In this column, we summarize some of your emails and comments regarding RV service centers and repairs (we asked you to submit your stories here). We’ll tell you all: the best, the good, the bad and the ugly. At the end of this article, you’ll find a place to submit your own comments. I encourage you to do so.
Keep in mind, we typically only present one side of the story in most of these. Also, any remarks about service centers and mobile techs mentioned are the opinions of our readers and not necessarily RVtravel.com.
Here’s what you had to say:
Finally took them to small claims court—immediate payment
John M. could not get the RV place to fix the damage they did. He wrote, “I had Chemo* RV in Williams Lake, British Columbia, gouge the side of my Triple E Empress Elite. The service manager just walked AWAY. I tried for months to get it corrected but never a response. I then used a local painter to try and correct it, to no avail. I finally drove it to Prince George, B.C., where it was painted correctly. Still, Chemo wouldn’t pay for it. I took them to small debts [aka claims] court—immediate payment. What a waste of time.” [*Pronounced chee-mo, derived from the Eskaleut (Eskimo-Aleut) word meaning Warm Greetings or Welcome.]
This Camping World service is ethical and delivers quality work
Bill O. wrote to us about a good experience at Camping World. He says, “Lots of folks bash Camping World for their poor service and attitude. Just wanted to let folks know that there’s a really good Camping World service department that operates ethically and with quality. The Omaha, NE, area is served by Camping World in Council Bluffs, IA.
“We bought our fourth RV there and have used their service department twice for warranty work. On both occasions, we found their work timely and quality. Also, their people were friendly and easy to work with, even when we disrupted their schedule with a couple of unavoidable late reschedules. When the work was done, the service manager took the time to walk us through what they’d done and both times, took some extra time to give us some very useful hints and ideas. Maybe it’s just the way we do business in the Midwest, but we sure feel comfortable taking our 2023 Forest River to this Camping World.”
#1 consideration when buying—Who will service it?
Rick S. has some good advice. He wrote, “I have had outstanding service from Newmar, both at the Nappanee Facility and their Mobile Service in Florida, as well as Freightliner in Gaffney, SC, and Independence RV in Florida. I only buy miscellaneous items from Camping World. #1 consideration in the buying process should be, ‘Who will service it?’”
Need RV work? Try a truck service mechanic
John S. recommends truck service centers. He wrote, “We purchased a 2-year-old Class C motorhome, just before COVID, out of state from a family dealership in Michigan. Fortunately, we’ve had no real problems with the rig. Replacing the house water pump myself has been the only event.
“For annual inspections, we found a local family-run business that services/inspects commercial trucks and does RVs. If/when another repair becomes necessary, if I cannot do the repair myself, I would first see if the truck service mechanic/service personnel have the expertise. After that, a local RV service center that specializes in accident repair would be my choice. The ‘Big Box’ stores we’re all familiar with would be my last choice…”
Knowledgeable RV tech in Florida
Allen M. wrote to us about his excellent tech find in Florida. “We glamp in Florida during most of the winter at Thousand Trails or volunteering at state parks. We met a certified RV tech, BJ, at Wandering Bear RV, in 2023. He installed a new oven door for us that we got from Grand Design under warranty. Installed it at no charge and he not only did it quickly, but he showed me how to do it myself.
“BJ also took time to look at the roof and other things on my travel trailer that he said should be inspected that most people don’t think about. He is a great person and a knowledgeable RV tech. He also does brakes, axles, and many other items that he has been trained to handle.
“I highly recommend him. If you’re ever in Florida look him up; you’ll be glad you spoke with him first. His number is +1 731-363-0970. Thanks for a fun and informative newsletter.”
RV service manager knows what it is to be stranded and fits small traveler jobs in when he can
John B. writes to us about several issues he has had with his RV. “I have a couple of incidents to mention. We have a 2004 National Sea Breeze 36’ Class A. Last September 1, 2024, we left on a trip to the East Coast from Portland, Oregon. On the third day out, our dash air compressor froze up and shredded the serpentine belt, disabling the engine 50 miles west of Laramie, WY. We got towed in and dropped at a truck stop at 10 PM.
“There are about 20 truck shops in town, but none of them would touch our rig. Most seemed to be busy. About 1/3 or 1/2 never even answered the phone. All either would only work on diesels (pointing out that the A/C had nothing to do with gas or diesel did not sway them) or we had to wait for two weeks, or whatever. One told us his shop was too small, but we drove the car by, and he had room for about four semis. After two days, I figured out how to short-belt the engine around the compressor, and we finished a seven-week trip without dash air.
“In April of 2023, we left on a long trip. First night out in Spokane, WA, and our refrigerator quit the next morning. I did my best to troubleshoot it, but no luck, and it was stuffed with food for our trip. I tried at least three RV shops but all wouldn’t even look at it for at least a week.
“I finally called Appleway RV [now Blue Compass RV Liberty Lake] in Liberty Lake, WA, on the east side of Spokane, and the service manager said, “Come in. We will look at it.” I explained the steps I had taken and they went from there. It was just a bad connection that I hadn’t found. We were driving out 30 min. after arriving, with the repair completed. The service manager, Dave W., an RVer himself, said that he had problems on the road before and understood the need for quick service in that situation. He said most of the time, it was a quick fix, and all of the big jobs in the shop were going to be there sometimes for weeks, and he fit the small traveler jobs in between. The attitude was refreshing, and he deserves kudos and referrals. It saved us several days on our trip, and lots of schedule changes.”
Editor’s note
Note from RVtravel.com: If hiring a mobile tech, a small or mega service center, make sure that they are experienced in the issue and have insurance in case something goes wrong. Also, check their warranty policy on the work they perform. Check reviews too and read between the lines—if the review sounds way too good to be true it might be. Compare with several reviews and not just the ones on their website.
Questions for you about RV service
We’ll continue to share stories of your RV service experiences. We want to know:
- Have you had good luck with great service or not so much?
- Did you get good service from knowledgeable technicians?
- Are you waiting to get into a service center or have a mobile tech come out?
- What has been the average time to get an appointment?
- Has your RV been in a service center for a while?
- Are you able to get any mobile techs to come out?
- Are the service centers able to get parts?
- When you do get the repairs done, is the price reasonable?
Please fill out the form below and tell us what your experiences have been like. It can be a horror story, an opinion about what’s going on, a positive experience, or anything else related to the topic. We want to know the great, the good, the bad, and the ugly!
Check back next week for more on RV service centers. See you then.
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##RVT1198
Confused with headline and Rick S comment. He talks about service from four different services, buying miscellaneous items from CW and #1 consideration in buying process. Don’t get correlation that’s the #1 question to ask before buying an RV. Is it in reference to Newmar brand?
His #1 question was “Where will I get it serviced?”
I think the number #1 question to ask before buying an RV is, “How will I use it?”.
The answer to that defines size, type, floorplans, storage, complexity, costs, maintenance and repair center requirements.
If your goal is to spend most of your time off the grid with 3 kids, 4 dogs and a ferret, an 18’ towable might not fit your lifestyle and things will only get more stressful from there…..
Thank you for the compilation, Nanci! I echo Rick S’s comments about Newmar’s factory service center. We found that they have 4 or 5 “groups” of techs with a boss of each. They assign the same group to work on an RV that worked on it previously. The instiitutional knowledge gained from earlier visits is available and used during later visits. Have a great week and safe travels!
Furthermore, Newmar’s Center in Nappannee will work on any RV they ever produced! Even very old 5vers they made decades ago. They havent made towables for ages. That truly gives a buyer, whether new or used, real peace of mind.