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Date:         Thu, 11 Mar 2021 08:52:17 -0600
Reply-To:     Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: AAA coverage...worth it?
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CY4PR0801MB37312066164A112AE9CA04E3A0909@CY4PR0801MB3731.namprd08.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

About 2 yrs a go i needed towed, one fall for almost 200 mile for a hole in the block then 30mile for restriction in the fuel tank. Definitely paid for itself, plus there are some other little perks.

On Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 8:45 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Sometimes the real benefit of these plans is having the quick contact for > assistance when needed. When far from home this can become much more > significant than covering the cost. Since my 2nd RV I have been using > Coach-Net. In addition to towing services they have also helped me locate > parts or even tools when far from home. While they don’t have a mileage > limit they will tow to the nearest qualified facility. Towing the motorhome > is an event but they cover my family in any car ware driving. > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of David > McNeely > Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 11:07 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: AAA coverage...worth it? > > Is it worth it? Well, that, as shown by the above two posts, is that it > depends. On what? On to whom the question is being addressed. > > For me, AAA membership (or your favorite, but it has to be equal in > quality, roadside assistance company) is essential for peace of mind. I am > old, you might say bordering on decrepit, but I still have lots of go, go, > go. But if AAA can do it, I don't have to. Things happen, though I keep up > my tires, keep up with maintenance, and on and on and on. Has a deer ever > run in front of you without warning? Has me, and I had to have a tow, > believe it or not. That wasn't the camper, probably would not have pushed > a quarter panel into and cut a tire if it had been. Batteries are > guaranteed, but sometimes fail prematurely. In fact in 13 years of Vanagon > ownership I've had one do that, at roadside campground tens of miles from a > town, but AAA came through. In 60 years of driving, I've had more than one > battery fail prematurely. > > AAA will even respond if you are driving a rental, much, much faster than > the rental company will. And yes, new cars do fail. How do I know? > > My wife is not even as adept mechanically and physically as I am. She > drives. AAA gives peace of mind. > > I have paid the annual membership for AAA Premium by checking for > discounts on numerous products, including auto maintenance. But it doesn't > work for hotels. If the hotel quotes a price, and you then ask for the AAA > discount, you'll just get told that that price IS with the AAA discount. > Not true (otherwise, it isn't a discount, because it was offered to you > without the clerk knowing you had AAA), but don't bother to try to argue, > or to let AAA know. Back when I stayed in Motel 6, they did offer a AAA > discount, posted on the wall, regular price, and AAA price. But nowhere > else. > > Well, sorry for the length. Like I said, it depends. > > On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 6:03 PM Erin Daniels <eirejammer@gmail.com> wrote: > > > For me having AAA is an absolute must. I travel a lot, in fact I > > ‘vanlifed’ it for six years in my vanagon. Best case scenario is that > > I don’t need to use it > > > > > On Mar 10, 2021, at 5:25 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> > > wrote: > > > > > > I recently posted about wondering about condition and life of spare > > > tire > > in your clamshell. Many great tips and experiences posted, thank you. > > > > > > So...what about AAA? Many people recommend. I got a 1 year > > > membership > > gifted to me a few years back; I loved it! Never used it. Except for > > their excellent paper maps! I picked up gobs of them. > > > > > > > > > I think a 1 year membership is about $100. I've owned my Vanagon > > > 30+ > > years. So doing the math, that's like $3000. Wow...that sure buys a > > LOT of batteries. And wire brushes and grease to treat electrical > > terminals throughout Vanagon. And, I keep my eye on the fuel gauge > > and estimate travel ahead. Flat tires? Sure, having a reliable spare > > tire and even a crummy stock Vanagon jack to lift, and spending a few > > bucks for a better lug wrench works wonders. So far, we are way more > > money ahead! Not to mention the downtime of waiting for the truck to > arrive. > > > > > > But, twice in my experience, bad things happen. Once blown out > > > front > > wheel bearings; another time was a snapped ring terminal on big red > > wire to starter motor. Okay, bummer. So then you pay the big bucks > > for the flatbed ride of shame. > > > > > > That's the thing, though. Instead of paying over and over each year > > > for > > something like AAA, you do your maintenance, and in the worst case > > scenario you bring out the cellphone and the credit card for the tow. > > Still, way more money ahead. Yes, they will have the fuel; yes, they > > can do the jump to battery; yes, they can tow if that is the only > > alternative. All the independent tow guys got this stuff. > > > > > > > > > Thoughts and opinions? > > > > > > Rich > > > San Diego > > >


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