For many years the community entrusted its safety to former Signal Mountain police officers Gregg Hall and Greg Hill. They plan to uphold their reputation and bring the same dedication to service through their new G & G Mobile RV Repair & Maintenance business.
Hall, former administrative captain for the Signal Mountain Police Department, retired after 31 years in December 2010, while Hill spent 20 years as an officer with the town and finished his seventh year as a school resource officer this past July.
Both have been camping for years, and as they began discussing their plans for retirement several years ago, they got the idea to start an RV repair business.
"I had a bad experience at a dealership," said Hall. "I spent a lot of money and [the RV] wasn't fixed, and I ended up doing it myself."
"We ended up working on everyone else's motor homes and trailers," said Hill, who said he had been swindled by a dealer as well.
After spending two to three years fixing various problems for friends and family at campsites, they researched the industry and decided to make a go at starting their own business.
Both spent 10 weeks at RV Training Center in Largo, Fla., one of two RV repair training centers in the country, and forked over $6,000 apiece in order to become certified technicians.
"You don't see a lot of certified techs who are actually insured," said Hall.
He and Hill each passed the test for master certification administered at the end of the course, and they said the honor will be officially bestowed upon the business in about a year, at its first anniversary.
Aside from the engine and transmission, G & G repairs everything on an RV from the ground up: from heating and air systems to plumbing, refrigeration, appliances and electrical problems.
G & G is unique in offering year-round, 24/7 mobile service within a 100-mile radius, said Hill.
"We come to you no matter where you're at - if you're at a campground or in your driveway," he said.
"A lot of problems actually start when you plug up, unbeknown to the camper," said Hall.
For example, if the park's wattage is low, a brownout can occur and cause problems such as a blown circuit in the camper's refrigerator, they said.
Jerry Campbell said he has used G & G's services on several occasions.
"They're honest, decent Christian gentleman, and I'd highly recommend them," said Campbell, who chose G & G for the convenience of the mobile service and for the price, which he said is significantly lower than the competition.
G & G charges $75 for a technician to come to the customer to diagnose the problem, and if the problem can be fixed in less than an hour, the customer pays nothing more aside from the cost of parts. For more extensive repairs, G & G will inform the customer of the cost and let them decide if they want to proceed.
Heating and air repairs are the only service for which G & G charges by the hour. Both technicians are certified to perform repairs for Aqua-Hot, a heating system common in high-end motor coaches, said Hill.
G & G also offers RV spa services, which include a full hand wash, wax and buff as well as a UV treatment for the roof.
Hall said the roof, which is typically the most neglected part of an RV, should be inspected every two years in order to prevent cracks and leaks.
"Most roofs have a rubber membrane, and people don't realize it catches all the summer heat, acid rain and bird droppings," he said. "The sunlight itself puts it in bad shape in two years."
The pair plans to offer seasonal specials, such as winterization in fall and spring inspections for RVs which have been hibernating in storage. Pre-delivery inspections are available for people who want an independent verification that an RV is safe and fully operational before making a purchase, and pre-designation inspections give travelers about to embark on a trip the security of knowing their RV is in perfect working order.