Before you call a RV Technician

Here at Highroad Mobile RV Repair, we’re there for you whenever you’re struggling with a malfunctioning or all-out unresponsive motorhome: There’s no problem too big or small and no part of your RV’s system we can’t address. Our expert mobile RV tech can assist whether you’re curious about some small but persistent issue or outright broken down on the roadside—and everything in between.

That said, there are some issues that RV owners can remedy easily on their own—or, at least, investigate a bit to narrow down some possible causes. Keep in mind we’re always happy to troubleshoot over the phone (call or text us at 602-892-8925) in case the fix turns out to be something simple and readily tackled on your end. But to give you something to start with, here are a few basic things to look at before scheduling a visit from us.

Electrical Troubleshooting

Ahead of running through a few of the common simple problems in RV electrical systems that you can often address yourself, a word of caution: Electricity’s nothing to play around with, and unless you’re confident in your own experience and know-how, leave more in-depth fiddling with power sources and circuitry to the professionals. (In other words, call Highroad!)

But in many cases electrical issues in your rig result from really straightforward causes. You’d perhaps be surprised how many folks report problems with their appliances, only to discover the culprit is simply a loose plug. Hey, we’ve all been there! Sometimes it’s the simplest explanations that are the easiest to overlook. 

Only slightly more complicated are blown fuses or tripped breakers, whether in the AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) systems or your converter. Replacing a fuse—of the same rating as the blown one—or resetting the breaker may be all that’s required. 

Another reason certain appliances may not be working is a tripped Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet. Try hitting the “Reset” button and see if that solves the issue. If not, you can try unplugging appliances on that circuit and plugging them back in one by one to see if you can’t zero in on the malfunction or overload.

Your RV batteries might be the cause of an electrical problem. Make sure they have enough water and that the connections are tight, clean corroded terminals, and use a multimeter to assess voltage. Fixing a battery issue may simply involve adding distilled water, or potentially swapping out a dying one for a fresh unit—or, conversely, you could be dealing with a problem in the charging system.

If you’re using an onboard generator, an electrical hiccup could be explained by something as simple as a gas tank under a quarter full, which’ll shut these units down.

Propane Problems

Dealing with a fridge, water heater, or gas range issue? Well, is your propane tank empty? Is the primary valve on? As with a loose electrical plug, the solution may be much, much simpler than you realize at first—and may be hiding in plain sight as you assume something more complicated is going on. Also if the weather is very cold your propane tank will not perform in the same way as when it is warm sometimes leading to low pressure in the system.

Get in Touch With Highroad Mobile RV Repair For Any & All Motorhome, Travel Trailer and Camper Issues

It’s always nice when an RV problem can be solved with a simple flip of a circuit breaker, pushing in a GFCI “Reset” button, or (darn it) opening up the propane valve. Sometimes, though, such basic steps don’t seem to solve the problem, or you’re finding yourself dealing with continual blown fuses or tripped breakers/circuit interrupters, which indicate a more involved problem. Don’t hesitate to give us a call or text at 602-892-8925: We can delve into more complex troubleshooting—and get you back up and running in no time!