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[charles05663]

In looking over towing options I was wondering what experiences members have had.  I know there is discussion going on in another topic but I think it might be useful in its own topic.

I have only used HOG roadside assistance once for a flat tire about 8 years ago.  My main objection to HOG is they want to tow you to a Harley dealer.  I am at a point where I would rather get service someplace else other then a HD dealer.  I have a lifetime HOG membership and had been thinking about adding their better service packages.

I know the Foremost offers towing but I have no experience with it.  I have AAA but not the RV & Motorcycle addition.  Also, it seems that no one offers to jump start you if needed.

I plan on taking a trip from Vermont to Arizona this summer and want to make sure that I have something in place before I head out.

 

[bigskyroadglide]

last year on my annual 3 week outing with the gang, we rode from FLA to Reno over a number of roads.  On Hwy 50 going across Nevada, about 120 miles from Reno (About 2 miles from Cold Spring Station) i experienced a flat tire on the rear of my 12 Skunk around 530pm.  Tire when down quickly and was able to get to the side of the hwy without incident.  Called HOG.  They kept me on the phone while they contacted the nearest tow truck to come and pick me up, nearest truck in O Fallon (60 to 70 miles away).  Long story, tow truck wanted $750, cash before he would put bike in SLING. No trailer, No flat bed.  He wanted to SLING my bike up off the ground on a boom attached to the back of the truck and take me into O Fallon for a tire.

I told him hell no, called HOG back and said is this all you got???  They informed me that they had NO contracted tow trucks in the area and the operator was all they had.  One of my group went down about 2 miles to Cold Spring Station and talked with the owner.  Who immediately sent his handy man down with a pickup truck and flat bed trailer to haul my bike up to the station and get me off the road.

Since i always have at least two tie downs with me(long story), we tied the front end down as tight as possible to the trailer.  I rented a room for the night for around $80 bucks and stayed in the little 4 room motel. two of my group stayed with me.  Next morning bright and early, handy man shows up and we head out going to O Fallon for tire.  Get to O Fallon, no tire (those 18 X 180) tires are not the norm.  So on to Reno. 3 hours after we start, pull up at the Reno Harley Dealer.  Unload bike with their super fancy ramp.  I asked the guy what i owned him.  He said, pay for my fuel and whatever you think is fair.  WTF, OK, so i do some quick math, $75 for Fuel and $150 for your time.  How's that?  his answer, more than i was expecting......I thanked him and he left. So not counting the cost of the tire and installation, i went from $750 for the tow to $225 plus $80 or $305.  HOG of course picked up $100.  Which is their max. Total out of pocket.....$205.

Today, i have Road America, the mid Tier package.  I think i paid @29.95 for a year.  It covers complete cost of Tow, lodging, etc. as i never want to have to go through that hassle ever again.  AAA was not a bargain to add motorcycle, and anything else just did not compare to Road America.

My thoughts and recommendation.

[skratch]

wouldn't the tire and wheel coverage on the esp have covered you for that?  if the nearest hd dealer didn't have the tire, would they cover to tow you to the next one that did?  or would they expect you to wait (picking up the hotel tab for you of course) for the tire to be shipped in?

[geezerglide]

Here in Canada I have the CAA RV Plus which is the same as the US AAA RV Plus they have a hell of a lot more contracted tow truck drivers than HOG. The infrequent time I have had to use, flats. dead battery my fault left ignition on, they have been here to tow me away with proper equipped flat bed haulers.
My .02 cents worth.

geezerglide

[ultrafxr]

Pretty sure it is Road America who provides the roadside non-assistance service for H.O.G.  Had a dead battery several years ago passing through Cleveland, MS.  No auto parts place had a battery.   
After calling H.O.G. / Road America they found a tow truck but he would not tow me unless I paid him myself.  He said the last time he did a tow for them it took him forever to get his payment from them.  So I called them back and after several hours they sent someone else who showed up with a small cargo trailer and said they told him the bike was a Honda Rebel if I remember correctly.

So I had to spend the night and next day had my daughter buy a battery from the Memphis dealer and bring it down to me.  Needless to say I am NOT impressed with Road America.

I now have AAA - added the motorcycle coverage as soon as it was available.  Haven't had to use it thankfully.  But based on past experience with AAA I think I will be much happier with their motorcycle roadside assistance if I ever do need it.

[charles05663]

I just looked at the AAA site and they list the Optional RV/Motorcycle Roadside Assistance for $30 more.  It seems like a bargain.

It looks like I can up my membership from a Plus to a Premier for $26/year.  So for $56/year I can get one additional 200 mile tow.

 

[YELLOWBIRD]

I just looked at the AAA site and they list the Optional RV/Motorcycle Roadside Assistance for $30 more.  It seems like a bargain.

It looks like I can up my membership from a Plus to a Premier for $26/year.  So for $56/year I can get one additional 200 mile tow.

 

X2


Seems like the best deal, that I could find as well!

Also something to check on is your Insurance companies. I have Nationwide, they offer a towing, hotel, and rental if needed, roadside assistance and will also cover all the "EXTRA" accessories items that "we" tend to add on to our motorcycles. (IE, my 2009 CVO Roadie didn't come with tourpak, speakers, led side lights, lower fairings, etc.) I just give them the receipts and they add it to the policy.

Bonus, if you have a excellent driving record, you don't have a deductible for any accidents that may occur in the future.

Now I do pay a little bit more for all the above, but it's insurance and we all know how that works.

YB

[Trapperdog]

One thing to remember or for those who don't know, when in a National park you are obligated to use their contracted tow service as outside tow companies are not allowed. Found that out the hard way when ridinrubys TSSM took a dump in Yellowstone. The contracted service wanted close to $400 just to tow to the parks exit and leave it there where he would have needed another service to tow the additional distance. Ended up renting a truck.

[Ghost__Rider]

I've been in the towing business for 30 years. I've towed for probably everyone of these so called road service providers at one time or another. I no longer will contract with them. They love to get us on a contracted price and tell us what they will pay regardless of our operating expenses. Fuel go up on a regular basis. Road service providers are in this too make money off a service I provide. They don't want to pay me anymore than they have too yet charge Hog as much as they can and make money. Basically all they are is a middle man between you and I. I'd rather deal with the customer direct but it seldom comes down this way. There is reputable towers out here just as I that will bend over backwards for a Biker Brother in need. I have a enclosed that we use for bike tows. Unfortunately in the remote areas, it is slim pickings on towers. This equipment nowdays is expensive and towers can't survive on a tow or two a week. So you get the bottom the barrel out there in sticks. I have had providers call begging us too take calls over 100 miles away because they can't find a vender. I only take calls as long as they pay my normal rates. I won't let them set the price. I am fair with them and as long as they will pay with Credit Card we're good too go. No Credit too service providers.
I do have a membership with Hog aka Road America. I have the top tier and have used it once in Florida. Throttle actuator took a dump on my Limited and wouldn't start. I called Hog and within 30 minutes a flatbed showed up. This kid got out and I handed him my business card and told him I do this for a living and had a plan. Just set the bed on the ground and Let me tie the bike down. Then drive me to the Dealer and I'll untie it and he gets the credit. I have a older fella working for me and he would know what too do with a bike, but I also have a younger employee that I wouldn't let him touch my bike. He would either call me or my other employee to take the call or refuse it all together. If you are in my neck of the woods I more than likely will be your man.

[ultrafxr]

Ghost_Rider I agree with everything you said and that was my unfortunate experience the one time I used (well tried to use) H.O.G. / Road America service.  Nowadays what with smart phones so plentiful it sure would be easier to locate a towing service in an unfamiliar area.  But still you don't know their experience or qualification when you make the call.  That is the value to a middleman to me - that company should have sourced reputable services with the equipment and experience necessary to tow my Harley without damaging it.  And they should have some QC system in place to monitor the providers.  Sadly I don't think that is the case with many of them.  But since AAA is so large and well known I would 'hope' I would have better results with them.  

But now I know who to call if I'm in south east Missouri!  

[FlaHeatWave]

'Was thinking about trying HOG, but after reading here, HOG sounds worthless.

What would y'all recommend? AAA?

[CVOBreak]

I think ESP is all you need. Picked up a nail in a brand new Michelin commander II that had less than 100 miles on it. The funny thing is a local shop installed the tire not a Harley Dealer. I called the ESP folks a local dealer picked up the bike in their trailer towed it in. They ordered the tire and had it shipped next day. They towed the bike back to my home. Total cost $0.00. I was close to home so I'm guessing if you were on the road you just ride away from the dealer and smile!   

[Ghost__Rider]

Ghost_Rider I agree with everything you said and that was my unfortunate experience the one time I used (well tried to use) H.O.G. / Road America service.  Nowadays what with smart phones so plentiful it sure would be easier to locate a towing service in an unfamiliar area.  But still you don't know their experience or qualification when you make the call.  That is the value to a middleman to me - that company should have sourced reputable services with the equipment and experience necessary to tow my Harley without damaging it.  And they should have some QC system in place to monitor the providers.  Sadly I don't think that is the case with many of them.  But since AAA is so large and well known I would 'hope' I would have better results with them.  

But now I know who to call if I'm in south east Missouri!  

Unfortunately, these road service providers are just someone on the phone that doesn't even know what a Ultra Classic is or what great pride we take in them. They just answer the call, get your location and hope they have a contracted vender in that area too take the call. They have no idea what kind of equipment or who they are dispatching to you. They have a set price they can pay the said vender, anything over usually the member has to pay the difference. Very seldom do we run into to this unless they want it towed a long distance.
If HOG "aka Road America" call us to tow a Harley to a dealer it's going to be 60-100 mile in any direction to get you too a dealer. Hog membership says it's free too the closest Dealer, in my case 60 miles. Road America is going to have to pay me $195 for this dispatch.
Here is the facts:Hog website states, Hog Roadside Assistance*Standard package, You’re automatically covered when you need it most. H.O.G.® Roadside Assistance Standard Package comes with a one-time coverage up to $100. You will be charged out of your pocket for anything over $100

I have the deluxe package. Just because I have been on hwy 50 in Utah and Nevada. I could get expensive..Deluxe package pays no out of pocket regardless of disstance.

https://www.road-america.com/enrollment/templates/HOG/docs/Comparison_Chart_JML.pdf
  

[garretn]

This is the fine print that has me worried about coverage with ESP (Road America).  The chart that shows the different coverages says closest Harley Dealer but the fine print says qualified shop. I went down this road with Progressive insurance when they wanted to charge me to tow the bike to the closest dealer because they had what they considered to be a qualified repair shop closer.  They told me if the shop says they work on bikes then they are qualified. Progressive management said they have no control over what Road America decides so I cancelled my insurance and moved to Geico.  Not that Geico will be any better but at least I am not giving Progressive any more of my money.

I pulled this from the fine print Terms and Conditions of Road America: https://www.road-america.com/enrollment/templates/HOG/hog_enrollment.aspx?command=ProgramInfo#

 The following are covered emergencies:
(1.) Towing Assistance – When towing is necessary, the Harley-Davidson motorcycle will be towed to the closest qualified service facility at no cost to the HOG
Roadside Assistance member.

I am really interested in this topic because standing on the side of the road in some of the remote areas we ride arguing with a person on the phone sure makes for a stressful day. 


 

[VANAMAL]

I carry a small mc 12v compressor and a blackjack tire kit. Ive fixed a lot of tires with it
http://www.blackjacktirerepair.com/