Coach-Net vs Good Sam RV Roadside Assistance
- Best Bunkhouse Travel Trailer: Top Models & Options! - April 21, 2024
- Best Wheel Bearing Grease for Travel Trailers On The Market - October 28, 2021
- Best RV Jackknife Sofa Cover Ideas That Are Low Maintanance - October 15, 2021
When you set out on an RV adventure, your head is probably full of beautiful images, like peaceful mornings sipping coffee in your campsite, touring famous attractions near and far, and singing along to your favorite road trip soundtrack as you cruise smoothly down the highway.
Ideally, everything on your RV will always work exactly as it should and your whole trip will go according to plan. But what if it doesn’t?
Engine trouble, flat tires, and other problems happen to everyone at one time or another. It seems like the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the problems.
If you are having problems with your RV, you need a roadside assistance company that knows the specific challenges RVers face in these circumstances. In the RVing community, there are two companies that stand out for offering excellent, RV-specific roadside assistance services in the United States and Canada: Good Sam and Coach-Net.
You want to make sure you get the roadside service that best suits your needs in the event of an emergency. So which of these two companies should you choose?
Bottom Line Up Front Summary: Having one of these services is better than nothing, but we found that the more complete, customizable, and accessible coverages was with Good Same Roadside Assistance here. Best of all, Good Sam is offering significant discounts here for new members.
Main Differences Between Coach-Net vs Good Sam
The main differences between Coach-Net vs Good Sam are:
- Coach-Net only offers one membership for towable RVs and one for drivable RVs, whereas Good Sam offers three levels of membership to suit different needs
- Coach-Net offers a 24-hour technical hotline on all memberships, whereas Good Sam Roadside only offers this on some membership levels
- Coach-Net roadside assistance memberships include a variety of discounts on RV supplies and campgrounds, whereas Good Sam’s discount club is a separate membership.
- Coach-Net does not offer discounts, whereas Good Sam offers significant discounts of up to 50% off for the first year for new members
The differences are subtle on the surface but could impact the service you receive and how much you pay for it.
Good Sam is like the AAA, but specifically for RVs. We don't travel without it. Easily the most COMPREHENSIVE and responsive RV service we've experienced. Rest easy knowing that the unexpected breakdowns don't have to ruin your trip!
Membership Levels
Coach-Net makes choosing a membership simple. If your RV is drivable, such as a Class A or Class C motorhome, you pay for the motorized plan.
If you have a towable RV, such as a travel trailer or fifth wheel, then you subscribe to a towable plan. There are no levels of membership to compare or questions about what is covered when you call. The choice is easy because there is really no choice involved.
Good Sam offers three different levels of membership: Standard, Platinum, and Platinum Complete. The only RVs covered by the Standard membership, however, are travel trailers, pop-up campers, and pickup campers.
RV owners with motorized RVs or fifth-wheel trailers will have two choices: the Platinum and the Platinum Complete membership levels. The advantage here is the ability to choose a lower level of coverage in order to reduce the annual cost of your roadside assistance plan.
How much of a difference does this make for you? The answer depends on your RV type and what kind of coverage you need. If, for example, you want complete, all-inclusive coverage, and you drive a motorized RV, there is almost no difference between Coach-Net Motorized and Good Sam Platinum Complete when it comes to both cost and included services.
If, however, you tow a fifth wheel and want the same all-inclusive coverage, then Coach-Net Towable may save you money over Good Sam Platinum Complete. Alternatively, if you have a drivable RV and want good roadside coverage but would like to cut back on extra services in order to reduce your annual fee, then Good Sam Platinum would probably be the best choice for you.
Coach-Net’s system may be easy, but Good Sam offers RVers more choices.
Access to Advice from Licensed Technicians
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with an RV that may not leave you stranded on the side of the road, but that leaves you stuck in other ways.
Maybe it’s time to check out of the campground but your landing gear won’t come up, or your slide won’t come in. Maybe your AC unit isn’t working on a hot summer day, or your heater dies on a chilly fall weekend.
If the problem is serious, both Coach-Net and Good Sam (all membership levels) include dispatch of a mobile mechanic to your location. But for many problems, you can save money and hassle by resolving the problem yourself with the advice of an experienced technician.
Both Coach-Net and Good Sam provide members with access to certified RV technicians that can help you repair minor issues by asking you questions and talking you through it step-by-step over the phone. Coach-Net includes this service on all memberships, but Good Sam only includes this service with Platinum and Platinum Complete subscriptions.
Savings on RV Essentials
When talking about the discounts available through Good Sam, it is important to distinguish between the Good Sam membership club and the Good Sam roadside assistance program. Most of the discounts associated with Good Sam are included in the membership club, which is separate from the roadside assistance packages.
Good Sam offers a wide variety of discounts, including savings on thousands of campgrounds and discounted supplies at Camping World and Gander stores, on both online and in-store purchases. Save money on fuel, propane, and more.
Many RVers find these discounts to be well worth the cost of a Good Sam Club membership, which costs $29 per year. But none of these discounts is specifically included in the roadside assistance membership. Though both come from the Good Sam company, the memberships are separate.
The discounts provided by Coach-Net are included in the roadside assistance membership. They are not nearly as extensive as what the Good Sam club offers, but there is no additional membership or fee required to receive them. Look for reduced rates on Harvest Host memberships, or on a custom mattress from Mattress Insider.
Coach-Net has partnered with third-party discount providers such as TicketsAtWork and Working Advantage to give its members access to discounted entertainment, attractions, and online shopping.
When it comes to campground discounts, Coach-Net members get 10% off stays in all Thousand Trails properties, as well as a dozen different campgrounds around the United States and one in Canada. The discounts offered by Coach-Net are a nice added bonus but probably not significant enough to be a big factor in choosing your roadside assistance service.
If you are looking for solid savings on things RVers need regularly, consider joining the Good Sam membership club. Then choose your roadside assistance service based on other factors.
New Member Discounts
While it could be argued that you can’t put a price tag on peace of mind, the reality is that price is a significant factor for most RVers when choosing a roadside assistance plan.
Compared to what it could cost if your rig needs to be towed, both Coach-Net and Good Sam will save you money if you need to use them. Still, many RVers have a little bit of sticker shock when looking at the prices for roadside assistance that covers RVs.
Good Sam scores a lot of points here by deeply discounting their service for new members for the first year of their membership. A Standard membership that is regularly $129.95 is just $64.95 for new members. The Platinum membership is also offered at a 50% discount.
New members subscribing to a Platinum Complete plan will receive a discount of almost 40%, as the $239.95 price tag is reduced to $149.95. These are significant savings, and if the service is comparable, why pay more? Please note that these discounts only apply to new Good Sam roadside customers and after the first year, your membership will renew at full price.
Coach-Net vs Good Sam Side-by-Side
This comparison chart is a brief overview of the services included in each type of membership. For more details on each of these included services, please visit the respective websites for Coach-Net and Good Sam Roadside.
Towable RVs
|
Coach-Net |
Good Sam Standard | Good Sam Platinum | ||
| Types of RVs covered | All non-motorized RVs | Travel trailers Pop-up campers Pickup campers |
All (multiple RVs covered) |
All (multiple RVs covered) |
| Other Vehicles Covered | All personal vehicles + rented, borrowed or leased vehicles | Personal (non-recreational) vehicles, including boat trailers, and tow dollies | All personal vehicles + rented, borrowed or leased vehicles | All personal vehicles + rented, borrowed or leased vehicles |
| Family Members Covered | Spouse and Dependent Children up to age 24 | Spouse and Dependent Children up to age 25 | Spouse and Dependent Children up to age 25 | Spouse and Dependent Children up to age 25 |
| Towing Benefits |
|
|
|
|
| Flat Tire Service | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Fuel / Battery / Lockout | All included | All included | All included | All included |
| Other Services |
|
|
|
|
| Cost | $179 / year | $64.95 / 1st year (check new buyer discount) $129.95 / year |
$79.95 / 1st year (check new buyer discount) $159.95 / year |
$149.95 / 1st year (check new buyer discount) $239.95 / year |
Drivable RVs
|
Coach-Net |
|||
| Types of RVs covered | All motorized RVs | All (multiple RVs covered) |
All (multiple RVs covered) |
| Other Vehicles Covered | All personal vehicles + rented, borrowed or leased vehicles | All personal vehicles + rented, borrowed or leased vehicles | All personal vehicles + rented, borrowed or leased vehicles |
| Family Members Covered | Spouse and Dependent Children up to age 24 | Spouse and Dependent Children up to age 25 | Spouse and Dependent Children up to age 25 |
| Towing Benefits |
|
|
|
| Flat tire service | Included | Included | Included |
| Fuel / Battery / Lockout | All included | All included | All included |
| Other Services |
|
|
|
| Cost | $249 / year | $79.95 / 1st year (check new buyer discount) $159.95 / year |
$149.95 / 1st year (check new buyer discount) $239.95 / year |
Save 50% on Roadside Assistance RV Plans (for New Members Only) with this special offer from Good Sam.
FAQs
How much does Coach-Net cost?
The cost of a Coach-Net roadside assistance membership varies depending on whether your RV is towable or motorized. Coach-Net Towable costs $179 per year, and Coach-Net Motorized costs $249 per year.
What does Good Sam Roadside Assistance cover?
Good Sam offers three different levels of membership for RV owners to consider. All three include unlimited towing to the nearest qualified service provider, as well as full services for flat tires, fuel and fluids, lockouts, battery issues, and similar needs. See the above chart or visit the Good Sam website for more details on what is covered by the different service plans.
What is the best roadside assistance for RV?
Coach-Net and Good Sam both offer excellent roadside assistance services for RVers. Both companies are focused on the needs of RVers and have experience dealing with the specific circumstances that can arise with RVs. Which company and level of membership is best for you depends on which type of RV you own, what level of coverage you require, and what your budget constraints are.
Deciding Between Coach-Net and Good Sam
Bottom Line Summary: Having one of these services is better than nothing, but we found that the more complete, customizable, and accessible coverages was with Good Same Roadside Assistance here. Best of all, Good Sam is offering significant discounts here for new members.
Good Sam and Coach-Net are both good companies that offer quality service. Most customers from both companies are happy with their choice, and online forums are full of testimonials sharing difficult and unexpected circumstances in which their respective roadside assistance companies came through and saved the day.
There are also dissatisfied customers from both companies that share examples of situations when they were disappointed with the service they received. There is no company with a 100% rate of satisfied customers.
Whether your roadside emergency turns out to be a glowing endorsement or a scathing critique often has more to do with where you are when you break down than with the company that provides your service. When you call the call center, those representatives are often drawing from the same list of available service providers.
If you break down in the middle of nowhere, it will take hours for help to arrive no matter which roadside company you choose. As long as you have chosen a plan that covers your rig and the type of emergency you need help with, you are likely to receive a similar service with both Good Sam and Coach-Net.
As full-time RVers, we chose Good Sam for our roadside assistance service and we have been very satisfied. For us, Good Sam feels like a more cost-effective option because we can choose the level of service that best fits our needs and reduce our cost.
Many of the extra services offered by Coach-Net are services we also have access to through other types of insurance, so we didn’t feel the need to pay more for overlapping coverage. This is something we would recommend other RVers investigate before deciding which roadside company is best for them.
When we needed it, we felt that Good Sam went above the minimum level of service in our contract to truly provide for our needs. We also have full-time RVing friends who are equally satisfied with their Coach-Net service. In choosing between Good Sam and Coach-Net, there are only good options to choose from.
Good Sam is like the AAA, but specifically for RVs. We don't travel without it. Easily the most COMPREHENSIVE and responsive RV service we've experienced. Rest easy knowing that the unexpected breakdowns don't have to ruin your trip!
