RV, Camper and Van Owners / In shop only
Repair for Weekend and Seasonal RV Owners
A vehicle used a few weekends a year is best repaired in the off season, and it develops different problems than one in constant use. Storage causes seal degradation, grease migration, tyre flat spotting and rodent damage, none of which come from driving.
The most useful thing a seasonal owner can do is book work for the months they are not using the vehicle. That is obvious and almost nobody does it, which is why every shop in Southern California is full in March.
The less obvious thing is that a stored vehicle fails differently than a used one.
What goes wrong on a stored RV?
Seals degrade whether or not the vehicle moves, and in Southern California sun they degrade fast. Grease migrates away from bearing surfaces when static, which is why a trailer that sat for two years needs bearings repacked more urgently than one driven regularly.
Then there is rodent damage, which is genuinely one of the more common things we find on stored coaches. Wiring insulation, LP lines and upholstery all get chewed, and the electrical faults that result are frequently intermittent and difficult to trace.
- Seal and sealant degradation from UV, independent of use
- Grease migration away from wheel bearings when static
- Tyre flat spotting and sidewall cracking from age not mileage
- Rodent damage to wiring, LP lines and upholstery
- Battery sulphation from being left discharged
- Absorption refrigerator issues from being stored unlevel
When is the best time to book work?
October through January, comfortably. Everyone books in February and March for spring, and a job that takes three weeks in November takes five in March simply because the shop is at capacity.
If you are planning a trip, work backwards from the date and add a margin. On a structural repair, three to six weeks is realistic and the parts lead time is the part nobody can compress.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I book pre season work?
October through January. February and March are the busiest months and the same job takes longer purely because of shop load.
My RV sat for two years. What should I have checked?
Seals, wheel bearings, tyres by age rather than tread, batteries, LP system for rodent damage and the wiring runs. Storage problems are different from wear problems.
Is it worth a pre trip inspection?
On a vehicle that has been stored, yes. A pre purchase style inspection runs $400 to $1,200 at 3 to 6 hours and it finds the things that ruin a trip in week one.
Can you work to a specific trip date?
Yes if you give us realistic lead time. Work backwards from the date and add margin for parts, which is the variable neither of us controls.
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Bring the vehicle to our Yorba Linda facility and we will document the damage properly, work directly with your carrier, and give you a written figure built from published rates and real labor hours.
All work is performed at our Yorba Linda facility. We do not offer mobile, roadside or fleet route service.