Triage

Describe the problem the way a technician needs to hear it

Every question below asks what you can observe — not what you think is wrong. That is deliberate: observations are checkable, and guesses send technicians down the wrong path with your money.

It takes about five minutes and costs nothing. What comes out is a technician-ready service brief — yours to keep, and usable with any technician, not only ours. If your unit is showing a fault code, run the error-code lookup first so the exact code travels with it. Anything involving propane, 120V AC, combustion, or the coach’s weight is safety-gated and routes to a technician rather than a self-check.

This is structured triage, not a diagnosis. Nothing here replaces hands-on inspection by a qualified RV technician. Any work involving propane, 120V AC wiring, or the chassis should be performed by a licensed professional.

What is failing?

Pick the system closest to your problem. If two seem to fit, pick either — the questions will sort it out, and the brief records what you actually observed.

Slide-outsA slide won’t extend, won’t retract, is crooked, or is grinding.Leveling systemsAuto-level errors, jacks that won’t retract, or the coach won’t level.Technician-only system Jacks and stabilizersA jack is stuck down, leaking, or won’t take load.Technician-only system RefrigeratorsNot cooling, cooling only on one power source, or throwing a fault code.Converters and invertersNo 12V power on shore power, or the inverter won’t carry the load.Technician-only system Batteries and chargingBatteries won’t hold a charge, drain overnight, or won’t accept a charge.Water pumps and plumbingPump cycles constantly, no pressure, or a leak somewhere in the lines.Water heatersNo hot water on gas, electric, or either.Technician-only system FurnacesBlower runs but no heat, no ignition, or it lights then shuts down.Technician-only system Air conditionersFan runs but no cold air, trips the breaker, or won’t start on shore power.GeneratorsWon’t start, starts then quits, or runs but produces no output.Technician-only system Electrical faultsBreakers tripping, outlets dead, or the pedestal shows a wiring fault.Technician-only system Roof leaksWater staining, a soft spot in the ceiling, or visible sealant failure.AwningsWon’t extend or retract, sags, or the fabric or arm is damaged.

Systems we will not walk you through

7 of the 14 systems above are safety-gated. Triage still collects your observations and still builds a brief, but it routes you to a technician instead of suggesting a self-check. These are the reasons, in full.

Leveling systems: Leveling jacks hold the coach’s weight. Never go under an RV supported only by its jacks, and never troubleshoot a jack under load.
Jacks and stabilizers: A stuck or leaking jack can drop the coach without warning. Do not work underneath it.
Converters and inverters: Converters and inverters sit between 120V AC and the DC system. Both sides can injure or kill. Diagnosis is a technician job.
Water heaters: Gas water heaters involve a propane burner and an exhaust path. Combustion appliances are a technician job.
Furnaces: A furnace burns propane inside the coach. A fault in the burner, exhaust, or sail switch is a carbon-monoxide risk. Stop and call a technician.
Generators: Generators combine fuel, high-current AC, and exhaust. Carbon monoxide from a running generator is lethal. Do not troubleshoot a running unit in an enclosed space.
Electrical faults: Shore-power and 120V faults — including reverse polarity and open ground at the pedestal — can energise the coach frame. Disconnect and call a technician.