RV Tech Talk

Today I will be interviewing a gentleman from Canada who is both an NRVIA Certified RV Inspector and an RVTAA Certified Technician. In fact, he operates a business on both sides of the border, and even serves as an instructor at the National RV Training Academy. Bryan Carbonnell started his business in 2015 by focusing on inspecting RVs. However, as he performed more inspections, he learned there was a real need for quality, competent and qualified technicians. He completed the advanced training to become a certified technician in 2019. Today, the vast majority of Bryan’s income comes from fixing RVs, but he still carves out time to complete inspections, too. During summer months, Bryan’s operation is based in the northwest Toronto area. In the winter, he heads south to warmer climates and has been spending more time in Texas. A former corporate trainer, Bryan loves teaching people, which he has been doing for NRVTA since the fall of 2021. But, he also tries to teach his customers about their RVs as well. Bryan was motivated to switch careers in 2013, when he and his wife, Patricia, bought a brand new fifth wheel and it had to go back to the factory for repairs three times. Bryan had enough bad experiences trying to get his own RV fixed, and he heard a lot of stories from other people who bought RVs with extensive water damage or similar problems. Through it all, Bryan knew he could make a good income by providing quality services to frustrated people. As a North American Indian, Bryan has special status which enables him to work on both sides of the border. It required him to complete some special paperwork and to find an accountant who was familiar with both Canadian and U.S. tax laws. To build awareness of his services, Bryan first met with local RV dealerships and offered to perform mobile RV service for their customers who didn’t want to bring their RVs in for repair. Today, Bryan gets between 40 and 45 percent of his business from that collaborative relationship. He did not have to get any special tools to start his business because he had accumulated basic tools over the years. But he does keep a set of tools in Canada and keeps another set on his truck when he heads to the United States. Because Bryan can often get parts within a day or two of needing them, he does not maintain a large inventory of parts, especially of the more expensive items, like furnaces and water heaters. Bryan’s wife, Patricia, is in the process of completing her training to become a certified RV technician. She may not fix RVs herself, but the training will enable her to better supervise an apprentice in Canada when Bryan is teaching classes in Texas. It will also help her to better understand what a customer needs when calling for service. Demand for RV repair services often requires a three-week wait for Bryan’s clients, which was down from a nine-week wait in 2021. Bryan encourages everyone from high school students contemplating a good-paying career to retirees looking for a part-time income to consider becoming mobile RV technicians. The amount of income people can make as RV technicians and inspectors is limited only by how many hours they want to work each week and how far they want to travel to complete a repair or perform an inspection. People can connect with Bryan by visiting his website at www.techreational.com. There they will find Bryan’s phone number and email address. Today’s episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all for this week’s show. The podcast will be taking a break for a while because I need to focus on my new business. That means when RV Tech Talk resumes, there will be a new host interviewing RV technicians and inspectors. I am sure it will be fantastic. All of us at the National RV Training Academy, National RV Inspectors Association and RV Technician Association of America invite you to check out the fabulous business opportunity that exists to help others on a full- or part-time basis. So thank you for listening to today’s episode of RV Tech Talk.

Today I will be speaking with an RV technician from Santa Barbara, Calif., who shared a wonderful idea for promoting a new RV repair business by targeting Workampers, or the folks who work as camp hosts at area campgrounds. A few years ago, during the COVID lockdowns, Tim Lavender and his wife considered selling everything and moving out of California. Then they opted to sell their home and move into an RV instead. However, when they bought a brand new RV, the couple discovered how much repair work needed to be performed on it. Yet, there was a four-month wait for service at the RV dealership where they bought the unit. The closest mobile RV technician was 60 miles away, and also had a three-week wait. In response, Tim turned to Google for information on how to fix problems the couple was experiencing. That’s how he stumbled upon information about the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. Ironically, the school was an hour away from their son in Dallas. So, because he recently retired from a career in the telecom industry, Tim devised a plan to attend the school to learn how to maintain his own RV, then return to California and start a business to address the critical shortage of trained technicians. His idea to offer discounted repair service to Workampers who had jobs as campground hosts was a brilliant decision. Not only did it give him immediate repair experience and income, but those hosts were in a position to refer Tim to other RVers at the campgrounds. He simply visited each campground in his market area and delivered a stack of business cards. He discovered pent-up demand for repair services because the campground hosts were not in a position to leave their RVs at a repair center for weeks at a time. Since starting his business, Tim has enjoyed a steady income all year round. To maintain his profitable venture, he invests $750 to $1,000 per month in Facebook and Google advertising. However, he can recoup a month’s worth of advertising in a single day of service to those customers the marketing attracts. Tim has learned some valuable lessons through trial and error, such as to never work on a black tank without wearing a face mask. Yuck! He also bought a work van that enables him to stand up in it, which makes it easier for him to find parts and tools. The couple’s desire to use their RV for travel remains strong. Consequently, Tim is contemplating following RVers along the NASCAR circuit to provide repair services at racing events. The greatest joy Tim gets from being a mobile RV technician is from seeing the sense of relief in his customers’ faces when he resolves a problem. That means they don’t have to cut a trip short or cancel a needed vacation. He also enjoys the tremendous flexibility that comes with being his own boss. People can connect with Tim by visiting www.rvtechfinder.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be interviewing an RV technician and inspector from Canada who also works as an instructor at the National RV Training Academy. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thank you for listening!

Scott Wade is a mobile RV technician and inspector based in the lakes region of New Hampshire. His business, DogCrate RV, has been in operation for about 18 months. The unique company name is based on a nickname he gave his own RV, which he described as just a 45-foot dog crate. As a child, Scott grew up in the service business because his father owned an Exxon service station for 19 years in Massachusetts. He didn’t have any formal training, but would often assist the mechanics and he would work on his own car, as well. For a career, Scott worked for Enterprise Car Sales. When he decided he wanted to do something different with his life, Scott began taking courses at the National RV Training Academy. He really enjoyed developing a network among instructors and other students. Doing so reassured Scott that, if he encountered a problem in the field, then he was not alone. Finding his first client was relatively easy. In fact, he received a call from someone seeking an inspection while he was taking his final exam in Athens. Soon, Scott had a bunch of people calling him despite the fact he hadn’t done any advertising. All his business came from the locator pin on the National RV Inspectors Association website as well as the RV Technician Association of America. In addition to inspecting RVs, Scott feels obligated to educate new RV owners about how to operate the equipment found on their RVs. Today, about 70 percent of his business comes from fixing RVs rather than inspecting them. However, by doing both, Scott is assured of having income year round. The thing about Scott’s business which amazes me that he has been able to make a full-time living as a technician and inspector for 18 months without even having a website. In fact, he completed his Google profile a month ago. For Scott, turning on his locator pins on the association websites and passing out business cards, then serving his customers so efficiently that they refer others to his company, has brought in 100% of his business. Scott is so busy he said he could put two more technicians to work right now, if he could find them. It’s important for technicians to identify areas they’re good at and then focus on those rather than trying to be all things to all people. By staying in his lane, so to speak, and passing off other types of jobs to his personal network of technicians, Scott is able to get more done in less time. If people would like to connect with Scott, they can email him at dogcraterv@gmail.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be interviewing a mobile RV technician from California who started a business out of frustration over the inability to get his own RV fixed. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thank you for listening!

Today I will be speaking with Gilda Mitchell, the director of membership for both the National RV Inspectors Association and the RV Technician Association of America. Gilda will be discussing the upcoming NRVTA Expo. It is a virtual event hosted by the National RV Training Academy to provide 18 different webinars to help sharpen the skills of RV technicians and inspectors. By participating in the classes online or watching presentations at a later date, association members can receive 27 continuing education credits. A total of 24 credits are required every year in order to maintain credentials as certified RV inspectors, or as registered and certified RV technicians. This year’s expo is open to association members at no cost, but non-member technicians and inspectors can register for just $199. The annual event is a great way to accumulate more than enough continuing education credits to maintain membership credentials. More importantly, it is an excellent way for inspectors and technicians to keep abreast of changes in the RV industry, or with products and components. The benefit of attending virtual sessions, as they are recorded between October 3rd and 6,th is that participants can ask questions of presenters as sessions unfold. After viewing a session, either when it is presented or by watching a recording, participants must complete a short quiz and achieve a score of 100% to receive credit. Fortunately, inspectors and technicians can take the quiz as often as necessary to pass. There are a wide variety of presentations planned for this year, and people can view the entire scheduled line-up by visiting www.nrvtaexpo.com. This year’s NRVTA Expo was sponsored by Tom Manning & Associates Henderson’s Line-Up Brake & RV HomeGauge Miller-Farrell Insurance Agency For more information or to register, members of the National RV Inspectors Association and the RV Technician Association of America should visit www.rvservicegroup.com. Non-members of the associations can register at www.nrvtaexpo.com. People can also email info@rvtaa.org. Today’s episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be interviewing a mobile RV technician and inspector from New Hampshire. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thank you for listening!

Today I am speaking with a mobile RV technician from the Chattanooga area of Tennessee, which is where he opted to move after retiring from his career in the tech industry. However, Allen Look was retired for all of five minutes before he realized he needed something to do. He saw tremendous need for RV technicians in the Chattanooga area, and Allen though it would be a good business he could establish with his brother, Kevin. Together, they excelled in courses at the National RV Training Academy when they went through the program in 2022. Allen was impressed by the different types of people from all sorts of backgrounds who were pursuing business opportunities providing mobile tech services and RV inspections. Allen had owned RVs in the past, which is why he knew demand for repair services was very high. That is especially true for technicians who will complete repairs on-site without requiring people to drive their rigs to a repair center. One of the challenges Allen faces as a mobile technician is sometimes having access to resources he needs in the field, especially when cell service is weak and there isn’t an internet connection. However, one of the greatest benefits he received from NRVTA training was the ability to connect with 150 to 200 other professionals, which have remained very beneficial resources for Allen. He describes some of the challenges and rewards of being a small business owner, as well as how the experience has opened his eyes to ways Allen can help other technicians build successful businesses of their own by harnessing the power of technology. Allen is working with investors and other partners to create a platform to help those independent business owners with scheduling and the financial aspects of operating a successful business. His primary goal is to help reduce the level of “administrivia” that independent business owners must wade through every week. If Allen were going to provide any advice to new mobile RV technicians, it would be to get out of their house and just drive around. He specifically suggests they print up a bunch of business cards and drop them off at campgrounds in the area. Doing that brought in 80 percent of Roving Handyman’s business when he was just getting started. Today, Allen and his brother are so busy that they can’t handle all the demand for repair services. He also suggests networking with RV dealers in the area who cannot provide mobile service to their customers, especially to those RVers who live in their rigs full-time and are reluctant to leave them at a repair facility. One of the biggest surprises Allen has discovered is the difficulty mobile RV technicians have in getting Google to recognize their businesses. That’s because the mobile technicians don’t have a physical location and can’t provide a storefront. Therefore, Google doesn’t see the company as being legitimate. That’s what is motivating Allen to expand RV Handyman to other regions of the country just to give mobile service technicians an opportunity to connect with clients wherever they may be. People who want to connect with Allen either for repair services on their own rigs, or as business owners interested in joining his online network, should visit www.rovinghandyman.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be interviewing the membership director the National RV Inspectors Association and the RV Technician Association of America about the upcoming NRVTA Expo. The virtual event takes place in October to provide continuing education credits for technicians and inspectors. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thank you for listening!

Today, I am interviewing a full-time RVer who spends his summers in the mountains of Arizona and his winters in the warm-weather of the Phoenix and Mesa valley. Chad Bell, otherwise known as The RV Yogi, named his business in honor of his first grandchild. When she was born, Chad started calling her Boo Boo, which meant everyone started calling him Yogi, and the name stuck. A former diving instructor and industrial maintenance technician, Chad started his business in September 2020. At first, he focused on RV inspections. However, he completed his advanced training classes in June 2021, to become a certified RV technician as well. After working for a short time at an RV dealership to learn the ropes, Chad ventured out on his own. Soon, he discovered that he liked turning wrenches more than he liked using a computer to complete an inspection. That’s because Chad likes the hands-on challenge of diagnosing a problem and following it back to the root source, then fixing it to get something to work again. The most important decision he made was to go to work for an RV dealership for a short time to gain experience. He started doing pre-delivery inspections for the dealership. That helped Chad develop a process to evaluate RVs for customers. It was also convenient for Chad to ask another technician for help or advice, which accelerated his learning curve. Add the benefit of learning how to process warranty repair claims, and Chad thinks being paid by the dealership for a while saved him a lot of time trying to figure things out on his own. To find customers, Chad ensured that his profile was relevant and up-to-date on both the National RV Inspectors Association website as well as the RV Technician Association of America website. When it came to creating signage for his work truck, Chad thought putting RV Yogi in big letters on his truck may cause people to think he provided yoga lessons. So, he ensured the words “RV repairs and inspection” was the focal point in big letters. Chad said the $300 he spent for decals for his truck was the best money he spent on advertising. By keeping a box of business cards in his truck, and ensuring his customers receive several cards after he completes a job, much of his business today comes from word-of-mouth advertising. Chad is fortunate that his wife helps him with his business by answering phones and taking care of administrative details. However, he also finds time to mentor other technicians and inspectors around him. By doing so, Chad builds his own little network of professionals who can support him when he  needs extra help. If he had to start over again, Chad says he would have jumped into fixing RVs earlier. He also encourages technicians and inspectors to attend every type of training they can. It helps improve their skills, and with more skills, their confidence improves. While some technicians don’t like customers standing over their shoulder, Chad embraces that and works to help educate RV owners on how their rigs work. It all helps to establish Chad as an expert. To connect with Chad, visit www.thervyogi.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be interviewing an RV technician from Chattanooga who is working to develop a nationwide referral system for technicians who roam the country.  I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thank you for listening!

Today I am speaking with a man who has been full-time RVing with his wife and dog since 2016. Although he was working remotely for a corporation when he launched his RVing adventure, today Chris Ratcliff supports himself by fixing and inspecting RVs for other people. He went through training in 2020 to learn more skills to be able to save money by fixing his own RV. After learning about additional training he could take, Chris became a certified RV inspector to give himself a Plan B. When he was laid off from his job a short time later, Chris already had a business foundation in place to which he could devote his full attention. As a result, the layoff was little more than a hiccup in the overall direction of their lives. Chris returned to the National RV Training Academy to complete advanced classes to become a certified RV technician as well. That gave Chris and his wife even more flexibility to make money wherever they traveled, and they move to a new location every three to six weeks. Chris’ business, RFactor RV, does some inspections, but not a lot. The majority of his work involves fixing RVs for people in whatever area he is in at the moment. But, he also provides training to new RVers as well to help them better understand how their equipment works. Although Chris travels frequently, he often stays in an area long enough to get the word out about his business and to address some pressing needs for fellow RVers before moving on to a new place he and his wife want to visit. Finding new clients is as easy as placing magnetic signs on his truck and driving through campgrounds. When the campgrounds he stays at allow it, Chris puts a sign in front of his RV advertising his services, as well. He also leaves a stack of business cards at various campground offices, and that alone is often enough to bring in business for weeks. For inspections, he simply updates his pin locator on the National RV Inspectors Association website. Inspections are a one-time type of business anyway, and his clients are often thrilled to know an actual RVer is evaluating their RV. Chris has been in business long enough to have established some relationships with long-term customers who will reach out wondering if or when he will be in their area again. Chris has even had RVers plan their travel around where he might be just so he could work on their unit. I found it interesting that many times Chris offers some type of discount on services he provides based on the situation. It’s a good marketing strategy because who doesn’t like to get a discount? In making repairs, Chris identified an area that many seasonal RVers often overlook. They need to routinely sweep off the tops of their slideouts and clean out their air conditioners to keep bugs and rodents from building nests, especially mud daubers. They also need to maintain their slideout seals to ensure they work when needed. If Chris had to start over, he said he would have sought technician training even earlier than he did. He found there was much more work available for people skilled in fixing RVs rather than in inspecting them, especially when Chris was traveling from place to place. To connect with Chris, visit www.rfactorrv.com. You can also find him on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Today’s episode was sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be speaking with another RV inspector and mobile service technician whose business supports his full-time RVing lifestyle. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thank you for listening!

Today I will be interviewing a husband and wife team who have risen to the top of the ranks of RV inspectors. Jason and Lisa Carletti’s RV inspection business is located near Tampa, but they provide services throughout central Florida. It’s something they have been doing since 2017. There are only a handful of master certified RV inspectors in the National RV Inspectors Association (NRVIA), and the Carletti’s are in that group. To get to that level, they had to do things like complete at least 50 RV inspections, promote the career field at various conferences and in publications, and be evaluated by their peers. Prior to becoming inspectors, Jason was a low-voltage technician working on video equipment in theaters and large conference rooms. Lisa was a traveling nurse, and they lived in a Class A motorhome. But sitting alone in a motorhome while his wife worked wasn’t very appealing, so Jason was looking for something to do. It was Lisa who spotted an advertisement about NRVIA on Facebook. They spoke with some other inspectors to verify it was something Jason could do while the couple traveled. After investigating the opportunity, Lisa got a job in Tyler, Texas, which was about 30 minutes from the National RV Training Academy, so Jason could get training. A few months later, Lisa took the course herself. At the time of the interview, the Carlettis were about to complete their 930th RV inspection. It was funny to Jason’s story about evaluating an RV for a home inspector who admitted to completing 40 to 50 home inspections every week. By comparison, Jason and Lisa do no more than five because of the detailed work that goes into evaluating a recreation vehicle. The Carletti’s final reports average 150 pages, which buries the detail of most home inspections. However, the couple is quick to point out to their clients that everything they find is fixable. For example, there may be a problem with the sealant in 20 areas of the roof, but it can be corrected in one repair. Lisa said that helps new RV owners to better understand the RV’s condition in terms of what it would take to correct major problems and minor issues. The couple documents all their findings with videos and photos because there have been instances where something worked during an inspection, but wasn’t working when the owners started using the RV. It could be something happened to the RV after it was inspected, such as a technician unplugged a wire in order to access something else and forgot to plug it back in. To promote their business, the Carletti’s joined the Florida RV Association and they pay for a booth at the wildly-popular Florida RV Supershow held every January. They also developed a YouTube channel on which Jason posts videos of big things he’s uncovered during his inspections. The goal is to save clients some money by showing them how to look for deal breakers upfront, so they can hire an RV inspector to conduct a detailed evaluation on the unit they are really considering. The Carletti’s also developed a side business called MyRVResource.com, which is a directory of companies providing service to RV owners. It includes listings for inspectors, mobile service technicians, towing companies, storage units, RV detailing and other services. MyRVResource helps traveling RVers find the services they need wherever they may be. It also helps mobile-based businesses, which provide those type of services, to update their listings while they travel, which is something Google will not do with its business listings. To connect with the Carletti’s visit www.myrvinspection.com, where you can find their phone number and email address as well. The couple can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn. Today’s episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be interviewing a Navy veteran and full-time RVer who runs a business providing RV inspections, fixing problems and performing preventative maintenance. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thank you for listening!

Today I will be speaking with a full-time RVer who not only inspects recreation vehicles, but he has developed a side business to help market other companies. A few years ago, David Russell and his wife were contemplating buying an RV. So they sought advice in online forums where a few people recommended hiring someone to evaluate the unit they were considering. So, they hired an RV inspector. David quizzed him about his business before and after the evaluation took place. David was intrigued by the idea of inspecting RVs because it was somewhat related to his naval career where he carried out inspections onboard a submarine. After the inspector David hired uncovered some potentially-expensive issues, he saw RV inspections as a business opportunity for him to help other people. Eventually David and his wife purchased a 40-foot motorhome with four slideouts. They originally intended to travel full-time, but now simply live in their motorhome parked close to their oldest daughter in Vero Beach, Fla. David also knew it would be easier for him to market his business and establish a reputation by focusing on one local area. He still travels, such as visiting his youngest daughter in Oklahoma City for two months when she was expecting her first child. They financed that excursion by completing several inspections in Oklahoma. David specializes in Class A motorhomes, but still inspects fifth wheels and, occasionally, travel trailers as well. In his first year of business, David averaged one inspection every week. Although his first inspection took nearly 20 hours to complete, as a self-described “process junkie,” David has fine-tuned his productivity to be able to get more done in much less time. It helps that his wife assists him with inspections by focusing on interiors while he evaluates an RV’s exterior. When he first started out, David had a six-week gap between inspections. But, when he described his difficulty in the private Facebook group for inspectors, several seasoned business owners reached out to give him some valuable advice. As a content creator, David has produced several YouTube videos to promote his business. But he thinks more can be done to promote the need for RV inspections. David noted that he and the other inspector in his area evaluate less than 5% of RVs being sold at two large local dealerships every month. When he first started his business, David relyed on the locator service at the National RV Inspectors Association’s website to generate leads from potential RV buyers. By tapping into his Navy and ministry experience, David began marketing himself as well. He improved the search engine optimization of his website, tweaked his Google business listing, and sought high-quality reviews from previous customers. Today, nearly 80% of his business comes directly from people searching Google for inspectors in his area. David offered some excellent advice for inspectors who try to create inventive names for their companies. He explained it’s easier to get to the top of search results if the phrase people are looking for is incorporated into the business name. For that reason, he tweaked his business name on his Google listing from RV Shepherd to RV Shepherd – RV Inspection Services. David addressed two challenges he faces. One comes from current owners who try to blame test equipment for anything that indicates an RV might not be perfect. The second challenge is from dealership technicians who tell buyers “that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” whenever David uncovers a problem. So, by calling the RV manufacturer for clarification, so far David has been right 100% of the time. People who are interested in David’s inspection business, can connect with him at www.rvshepherd.com. RV inspectors or technicians who would like help marketing their businesses or setting up a website can contact David at www.greaterthanconsulting.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be interviewing a couple who are NRVIA master certified inspectors who also operate a business connecting inspectors and technicians with RV buyers and owners. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thank you for listening!

Jarrod Douglas runs a business in Central City, Ky., where he offers RV inspections as well as RV repairs. He also provides a great deal of education to empower RV owners to better use their equipment. He attended the RV Fundamentals class at the National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) in January 2022. However, Jarrod knew he wanted to be in business for himself on the first day of training. After hearing the NRVTA founders share their stories of faith and their desire to help people during a time of need, that sealed the deal for him. Jarrod worked in law enforcement and corrections for a number of years. Yet, as a serial entrepreneur at heart, he always desired to be in business for himself. He sold insurance for 18 years as well as owning property and operating a snow removal company. He caught the bug from his father who was always moonlighting at something when Jarrod was growing up. He fell in love with the RV lifestyle as a teenager when he and his father rebuilt a travel trailer for the family to use on vacations. Jarrod learned how to fix RVs by being around his father. So, he always carried a few extra RV parts whenever he traveled. Because of his RVing experience, Jarrod was often asked by friends to evaluate RVs they were considering buying. When he saw an advertisement for NRVTA training to become a certified RV inspector and RV technician, Jarrod jumped at the opportunity to start another business. Jarrod bought a mobile service van to help him facilitate repairs and he stocks it with an average of $7,000 of parts to ensure he can complete repairs in one day. He also attached a crane to help him load heavy parts, like air conditioners, onto RV roofs. Of all the things he likes about operating a mobile RV repair business, it’s the comradery Jarrod has with other technicians that he likes the most. They often exchange information with each other, which helps everyone grow and improve. The relationships Jarrod formed while attending training at NRVTA also helped him build a successful business. He said those folks are his “phone a friend” whenever he gets stuck on a problem. Although his initial training was in RV inspections, most of Jarrod’s business today comes from fixing RVs. He built a website and printed some business cards. Then Jarrod went on what he calls a “shake and howdy” tour to introduce himself other others. Eventually, referrals became one of his greatest sources of new business. He also did a little Facebook advertising and offered some giveaways. But, his best source of promotion is simply putting magnetic signs on his work van and driving through local campgrounds. Jarrod is so busy that he is making appointments three weeks out due to the high demand for his services. But, that’s because Jarrod is operating other business which also need his attention. So, he only completes one or two RV service calls or inspections a day. Jarrod admits that people who want to devote more time to their inspection or mobile repair businesses could certainly develop a profitable business with the flexibility to enjoy life, too. People can connect with Jarrod by visiting www.rvinspectionguy.com. This episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all I have for today’s show. Next week I will be speaking with an RV inspector from Florida. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thanks for listening!

Today I will be speaking with a couple from the Los Angeles area who had been RVing for more than 40 years before building one of the largest RV inspection firms on the west coast. When COVID took away Brad Siedschlag’s job at a large-format printing company in early 2020, the 60-year-old debated retirement, but knew he still desired to work. After stumbling upon an opportunity to become an RV inspector and doing more research, Brad realized his experience with hydraulics and electronics would help him in his new career. He started taking an online class offered during the COVID lockdowns by the National RV Training Academy (NRVTA). By doing so, Brad knew he would learn more skills to be able to fix his own RV as well as repair units owned by other people. About half-way through the online class, Brad and his wife, Eileen, decided he should jump in with both feet, so he enrolled in a live class at his earliest opportunity. One month later, Brad returned home to California and turned on his pin locator on the National RV Inspectors Association (NRVIA) website. He wondered if anyone would ever call, but wound up getting three calls that first day. In fact, he drove about 150 miles to do his first inspection because Brad was so nervous. He didn’t want to make a mistake in his own backyard, so he figured if he traveled that far and messed up, nobody would know about it. But, Brad didn’t mess up. He completed that first inspection and got a great review at the end. His business soon exploded. Originally hoping to get just three inspections a month to help cover his bills so the family wouldn’t go backward financially, today Brad is one of the busiest inspectors on the west coast. He makes more money from inspections than he did as a general manager for the printing business. I was very interested to hear Brad and Eileen Siedschlag’s story about becoming RV inspectors. They started small by focusing on developing Brad’s profile with the National RV Inspector’s Association. Then they added some Google advertising to gain traction, and ordered magnetic signs for his truck that displayed his business name and phone number wherever he travels. Today, most of Brad’s inspections come from word-of-mouth advertising to the point he has traveled to Phoenix and San Diego to complete inspections. Although Brad inspects RVs of all types, he specializes in premium inspections that can take seven hours or longer to complete his 600-point evaluation. He has already completed more than 150 premium inspections alone. Brad’s previous job estimating the cost of print jobs has helped him develop a unique way of pricing his inspections. It involves looking up an RV’s floorplan to see what comes with the coach, how many bathrooms are in it, and what type of appliances may be included, such as a washer, dryer, dishwasher or satellite equipment. Although Eileen still works at a job she loves, she helps the inspection business with accounting and scheduling. She also maintains the website and Google listings, and proofreads final reports, as well as sends out invoices, processes payments and helps with research upon occasion. Eileen has even helped Brad with some inspections. Eventually, she plans to retire so the couple can hit the road in their RV working together to do inspections wherever they travel. Brad’s passion for RV inspections is reflected in his attitude toward helping people evaluate what is likely a major purchase for them. Consequently, Brad said his customers don’t just leave reviews of his inspection services, they leave love letters. RV inspectors must truly enjoy helping people first and foremost, Brad explained. They must take their jobs seriously because people are relying on inspectors to identify issues upfront to ensure safe travel and memorable experiences. To connect with Brad, email him at aladdinrv@gmail.com or visit aladdinrvrvinspections.com. This episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all I have for this week’s show. Next time, I will be speaking with a mobile service technician from Kentucky who truly believes in empowering RV owners to understand how to use and maintain their own recreation vehicles. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thank you for listening.

Today I will be speaking with an RV inspector from Illinois who got into the career after buying an RV and seeking training on how to maintain it. Henri Boodee was employed in the pharmaceutical industry for many years. When he retired, Henri and his wife had a dream to travel across the United States and Canada. Yet, when they bought their fifth wheel, he found it difficult to understand many of the instruction manuals that came with the unit. So, he enrolled in an RV Fundamentals course at the National RV Training Academy. During that week-long class, Henri learned about the need for RV inspectors to evaluate recreation vehicles for customers who are about to make what is often the second-largest purchase of their lives. It required an additional two weeks of training to learn the skills needed before taking a test to become a certified RV inspector. Henri talks about the training and the types of things he learned in classes, but also outlines the steps he took to launch his inspection business. He explains why certification is essential for consumers to have confidence in the people they hire to evaluate their RVs. He discusses ways he marketed his business, which mostly centered around keeping his profile updated at the National RV Inspectors Association website. That way, when people are looking for inspectors in the greater Chicago area or southeast Wisconsin, Henri’s profile is visible to them. Potential clients can click on that to learn more about his company, and then contact him to arrange for an inspection. Henri also talks about the mindset independent RV inspectors need in order to run successful businesses, and how that differs from a job mentality where people show up for work and get paid a set salary. For him, inspecting RVs has been a lucrative, but time-consuming business where a single inspection can take up to eight hours to complete, followed by several additional hours to compile a 100-plus page report. In large market areas, like the one he services in northeast Illinois and southeast Wisconsin, it is not uncommon for inspectors to be able to schedule three to four inspections a week. Averaging $1,000 per inspection, that can add up to a sizeable monthly income. The beauty is that inspectors can control their own schedules to determine how busy they want to be and how far away they want to travel to complete an inspection. Henri also augments his income by doing minor maintenance for RV owners, such as helping them to winterize and dewinterize their RVs. In fact, Henri teaches RV owners how to complete the basic maintenance themselves by showing them how to go through the step-by-step process. In addition to the locator feature on the RV Inspectors Association website at www.nrvia.org, Henri also developed his own website to promote his business. He does not rely upon online advertising because that can get very expensive, very quickly. However, Henri does pass out business cards to RV salespeople whenever he is inspecting an RV at a dealership. That has resulted in several referrals from salespeople who find Henri to be honest and reliable. I appreciated his description of why it is important to get an RV inspected whether buying it from a dealership or a private seller. Henri explained that many private sellers think there is nothing wrong with the RVs they’re trying to sell. Yet, they rarely climb on the roof to look for problems or for places where water could enter the RV. He made a good point about having to test each appliance thoroughly to make sure it works so buyers can make informed decisions before proceeding with the purchase. For example, few people test a refrigerator to ensure it gets cold enough to properly store food, nor do they look at the age of tires to ensure the rubber is still sound. Henri provided some great advice about ensuring that any purchase order signed with a dealer or contract signed with a private owner needs to include a clause making it conditional upon the buyer’s inspection and approval. People can connect with Henri by visiting www.expertrvi.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com. That’s all I have for this week’s show. Next time I will be speaking with someone who once worked for a large-format printing company before COVID ended his job. Today, he, too, makes a living as a full-time RV inspector. I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thanks for listening.

It has been three years since we have recorded an RV Tech Talk podcast episode. Everything sort of came to a halt in March 2020 when COVID shut down in-person training, campgrounds we shuttered, and confusion reigned throughout the world. Yet, ironically, more RVs were built and sold that year than ever before. When campgrounds reopened, people flocked to the RV lifestyle and demand for recreation vehicles went through the roof. That created an even greater need for RV technicians and RV inspectors – and demand for those services has not subsided. The National RV Training Academy decided to relaunch this podcast in hopes of building awareness of opportunities available to consumers to get RVs evaluated by certified RV inspectors before buying them, and fixed by certified RV technicians – including mobile service technicians – whenever a problem occurs. NRVTA also wanted people to be aware of opportunities to make money by providing valuable inspection and repair services. So I will usually be interviewing a technician or an RV inspector every week going forward. This week, however, I am interviewing the two women at the helm of the trade associations representing RV technicians and RV inspectors. Renee Wynsma is the director of administration for the National RV Inspectors Association as well as the RV Technician Association of America. Gilda Mitchell is the director of member benefits for both associations. As we relaunch the podcast, I asked them to come on the show to explain what has changed since 2020 and how the associations are working to help RV consumers as well as their member inspectors and technicians. As director of administration for the associations, Renee helped facilitate the RVTAA rollout and handles administrative responsibilities for both groups. She also acts as a point-of-contract for members, potential members and consumers. As director of membership, Gilda is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating membership strategies for NRVIA and RVTAA. She also oversees member engagement and working with industry connections to build a strong membership culture. It’s helpful that Renee and her husband have both completed training at NRVTA and have worked as inspectors and technicians. It really gives her credibility to lead both associations. Although getting an RV remains on Gilda’s to-do list, she is instrumental in working with association members who serve on advisory groups guiding the associations’ future. The fact Gilda and Renee can tap into the knowledge and experience provided by advisory group members ensures that the associations will be serving the needs of consumers, inspectors and technicians for years to come. Both women noted how the RV industry has been booming in recent years. With 1,200 new RVs being built every day and 2,000 used RVs sold every day, demand for RV inspection services is incredibly strong. Consumers and even some lenders are realizing the value of having an RV professionally inspected before purchase in order to make informed decisions about the vehicle’s condition. The RV Industry Association continues to report there are 11 million RV owning households in America. Yet, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are only 17,000 active RV technicians working in this country. That’s just one technician for every 650 RVs on the road today. If there is one thing common to all RVs, regardless of brand, it’s that they shake, rattle and roll as they rumble down the highway. As a result, things break frequently. Add in annual maintenance just to keep RVs running smoothly, and demand for knowledgeable RV service technicians has been high for years with no relief in sight. So, I’m thankful to Renee Wynsma and Gilda Mitchell for describing ways the National RV Inspectors Association and RV Technician Association of America are working to make life easier for RV buyers, RV owners and the RV industry in general. For more information about RV inspections, visit www.nrvia.org. For information about RV technicians, visit www.rvtaa.org. For information about National RV Training Academy programs for individuals looking to become an RV technician, RV inspector or educated RV owner, visit www.nrvta.com, email info@nrvta.com or call (903) 386-0444 to speak with a student advisor. That’s all I have for this week’s podcast. Next week, I will be interviewing a man who, after retiring and buying an RV, realized he needed training on how to use and maintain it. During classes at the National RV Training Academy, he learned about an opportunity to start a business inspecting RVs. He jumped at the opportunity and enjoys a successful business today.  I’ll have that interview on the next episode of RV Tech Talk. Thanks for listening.

Scott Young started training in the middle of February to become an RV inspector and RV technician. He had a background in industrial arts and saw a need for more mobile RV technicians. He and his wife manage a campground in Colorado in the summer, and he felt compassion for campers who can’t get appointments at dealerships for months in order to get their RVs repaired. That’s why he sought training to become a technician and took advantage of his time at NRVTA to become an inspector, too. Scott describes his impression of the instructors he has had and the types of things he has learned. He also explains how the hands-on lab expose him to six to eight different types of brands of equipment typically found on RVs. One thing he has found to be very helpful is the willingness of instructors to spend as much time with students as necessary to ensure their questions are answered. Scott describes some of the more memorable aspects of training that really stood out. He also offers advice for others to get the most out of the training. As he wraps up training, he wants to go to work conducting inspections and fixing problems for campers staying at his RV park. Scott Young’s experience sounds pretty typical of the students I have interviewed who have completed classes at the National RV Training Academy. I appreciate him taking time to describe those experiences with us. Demand for technicians is super high at the moment, and many people are turning to whomever they think might be able to help diagnose and repair an issue with their RVs. That doesn’t always turn out well if the handymen aren’t really familiar with RV components. But, as Scott has learned, trained technicians have the resources, tools and hands-on experience to properly diagnose equipment and get it fixed. He was not joking in suggesting that people coming into campgrounds are really looking for alternatives to get RVs fixed on-the-spot so they don’t have to pack up and drive to a dealership – if they can get an appointment. Advanced training can really open the doors to people who want to be in business for themselves. Based on people I have talked to; I am confident that a trained technician could keep himself very busy running a profitable business just by serving people living in three to four campgrounds near wherever they happen to be at the moment. I appreciated what Scott said about the instructors at the academy. They really are knowledgeable experts in RV repair. One of these days, we’ll get them to sit down for an interview, too. The problem is that the classes are selling out, and these guys are tremendously busy. With summer approaching and everyone worried about traveling by plane or on cruise ships because of corona virus, there will be above-average interest in RV travel this summer. When RVs are used, they tend to break. The need for trained technicians will be even higher this year than it normally is. If you ever considered becoming an RV inspector, campground technician or mobile RV tech, now is the time to pursue training in this recession-proof business. For more information about the courses available at the National RV Training Academy and what it takes to enroll, visit www.nrvta.com.

In this episode, we are going to speak with someone who had an RV inspected and learn what he thought of that experience. Chad Seeman lives just outside of San Diego, Calif. He was looking for a used RV when he stumbled on a 33-foot Thor Chateau Super C diesel motorhome for sale by a private seller. Because he had owned a boat in the past, and the inspection he had done on that unit was immensely helpful, he wanted to see if he could get an RV inspected, too. So, he turned to Yelp to learn if there were any experienced RV inspectors in his area. That’s how he discovered Ted’s RV Inspection Service, a company out of San Diego. After speaking with Ted, they made an appointment for two days later to have the RV inspected at the seller’s home. The inspection took six hours to go through the motorhome from top to bottom. At the end, Chad received a 160-page report that verified the RV was is great shape, so he went ahead with the purchase and will be picking it up yet this week. Chad Seeman’s experience is exactly what the folks at the National RV Inspectors Association hope every person receives when having an RV reviewed by a certified RV inspector. I suspect the seller was shocked when he thought the inspector would be there for an hour or less only to find him still combing through the motorhome six hours later. The seller must have been impressed because he offered to buy a copy of the report from Chad if he wasn’t going to purchase the RV. Imagine getting a 160-page report filled with pictures and results of every component and circuit that was tested. You would know that every inch of the RV you wanted to buy was thoroughly inspected, especially when you go the results of the fluid analysis regarding the condition of the engine and transmission. Chad was impressed that the inspector – Ted’s RV Inspection Service – was willing to go on location to review the motorhome without requiring the RV to be brought to a specific location for review. If I were to independently review an RV I wanted to buy, I don’t think I would know to check every electrical outlet, and test the generator under a load to see how it performed, but that’s exactly what Chad’s inspector did. When the inspection was completed, Chad said he was confident that he was purchasing an RV that he could enjoy for many years. If you’d like more information about getting an RV inspected, visit www.nrvia.com.

We have a great interview today. Elisa Norman is an RV inspector from Texas. In fact, she was one of the first people to complete training to get her certification, and she was one of the first women to become certified. She describes the training she took and how it prepared her to do a thorough inspection of any RV. Elisa also describes some of the challenges she faced when conducting inspections. She’s got a pretty funny story about watching for mousetraps. Her advice is valuable in the way it pertains to the tools used to perform inspections and why photographic documentation is essential to show not only what doesn’t work, but also what worked at the time the unit was evaluated. Pictures saved her and her client from a big headache. Elisa was so good as an inspector that it caught the attention of a rather large dealership in Dallas that enticed her to accept a full-time job. She’ll explain what she does for the dealership and how the training prepared her for that. She is very candid in her description of the challenges inspectors face in running their own businesses, but she still recommends the opportunity for people who are looking for full- or part-time work. I just loved Elisa Norman’s story. She was stuck at a job she liked as an English teacher, but she didn’t make enough money to help her four kids with college expenses. So, acting on the advice of friends, and with the encouragement of her husband, Elisa took training to become an RV inspector. That initial training opened the door for her to work with insurance companies by evaluating RVs before extended warranty coverage was offered. After doing that for a while, she saw more opportunity and drove from Texas to Iowa for advanced training. That paved the way for her to conduct inspections for people looking to buy new or used RVs. Even though her business was growing and she liked the ability to work outdoors on her own, her strong work ethic, attitude and personality caught the attention of the staff at an RV dealership where she was actually conducting an inspection on behalf of a client. One thing led to another and Elisa found herself working full-time for that dealership by inspecting RVs when they came in from the factory, evaluating the units before they are delivered to customers, and helping customers understand how to operate various components on the RVs they’re buying. Those are the type of opportunities that are available to people of all ages who take training to become a certified RV inspector or technician with the National RV Training Academy. If you don’t want to work for a dealership, you can make a good living by running your own inspection or mobile repair business. Elisa confirms that the work can be challenging, but also very rewarding in the way it helps other people. She’s also living proof that this career isn’t just for men and that women can make a very good living performing inspections or fixing RVs. With the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas, the academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com.

Today, we are going to talk with an RV inspector based in Florida who has a very successful business. Geoff Baker was an engineer for the Royal Navy who really understands how engines and mechanical systems work. After moving to Florida several years ago, he stumbled across an opportunity to put his skills to work helping RV owners. While attending the Tampa RV Supershow in 2014, he learned about the new National RV Inspectors Association, which as just getting started. He was one of the first people to go through training to become a certified RV inspector. He describes the differences between home inspections and RV inspections, and explains why it is important for buyers to get any RV inspected before signing a loan document. Geoff explains the inspection process and all that it covers, and how fluid analysis can provide a glimpse into the inner workings of an RV engine and transmission. He describes some of the surprising things he has uncovered during the inspections and how the training he took at the predecessor to the National RV Training Academy prepared him to look for and identify any issues that may impact an RV’s value. He also talks about what he likes most about inspecting RVs and why he recommends the business to others who are looking to make a good income by helping other people. I really appreciated his detailed description of all that goes into an RV inspection. People don’t truly understand how complex recreation vehicles are and why it is essential that all the systems work well together. I appreciate all the little steps that Geoff takes to ensure that he inspects RVs properly, such as crawling along the roof to get an even closer look at the condition of the roof and the equipment installed on it. I also like how after he sees something that just seems out of place that he works to track down the true source of the problem, whether it is dripping water on a nice day or moist areas on the inside of an RV. For more information about Geoff and his company, visit www.inspectrv.com, call 484-432-9002 or email geoff@inspectrv.com. He is right in that demand for RV inspections is increasing all the time and some areas of the country are really underserved when it comes to having enough inspectors available to meet demand. If you’d like to know more about how to become an RV inspector and get the training needed to do thorough inspections, check out the National RV Inspectors Association at www.nrvia.com.

Today we are going to talk with another person who helped finance his technical education by serving as a workamper at the RV park adjacent to the Big Red Schoolhouse in Athens, Texas. AJ Fields is a mobile RV repair technician based out of Oklahoma. He wasn’t always working as an RV technician. In fact, he was a former air traffic controller who took training just to learn how to fix his own RV.  During that class, he decided to become an RV inspector. While he was taking that course, he saw the opportunity to make a good living as an RV technician. After he found a way to help finance that training, he attended all of the advance classes as well. AJ was able to accelerate the process because his wife, Phyllis, also worked at the RV park. They worked 16 hours per week to cover the cost for a campsite at the Texan RV Park, but they also worked extra hours to generate more credit so that AJ could complete the training faster. By doing jobs around the Texan RV Park along with his wife, Phyllis, AJ was able to accelerate his education because they earned $10 toward the cost of his training for every hour they worked doing jobs around the park and at the academy. To earn the credit, AJ was involved in construction of the academy. He laid carpet tiles on the floor and installed false ceilings in the restrooms and classrooms. AJ Fields was one of the first people to take advantage of the work study program developed by the National RV Training Academy. As AJ completed one training course, it seemed that he became aware of new opportunities, which required more training. He paid for the introductory training course, but they applied work study credit to cover the cost off additional training. That put him on the fast track for learning how to fix a variety of RVs. Like AJ said, it is almost impossible for someone to learn how to fix all the different equipment on an RV, let alone all the different RV models, on their own. He was especially appreciative of the variety of equipment he was exposed to at the Texan RV Park and at the National RV Training Academy. The training was so thorough that AJ is comfortable helping troubleshoot problems over the phone for other RV owners. The training also aided him in opening Home on the Road RV Services to offer a variety of services to people from inspecting RVs to showing people how to use their equipment to fixing problems when they occur. You can find out more about AJ and his company at www.hotr-rv.com. There are a number of courses available at the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. The academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com.

Today we are going to talk with a couple who were among the first people to take advantage of a new work-study program to help pay for technician training. Many people are not aware of a program offered by the National RV Training Academy that allows people to earn credit to pay for instruction by working various jobs at the academy or at the adjacent Texan RV Park. Bobby and Robin Parish were among the first people to take advantage of that program. They spent several months living at the Texan RV Park and workamping as well. They received an RV site in exchange for doing routine tasks around the park, but they also worked extra hours and applied the credit to pay for additional training. They both banked extra hours to apply toward tuition so that Bobby wouldn’t have to work while going to school. That way he could focus on learning as much as possible, as quickly as possible and passing the certification test at the end. Robin worked in the office checking guests in and out of the park, and Bobby served as a maintenance technician performing various jobs. In this interview, they describe the jobs they did to earn the credit, and how having the training has really made a difference in Bobby’s life. He already knew a lot about RVs and had been fixing RVs for other people for quite some time, but attending the training helped him fully understand how all the components of an RV work together. By workamping at the Texan RV Park and being able to bank several hours of compensation toward training, that made the education more affordable. It wasn’t very difficult work for either of them, but they were able to accumulate enough credit to cover the full cost of taking the training. In the end, that opened the door for Bobby to become a mobile RV technician and make money fixing RVs for other people. The National RV Training Academy needs help with lots of jobs. Some of them require specialty construction skills or marketing. But many of the jobs require no special skills at all. To learn more about the work-study program and how you can get it to pay for your training, call NRVTA at 903.386-0444 or email info@nrvta.com. For information about the training courses offered by the academy, visit www.nrvta.com.

Today we’ll talk with an Australian native who found a way to make a living in America by inspecting RVs, and later by fixing them as a certified technician. Alan O’Neill is a native of Australia. He met his American wife there more than 20 years ago, but in 2016, they opted to move to America. The couple traveled nearly 30,000 miles in an RV until they decided to settle in California wine country after she got a job. Last year, Alan started looking for income opportunities himself. Being familiar with RVing, he took the home-study course offered by the National RV Training Academy to become a Level 1 inspector. That opened his eyes even further, and he jumped into the four-week advanced training course that led to him becoming a certified RV technician. In fact, he scored so high on the test, he qualified to become a master certified technician. He just needs to spend time working as a certified tech before he can formally attain that title. When Alan was traveling, he saw how frustrated people were trying to get problems with their RVs fixed in a timely manner. With Santa Rosa, Calif., as a base, he now works as a mobile technician to help people either get on the road or stay on the road should they encounter a problem with their RVs. He describes what the training was like and what types of things he learned in the classes. Alan also explains how the instructors would inject bugs into some of the components to challenge students to diagnose the problems an come up with the right solutions to fix them. The crash-course in RV repair helped build his confidence and gave him the skills to fix about 99 percent of the problems he sees with RVs. What really stood out for him was the fact that, unlike courses offered by RV component suppliers, the National RV Training Academy educated him to the strengths of every brand as well as the little nuances that make fixing the units a challenge. Just knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each brand of a particular component – and the ability to work on different brand types while undergoing training – helped prepare him for the problems he will encounter in the field. Demand for technical support is so high among RV consumers, he noted, that they often call local parts stores hoping to find someone who can fix their problem. When the interview was recorded in December, Alan had only been out of class for a few weeks, but he had already found work fixing RVs. Demand for technicians is so high that it doesn’t take much effort for a trained and certified technician to hit the ground running in a profitable business. And that’s what Alan O’Neill did in starting Happy Campers RV Repairs. You can learn more about Alan and the types of services he offers by visiting www.happycampersrvrepairs.com. The National RV Training Academy’s one-week live training or home study course will teach you everything you need to know to fix about 80 percent of the problems people experience with their RVs. You can also sign up for additional training to become an RV inspector, campground technician or to provide mobile RV service. For more information, visit www.nrvta.com.