RV Tech Insider Series · Part 1
Who's Really Working
on Your RV?
The RV repair industry has a problem no one is talking about. New and inexperienced RVers are being taken advantage of every day — and most don't know what to look for until it's too late.
🚐Professional Opinion Disclaimer: This post reflects the firsthand professional experience and opinions of a Certified RV Technician trained by the National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) and certified by RVTAA. It is not a substitute for your own due diligence. Research any technician before hiring them. Certifications, business practices, and pricing vary widely across the industry.
The Problem
An Industry Problem Nobody Wants to Say Out Loud
There is no legal requirement to hold any certification to call yourself an RV technician. None. Anyone can open a business tomorrow, print some cards, and start working on your rig.
Some of those people are excellent. Some bring years of hands-on experience, genuine training, and real integrity to the job. But there is a segment that don't. What's emerged is a culture that, in my professional opinion, has become a bit narcissistic and greedy in places — where the focus is on easy money, not on doing the job right. People make mistakes — that's not the problem. What's concerning is the missing accountability.
The people who pay the most in this culture are new RVers. People who've never had to call a tech before. People who don't yet know what questions to ask or what the answers should sound like. This post is for them.
Why This Matters
Your RV is not a car. It contains propane systems, high-voltage AC electrical, plumbing under pressure, and slide mechanisms moving walls that weigh hundreds of pounds. A bad repair on any of these isn't just frustrating — it can be dangerous. The technician you hire needs to know what they're doing, or at least know what not to do.
From the Shop Floor
What a Bad Repair Actually Looks Like
I want to tell you about a job I inherited from another technician. Not to embarrass anyone — to show you what's at stake when the wrong person shows up.
⚠ Real Technician Experience
The Furnace That Never Should Have Been Touched
A customer called in a furnace issue. The technician who showed up had completed a one-week fundamentals class and passed an exam — the training is aimed at RV owners doing their own maintenance, or entry-level techs who should be working under a senior technician. He came alone and presented himself as fully capable of the repair.
He wasn't. The real fix was 30 seconds away. But he didn't know to look there, so he didn't find it. Instead, he performed what we call a "part-slap" — replacing a component on a guess, hoping that fixed it. It was a common failure item but testing would have told him that wasn't the problem. The part didn't fix the problem. He billed the customer anyway, left without even reinstalling the furnace, left wires unmarked and impossible to trace in a bundle of other unmarked wires. He then fired himself and walked off the job.
The result: A broken furnace. Wires with no labels to follow, adding increased labor for the technician who came after him. A customer who paid twice — once to the tech who made it worse, and once to me to fix it. Because of the bad repair, further damage was caused by frozen water lines.
That customer didn't know what to ask. I hope this helps the next person who calls for help. They just needed their heat fixed. This post exists so that doesn't happen to you.
Certifications Explained
Not All Certifications Are the Same — Know the Difference
The organization I trained with and respect is the RVTAA (RV Technician Association of America), available at rvhelp.com. Technicians are trained by the NRVTA — the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas. That's where I earned my certification, and it's the standard I hold myself to.
There are three levels. Understanding them helps you hire the right person for the right job.
| Level | Training | Right For | Not Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Technician | 1-week fundamentals class, with some basic hands-on. This class is suited for entry-level dealer support, or even RV owners who just want to be better informed. | Basic maintenance, winterization, general RV issues | Furnaces, ACs, slide-outs, water heaters, refrigeration, or any situation where diagnosing is required. |
| Certified Technician | This includes all the training of the Registered level PLUS 4 additional weeks covering furnaces, water heaters, ACs, refrigeration, slide-outs, awnings, and leveling systems. | Full diagnostics and repair across all major systems | — |
| Master Certified | Highest level, requiring years of experience and even more advanced systems knowledge. | Complex, multi-system, or unusual repair situations | — |
Caution — Ask Directly
Don't assume a certification level based on how someone presents themselves. Ask directly: "What level are you certified at, and through which organization?" A qualified tech will answer without hesitation. One who isn't will get vague.
Also ask: "Do you have any vendor-specific training?" Manufacturers like Lippert offer direct training that goes beyond general certification. Techs who pursue that are telling you something about how seriously they take the work.
I hold a Certified Technician credential through the RVTAA as trained by NRVTA, and I maintain it through continuing education — including Lippert component training, which is required to keep my certification current. That ongoing requirement matters. It means the standard doesn't stop at graduation.
What to Look For
Five Things a Good Technician Should Be Able to Tell You
Before you let anyone open a panel on your RV, have a short conversation. Here's what that conversation should tell you.
1 — Are They Responsive?
A technician who is slow to respond before they have your money will be slower after. This may take a business day — good techs are VERY busy — but they communicate. You shouldn't have to chase someone down for a callback or a status update. If you feel like a nuisance before the job starts, pay attention to that feeling.
2 — Are They Polite and Respectful?
Your tech doesn't need to be your best friend. But they should treat you like an intelligent adult. If you sense abrasiveness, condescension, or indifference — especially when you ask basic questions — trust that instinct and move on. A good technician is a communicator first.
3 — Will They Discuss Pricing Openly?
A trustworthy technician can tell you their service fee, their hourly rate, and how they handle estimates — before you commit to anything. Vague pricing is a red flag, as is an open-ended hourly rate with no ceiling. An undetermined hourly rate with no ceiling means the longer a job takes (or drags), the more you pay — with no way to know when it stops.
For reference, my model is a flat fee that covers the service call, any necessary return trips, and diagnosis. If I can fix it in that diagnosis time, then that is all you pay. From there, I give an estimate (not a quote — RV repairs often reveal surprises), and I do everything I can to hold to it. If something unexpected comes up, I communicate. That's the model. There are some exceptions to this, but those have to be communicated up front. Rarely, time and material is the only option.
4 — What Is Their Certification Level, and Are They Still Learning?
Certification is a starting point, not a finish line. Ask what organization certified them, what level they hold, and whether they pursue continuing education. RV systems evolve, and there are new manufacturers. A tech who stopped learning when they got their certificate is already falling behind.
5 — What Did They Do Before They Opened Their Business?
A new business is not automatically a red flag. What matters is what came before it. Ask: "How long have you been working on RVs?" and "What were you doing before you went independent?" Someone who worked fast food is going to be less of a problem solver than someone whose job was solving problems — even if they weren't specifically RV issues.
Me? I've been an IT professional working on global projects as a technical lead. My entire day for 30 years prior to working on RVs was making difficult problems manageable.
There is no licensing requirement in this industry. That means integrity is entirely self-imposed. The techs who have it will be able to show you a clear, honest picture of their background. The ones who don't will be vague, defensive, or evasive.
Know the Warning Signs
A Few Things That Should Give You Pause
Not every bad experience announces itself. Sometimes the warning signs are quieter. Here are a few worth noting.
Subtle Red Flags
- They can't name their certification level — or give you a vague answer like "I'm trained" by NRVTA. Training is not the same as being certified.
- No clear pricing structure — An hourly rate alone is not a pricing policy. That's a blank check.
- They dismiss your questions — A confident tech welcomes questions. Someone who talks over you or makes you feel foolish for asking is protecting something.
- They push parts before diagnosing — Replacing components on a guess and billing you for the attempt is not a repair strategy. It's a revenue strategy. There are times where an educated guess may be necessary, but those situations are rare.
Pricing Transparency
What Honest Pricing Actually Looks Like
Pricing in RV repair is one of the least standardized things in the industry. Here's a simple contrast between what to watch out for and what to look for.
⚠ Watch Out For
Vague or Open-Ended Pricing
- Service fee charged just to arrive, then an undetermined hourly rate
- No ceiling on the hourly — the longer it takes, the more you pay
- No written estimate before work begins
- Communication stops once they have your deposit
- Surprised by the final bill? You shouldn't be
✅ Look For
Clear, Structured Pricing Policy
- A flat service fee that covers the call, return visits, and first-hour labor
- An upfront estimate (not a quote — honesty about unknowns is a good sign)
- Open communication when something unexpected comes up
- No surprises — and if there are, they called you first
- A willingness to explain the pricing structure before you commit
Quick Reference Infographic
Qualified Technician vs. Unqualified Technician
✅ Qualified Technician
Holds a Certified credential through a recognized organization (RVTAA/NRVTA)
Pursues vendor-specific and continuing education to maintain certification
Communicates a clear, transparent pricing structure before work starts
Diagnoses before replacing parts — doesn't part-slap and bill
Responds promptly, communicates openly, and leaves documentation behind
Can clearly describe their background and training history without hesitation
⚠ Warning Signs
Vague about certification level or training organization — or can't name either
No continuing education, no vendor training, no current certification requirements
Open-ended hourly rate with no estimate, no ceiling, no written agreement
Replaces parts without a clear diagnostic conclusion — bills for the attempt
Slow to respond, dismissive of questions, leaves the job without documentation
Background consists of a short fundamentals class — with little or no real-world depth
The bottom line: Ask the questions. A technician who knows what they're doing will welcome every one of them. The one who doesn't — won't. That answer tells you everything.
Find Your Tech Before You Need One
The worst time to search for a qualified RV technician is at 10pm in January with no heat and frozen pipes. The best time is right now — before anything goes wrong.
Ask the questions in this post. Verify the credentials. Understand the pricing. A technician who has nothing to hide will have no problem with any of it. One who does will tell you everything you need to know by the way they respond.
You deserve honest work at a fair price. Don't settle for less because you didn't know what to ask.
Stay Where You Are, We’ll Be Right There
As with all of our work, our team will come to you. There is no need to transport your camper or RV to a facility, leave it for days or weeks, only to have to go pick it up again. Whether it is in your driveway, a camp-site, or in storage, we will do our best to accommodate your needs, schedule, and location.
Just contact us, and we’ll take care of the rest.
