RV Roadside Assistance - Where To Find Help When Your RV Breaks Down On The Road

Better Safe Than Sorry

First of all, be aware that towing insurance can be the best spent dollars you ever invested.  Because when it comes to retrieving almost any RV, it’s going to cost you big bucks. 

The Good Sam RV Club has Emergency Road Service as part of their membership package.  You can enjoy the benefit of their top-rated organization and be covered in the event of an emergency, as well.

Big RVs Require Special Equipment To Service Them

All types of RVs -- from luxury Class A motorhomes to travel trailers and fifth wheels -- require special equipment to pick them up and bring them in for repair.  The neighborhood gas station with their little repo-style wrecker will do more damage than good when attempting to hook up to your rig. 

If you find yourself stranded, and you call for a tow, be sure to specify what type of vehicle they will be dealing with.  Most of all, watch them carefully and if there is any doubt in your mind that what they brought won’t handle the job, send them on their way before they make matters worse.

The Best RV Service & Repair Facilities

As for what type of facility is best equipped to get you back on the road?  Well, that will largely depend on your rig, too. 

Big diesel motorhomes will do well at truck stops, truck dealerships, and even agricultural equipment dealers can help.  Again, you pay for size.  Repairs on such a rig won’t come cheap.  If you need a heavy-duty diesel mechanic, then be prepared to pay the price.

Gas motor homes and Class C motorhomes are best suited for car dealerships and possibly chain auto repair centers.

You’ll run into plenty of places that will say, “We don’t work on those.”  But be persistent.  Gas RVs hook up to the same computer diagnostic machines as your family sedan.  If they can get it in their shop, they can check it out for you.

RV trailers are a different story.  About all that goes wrong mechanically in an RV trailer concerns the wheel bearings, axles, springs and lights -- all of which aren’t that hard to work on.  Most any small garage can handle these types of repairs. 

Even if they don’t have parts available locally, UPS can get them to you in a few days.  You’ll just be stuck to sit and wait.  Hopefully, your rig will be in a place where you can stay in it while you wait for parts.

When it comes to repairs to the house portion of your RV, you're better off finding an RV dealer .  This includes repairs to the refrigerator, stove, plumbing, or pretty much anything beyond what it takes to get down the road.  Yes, even the refrigerator is a convenience item that is best left for someone who is familiar with them.  Not many automotive repair facilities will have a clue about what makes them work. 

Some Repairs You Can Do Yourself

While preventative maintenance is the best way to avoid problems on the road, being prepared with tools and even some common parts may help you when something happens along your route. 

Case in point:  Once I changed a broken front spring pin on the axel of my trailer alongside Highway 287 near Childress, Texas.  It was a known weak point on that particular trailer, which is why I carried spares.  It took an hour or so of my time to fix it on the roadside, but it sure beat the expense of calling for help.