HOG membership towing?

[176]

Is HOG towing any good?  Would like to hear good or bad as it is time
for renewal and this is my deciding factor.
Thanks in advance.
176

[td17056]

My experence was not good. Phone calls, people I couldn't understand, the wait, 2 plus hours,  the distance was only 12 miles.
The guy that came had a converted boat trailer, like three feet high, with wood planks for a floor, no ramp, just a wood plank, no wheel chock. "Tryed" to put a come-along around forks.
Finally got it done, my girl friend and I did all of the pushing and balancing.

A real nightmare!!!!!

TD

[apendejo]

Join AAA and get the extra RV/Motorcycle coverage, much better value. 100 miles up to 4 times a year, and not just to the nearest bike shop either.
AP

[truck]

HOG had a real hard time finding me a tow and when they did, the tow company (a Harley Dealer) wanted $75.00 because of the distance they had to travel.
I got a tow through Progressive in about 10 minutes and 0 dollars.
So I have to say no to HOG towing, unless they improved a lot in the last 2-3 years.

[northbrun]

used hog towing once. great experence. the company that came out to get us was more than acomadating. brought us to a motel, stored the bike indoors overnight then brought it to the dealer in the am all for no $. but like anything else.. all the towing companies are subcontractors, so it's the luck of the draw.

[Dennis The Menace]

Used HOG once, and my car insurance this past Saturday for my truck.  My experiences are very similar.

With both, the towing had to be arranged by the call center person.  They need to know EXACTLY where you are in order to help you quickly.  On Saturday, I was on top of a mountain off some highway I couldnt recall the number/name of.  Gave them the general towns in the vicinity and they at least could locate a tow company close enough to call.

Once they got the tow company on the call, I was able to do 50 questions to tell them where I thought I was.  It helped they knew the roads because the call center wont know beyond looking at a map.  If you have this problem, tell tehm to call a tow company in a nreaby city and have them give directions.  Cuz, the call center wont be much help to you.

Of course this is when having your GPS or a map with you instead of at home, works real well.  lol  I almost grabbed mine, but thought I know where I am going, been there many times.  I never figured on breaking down (truck battery went peter up on me) and having to actually give someone directions to where I was.  Now I will be more prepared.

Both occasions I had to talk the tow compnay into finding me.  But, the HOG service was good about telling me the nearest HD dealer.  I told them the bike had to go to my dealer becasue the work they did was screwed up.  HOG service said no problem, I pay the difference beyond towing the closest dealer.  Figured $50.00 for that, versus paying the nearest dealer to do a $200.00 repair over that the original dealer screwed up.  Not good in either case, but $50.00 was the cheaper poison for me.

So, dont let them tell you they only tow to closest dealer.  They will have the tow compnay tow you wherver you want to go, but you pay mileage beyond the nearest dealer.

So, my experience was good.  Just know where you are at all times so you can tell them who to call, and how to find you.  Otherwise, you may need a fully cell battery talking them in.  lol

menace

[Little Al]

Used it 6 times in 9 years from my area to middle of nowhere to middle of Sturgis Rally. I cannot say how great an experience it was in EVERY SINGLE CASE. Maybe it was just the luck of the draw because they do use subcontractors, like all the insurance companies, AAA, etc.

every single time it was quick, curtious, secure and the "extra step" taken to insure me & my bike were treated well.

Just my experience.

[bogiediver]

The only time I've called HOG towing was for a rear flat 4 miles from the dealer, but it's morning rush and they're not open yet.

HOG told me it would be an hour...  I asked where the tow was coming from, they said a town 35 miles away     But they said not to worry, towing company has trucks on the road all over...

1:15 later , I call back to ask where they are - told they will have tow contact me directly...

Another 15 minutes - the driver calls - just leaving the barn... 35 miles away... 

Moments later, the dealer truck drives by (still before opening) - I flag 'em down...  they stop what they're doing, go back to the dealer, get the trailer and are back to me in 10 minutes...

Called the driver and cancelled & called HOG to cancel to not be charged for my once a year in case I were to need it elsewhere - though they would only be a last resort.

Not favorable recommendation from me...

-bogie

[rad3766]

Broke down last year on the North Shore of Long Island on a Friday night. (Shout out to the jerks in Bellmore for doin me the 'big favor' of washing my bike for me........with a pressure washer, ffs)   
Anywho, called HOG, nearest towing contractor was in Queens, YFKM, right? Never got a call back from them anyway, called AAA, lady was gonna run a truck out to me toot sweet until I told her I was on a bike; "Um, we dont handle bikes in NY". Gave her a big YFKM too. 
Ended up calling a flatbed on my own dime, at least he made it from central Nassau county to where I was in less than 20 minutes.
Submitted towing bill to HOG/ Road America, got reimbursed for half.
Still have AAA RV Plus, found out the bit about about bikes being excluded from service in certain parts of the country was a line of BS.
Didnt renew my HOG membership this year, still on the fence.   
  Bob

[eglideic]

 I'm a Life Member of HOG and used the service three times. Two rear flats and a broken belt. All to or from Sturgis. It was worth having.

[harleyjt]

My experence was not good. Phone calls, people I couldn't understand, the wait, 2 plus hours,  the distance was only 12 miles.
The guy that came had a converted boat trailer, like three feet high, with wood planks for a floor, no ramp, just a wood plank, no wheel chock. "Tryed" to put a come-along around forks.
Finally got it done, my girl friend and I did all of the pushing and balancing.

A real nightmare!!!!!

TD

My experience was similar.  At least my guy had a real flatbed tow truck.  It took him about 2 1/2 hrs to show up.  (He was coming from a town about 20 mi away).  He was pissed about having to tow me - it was a Friday night and apparently he made lots of money on Friday nights pulling the local good ole boys out of ditches after they had had a few too many.   He didn't have anything to properly secure the bike.  He finally found a rope. When I asked him if he was insured if the bike was damaged enroute, he got pissey with me.  I got him to tow me home as it was now 10 pm and the dealer was long since close.  We finally did make it home.  Was not impressed with the experience.  I should note that the call center was very helpful and cordial.  The problems were all with the tow company.

As for AAA, they left my mother hanging when she blew a tire in rural VA.  Never did show up. So, I'm not interested in AAA.  Screw them.

I have the $20 extended HOG coverage which is through Road America.  I figure its one line of defense.  I also carry towing and road service through Progressive, my insurance carrier.  I figure this way I have 2 chances to get some help.
jt

[rmc115]

A lot of trouble is the hog go between with roadamerica, somebody has to authorize the overage on the free plan, spend the 20 bucks on the deluxe plan, there is no limits and cuts some of the hassle out. Mike

[GaryD]

Try the AMA towing. It's free if you join with automatic renewing. I'm a life member and I can't even get it unless I pay for it. Right now I have H-D -- never used it so can't comment.
Also you can try Help-N-Hands. I'ts an organization made up of bikers throughout the US that have agreed to help stranded bikers in their area. It costs nothing to join if you agree to help someone in your area.

[Deye76]

"used 6 times in 9 years"

Must have been for the shovel. 
(couldn't help myself )

[RainDodger]

I used their towing one time and it was a really bad experience... but that's not HOG, it's the contracted towing people. I can't remember who it was, but since that's the only reason I was a HOG member, I did not renew and I now use my insurance company's towing option if I need it.

[RainDodger]

... now I remember after looking at the posts above... it was RoadAmerica towing that I had problems with. That's who HOG used for my tow. Truly a bad experience.

[Desperado]

A lot of trouble is the hog go between with roadamerica, somebody has to authorize the overage on the free plan, spend the 20 bucks on the deluxe plan, there is no limits and cuts some of the hassle out. Mike

Following up on Mike's comment, I would like to know if people having problems were using the basic HOG free towing or if they had the $20 extended plan with RoadAmerica.  I've carried the latter for the last 9 years, but have never had to use it in 160,000+ miles.  Always thought it was the best insurance I could have while traveling all over the United States and Canada.  At least it gave me peace of mind.  Now I'm wondering if I had a false security.

[marc]

Never had a problem  ...

[RKTonyC]

I guess it depends on the area you are in, as HOG hooks you up with local tow companies.

Myself, I have used it twice so far. I lives in a suburb of Boston. The first time I used it was on a Friday night, 5:30 after leaving work. Talk about rush hour, this was it. My clutch cable broke at the lever, and I wasnt going anywhere. I pulled out the cell phone and my card gave them a call. The operator took down my info, my location and number. She asked me to sit tight for few and she would call me back after she got me hooked up with a local tow company. Within about 15 minutes, she was calling back, and told me she had a bike capable tow company set up for me, but since it was Friday night, it could be a delay because of traffic, as well as it being a busy night in general. Anyway, I chilled out for a bit, and the very same operator kept calling me back with updates. The tow truck found me, and within a few minutes had my bike safe and secure on the back of this truck. Very cool block set up kept my bike still the entire ride. Now Boston Harley was only a mile and a half away, and they were closed. Plus, I'll be damned if Im dropping my bike off to have a clutch cable installed. So I asked the driver if he could drop me at my house a few towns over. He made a quick call, and HOG approved and I got a free ride home. The tow driver was great, and when he pulled away from my house, had a few dollars in his pocket to boot. i couldnt have been happier.

The second time was in Laconia. My wifes Sporty had some problems I couldnt fix without my tools, so again, on the phone to HOG. Mid rally, busy as hell, but within a half hour, a pick up pulled up with a custom lift set up, that had the Sporty onboard in minutes. Down to Meredith Harley we went. Not only was the bike quickly picked up and delivered, they got us in ahead of the line and out the door within 45 minutes. Excellent service.

So, with my experiences, and others here, I think it does come down to what tow companies are local to you when you need the tow. Ive had AAA in the past, and had good and bad experiences. Again, it came down to what company I was hooked up with.

[Panzer]

Try the AMA towing. It's free if you join with automatic renewing. I'm a life member and I can't even get it unless I pay for it. Right now I have H-D -- never used it so can't comment.
Also you can try Help-N-Hands. I'ts an organization made up of bikers throughout the US that have agreed to help stranded bikers in their area. It costs nothing to join if you agree to help someone in your area.

The HTT membership here, posted and up-dated by Mr. Coyote also has a biker help list.......chect it out.
You might want to print a copy of the list and put it in your leathers.
Saying that, I gotta do it to.

[Evo160K]

I've had the HOG extended towing plan through RoadAmerica since the beginning.  I've used it 5-6 times.  During one 14 month period, I went through eight batteries.  HOG towed the bike four times during that period, once from Blanding, UT to Durango, Co, about 130 miles.  The tow driver/owner said that tow would cost HOG $550.

I didn't have to pay a dime for any of those tows, and I was very satisfied.  I renewed again recently and plan to do so in the future, unless something radically changes.

[harleyjt]

A lot of trouble is the hog go between with roadamerica, somebody has to authorize the overage on the free plan, spend the 20 bucks on the deluxe plan, there is no limits and cuts some of the hassle out. Mike

Following up on Mike's comment, I would like to know if people having problems were using the basic HOG free towing or if they had the $20 extended plan with RoadAmerica.  I've carried the latter for the last 9 years, but have never had to use it in 160,000+ miles.  Always thought it was the best insurance I could have while traveling all over the United States and Canada.  At least it gave me peace of mind.  Now I'm wondering if I had a false security.

Mine was the $20 extended plan....
jt

[Little Al]

"used 6 times in 9 years"

Must have been for the shovel. 
(couldn't help myself )

hell no, she's never left me stranded, not once in 12 years owning her. Everytime I used HOG/RoadAmerica it was for one of the TC's.

btw, I also have the Deluxe upgrade with HOG, worth the extra $20

[GaryD]

Panzer, saw it and printed it. Every little bit helps. Now I have 3 venues. Hog, Help-N-Hands and HTT's list. Surely one of those will come through when needed. 

[IndyHarley]

I used it once and it was quick and good service and it was on a Sunday. The HOG annual membership only covered the 1st $100 but they did all the calls once I contacted them.