Drew Callahan · May 10, 2026
The whine hit my ears before I even opened the roof hatch—a high-pitched grinding that shifted into a rattling buzz the moment the compressor tried to engage. After spending over 80,000 miles across North America in three different rigs, I’ve heard that sound too many times to ignore: the capacitor was shot, the fan motor … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 3, 2026
Most RV owners assume their furnace will either work or it won’t — that it’s a binary thing, like a light switch. That assumption is dangerously wrong. A Highland Ridge Open Range furnace can fail in ways that look identical on the surface but demand completely different fixes: a dead igniter, a fried control board, … Read more
Drew Callahan · March 12, 2026
I was three days into a July booking when the 308BHS owner called—his voice tight, kids yelling over each other in the background. “There’s something wrong with the ceiling,” he said. I walked through the diagnostic anyway: had he seen staining? A soft spot? Smelled anything off? Turns out he’d noticed a faint discoloration near … Read more
Drew Callahan · March 11, 2026
Here’s what most RV owners don’t realize until they’re trying to sell: neglected mechanical systems tank resale value faster than almost anything else. A rig with clean cosmetics and a history of deferred maintenance sells for thousands less than one that’s a little road-worn but mechanically solid. I’ve bought plenty of both. The water heater … Read more
Drew Callahan · March 11, 2026
Living full-time in an RV changes your math on repairs fast. You start calculating the cost of parts versus the cost of a mobile tech, and you realize that most of these jobs — once you understand the system — are absolutely within reach for someone who’s willing to read a guide, watch a video, … Read more
Drew Callahan · November 10, 2025
RV Awning Fabric and Motor Replacement I’ve got the end caps off a Highland Ridge Open Range awning, and what I’m seeing is the cascading failure that catches most RV owners completely unprepared. The fabric is shredding from UV damage, sure — but that’s just the visible problem. Behind it, the motor is grinding through … Read more
Drew Callahan · November 9, 2025
RV Water Heater Thermostat and Heating Element Replacement A shop quote landed in my inbox last week: $680 in labor alone to swap out a failed thermostat and heating element on a Highland Ridge Open Range, plus another $240 for the parts themselves. That’s nearly a grand to do work that takes about two hours … Read more
Drew Callahan · November 9, 2025
RV Slide-Out Motor and Gear Replacement Most Highland Ridge Open Range owners don’t realize their slide-out motor is burning itself to death until the moment it quits—and by then, you’re looking at a wall of your house that won’t budge. The Lippert rack-and-pinion system these rigs carry is bulletproof on paper, but the OEM motor … Read more
