough extension and torque wrench, and proper size socket. Easiest way the trucking industry uses is after the lug nut is properly torqued take a small dab of paint marked on the lug nut/wheel, if the paint is cracked the wheel is losing its torque.
Our interesting story about Good Sam Roadside Assistance took place in Quebec, Canada. We blew a front steer tire. Service truck came from a business in Quebec, Canada. The tire we purchased was brought by them…so Canadian funds. Our Visa bill came…we were charged for the tire in US$. Since exchange was about $1 US cost us $1.30 Canadian…it was a couple of hundred dollars more for the tire in US$. I contacted Good Sam to explain that all the transactions took place in Canada, so we shouldn’t be charged US$. They said they always charge in US…I asked who gets the couple hundred dollars extra that we spent in exchange when the tire was purchased in Canadian dollars. After a couple of emails back and forth, the issue was resolved favourably and we were issued a refund of the exchange difference. Always pay attention and check your credit card bills. This story had a happy ending 🙂
We have never had the impression that Good Sam would reimburse the price of the tire. I do think there is a separate policy for tires though. Nothing but great experience with Good Sam in 20 years, not so with Camping World though.
I also have never heard of tire price being covered, just the service call. I had Good Sam for years until Marcus Lemonis bought them, wouldn’t touch them now, and I’m a lifetime member.
Sounds like that insurance was definitely not worth the premiums.
Looks like she drove over a spike of rebar, probably from failing to maintain her lane in a construction area. Doesn’t look like the tire was at fault.
Wow, you’re good. What caused the scratch on the side of my truck?
That was rebar flipping up. Obviously it was 3/8″ rebar and had rust on it.
I didn’t see anything in the article suggesting the tire was at fault.
Sounds like you were givin’ “the business”, or their system doesn’t have the ability to discern steering from load. You might want to follow up with your highest contact, to try and have them correct their system. That might eliviate the next person who gets the wrong tire. Your knowledge of steering and load, is not common with RV owners, so I suggest at least try and teach them.
The people answering the phones are probably millennials or some other younger generation and we all know they don’t have common sense to refer to a tire spec sheet to see what the difference is. I’m just glad to know I’ll be gone by the time these young people are old enough to start running this great country.
Just another example of the sad demise of a once excellent organization, Good Sam. There was a time when I wouldn’t have any other roadside service, but I and many others I’m sure, are looking for coverage that we can count on.
Only Greed and Power with Marcus
I have had absolutely no help ever from Good Sam. Completely Useless. A waste of money.
Camping World salesman said roadside assistance would bring our spare But the policy states we need to have a tire and wheel.
Read your policy or be prepared to pay dearly 🙁
We have heard lots of bad reviews about Good Sam Roadside Assistance, and very little good. I would not buy this service, nor would I recommend it to anyone!
It was good before the Marcus regime took over, he has ruined a good thing in the name of PROFITS!
And yet, another reason to cancel and never join a Good Sam club membership ever again. Nothing but a shakedown, and a scam.
I completely agree….borders on a “scam”
Forgive my ignorance but what is the difference between a ‘steering’ tire and ‘load’ tire? When we get new tires they are all the same.
Steering tires can have more shallow tread depth which may result in smoother ride and fuel economy. Steering tires may have tread patterns to help shift water away from the tires. Deep tread depth for load or drive tires are usually designed for heavy loads. Vis a vis, long haul truckers, especially independent drivers, can’t afford steering tires as they don’t last as long, don’t wear as well under heavy loads, and are far more expensive. Many great brands of load tires will be 16 ply versus 14 ply and that’s additional strength against road hazards.
Steer tires support greater weight then drives and have thicker sidewalls. Running a steer tire on a drive axle is not uncommon and done quite regularly in the trucking industry.
No, they run recaps on the back because of the cost difference. I assume the same is true for you.
just so wrong, talk to a professional, aspect is same for steer as for drive, only get load rating for your wieght, more will just cost you money and may heat up, load rating does nothing against road hazards, only let’s you put in more air for weight, steer tires are usually cheaper than drives, and as very few times is a tire brand new when damaged, the tread depth is usually closer. Please consult experts, not service personel for the right tire for your weight and usage, air pressure for load as AND not what is on tire as that is MAX.
45 YEARS IN COMMERCIAL SALES,SERVICE,AND RETREADING
I’ve got to agree with Ray and Chris. We had Good Sam for years, and it was a miserable experience. And they always insist on sending out that Roadside Repair Vehicle, even when it is obvious that it won’t be able to help. Example – a bearing failure sheared off the end of the axle spindle. I called GS for a flatbed. Over my strenuous objection, they sent out a Ford Fiesta driven by a guy with a small toolbox of screwdrivers and pliers. He fiddled around for two hours, charged us for the hours plus his travel time both ways, then left. By that time it was too late to get a flatbed, so we spent the night in a hotel – at our expense of course. When we got home, I immediately switched to AAA, which is interesting in itself. AAA is a loose association of geographic “chapters”, each of which sets its own benefits levels. Northern New England chapeter is great – others not so much. But worth checking out. They have been good to us..