A good way to find a certified mobile RV tech in your area

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:

Go, BJ!

Anne M. echoes the kudos for an RV tech in last week’s column. She wrote, “Oh! My! Goodness!! I couldn’t agree more about the tech BJ at Wandering Bear RV! He installed brakes and springs last winter. He was so great we had him come this winter and fix some/replace stuff. Yep, anytime we need anything (non-emergency while on the road) he will be our ‘go-to’. Thanks, BJ!!” [Wandering Bear RV is located in Clermont, FL.]

RV and automotive repair is ripping off consumers

Fred B. wrote about the discrepancy between advertised hourly rate and actual billing. “I use the mobile service of a local RV repair shop. Their service is just okay. Of the three times I’ve used them, I had to return twice for repairs that did not last. They did make it right on those re-dos.

“But my complaint is with the whole RV repair industry as well as the automotive industry. They charge $100 to come to you, which I understand, though they could base it on miles travelled if they wanted to be fair. Then they charge $150/hour labor, but that’s a misconception.

“They have industry standard book times for most repairs like a furnace inspection/ cleaning, which might be one hour. I just had my furnace and water heater inspected/cleaned and they charged me the standard book rate of one hour for each job for a total of $300 labor, but the actual time it took from the moment they showed up till they finished was exactly one hour.

“So, they charged me $300 for one hour’s work. I don’t believe it’s right that someone like me, who takes pretty good care of my RV appliances, and whose inspections/cleanings are quick and easy, should have to pay twice as much per hour, effectively, as someone who puts off RV appliance cleanings for years and then has additional issues during cleanings and uses the whole standard industry one hour rate. I’m subsidizing other people’s careless lack of proper maintenance. Lawyers don’t normally charge standard book rates. They bill their time in 15 minute increments.

“The automotive and RV repair industry is ripping off most consumers with hidden charges under the guise of ‘standard book rates’.”

How to find a certified mobile RV tech

Marjorie D. writes about finding mobile techs. “My husband is a certified RV tech and all we hear are complaints about dealer repair. We recommend finding a mobile tech. The dealers are allowing even warranty work and recalls now through mobile techs. We have been most busy with new model recalls, as well. Check out RVHELP.com to find a certified tech [or RV inspector] in your area.”

Shout out to RV dealer and service

Doug D. recommends the RV dealer they go to. He writes, “I want to give a shout out to Wana RV Center in Shipshewana, Indiana. We met them two years ago at an RV show. They spent a lot of time with my wife and me explaining options, quality, and of course price. We purchased our first RV, a 2023 Rockwood Mini Lite 2511S.

“We have had very few problems with it. But when we did have an issue or a question, the service department was very good to work with. From scheduling a service appointment, to ordering a replacement part (that I bent) and sending it to me, to just answering a question, they have been great to work with. The service manager is willing to help in any way he can. It is an hour drive from my house, but well worth the time to drive there.”

Corporations won’t change until it is more profitable to do it right

Bryan C. has hope the RV industry will change and also has a great recommendation for service. He wrote, “I remain hopeful that places providing poor and/or dishonest service continue to get called out and publicly named. Corporations are not going to change until it is more profitable to do things the right way.

“We’ve recently used a good independent repair shop, Sean’s RV Service & Repair in Bernalillo, NM. After having him do repairs to our slide, we went back to Sean to have our suspension updated. Our experiences have been good, and we highly recommend him and his team. His website lists his prices for common services up-front.” [Service in-shop or mobile, serving Bernalillo, Greater Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Edgewood, Moriarty, Belen, Las Lunas, Bosque Farms, Isleta, and Grants.]

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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