RV REPAIR

Breaking down in your RV or motorhome is a different kind of stressful — you're not just off schedule, you're off the road with nowhere to plug in. At Poudre Auto Repair, we handle the mechanical side of keeping your RV road-ready: engines, transmissions, brakes, suspension, tires, and the electrical systems that keep it running and starting reliably. Whether it's a gas or diesel setup, our team keeps the drivetrain in shape so a mechanical issue doesn't turn your trip into a breakdown. We handle the mechanical repairs — not interior systems like appliances, plumbing, or cabinetry. Call or stop by anytime.

Complete service includes:

Maintenance: Oil changes, tire rotations, radiator flush, belts & hoses, batteries, and standard pre-trip mechanical check
Service Repairs: Computer diagnostics, brakes, and full mechanical repair
Heavy Duty RV Service Repairs: Clutch repair/replacement, suspension adjustment, engine water pump replacement, valve & piston maintenance, diesel engine repair & replacement
Emergency Repairs: Mechanical breakdown while traveling? Count on our team to get you back on the road quickly and safely.

We like to know of any issues you may experience while driving your RV or motorhome. As long as standard maintenance and repairs are taken care of, there should be little to no issues at all. To increase awareness, we added a list of standard maintenance and upkeep tips for your RV/trailer here! If you have any questions, simply stop by the shop or call us!

Standard Maintenance Should Include:

Brakes: Your RV or trailer brakes should be inspected and serviced annually or more often if you substantially use the trailer
Ramp door: You should lubricate ramp door hinges with Lithium grease. Also, periodically lubricate the ramp door extension
Huck bolts: Check the huck bolts periodically. If you detect a loose huck bolt fastener, do not tow the trailer. Call your dealer for instructions. Huck bolts are not end-user serviceable.

Pre-Departure Maintenance

Going out RVing is a vacation and an adventure rolled into one, so before going out, make an appointment to have your RV serviced. This usually includes tire rotation, an oil change if necessary, and an overall vehicle inspection for potential problems.

Lights, Fluids & Wipers

Your lights and wipers are not the first thing you think of before taking that RV trip. Have our team make sure the engine is running smoothly by checking oil, brake fluid, and transmission fluid to make sure they are filled. Once all fluid levels are fine, we check your lights and windshield wipers.

Tire Safety

All tires should be the same type, size, and construction—do not mix bias-belted and radial tires. In selecting tires, buy the size and type. Our team will check to ensure you have the proper tire pressure and replace worn tires. Also, replace your tires simultaneously so you are aware when they need to be replaced again.

Tires

Periodic inspection and maintenance of your RV and trailer tires and wheels, including spare tires, are essential to towing safety. Proper tire pressure affects vehicle handling and the safety of your tires. You can find the correct tire pressure for your RV or motorhome in the owner's manual or on the tire information placard.

Underinflation reduces the load-carrying capacity of your RV, motorhome, or trailer, which may cause sway and control problems and result in overheating, blowouts, or other tire failures
Over-inflation causes premature tire wear and affects the handling characteristics of the tow vehicle or trailer.

Wiring

Make sure connector-plug prongs, light bulb sockets, wire splices, and ground connections on your RV or trailer's driving and towing circuits are clean and shielded from moisture. Lightly coat all electrical terminal connections with non-conducting (dielectric), light waterproof grease. Clean the prongs with very fine sandpaper, being careful not to damage the contact area. Clean the surface deposits in the connector holes. (Make sure the lights are off to prevent blowing a fuse) Try to clean off only the deposits and lubricate lightly with dielectric, light, waterproof grease.

Your pre-trip planning should include the following:

Inspect the emergency equipment on your RV to make sure you have a fully-stocked first aid kit, a functioning fire extinguisher, and an emergency kit that should at least include a tire pump, spare fuses, flashlight, multipurpose tool, pocket knife, road flares, and some canvas work gloves. Be sure to inspect your spare tire and vehicle jack as well.

Check your trailer hitch: the nuts, bolts, and other fasteners to ensure that the hitch remains secured to your RV or motorhome and the coupler remains secured to the trailer. The connection point may require periodic lubrication to permit free movement of the coupler to the hitch ball.

Some RV Ownership Tips

Our job is to help you travel safely and these RV tips we feel are a good way to help you with your RV ownership.

Driving Your RV

Motorhome Use an empty parking lot and practice your turns. Remember that your RV will need a wider turn radius than a car, so when making a turn pull out further into the intersection before beginning your turn. RVs also need more room to slow down, so when driving on the highways always follow the speed limit and keep a good distance between yourself and the vehicles in front of you. When coming to an off-ramp, slow down well before reaching it to avoid having to decelerate suddenly.

Going slowly will also help when you run into bad weather. High winds will affect your motorhome or RV more than it will a car. Keep a strong grip on your steering wheel and you should be okay. For rain or snow, you should decrease your speed. A vehicle like a motorhome is less prone to skidding than a car because of its lower center of gravity, but at the same time, it is much harder to control if it goes into a skid. The same holds true of a 5th-wheel camper or horse trailer with living quarters so any large camper or RV needs special consideration.

Low bridges are another hazard of which you should be aware. Most bridges have their heights displayed to the drivers passing underneath them, so know the height of your motorhome or RV camper before you get on the road.

Winterizing Your Motorhome

When the camping season ends, don't forget the mechanical side of winterizing. We recommend running your engine for about 30 minutes each month (or driving your RV monthly at least 10 miles) to keep it road-ready through the off-season. It's also a good time to prepare your generator for winter storage with regular maintenance. If you have any mechanical concerns before storing your RV or motorhome for the season, give us a call or schedule a routine service visit.

These are some basic tips to help ensure a safe experience with your RV - Motorhome - Camper. If you have any maintenance or repairs concerns our RV Service Advisors at Poudre Auto Repair are here to help you as well simply give us a call or schedule a routine service visit to ensure your RV - Motorcoach is ready to hit the road when you are.

Call to Schedule

3060 Lake Canal Court

FORT COLLINS, CO

Get in touch