Frequently Asked Questions

A mobile RV repair service brings the expertise, tools, and replacement parts of a traditional repair shop directly to your location. Instead of dealing with the hassle of packing up your campsite, hitching up your rig, towing it miles away, and waiting weeks or even months in a dealership lot, we arrive at your driveway, campground, or storage facility. We handle diagnostics, routine maintenance, and complex repairs on-site, saving you significant time, money, and frustration so you can get back to enjoying your RV lifestyle without the usual interruptions.

We service virtually all types of recreational vehicles, including Class A, Class B, and Class C motorhomes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, toy haulers, pop-up campers, and custom camper vans. Our extensive training and over 30 years of hands-on experience allow us to confidently work on gas and diesel coaches, as well as towables from every major manufacturer. Whether you have a vintage Airstream or a brand-new luxury diesel pusher, Camper John's has the knowledge and capability to diagnose and repair your RV's living systems and components.

The most significant difference is our mobile convenience and dedicated customer focus. Dealerships often prioritize warranty work on units they sold, leaving other customers waiting months just to get a diagnostic appointment. When you use Camper John's, your RV stays exactly where it is. You never have to tow it, and you never leave it sitting in a dusty lot. Furthermore, you work directly with the owner and lead technician, ensuring transparent communication, honest assessments, and no runaround from service advisors. We treat your rig like our own.

We can perform the vast majority of repairs that a traditional shop handles. Our fully equipped service vehicles act as rolling repair bays, carrying specialized diagnostic equipment and a wide array of tools. We expertly handle plumbing, electrical issues, HVAC repairs, slide-out mechanisms, appliance replacements, and roof repairs right where you are parked. The only services we typically do not perform in the field are major chassis and engine work on drivable RVs, heavy structural collision repair, and full-body paint jobs, which genuinely require a specialized facility.

We recommend booking as soon as you identify a problem or know you need routine maintenance. During peak camping seasons (spring and summer), our schedule can fill up several days to a week in advance. However, we always try to build flexibility into our calendar to accommodate urgent situations, such as a broken air conditioner during a heatwave or an active roof leak. If you have an immediate need, please call us directly—we will do everything we can to get a technician to you as quickly as possible.

It is generally preferred that you are present when we first arrive so we can discuss the issues, confirm the symptoms you are experiencing, and ensure we have access to all necessary areas of the RV. Once we begin the diagnostic or repair process, you do not need to stay hovering over the work. If your RV is at a storage lot or a campground and you cannot be there, we can make arrangements to access the unit with your permission and keep you fully updated via phone, text, and photos.

Our standard operating hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We focus on providing high-quality, reliable service during these regular business hours to ensure our technicians remain sharp and dedicated. We also offer some flexibility for weekend appointments during peak travel seasons, subject to availability. Please check with us directly for current weekend openings, and remember that our phone lines are always monitored so you can leave a message or send a text outlining your repair needs at any time.

The duration of a service call varies widely depending on the complexity of the issue. A standard diagnostic visit, basic maintenance like a water heater flush, or a minor appliance repair may take between one and two hours. More involved projects, such as diagnosing and repairing a complex electrical short, replacing a roof air conditioning unit, or rebuilding a slide-out mechanism, can take a half-day or longer. We will always provide you with a realistic time estimate once the initial diagnosis is complete, before any major labor begins.

Our pricing structure is straightforward and transparent. We charge a standard service call fee, which covers our travel to your specific location and the initial setup time. Once on-site, we charge a competitive hourly labor rate for the time spent diagnosing and repairing your RV, usually billed in minimum increments. Any necessary replacement parts, materials, and specialized shop supplies are billed separately. We believe in complete honesty—there are no hidden fees, and we always discuss expected costs with you before starting any major repair work.

Yes, because we bring the repair shop directly to you, we charge a standard service call fee for every visit. This fee helps cover the costs of our mobile infrastructure, including vehicle maintenance, fuel, and the travel time required to reach your campsite, home, or storage facility. The service call fee is a standard practice in the mobile repair industry and is highly cost-effective when you consider the fuel, effort, and downtime you save by not having to tow your RV to a brick-and-mortar dealership.

Absolutely. Once we arrive on-site and complete a thorough diagnostic assessment of your RV's problem, we will explain our findings to you in plain language. If the repair requires significant labor or expensive replacement parts, we will provide you with a detailed, written estimate outlining the total expected costs. We want you to feel completely comfortable and informed before we proceed. No extensive work will begin, and no large parts will be ordered, until you have approved the estimate and authorized the repair.

Our hourly labor rates are generally very competitive with, and often lower than, the rates charged by large franchised RV dealerships. When you factor in the value of your time, the fuel savings of not having to transport your rig, and the elimination of diagnostic wait times that can ruin a camping trip, our mobile service provides exceptional overall value. Furthermore, you are paying for dedicated, one-on-one attention from a seasoned expert technician who is entirely focused on fixing your RV correctly the first time.

We are a fully mobile operation, meaning we can perform repairs almost anywhere your RV is parked safely and legally. This includes private residences, driveways, dedicated RV storage lots, state parks, and private campgrounds. We frequently service RVs right in the middle of a family vacation at a local resort. The only requirement is that the terrain must be relatively level and safe for us to deploy our tools, ladders, and diagnostic equipment without putting our technicians or your property at risk.

The vast majority of private RV parks and public campgrounds enthusiastically welcome reputable, licensed, and insured mobile repair technicians, as it helps their guests resolve emergencies and continue enjoying their stay. However, a small number of parks have strict policies against on-site maintenance or require prior authorization. We highly recommend checking with your campground's front office or host to confirm their specific rules regarding mobile mechanics before scheduling your appointment, just to ensure a smooth and hassle-free repair experience for everyone involved.

It is very helpful if your RV is connected to shore power and a water supply, as many diagnostic procedures for electrical, plumbing, and appliance issues require those utilities to be active. However, it is not strictly mandatory. Our service vehicles are equipped with on-board generators, air compressors, and power tools, allowing us to perform a wide variety of repairs completely off-grid. If you are boondocking or at a storage facility without hookups, please let us know in advance so we can arrive fully prepared for the environment.

Because our work is performed outdoors, severe weather such as heavy thunderstorms, high winds, or extreme cold can occasionally impact our ability to safely and effectively complete certain repairs. Tasks involving roof sealants, electrical systems exposed to the elements, or working safely on ladders may need to be rescheduled. If bad weather is forecast, we will monitor the situation closely and communicate with you promptly to adjust the schedule if necessary. Your safety, our technicians' safety, and the quality of the repair are our top priorities.

Based in McMinnville, Tennessee, Camper John's proudly provides comprehensive mobile RV repair services across a wide geographic radius, covering multiple counties in Middle and East Tennessee. Our primary service area includes Warren, White, DeKalb, Cannon, Coffee, Grundy, Sequatchie, Van Buren, and Putnam counties. We regularly travel to popular camping destinations, state parks, and rural areas throughout this region to ensure RV owners have access to top-tier, reliable maintenance and emergency repair services wherever they happen to be parked or stored.

Our standard service call fee covers travel within our primary, defined service radius. We are certainly willing to travel beyond those boundaries to assist RV owners in need, especially for major repairs or in areas where mobile services are scarce. In these instances, an additional mileage surcharge or an increased service call fee will apply to cover the extra travel time and fuel costs. When you contact us to schedule an appointment, simply provide your exact location, and we will clearly explain any extended travel fees upfront.

We do not offer emergency roadside mechanical assistance for chassis, engine, or tire failures on drivable motorhomes or tow vehicles while they are stranded on the shoulder of a busy highway. For severe vehicular breakdowns, you should contact a dedicated heavy-duty towing or roadside assistance service. However, if your 'house' systems fail (e.g., a slide-out gets stuck in the extended position, preventing you from driving), we can often come to a safe location, rest stop, or parking lot to resolve the issue so you can travel safely.

Yes, we frequently service RVs that are boondocking, parked on hunting leases, or located on remote private property. As long as our service trucks can safely access the location without risking getting stuck in severe mud or impassable terrain, we can help. Please provide highly detailed, accurate directions or GPS coordinates when booking your appointment, as remote areas often lack reliable cell phone service or clear street signage. We bring our own power and tools, so off-grid repairs are well within our capabilities.

Our primary focus is on diagnosing and repairing the essential living systems of your RV, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, appliances, and roof sealing. We generally do not perform major structural repairs, extensive fiberglass reconstruction, full sidewall delamination fixes, or significant collision damage repair. These types of projects require climate-controlled indoor bays, specialized lifting equipment, and extended downtime that cannot be efficiently or safely managed in a mobile environment. We can, however, provide temporary emergency weatherproofing to protect your RV until you can reach a structural body shop.

Absolutely. Slide-out failures are among the most common and frustrating issues RV owners face, and we have extensive experience repairing them. Whether your system is hydraulic, cable-driven, rack-and-pinion, or a Schwintek in-wall design, we can diagnose the underlying problem. We handle everything from replacing stripped gears, fixing broken cables, and installing new drive motors to realigning crooked rooms, adjusting tension, and replacing damaged seals. We carry the specialized tools necessary to get your slide-out operating smoothly and sealing tightly against the elements.

We service, diagnose, and replace all major RV appliances from leading industry brands like Dometic, Norcold, Suburban, Atwood, and Furrion. This includes 120V/propane absorption refrigerators, modern 12V compressor fridges, rooftop air conditioners, propane furnaces, water heaters (both tank and tankless models), stovetops, ovens, and microwave/convection units. We can troubleshoot complex circuit board failures, replace faulty heating elements or cooling units, clean blocked burner tubes, and ensure your appliances are operating safely and efficiently so your camping experience remains comfortable.

Yes, roof maintenance and leak repair are some of our most requested services. We excel at finding the true source of elusive water leaks and properly sealing vents, skylights, AC units, and seams using high-quality Dicor, Sikaflex, or Eternabond products appropriate for your specific EPDM, TPO, or fiberglass roof. While we can patch sections and replace damaged vents on-site, we typically do not perform complete, full-length roof membrane replacements in the field, as that process usually requires an indoor facility to protect the exposed wood decking from unexpected weather.

We offer a comprehensive suite of preventative maintenance services designed to keep your RV in peak condition and prevent costly future breakdowns. This includes deep-cleaning rooftop air conditioning coils to maintain cooling efficiency, flushing out water heaters to remove scale and extend tank life, servicing propane furnaces and checking for gas leaks, inspecting and lubricating slide-out mechanisms and leveling jacks, repacking wheel bearings on towable trailers, and performing detailed roof inspections to catch degrading sealant before water intrusion occurs.

The RV industry standard—and our strong recommendation—is to have your roof thoroughly inspected at least twice a year, typically in the spring before the camping season begins, and again in the fall before winter storage. The intense UV rays of the sun, dramatic temperature fluctuations, and the constant flexing of the RV while driving cause factory sealants to dry out, shrink, and crack relatively quickly. Catching a small crack and performing a quick, inexpensive touch-up seal can save you thousands of dollars in hidden water damage repairs down the road.

Yes, proper winterization is critical to protecting your RV's complex plumbing system from catastrophic freeze damage. We offer mobile winterization services in the late fall, where we drain all tanks, bypass the water heater, and pump non-toxic RV antifreeze through every line and fixture. In the spring, our de-winterization service flushes the antifreeze, sanitizes the fresh water tank, checks all fittings for leaks, and verifies that your appliances and water pump are operating perfectly so you are fully prepared for your first camping trip of the year.

Definitely. Your RV generator and HVAC systems require regular attention to remain reliable. For generators, we offer complete oil and filter changes, spark plug replacement, air filter swaps, and load testing to ensure they perform flawlessly when you are boondocking off the grid. For HVAC systems, we clean evaporator and condenser coils, straighten bent fins, test capacitor draw, and clear the condensation drains. Preventative care ensures these expensive systems run cooler, use less energy, and have a significantly longer operational lifespan.

Yes, a professional pre-purchase inspection is one of the smartest investments you can make before buying a used RV. We will meet you at the seller's location and conduct an exhaustive, multi-point inspection of the RV's roof condition, plumbing integrity, electrical systems, appliance functionality, slide-out operation, and life safety equipment. We look for hidden signs of previous water damage, poorly executed DIY repairs, and deferred maintenance. You will receive a detailed, objective report empowering you to negotiate a fair price or walk away from a potential money pit.

A pre-trip inspection is designed to give you peace of mind before embarking on a major cross-country adventure. We focus on critical safety and reliability factors: inspecting tire wear and pressure, checking the operation of exterior lighting and trailer brakes, testing the house batteries, verifying that the water pump and plumbing system hold pressure without leaks, and ensuring the refrigerator and air conditioning are performing optimally. We aim to identify and resolve any minor issues in your driveway before they become major headaches on the highway.

We love helping new owners get comfortable with their rigs! RVs are incredibly complex, and dealership walk-throughs are often rushed and overwhelming. We offer comprehensive, on-site educational sessions where a technician will walk you through your specific RV at your own pace. We will teach you how to properly hook up utilities at a campsite, operate the leveling system, manage your power consumption, empty the holding tanks sanitarily, and troubleshoot basic issues. We want you to feel confident and safe operating your new home on wheels.

Yes, we provide mobile maintenance and repair for the crucial components that keep your towable RV safely attached to your vehicle. We service electric drum brakes, replace worn brake magnets and shoes, repack or replace wheel bearings, and adjust suspension components on travel trailers and fifth wheels. We also inspect and troubleshoot issues with 7-way electrical connectors, breakaway switches, and weight distribution hitches. Ensuring your running gear is in top shape is absolutely vital for safe towing and accident prevention.

While we strive to be as responsive as possible to our customers in distress, we are not a 24/7 emergency response service and do not dispatch technicians in the middle of the night. We monitor our messages closely and prioritize urgent situations—such as a power failure in extreme heat or an active, severe water leak—during our regular business hours and often on weekends during peak season. If you have an emergency, please leave a detailed message, and we will get back to you as soon as our schedule permits.

We consider an issue a priority emergency when it presents an immediate safety hazard or threatens significant damage to the RV. This includes major water leaks inside the coach, a complete failure of the rooftop air conditioners during dangerously high summer temperatures, a slide-out stuck in the extended position that prevents you from traveling to your next destination, or a total loss of electrical power that disables critical living systems. Minor annoyances, like a broken cabinet latch or a flickering light bulb, do not qualify for emergency scheduling.

Response times for urgent issues depend heavily on our current location, prior commitments, and the time of year. During the busy summer season, our calendar is often fully booked. However, because we understand that water intrusion or a stuck slide-out can ruin a vacation, we always attempt to shuffle our schedule, route our technicians efficiently, or add stops to the end of our day to address genuine emergencies. We will communicate honestly about when we can arrive so you can make informed decisions.

If we are able to accommodate a genuine emergency request that requires a technician to alter their route, work late into the evening, or dispatch on a weekend outside of our normal operating hours, an increased emergency service call fee and a higher hourly labor rate will apply. This compensates our staff for the unscheduled disruption and overtime. We will always clearly explain any emergency rates to you over the phone before dispatching a technician, ensuring there are no surprises when the final bill arrives.

We strive to make the payment process as convenient as possible. We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express) through a secure mobile processing terminal on-site. We also accept cash and mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay and Google Pay. For established corporate accounts or long-term storage facility partners, we can occasionally arrange invoicing, but for general residential and campground service calls, we do not accept personal checks or delayed payment terms.

Payment for the service call fee and all hourly labor is due in full immediately upon the completion of the diagnostic visit or repair work. If your repair requires us to order specialized, non-stocked parts from a manufacturer, we require a deposit covering the full cost of those parts, plus shipping and taxes, before the order is placed. The remaining balance for the labor to install the parts will be collected when the technician returns to complete the job and you are satisfied with the repair.

We are happy to perform repairs covered by extended service contracts (warranties) or comprehensive RV insurance policies. However, we are generally an independent service provider. This means you will need to pay Camper John's directly for the service call, diagnostics, and repairs at the time of service. We will then provide you with a highly detailed, professionally itemized invoice and any necessary diagnostic reports, which you can submit directly to your warranty administrator or insurance adjuster for reimbursement according to the terms of your specific policy.

Absolutely not. Integrity and transparency are the foundations of our business. The costs you will incur are the initial service call fee (based on your location), our standard hourly labor rate, and the retail cost of any required parts and shop supplies. If a repair turns out to be more complex than initially diagnosed, or if we discover additional hidden damage once we open up a wall or appliance, we will stop work, show you exactly what we found, and provide an updated estimate for your approval before proceeding further.

Yes, we take immense pride in the quality of our craft. We guarantee our labor and workmanship on all completed repairs for a standard period (typically 90 days), ensuring the issue we were hired to fix was resolved correctly. If a repair we performed fails due to an error in our installation or diagnostic process within that timeframe, we will return and make it right at no additional labor cost to you. We want every customer to feel confident that they received professional, lasting value.

The warranty on replacement parts varies depending on the specific manufacturer and the type of component. Most major RV appliances, circuit boards, and plumbing fixtures come with a standard manufacturer's warranty ranging from 90 days to one year. We only install high-quality, OEM or premium aftermarket parts to ensure maximum reliability. If a part we supplied and installed fails within its manufacturer warranty period, we will assist you in facilitating the parts warranty claim, though our standard labor rates may apply for the re-installation depending on the situation.

While extremely rare, if a system we just repaired stops working shortly after our visit, we prioritize getting a technician back to your location quickly to investigate. If we determine that the failure was caused by a mistake in our workmanship or a defective part we provided, we will resolve the issue promptly and fairly. If the failure is due to a new, unrelated component breaking, or if a temporary fix we advised against ultimately failed, we will explain the situation and provide an estimate for the new necessary repair.

If you believe a repair we performed is failing or a part we installed is defective, please contact us immediately by phone or email. Do not attempt to disassemble the repair yourself, and do not hire another company to fix it without giving us the opportunity to inspect our work, as this can void our workmanship guarantee. We will ask you to describe the symptoms, provide photos or video if possible, and we will schedule a follow-up visit to evaluate the situation and honor our warranty commitments.