Fewer RV sales = more service?

With fuel prices up and the economy down, RV sales have fallen off. This could increase the demand for RV technicians as RV owners keep older RVs on the road through repairs rather than replacing them with a new rig.

Several training programs are offered. If you are working for a dealer that subscribes to the RVDA (Recreational Vehicle Dealer Association) Distance Learning program, you could possibly take courses online through that dealer. The RVSA (Recreational Vehicle Service Academy) offers hands-on learning at their location in Florida leading to certification as an RV technician certification. And, Camping World University offers training on all aspects of RV technician work. A Google search will also come back with some junior colleges and other locations offering programs.

Snowbird locations are good areas to find work during the winter months. Go north in the summer to find dealerships that have more business then. A good RV tech can find work most anywhere or even do freelance work. If you have mechanical ability, this can be a lucrative field to get into. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Do you have what it takes to be an RV salesman?

The Winona Daily News interviewed Joe Breza, RV sales and service manager for Breezee's RV Center in Homer MN for a weekly column. In it he talks about what it takes to be a successful sales person at an RV dealership. Compared to selling cars, he says, "it’s the same but you also need to know the mechanics of how everything works and operates." Of his combined job, he says, "You got to be kind of a jack of all trades. I’ll wash RVs, I’ll dump them, I’ll be in the shop rotating tires or changing batteries and I’ll sell them new, on consignment or for rent …"

If you've thought about doing either of these seasonally or full-time on the RV road, read his advice. He does add that at least 80 percent of his work is paperwork and that it is not 9 to 5. Those might be downsides or part of the picture we don't usually see. Being the manager, he probably has more paperwork and longer hours than employees under him.

Areas like Phoenix and Tucson in the winter and Alaska in the summer are examples of places where RV dealers hire during the busy season. You can find other areas too that are busier one time of the year than another that will hire extra employees for RV sales or service. Salespeople usually work on commission so those jobs can be easy to come by. For the service area, you can get training, as Joe mentions, as a technician. Other seasonal RV workers I know have mechanics training or can do walk-throughs where they check the systems out for buyers and then show the buyers everything at time of purchase and how to operate everything.

One more possibility for working on the RV road! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on working in RV industry-related jobs, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at the RVBookstore.com