Mobile RV services

spindrift · July 6, 2023

What hourly rates are people experiencing? I found someone who is charging $150 for the service call and $150/hour thereafter.

Kirk W · July 6, 2023

In Dallas, TX

Mobile Repair Specialists Call-out $200-$300 Labor $150/hour

P&D's Mobile Service Call-out $95 Labor $150/hour

Lone Star Mobile RV Service Call-out $1.75/mile Labor $119/hour

spindrift · July 6, 2023

Thanks, Kirk.

Ray,IN · July 7, 2023

In this area of IN the established mobile techs, trip charge $150, $125/hr. I called a recent graduate of RV tech school(school in TX), his rates were, $50 trip charge, $100/hr. I assume as he gains experience his rates will increase.

spindrift · July 7, 2023

Thanks, Ray.

Chalkie · July 7, 2023

Here in the north Austin area I use a tech that is not the cheapest, nor is he the most expensive, but his work and work ethic have me completely impressed. He charges $125 trip charge, and $150/hr labor. If he has to come back for some reason there is no trip charge and a couple times he has not even charged additional labor as he felt he should have solved an issue on the first trip.

spindrift · July 7, 2023

6 hours ago, Chalkie said:

Here in the north Austin area I use a tech that is not the cheapest, nor is he the most expensive, but his work and work ethic have me completely impressed. He charges $125 trip charge, and $150/hr labor. If he has to come back for some reason there is no trip charge and a couple times he has not even charged additional labor as he felt he should have solved an issue on the first trip.

And with that, I think I'll get into the mobile rv service business. 😅

RV_ · July 8, 2023

Colorado Springs my neighbor had his Motorhome water heater ingniter cleaned and gap adjusted, new Check valve, re-installed temp and ECO sensors for tank water temps that were hanging loose. Total cost including coming to his house, parts was $189 total I think or a little less.

Edited July 9, 2023 by RV_

Ray,IN · July 9, 2023

On 7/7/2023 at 5:58 PM, spindrift said:

And with that, I think I'll get into the mobile rv service business. 😅

However much of that hourly rate goes for liability ins. personal ins. retirement fund, licensing, SS "contributions", etc.

Edited July 9, 2023 by Ray,IN

jamtracy · July 9, 2023

Yup here in Northern California it's hard to find a good one and the good one's know it. The guy I use is $250 call out includes first hour. $175 each additional our. Needless to say I've learned to do a lot of my own stuff to my rig. I do use him for the complicated things.

rickeieio · July 9, 2023

We needed a new water heater last fall in Albuquerque. The only two techs I could find available were both fresh out of rv tech school Both were full timers, and only there to make some fast money. I had to show them a lot of shortcuts, and provide them with things they didn't stock. One ran to Harbor Freight for tools a couple times, on my dime.

In short, I spent well over $1k for a job I wish I'd done myself. But, possible future warranty issues and the fact that I was supposed to be working the Balloon Fiesta, were factors.

Lesson, don't get a newbie "tech".

rpsinc · July 9, 2023

Maybe this serves well for "volunteering" to do repairs. You may not be the fastest but you will be the cheapest and you will get some experience along the way, and will be of service to the community. This of course assumes that you have some basic skills to be doing the work anyways, oh and the tools. HF/HD/Lowes runs are not billable hours for me.

RV_ · July 9, 2023

5 hours ago, rpsinc said:

Maybe this serves well for "volunteering" to do repairs. You may not be the fastest but you will be the cheapest and you will get some experience along the way, and will be of service to the community. This of course assumes that you have some basic skills to be doing the work anyways, oh and the tools. HF/HD/Lowes runs are not billable hours for me.

I did a lot of volunteering to help with repairs when were full time for seven years. This manual is out of print now and mine was loaned out and stolen. (Not returning a book because you haven't read or use it yet, after a year is theft.) That was before I made a policy to never lend my few remaining analog books and manuals. The RV stoves, furnaces, water heater, refrigerators, electrics etc are pretty much the same now as then in most rigs.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256050917081?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338590836&toolid=10044&customid=2411c873572c191fb62eacd879982f3c

For most that book is all you will need if you are handy. For specifics for your model it can help you decide if it is a repair you want to DIY or hire out. Most particular model service manuals are available online if your model is not covered.

jamtracy · July 10, 2023

11 hours ago, rickeieio said:

We needed a new water heater last fall in Albuquerque. The only two techs I could find available were both fresh out of rv tech school Both were full timers, and only there to make some fast money. I had to show them a lot of shortcuts, and provide them with things they didn't stock. One ran to Harbor Freight for tools a couple times, on my dime.

In short, I spent well over $1k for a job I wish I'd done myself. But, possible future warranty issues and the fact that I was supposed to be working the Balloon Fiesta, were factors.

Lesson, don't get a newbie "tech".

When I can plan, I buy all of the supplies so the tech doesn't have to run to the store. I learned that lesson the first time.

rickeieio · July 10, 2023

And when you can't, well things get weird. Unfortunately, we were scheduled to work every day, but someone covered for me to at least be available to help the newbie tech. It wasn't as simple as no hot water. We had a leaker. Decisions were made quickly, and things went sideways. New heater shipped in, had all three fittings with poor threads, Another heater would have been several more days. Tech didn't have 1/2" npt tap, and on and on......