A broken down RV can be a major pain, especially if it is also your home. For those that live in their large class A motorhomes, there may be nowhere else to go when repairs are needed. This, combined with the logistics of handling the breakdown as it occurs, can be a major fear for those living the nomadic life. The following tips will help you get through a potential breakdown safely and as comfortably as possible.

Tip #1: Safety first

Your main goal is to make sure no one plows into the back of your RV while you are stranded on the side of the road. This is where those flares and cones that you keep in your emergency kit come in handy. Only the cones are needed in good weather during the day, while flares are reserved for night or times of poor visibility. Start placing them at least fifty feet behind your RV—and preferably further if you are on a curve where it's difficult for approaching drivers to spot you ahead of time.

Tip #2: Find the right shop

Don't leave it to the tow truck driver to find you a shop. Instead, take a few minutes to pull up local shops on your smartphone or tablet. Then, call around to see which can service a class A motorhome. Shops that work on semi trucks and big equipment are a safe bet, since they will have a diesel mechanic on staff. Once you find a shop that does the work, make sure they will allow you to stay in your motorhome onsite. Many shops will, and they will likely even provide you with power while doing so. This will save you the added expense of a hotel as your RV is repaired.

Tip #3: Use a heavy duty towing company

A regular tow truck generally can't pull a large class A motorhome. You will need to get a heavy duty tow truck. The shop may provide one—or at the very least offer recommendations. Write down the name of the towing company along with the truck ID or plate number when reserving it; this way you can verify that your home is being towed by the right company when a truck does pull up.

Tip #4: Prepare for towing

Much of the RV should already be tow ready since you broke down on the road. Just make a final walk through to make sure everything is secured, since being towed at an angle is a bit more jarring than simply traveling down the highway on all of your wheels. If you tow a car behind your RV, it's a good idea to remove it before the tow truck arrives. Most heavy duty towers won't want to leave it in place; plus, you will need this car to get around town while your RV is in the shop. You can meet up with the driver at the repair shop.

For more help with RV breakdowns, contact a heavy duty tower like Parkway Wrecker Service with your questions.