New 2026 Travato: oil change recommendations Ram Promaster 2500?

[WinnieT]

Hi. New 2026 Travato, Do you experienced folks use Ram Dodge dealerships for maintenance oil changes? Other facilities? RV dealerships? Regularity? Synthetic? Ram promaster 2500. Thanks.

 

[Morich]

For most maintenance, we have never gone to a dealership as they are way too much trouble. I like to find a local garage, often of the smaller type which actually cares if I come back!
Oil and grease are not of the high tech special type work, so I like to find a guy who wants the work and will do it in whatever way fits us both!
It may take a bit of looking around but I was able to walk in, talk to the guy at the desk and simply check what they thought about me bringing in a big item like an RV. They did not plan to put it in the bay but asked if it would go in the back lot?
With the idea that it is just a truck with a funny box on top, they had no questions after I assured them I could get it in and stay around to open the hood, etc. if there was any weirdness involved!
He was glad that he didn't have to find the latch on the hood, I got a coffee and he was pretty well done before I finished the coffee.
For timing on oil, we have rarely had a firm timeline on when and how often to do the oil as things varied too much. Sometimes we did it on a short schedule if we had a longer trip coming as I did not like doing it on the road in strange areas.
Oil changes were such a small item compared to others that I was willing to go for a bit shorter time, rather than get caught if plans changed.
When storing for a few months, I liked knowing the oil was not setting there full of acid to work on the expensive stuff! Oil is cheap when compared to new bearings, etc. !

New RV? I would not flinch at going for synthetic as we do tend to work the engine a bit harder than other uses might.

 

[creativepart]

There is nothing special about your Ram Promaster 2500 chassis that can't be handled by any competent service shop. Heck, you could do it yourself if you're so inclined.

I've had 3-motorhomes and I've never gone to a dealer for this kind of work. Ask around and you'll find who others in your area are using for their RVs. You probably could even find a mobile service to do the service at your home or a campground when you're on the road.

And, when you need warranty service keep in mind that all Ram Promaster issues are handled by RAM and not Winnebago. And, you'll likely learn that the majority of Winnebago dealers don't offer good service on the house part of your RV either. Most of us go to independent RV shops to get things fixed if we can't fix them ourselves.

 

[WinnieT]

For most maintenance, we have never gone to a dealership as they are way too much trouble. I like to find a local garage, often of the smaller type which actually cares if I come back!
Oil and grease are not of the high tech special type work, so I like to find a guy who wants the work and will do it in whatever way fits us both!
It may take a bit of looking around but I was able to walk in, talk to the guy at the desk and simply check what they thought about me bringing in a big item like an RV. They did not plan to put it in the bay but asked if it would go in the back lot?
With the idea that it is just a truck with a funny box on top, they had no questions after I assured them I could get it in and stay around to open the hood, etc. if there was any weirdness involved!
He was glad that he didn't have to find the latch on the hood, I got a coffee and he was pretty well done before I finished the coffee.
For timing on oil, we have rarely had a firm timeline on when and how often to do the oil as things varied too much. Sometimes we did it on a short schedule if we had a longer trip coming as I did not like doing it on the road in strange areas.
Oil changes were such a small item compared to others that I was willing to go for a bit shorter time, rather than get caught if plans changed.
When storing for a few months, I liked knowing the oil was not setting there full of acid to work on the expensive stuff! Oil is cheap when compared to new bearings, etc. !

New RV? I would not flinch at going for synthetic as we do tend to work the engine a bit harder than other uses might.

Thanks Morich. Happy travels.

 

[WinnieT]

There is nothing special about your Ram Promaster 2500 chassis that can't be handled by any competent service shop. Heck, you could do it yourself if you're so inclined.

I've had 3-motorhomes and I've never gone to a dealer for this kind of work. Ask around and you'll find who others in your area are using for their RVs. You probably could even find a mobile service to do the service at your home or a campground when you're on the road.

And, when you need warranty service keep in mind that all Ram Promaster issues are handled by RAM and not Winnebago. And, you'll likely learn that the majority of Winnebago dealers don't offer good service on the house part of your RV either. Most of us go to independent RV shops to get things fixed if we can't fix them ourselves.

Thanks Creative… I know it’s nothing hard but I gave up doing my own oil changes long ago. Hardly worth it after buying the oil and filter. Just wondering if folks use Ram or local places like Meineke, JiffyLube…nothing really special about a camper van except the beautiful and expensive box on top.

 

[creativepart]

There's a nearby NAPA auto center that has a larger outdoor work area and they let it be known they can work on RVs and I used them for oil changes even with my 38' Class A. Back when I had a smaller Class C I used a Jiffy Lube that would do the work in the driveway. So, best to look around you for who will consent to work on your Travato. Since it's a Class B I'd guess you have LOTS to choose from.

 

[WinnieT]

Thanks again. Creativepart. Happy travels and Holidays.

 

[AlanO-WO]

Fortunately I’m a retired independent shop owner, so I service my own vehicles. The quality of work produced by dealers (Winnebago or others) is highly suspect and varies greatly from one dealer to another.
My advice, if you can’t or won’t do it yourself, is to find a qualified ASE certified mechanic to do your work.
ASE certification means the tech has demonstrated a level of knowledge and expertise. Chain stores such as Meineke and Jiffy Lube probably don’t have qualified techs working. Your best bet is certified shop.

 

[Morich]

I don't have any connection to any shop but I do fully agree with above! When I look at shops I visit, I see some general ideas to look for. One is how involved the owner/operator is likely to be. They have the most skin in the game, so if they are close to the real action, they tend to be more aware and interested.
If we go to a big shop in a large company with lots of different shops all across the country, I see things I don't like.
There are some general ideas that fit when we look at the size of a company. It needs to be big enough to be able to buy the equipment needed. For the everyday routine things like the chassis needs, that is relatively simple ordinary stuff! Nothing magic about wheels and tire work nor oil and grease!
Is there value in getting into dozens of levels of management at very high cost if the job is pretty simple? What value do YOU get from ads on national TV?

I worked for a large company and it was really hard to get much done when we needed to go up the ladder! It is totally true that "stuff" does run downhill so I like to avoid that huge downhill slope!
Somewhere above the local drunk under a shade tree and way below the shop with a boss who has never had greasy hands is where I like to find help!

 

[WinnieT]

Fortunately I’m a retired independent shop owner, so I service my own vehicles. The quality of work produced by dealers (Winnebago or others) is highly suspect and varies greatly from one dealer to another.
My advice, if you can’t or won’t do it yourself, is to find a qualified ASE certified mechanic to do your work.
ASE certification means the tech has demonstrated a level of knowledge and expertise. Chain stores such as Meineke and Jiffy Lube probably don’t have qualified techs working. Your best bet is certified shop.

Thanks Alan-O

 

[Pointyears]

find a qualified ASE certified mechanic to do your work.
ASE certification means the tech has demonstrated a level of knowledge and expertise. Chain stores such as Meineke and Jiffy Lube probably don’t have qualified techs working. Your best bet is certified shop.

We can't top this one chain shop's sign: "Mechanic wanted. No experience necessary."