(now ADVICE TO NEW OWNERS)

[George Lowry]

Perhaps I can provide a bit more insight on the solutions.

First, FMCA recommends Coach Connections as their Road Assistance
company. This is the same company that many of the large RV
Manufacturers utilize. They are very familiar with RV's and have
technical assistance available. Often a problem can be diagnosed and
corrected over the phone with no need for the tow truck. And,
according to the current web site, the cost is $79.50/year. Membership
in FMCA has its own rewards which can be checked out at <http://www.fmca.com>
BTW, FMCA is a true club whereas we, the membership, get to vote for
the officers that run the show for US.

Good Sam also has a road assistance service. Good Sam is a branch of
Trailer Life Enterprises which in turn is owned by the Affinity Group,
a group of bankers that are trying to take over the RV industry. They
(Affinity Group) also own Camping World, Coast to Coast and a few
other enterprises. The Good Sam club, which is not a real club but a
commercial enterprise, was founded by a gentleman (whose name escapes
me at the moment) and sold to the Affinity Group by his son. Good Sam
used to provide the best tow service before the sellout. The Camping
world tow package was originally RRR (Rapid Road Response) which was
formed after Good Sam was sold, and later sold to the Affinity Group
as well. Service in both these companies decreased after the sale.

Hope this helps you with your decision.

George Lowry
'06 Alpine Apex - formerly '95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD - Now at TTN Las Vegas.



Scott wrote:

> HOWARD, Quite honestly there are lots of more qualified than me when
> it comes to advise. BUT NOTHING VENTURED NOTHING GAINED...how ironic
> this subject came up. I just posted to another BB forum and well here
> you have it.
> ************************************************
> Gary, AHHH...the roadside assistance debate.
>
> Basically, we belong to both groups, Good Sam and FMCA, each have
> their own merits, discount campground fees, and rally info. We do not
> like the Good Sam inundation of paperwork they send (almost daily)
> which will ultimately cause us to discontinue membership.
>
> Our towing is with FMCA which we have used :>(.. The FMCA will tow to
> the nearest Dealer (almost 85mi to the CAT dealer) and does cover all
> vehicles you own. Roadside lockout,flats,jumps etc. Julie, FMCA WILL
> pull you out of the mud, provided you are within a certain distance
> from the paved surface, since I do not have a 4x4 bird I will not be
> getting off into the mud bog with RUBY! Gary first year with FMCA was
> 98.00 but you had to join FMCA first.
>
> I believe that most tow assist groups are owned by 2 or 3 Major
> companies and have many different names. It really is paramount you
> investigate the individual ones for your bus. Often tow companies
> send the wrong wrecker because of OWNER ERROR,when calling the
> 800# ..explaing what they have. I REQUEST THAT THE DISPATCHED TOW
> COMPANY CALL ME DIRECTLY! I have heard that SOME have been charged
> for the second truck..theory being they already made the free trip!!
> BEWARE! We all know what can happen with less than credible companies
> and you need them.
>
> ***** ATTENTION ALL FC OWNERS*******
>
> REMEMBER THIS...it is IMPERATIVE that when contacting the wrecker, or
> tow assist company you explain they need an extra long "stinger" (the
> thing they lift with) AS WELL AS EXTRA TALL "LIFT CHOCKS" (not sure
> that is proper but they will) BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT ...WELL A CRUSHED
> OIL PAN, or BENT BUMPER IS NOT FUN AFTER THE TOW TRUCK LEAVES...He
> will ask you if all is ok before he leaves, which ends the tow
> companies responsibility for your coach...ALWAYS do a walk around
> before telling him ok to leave..THEN the repair center wants to
> know "HOW DID YOU CRUSH THE OIL PAN ON THE CAT" WHAT!!! TOW GUY IS
> GONE..LEAVING YOU TO REPAIR... word to the wise...
>
> Gary bottom line is they are all pretty much the same. I believe that
> I want to deal with folks that deal with big RV's on a regular basis.
> not AAA (no offense here)
>
> OH Gary, if you want to join FMCA let me know. Recomending new
> members I can get some free stuff...I don't know what that is but I
> like free anything!! :>)
>
> ScottB
> 86FC35
> SC
> **********************************************
>
> Just some of my thoughts...
>
> ScottB
> 86FC35
> SC
>
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Howard O. Truitt"
> wrote:
>
>>Scott,
>>I have seen comments in the past such as you made about FMCA and
>
> Good Sam regarding insurance and emergency road service. It seems
> there is an important story that needs to be told but no one seems
> willing to venture there. For the edification of new members will
> someone please be bold enough to discuss this most important subject.
>
>>Thanks,
>>Howard Truitt
>>Camilla, Ga
>>86 8V92 PT40
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Scott
>> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 11:29 AM
>> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: need info please (now ADVICE TO
>
> NEWBIES)
>
>>
>> Jerry, sounds great join the BB community it is made up of great
>
> folks,
>
>> with lots of knowledge, years of experience and offer all that up
>
> here
>
>> on the forum.
>>
>> ONE WORD of caution, try to know what you are buying! If from an
>> indiviual get the maintenance logs, blue box, etc generally
>
> owners keep
>
>> them just like on the ship. If from a reputable dealer ask what
>
> they
>
>> have fixed, or what maintenance they perfomed, or what is broken!
>
> THEY
>
>> DID IT TO be sure they are not trading for a "pig in a poke" IF
>
> you
>
>> get lots of "I dunno" type answers from the seller BE VERY WARY!
>
> Seems
>
>> recently some folks have purchased their bird, which are
>
> complicated
>
>> machines, only to find out they have LOTS OF ISSUES to tend
>
> to..Sorry
>
>> that was more than one word! :>)
>>
>> Also, TIRES, check the date codes on them, they all have them.
>
> How to
>
>> do that is in the files section of this forum. If they are more
>
> than
>
>> 5yrs old you better plan on lots of $$ (I just spent 3500.00 on
>
> my 6
>
>> and you have 8!) I was remiss and trusted someone to tell me the
>> dates, "drives were 98" only to find out inner drive was a 94! I
>
> was
>
>> lucky not to have thousands in body,plumbing damage if it blew.
>>
>> 170K is not too many miles if the coach is/was maintained
>
> properly.
>
>> Kinda like hours on the engines on the ship..their life can vary
>> drastically. Insist on a mechanic evaluation. Engine repairs are
>
> very
>
>> expensive, maybe the reason for the sale! See if they have done
>
> an oil
>
>> analysis. The 6V someone else will chime in here, I have a 3208T.
>>
>> Does the genset run?? Start it..check the voltage output with a
>
> meter
>
>> (just check in any outlet) and/or check the overhead guages and
>
> see
>
>> what it is producing.
>>
>> Shop insurance, we have Progressive on RUBY (under $600.00/yr for
>> stated replacement) At the Myrtle Beach Rally GUY SMALLEY gave a
>
> talk
>
>> on insurance and the ins and outs of working with the company in
>
> case
>
>> of a major accident/repair. Something to be learned there very
>> interesting THANKS GUY.
>>
>> We joined FMCA AND Good Sam....therin lies a big debate..on
>
> emergency
>
>> road service...BUT GET SOMETHING BEFORE DRIVING OFF..towing a BB
>
> is
>
>> very expensive. First year with FMCA was like 98.00..heck of a
>
> deal..I
>
>> needed to tow RUBY returning from our first trip (blown head
>
> gasket)
>
>> Probably would have been picked up with an oil analysis!
>>
>> All of these things I have learned as a result of the Forum and
>
> other
>
>> owners. Owning a Vintage BB is kinda like a classic car or old
>
> Chris.
>
>> Lots of tinkering, which turns into a hobby, which turns into
>
> meeting
>
>> some of the best folks you can imagine. We have met some
>> truly "wanderful friends" along the way. So jump in the water is
>> great..just do it with eyes open.
>>
>> If we can help here ask LOTS OF QUESTIONS..that is what this
>
> forum is
>
>> for.
>>
>> Scott B
>> 86FC35 "RUBY"
>> Murrells Inlet SC (also a uscg capt)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "captjerrylee"
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hello all, Capt. Jerry here. New to this. I am about to make an
>
> offer
>
>> > on a clean 82 40 ft wonderlodge. outside paint, body, tires,
>
> engine
>
>> > look 1 to 10 as a 9.
>> > Inside 1 to 10 is a 7
>> > 6v93 engine with 170k miles. 12 kw gen set. Question, this
>
> coach
>
>> looks
>> > well cared for. is 170 k too many miles ??
>> > what kind of price range do you think this couch would bring.
>> > I am semi retired ships captain looking for a lot of on the
>
> road r&r.
>
>> > My bank is not happy with the age (1982) so am going to just
>
> cash
>
>> out.
>> > What can I look at for the price of good insurance and road
>> assistance
>> > club.
>> > Thanks for any info. Jerry 310 346 4834
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ----------
>
>> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>>
>> a.. Visit your group "WanderlodgeForum" on the web.
>>
>> b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>> WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>>
>> c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms
>
> of Service.
>
>>
>>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ----------
>
>>
>>
>>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>