Table of Contents Show
When it comes to RVs, there’s no telling when something will break or stop working. You may have a shop you trust to do repairs, but it might be impossible to get to it. Whether you’re stuck on the side of the road or at a campsite, have an extended RV warranty or not, mobile RV services can save the day.
However, there are some things you need to know before using mobile RV services.
Today, we’ll help you know what to do when you need to call a professional to work on your rig. Let’s get started!
What Are Mobile RV Services?
Mobile RV services are professional technicians who know the ins and outs of RVs and can come to you. Instead of hauling your rig to their shop, they travel to your location to complete the job. These experts can handle a wide variety of repairs on many rigs.
If you spend much time in RV parks or campgrounds, you may see a mobile RV service technician.
Pros of Mobile RV Services
One of the best reasons for using mobile RV services is convenience. The technician will not only come to you, but they’ll get to work on your rig when they arrive.
You don’t have to tow your rig to a crowded repair shop and wait days or weeks before the technicians even take a look at your RV.
When your RV sits at a repair shop, there might be a whole team of workers addressing your issues. Using a mobile RV service, you typically deal with one or two professionals and don’t have to rely on communication with an entire team.
The more hands you have working on your rig, the more chances of miscommunication or mistakes.
While you might think that the personalized service of a mobile RV service is more expensive, it’s often comparable. Many forget to factor in the costs of hauling their RV to the repair shop.
Having the technician come to you allows you to save both time and money in some cases.
Cons of Mobile RV Services
While mobile RV services can be convenient, they’re likely to charge you the minute they start heading your way. This can significantly add to the repair costs, especially if they have to travel quite a distance or make multiple trips.
Because technicians may need a specific tool for your job, they may need to get the tool if they don’t have it with them.
Many mobile RV services don’t have relationships with manufacturers. This can make it difficult to get parts specific to your rig or pieces only available from the manufacturer.
You may have to go through an authorized dealer or repair shop to get a particular part for your rig.
What to Look for Before Booking An RV Mobile Provider
You don’t want to call just any RV mobile service. You want to ensure that whoever you hire can get the job done quickly and correctly.
Let’s consider a few things to keep in mind when hiring an RV mobile provider!
Pro Tip: Be prepared before your RV has any issues out on the road and know how to find RV repair tech services anywhere!
Certifications
You don’t want to hire just any Joe Schmo you find online. Hiring someone without the proper certifications can cost you more money than if you hired the right person from the start.
You want to look for technicians with certifications from RVTI or NRVTA.
These are the two of the most widely recognized certifications in the RV industry. Hiring a technician with these credentials means they know their stuff. You’ll know your rig is in good hands!
Reviews
You check the reviews for restaurants and hotels, so why wouldn’t you read reviews for the person you hire to work on your RV? You want to see a track record of positive reviews and happy customers.
Look at the specifics of each review and find any consistencies between them.
Don’t expect to find only five-star reviews from previous customers. A customer might leave a negative review for a technician due to issues that are beyond their control.
For example, supply shortages and shipping delays are issues that mobile techs cannot control.
Professionalism
While reading the reviews, it’s essential to look at the business’s professionalism. We’ve seen some less than professional responses from businesses regarding overly negative reviews.
How they handle criticism and feedback from unhappy customers can reveal quite a bit about the company.
It would be best to judge their professionalism from the moment you reach out to them. How they respond when answering the phone or returning your phone call is crucial.
If they don’t respond or return your call, it’s a sign that you’re not a priority. They might be doing you a favor by not following up with you.
Some mobile RV service companies are small operations. Many of these businesses will opt for Facebook pages instead of websites.
Either way, they should be professional in maintaining their websites and social media accounts.
Manufacturer Warranty Covered
If your warranty covers a repair, it’s critical to know whether a mobile RV service can complete the work. Some manufacturers work with specific mobile technicians and will authorize them to do the job.
If you have them complete the work without checking with your manufacturer, there’s a chance you’ll be on the hook for the entire bill.
It’s worth a call to your manufacturer before having any warranty work done by a technician.
Pro Tip: If you do have an extended warranty on your RV, be sure to read these Important Tips to Avoid Voiding Your RV Warranty!
How Do You Find Mobile RV Services?
One of the best ways to find a mobile RV service is to reach out to your manufacturer. Even if your RV is no longer under warranty, there’s a good chance they’ll provide you with options for mobile RV techs.
Another excellent option for finding a mobile RV service is to check with other RVers in the area. RV parks and campgrounds will often have a list of technicians they work with or other campers have used in the past.
You can also look for mobile RV services near you by searching on Google or My RV Resource. Ensure you adequately research any technician, read reviews, and ask for certifications. You don’t want to trust your RV in the hands of just anybody.
How Much Do Mobile RV Services Cost?
The cost of a mobile RV service will vary depending on what you need. Most of these services charge a call-out fee, ranging from $75 to $150 or even a per-mile fee.
Their hourly rates are typically consistent with what you’d have at a full-fledged repair shop, between $100 and $200 per hour.
You’ll also need to pay for any parts necessary for your repair. If the technician doesn’t have the parts on hand, it might require multiple call-outs or mileage fees.
However, increased costs are often justifiable because the repairs can usually get done quicker. If you want to avoid having your RV sit in a storage lot at a repair shop until they can get to it, the cost of a mobile RV service is a small price to pay.
Stay Ahead of the Curve: There are some issues you can prevent in the first place, read the 5 Annual RV Maintenance Tasks Every RVer Can Do to keep your RV in tip-top shape!
You’re in Good Hands With a Certified Mobile RV Services Tech
If you decide that a mobile RV service is for you, always get a certified service. You don’t want to pay more in the long run by trying to save a few bucks on a repair.
These services can have you back on the road in no time and keep your RV in tip-top shape for years to come.
Have you ever had to hire a mobile RV service?
