Mobile Repair Services

[jkxtreme]

Question about repair charges around the country...
We had some work performed under a warranty we bought when we purchased our 5th wheel. We've also had other modification done.
In both instances, we used a mobile rv repair service. They did great work but I have a question about their charges.
The mobile repair company we used charges a $135 service fee each time they show up to perform any kind of work. The labor involved in the repair is above that amount as are parts.
Is this practice normal in the rv industry, or did we get ripped off.
We are currently in central Florida.

[DutchmenSport]

You ARE lucky! I had to use one in Louisiana in Feb 2024. It cost me $300 each time he came out. He had to come out twice! I was over the barrel on this repair, so had to pay. No other choice. Sometimes when something breaks, it's just a bit too much or the electronics is just a bit too complicated to do yourself.

[Mikendebbie]

It’s like a doctor or a lawyer - no phone call to a lawyer is free and no visit to a doctor is free. The only business that does stuff for free is the construction business. I have done hundreds of free estimates for developers and owners in hopes that they would award the construction project to the company. If you also count the bids I have worked on over 47 years - the number is in the thousands. It’s a hell of a business model! By the way - the architects - that draw the pretty little sketches that I work from - they don’t work for free either.

[MandK]

I don’t think you did too bad at all at $135 show up fee. Last month there was a mobile tech that was at the park working on a class A. A fellow moc member that we met there needed a little help with a slide adjustment and talked to the class A owner and they tried to make a deal that if the tech would come over and spend 15-20 minutes adjusting his slide, they would split the $300 show up fee. No dice, the tech said he was busy and couldn’t take the time. He could schedule him in and come back. $$. The moc member figured it out on his own as far as I know, and the tech missed out on a few extra bucks.

[Foldbak]

That's cheap. My dealer is $200 an hour. Local mobile tech's in my area have a $250 minimum.

[High5er]

We experienced the same thing here. His Service Call Fee was $120, then work was $150 p/hr with a minimum of 1 hr. His hourly rate was actually lower than the local dealer and he did a great job.

I never considered using a mobile tech when we were weekenders, but now that we're full time, I absolutely see the value (for full timers and weekenders). Our local dealers may take weeks to get the work done. A mobile tech is so much faster and more convenient, and I completely understand the justification for the service call fee. Most are independent and not only need to be paid for their travel time, but also recoup the expense of owning and operating their vehicle.

[Gonefishing]

It depends on where you are at I think. In my area the one I use charges 130 to come out.

[lajitasgal]

This sounds quite reasonable to me. They're doing what amounts to house call. We've used a local mobile tech several times and they do prompt, excellent work. Never had to take our rig back in for a do-over with those guys.

[Hblick48]

I had to have a welder replace my broken spring hanger. $180 service call plus 2 1/2 hours plus part. Bill was about $500.

[samroll]

I’m a mobile tech in the west Houston/Katy area. Here are my charges…..

Regular service call within 30 miles

No service call fee $125 minimum (1 hour) and $125 per hour

Regular service call over 30 miles

No service call fee $190 minimum (1.5 hours) and $125 per hour

Emergency service call during the bus hours $150 call fee $125 per hour

Emergency service call weekends and holidays and after 5 within 30 miles $150 call fee and $150 per hour, minimum $300

Emergency service call weekends and holidays and after 5 over 30 miles $200 call fee and $150 per hour, minimum $350

I schedule my work a week and sometimes 2 weeks out and try and do multiple jobs at each stop. For example on Mondays I workin park A on Tuesdays in park B, etc. It is much more efficient.

[ErnieSC]

I've spent 60 years combined in the Corp. World and owing my own small business. Mobile RV Mechanics are like any other Business - or Person. Some are good; some are not. Some are honest; some are not. Some are fair in their pricing; some are outrageous. Some are competent; some are clueless even if they were RVIA certified somewhere down the road. I've needed Mobile RV Techs at least 8 times since 2008 when we started Camping. I've experienced all of the above. If I get a bad one, I just never use him again. Of course, if you're traveling across Country, you're at the mercy of whomever you can get if you're broke down on the side of the road. Treat it like the Stock Market; Cost Average - and move on.