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