Is Your Towing/Road Service Adequate?

Your writer had a very unsatisfactory experience with Good Sam Emergency Road Service (ERS), our road service of many years. As the owner of a GMC coach, you know you can't be treated as if your coach is "generic". Because of the age, difference in basic design and complexity of the GMC, not just any shop (or technician employed there) is qualified to supply correct replacement parts or implement safe, adequate repairs to our coaches.

En route to Mariposa in September, we experienced a slow decay of oil pressure. Miki first called my attention to a "noise" that caused me to see the 5 psi drop in oil pressure. As the pressure slowly dropped further, I heard what sounded like tappet noise. I diverted to the driveway of a friend and shut the coach off. At the time (Saturday afternoon), oil pressure was 20 psi (5 psi at idle) and the dipstick read full.

We spent the night in Winton, CA returning to San Jose by towed car on Sunday morning. On Monday we began phoning our local repair shop (of more than ten years) and Good Sam to get things organized. Due to the nearest "approved qualified tow service" being located in Modesto, I worked through them. They required payment for the tow "up front" because of not getting sufficient payment for jobs performed. Due to other tow contracts, our coach was towed on Tuesday, September 18th.

After being "handled" by three different operators at Good Sam ERS, I was told to have the coach towed to "the Chevy dealer in Merced." Now I know that there are NO Chevy parts in an Olds 455. I also know, from past personal experience, that "Chevy dealers" don't stock Olds parts, and they don't want to work on motorhomes. One once refused to install a fan clutch that I had just paid for at his parts counter.

I met the tow truck at their yard and rode in it for the entire time of the tow. Their tractor and flat bed trailer was highly satisfactory. The driver was very profes-sional and very conscientious, making sure each chain was safely connected and doing no harm to our coach anywhere. I requested he tow it to our shop in San Jose and we unloaded there without incident. I rode back to their yard in Modesto paying $552.50 in charges by credit card.

I sent a letter of request for reimbursement to Good Sam ERS on October 9th in which I also detailed why I felt that "the Chevy dealer in Merced" could not be used for the extensive engine repairs required. I enclosed all required documentation of the service rendered.

It took five weeks to complete the repairs, requiring many parts, none of which fit a Chevy. I got a check for $170 from Good Sam for " approved services" per-formed in serving my GMC breakdown on the road accompanied by a form letter.

I would have worked for some mutually accepted amount we might have negotiated. I would even agree to some higher premium since GMC's are "unique" motorhomes to tow and maintain. I am a reasonable person when dealt with in a fair and considerate manner. I don't accept arrogant, perfunctory, "take it or leave it" mistreatment in emergency situations.

I am leaving Good Sam ERS sadder and wiser. If you have Good Sam ERS for your coverage, I doubt you can expect any treatment fairer than we got when you have a major breakdown requiring towing to a "nearest approved repair facility". Good luck, if you have such an experience.
Al Singleton

List of Mariposa Roundup Attendees

Anderson, Bob and Lyn - San Diego, CA Aulgur, Chuck and Bernie - La Mesa, CA Bare, Dwight and Ginny - Mesa, AZ Berry, Gary and Diana - Manteca, CA Botts, Chuck and Mary - San Diego, CA Bounds, James and crew - Orlando, FL Bovee, Alan & Margaret - Powell Butte, OR Braman, Gene - Long Beach, CA Brand, Zay and Betty - Seal Beach, CA Brousson, Claude - Victoria, BC Burgess, Francis and Margery - Hanford, CA Burner, Ed and Emma - Fullerton, CA Bush, John - Sunol, CA Cantrell, Dave and Arlene - Rowland Heights, CA Cash, Al and Peggy - Watsonville, CA Cerrina, Pat and Sharon - La Habra, CA Chernoff, Al - Albuquerque, NM Cherry, Mike and Judy - Prescott, AZ Clark, Den and Ann - Gardnerville, NV Clark, Ron and Linda - North Plains, OR Condon, James and Clare - Plymouth, CA Condos, Frank and Freddi - Ahwahnee, CA Cook, Jim and Joann - Thousand Oaks, CA Cook, Bob - Redondo Beach, CA Curtis, Bert and Fay - Kneeland, CA deGraffenreid, Dave and Donna - Costa Mesa, CA Desaussure, Bob and Sean - San Rafeal, CA Dunning, CEC and Ann - McKinleyville, CA Edwards, Charlie and Terry - Oceanside, CA Edwards, Duane and Amelia - La Mesa, CA Ellis, Russ and Barbara - Altadena, CA Elssner, Egon and Helga - Atherton, CA Exline, Bill - San Rafeal, CA Ferguson, Steve and Nancy - Spring Valley, CA Fisher, Eugene and Melissa - Livermore, CA Forsse, Irwin and Ilse - Burbank, CA Frear, Larry and Barbara - Aptos, CA Garton, Chuck and Doris - Ridgecrest, CA Gaw, Betty and Marilyn Maxwell - Atascadero, CA Greco, Curtis and Vincent - Santa Rosa, CA Greenlee, Travis and Barbara - Placerville, CA Griffith, George and Doris - Lodi, CA Griffiths, Tom and Verna - Los Gatos, CA Hays, Vern and Davell - Placerville, CA Hayward, Greta and Dorothea Nortje - Oceanside, CA Heckel, Thomas and Joan - Fresno, CA Hernandez, Phil and Joanne - Fallbrook, CA Hill, Walt - Visalia, CA Hoffman, Rick and Jean - Redmond, OR Hooton, Bob and Dorthy - Downey, CA Housden, Steve and Gloria Culpepper - Seal Bch, CA Jones, Doug and Kitty - Kelseyville, CA Kaempf, Werner "Von" - Rolling Hills Estate, CA Kanomato, Jim - Belmont, CA

Kasch, Norman and Julia - Littleton, CO Kaylor, Gary and Judy - Sacramento, CA Kennedy, Harold and Betty - Loveland, CO Laird, Hal and Marjorie - Citrus Heights, CA Lamey, Bob and Karen - Ontario, CA Leinan, Leon and Lucille - Beaverton, OR Lenson, Bob and Raye - Coronado, CA Lester, Tom and Brenda - La Jolla, CA Lingrey, Bill and Jo - Downey, CA Lopez, Dave and Beverly - Altadena, CA   Maki, Toby - Redlands, CA Marana, John and Martha - Murrieta, CA McNeal, Mac and Shirley - Carson, CA McQuilliams, Frank and Jan - San Diego, CA Meier, John - Alta Loma, CA Miller, Richard and Marcelle - Oakley, CA Mitchell, Malcolm and Jeanie - Valencia, CA Morse, John and Allene - Fullerton, CA Nelson, John and Ann - West Lake Village, CA Nerrie, Bob - Redwood City, CA Newton, Bill and Mary - Oceanside, CA Obetz, Bob and Pat - Vista, CA Paget, Darren - Calgary, AB Pettit, Bebe and Nancy - Prescott, AZ Phillips, Jerry and Lois - Fresno, CA Porteous, Win and Jackie - Camarillo, CA Posey, Dave - Citrus Heights, CA Price, Paul and Pat - Groveland, CA Prishmont, Donna - Incline Village, NV Reitnouer, Art and Meri - Green Valley Lake, CA Rizzolo, Gene and Marie - Lodi, CA Rowe, Jim and Audree - San Dimas, CA Scattini, Richard and Lucy Gori - Gilroy, CA Schaffer, Larry - Castro Valley, CA Scott, George and Alice - Santa Barbara, CA Seth, Ernie and Anne - Glendale, CA Shumway, Bill and Dorothy - San Jose, CA Simmons, Len and Betty - Rogue River, OR Singleton, Alan and Miki - San Jose, CA Singleton, Phil and Wendy Gardner - Roseburg, OR Smith, Bill and Kib - Long Beach, CA Staal, Ed and Eileen - Redondo Beach, CA Stanley, Craig - Eldorado Hills, CA Steinman, Warren - Sacramento, CA Sternfels, Bob and Nancy - Laguna Beach, CA Stora, Emery and Michelle - Santa Fe, NM Streech, Wendell and Lola - Capistrano Beach, CA Sue, John and Darlene - Oakland, CA Sweeney, John and Helen - Simi Valley, CA Tandy, Kerry and Leanne - Conner, MT Terry, Cal - Reseda, CA Topp, Al and Catherine - Los Osos, CA Trovao, Manny and Deo - San Jose, CA Trubert, Marc and Lillian - Coarsegold, CA Vinzant, Al and Nan - San Diego, CA Walling, Rod and Lee - Palm Desert, CA Walters, Bucky and Phyllis - Los Osos, CA Weaver, Jack and Jeanie - Aptos, CA Whipple, Bill and Renny Day - Oceanside, CA Wilkins, Fred and Faye - Sacramento, CA Will, Chuck and Hanna - Lompoc, CA Wood, David and Leon - Coronado, CA Woodell, Art and Neola - Galt, CA

Rally Schedule Update

GMC Western States will be returning, after five years, to Camp Yavapines in Prescott, AZ. This rally will be hosted by Bebe and Nancy Pettit and Mike and Judy Cherry of Prescott. Those attending the Territorial Ramble in May of 1997 will remember the pines, the clear air, the good food and pleasant facilities of Camp Yavapines. The campground hasn't changed much either. They still have gravel roads, semi-level sites, dark nights, lots of stars and the sound of the wind through the pines. Coordination with Camp Yavapines schedule has necessitated slightly later dates than we usually have, but it's a good time of year here in Prescott. If it's warm, we can use the newly redone swimming pool. Plan ahead to join us for the delicious, healthy food, quality entertainment, technical informa-tion and our wonderful Western States camaraderie.

The GMC Western States Inc, chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association, is comprised of GMC Motorhome owners from all fifty states, and the three southwestern Provinces of Canada. The Chapter purpose is to promote the preservation of the GMC Motorhome with a technical program of professional seminars and published information, and to further the mutual association, membership, enjoyment, and common interest of GMC Motorhome owners, their families and friends. Website:" www.gmcws.org" Billy and Debbie Massey, Web Masters

Claude Brousson, Chapter President 6349 W. Saanich Rd, Saanichton Victoria, BC, Canada, V8M 1W8 (250) 652-4913, cbrousson@telus.net Fay Curtis, First Vice President 5590 Greenwood Heights Kneeland, CA 95549 707-443-8523 Emery Stora, Technical Vice President 3128 Vista Sandia Santa Fe, NM 87501-8526 (505) 989-8157, emerystora@mac.com Frank Condos, Secretary 42744 Windy Gap Drive Ahwahnee, CA 93601 (626) 303-2898, fcondos@sierratel.com

Bill Shumway, Treasurer 6037 Burchell Court San Jose, CA 95120 408-927-9285, wshumway@ix.netcom.com Norm Kasch, FMCA National Director 1073 W. Powers Ave. Littleton, CO 80120 (303) 795-9281 Jkasch@compuserve.com Kerry Tandy, FMCA Alt. Nat. Director P.O. Box 335 Conner, MT 59827 406-821-3284, bewatz@earthlink.net Marc and Lillian Trubert, Editors 50514 Barcus Circle Coarsegold, CA 93614 559-683-0995, MTrubert@aol.com

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