Jump-starting a car is simple. Jump-starting a 40-foot diesel pusher with two large starting batteries in a rear compartment is a different job. We bring equipment sized for big engines.
Try the boost button first
Many motorhomes have an aux start or emergency start switch on the dash. Hold it while you crank, and the house batteries help start the engine. If your house bank is charged, that alone may do it. If the house bank is dead too, it won't.
What we do
- Find the chassis batteries and check the connections. A loose or corroded cable often looks like a dead battery.
- Jump with a heavy-duty jump pack or service vehicle setup suited to your engine.
- Once it is running, test the alternator output and the battery condition.
- Tell you plainly whether the battery is healthy and just drained, or failing. If it is failing, we can replace it right there.
Diesel pushers
Big diesels pull a lot of current to crank, and many coaches use two or more starting batteries wired together. If one is bad, both struggle. Jumping can work, but if the batteries are old, replacement is the more reliable fix. Some diesels also need the glow plug or intake heater to cycle before cranking in cold weather, which can matter on a Panhandle winter morning.
Tow vehicles and toads
We also jump the truck pulling your fifth wheel or travel trailer, and the car you flat-tow behind your motorhome. Towed cars sometimes drain their batteries on the trip because of the way some vehicles have to be set up for flat towing.
Questions we get about this
Can I jump my motorhome from my house batteries?
That is what the aux start button does on many motorhomes. Don't try to rig cables between systems unless you know exactly how your RV is wired.
Is it bad to jump a motorhome often?
Needing frequent jumps means something is wrong: a failing battery, a drain or a charging problem. Get it tested.