What To Do If Your RV Rental Breaks Down

What should you do if your RV rental breaks down? Contact the owner first — it might be a quick fix they can walk you through. Then run through a few basic checks: fuel level, battery connections, and whether the RV is fully in park with the brake engaged. If none of that solves it, RVshare’s 24/7 roadside assistance is available at no additional cost to get you back on the road.

Key Takeaways

• Most RV breakdowns trace back to a handful of common, fixable causes: low fuel, a weak or corroded battery, or a simple starting-sequence issue.
• Being in Park or Neutral with the parking brake on is required to jump-start any vehicle, but diesel engines have their own extra step. Turn on the heater to protect sensitive onboard electronics.
• Overheating is a common summer RV issue, especially on grades. Slowing down and managing RPM prevents most cases.
• RVshare’s 24/7 roadside assistance, through Quest, is included with every rental at no extra cost.
• Tele-Tech support isn’t just for full breakdowns — it’s also useful for RV-specific system issues like slideouts, generators, and appliances.

What Should I Do First If My RV Rental Breaks Down?

If your RV rental breaks down, contact the RV owner. Many issues turn out to be quirks that are specific to that RV. The owner can walk you through them quickly. If they’re not sure what’s wrong, a few basic checks can often get you moving again before you need to call for outside help.

What Are the Most Common RV Problems and Fixes?

• Check the fuel level: It might sound obvious, but it’s easy to lose track while you’re focused on your trip. If the tank is empty, top it up with the correct fuel type using a gas can.
• Check for bad battery connections: Battery terminals can loosen or corrode over time. If they look dirty, disconnect them carefully and clean them with a baking soda and water paste and an old toothbrush, then reconnect tightly. If they’re just loose, tighten them down.
• Check for a dead battery: This is a common problem if the headlights or the cab light were accidentally left on. Try jumping the battery from another vehicle — a camping neighbor can help if you’re not traveling with a second vehicle.
  • Both vehicles need to be in Park (automatic) or Neutral (manual) with the parking brake engaged before a jump start
• If the RV is diesel, turn on the disabled vehicle’s heater and leave it on through the whole process, not just before you connect the cables. This protects sensitive onboard electronics from a voltage spike, which is most likely to occur when the cables come off at the end.
• If jumping doesn’t work, contact roadside assistance.

In most cases, one successful jump followed by letting the engine run for a while resolves the issue for the rest of the trip. If the battery dies again, talk to the owner about a replacement.

A Few More Things to Check

• Push the key in firmly when starting. This issue is more common on older RVs with worn ignition switches.
• Confirm the gear: Some older rigs have sloppy shifters, and the RV won’t start unless it’s genuinely in Park.
• Press the brake pedal while starting, if you’re not used to doing this in your own vehicle — some RVs require it.
• Check your tires: Tire issues like low pressure and old or cracked sidewalls are one of the most common causes of RV breakdowns, since rental tires don’t always get regular use. A quick pressure and tread check before departure catches most of these problems before they become an issue on the road.

How Do I Avoid Overheating My RV?

RVs are heavy, tend to run hot, and are especially prone to overheating in summer temperatures or on steep climbs. Here are a few things to try to avoid overheating:

• Confirm the coolant level with the owner before your trip.
• Slow down on climbs. Take climbs considerably slower than you would in a smaller vehicle. Put your hazards on and let other drivers pass.
• Watch your RPM. If your RPM is too low, your cooling fan won’t run fast enough. If it’s too high, you’re putting excess load on the engine. Aim for the middle of your gauge.
• Turn off the A/C and turn on the heater if you notice the engine getting hot on a climb — uncomfortable for a few minutes, but it pulls heat away from the engine. Roll the windows down to compensate.
• Plan around the heat. In mountainous areas, drive early morning or evening when temperatures are cooler, or avoid mountain routes entirely during the hottest summer months.

What do I do if my RV overheats anyway? Pull over as soon as it’s safe, then turn the engine off. Once you’re stopped, a running engine keeps generating heat with no airflow to help dissipate it, so continuing to run it works against you. Don’t open the hood right away. Pressurized coolant can exceed 230°F, and opening the hood too soon risks a burn from escaping steam. Wait at least 15–30 minutes, keeping an eye on the temperature gauge as it drops, before you open the hood or touch anything under it. Then contact the owner to decide the next steps. They may have you check coolant once it’s fully cooled, or in rare cases, arrange a repair shop visit. 

What Does RVshare Roadside Assistance Cover for a Breakdown?

If troubleshooting doesn’t resolve the issue, RVshare’s 24/7 roadside assistance through Quest (Questx Tow Network) is included with every rental at no additional cost:

Is Tele-Tech support only for full breakdowns?

No, Tele-Tech support isn’t just for breakdowns. It’s also useful for RV issues that aren’t really “breakdowns” in the traditional sense, like a slideout that won’t retract, or a generator that won’t start. If something on the RV itself isn’t working right, Tele-Tech is often the fastest way to fix it without waiting for a mobile mechanic.

To reach roadside assistance, call Quest at (855) 229-9696. Have your RVshare reservation number, a description of the problem, and your location ready — Quest may also ask permission to use your phone’s location to pinpoint you.

Common Mistakes First-Time Renters Make

• Not checking fuel or tire condition before departure
• Attempting to jump a diesel RV without turning on the heater first
• Racing up a grade instead of slowing down and monitoring RPM
• Not realizing Tele-Tech support can help with RV system issues, not just full mechanical breakdowns

Frequently Asked Questions About RV Rental Breakdowns

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