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In February, 2024, RV on Call became the first mobile RV service provider in the US to receive Unity Blaze certification with Black Folks Camp Too. Businesses that display the Unity Blaze campfire symbol pledge to Invite and Welcome folks regardless of their race, age, gender or abilities. Contents About the Unity Blaze Credential Black Folks Camp Too Mission and History RV on Call's Commitment to All Customers About the Unity Blaze Credential Based in Western North Carolina, Black Folks Camp Too offers various products and services that promote inclusivity within the outdoor industry. One of its main services is the Unity Blaze Academy, a self-paced learning platform offering comprehensive courses that help businesses and their staff develop knowledge and skills around equity and inclusion. The company also maintains a related map on its website of Unity Blaze Certified Partners, where people can discover businesses and organizations that have received the Unity Blaze credential and are committed to creating a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. The map includes 10 categories including campgrounds, manufacturers, RV dealers, and outdoor retailers. As reported in RV Pro (March 4, 2024) and RV News (March 5, 2024), RV on Call has become the first mobile RV service to join the “RV Partners” category, expanding the Unity Blaze program to a new partner within the outdoor industry. Black Folks Camp Too Mission and History The mission of Black Folks Camp Too is to change the world one campfire at a time, by inviting and welcoming more folks to camp and enjoy the outdoor industry and lifestyle. Black Folks Camp Too was founded in 2015 by Earl B. Hunter Jr. Mr. Hunter is an experienced business leader across multiple industries, and has been widely recognized for his ebullient personality, hard work ethic and non-traditional approach to building relationships and closing deals. The idea for Black Folks Camp Too came to Earl while serving as Vice President of Sales for Sylvansport, one of the world’s most innovative outdoor industry companies. In 2015 he and his son traveled and camped across the US and Canada for three months, visiting 49 campgrounds throughout 20 states and provinces. However, they only saw one other black family camping along that journey. He became inspired to break down barriers to the outdoor lifestyle and create more inclusive communities and stronger relationships, and Black Folks Camp Too was born. RV on Call's Commitment to All Customers I had the pleasure of attending one of Earl’s talks at the Raleigh RV show in 2023. He spoke very clearly to the misperceptions many people have about why people of color have lower rates of participation in the outdoors, and did so in a moving, honest, and beautiful way. Earl has an incredible ability to make a very difficult subject entertaining and enlightening. He avoids loading his approach with any finger-pointing or shaming, and instead pulls his audience in to his story, which is both personal and generational, and shared amongst many people of color. His sincere approach helps the audience remain engaged and hopefully inspires meaningful change to everyone in the outdoor industry fortunate enough to hear his message. After his talk I went to the Black Folks Camp Too booth and Earl and I spoke for about 20 minutes. While we talked I appreciated that he was not trying to give a fast sales pitch or convince me to enroll in the Unity Blaze program (his talk accomplished that). Instead, he was genuinely interested in hearing about my new business called RV on Call, and he provided some helpful words of encouragement. The North Carolina Triangle is a diverse region, and RV on Call customers come from a broad array of backgrounds and ethnicities. Moreover, learning to RV can be overwhelming, with so much to know about RV trip planning, safety and maintenance procedures, and essential vs elective products and accessories. The learning curve for new RVers can be downright intimidating. Since Day 1, the goal with RV on Call has been to reduce any barriers people may encounter with RVing and aim to create a safe and supportive learning community - one where all RVers feel invited and welcome, regardless of skill level, ethnicity, background, or political views. Certifying with Black Folks Camp Too helps reinforce this philosophy and we now display the Unity Blaze with pride. ****** Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates.

Our team is thrilled to share two exciting announcements: 1) We recently partnered with a second highly-skilled mobile RV service contractor in the Triangle, and 2) RV on Call was named Best Mobile RV Service Provider & Community in North and South Carolina in 2023! Contents Welcome to our Newest Mobile RV Service Contractor About Our Amazing Contractors RV on Call Receives 2023 Southern States Business Award New Listings for RV on Call Welcome to our Newest Mobile RV Service Contractor RV on Call is pleased to welcome Hayden, our newest mobile RV service contractor! Hayden is friendly and dependable, and looks forward to helping customers across Central North Carolina with a variety of RV repair and technical service needs. Hayden has over six years RV technician experience, including a role as Assistant Shop Manager at a North Carolina RV dealership. He is able to perform most RV repairs and his specialties include electrical diagnostics and plumbing. Hayden's journey into RVing began in 2016 after embarking on a four-month cross-country adventure in his own RV. This experience ignited a deep passion for RVs and travel and he is excited to help other RVers solve tricky problems and get back on the road. Hayden has lived in North Carolina for over 30 years - he currently lives in Pittsboro with his wife and yellow lab. With Hayden's unique skillset and Chatham County location, RV on Call continues to expand its service capacity and offer more competitive pricing for customers west of Wake County. Technician Mike Stilley is still with us and primarily serving customers east of Wake County. About Our Amazing Contractors RV on Call's passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated contractors are rigorously vetted. This includes a four-step screening and evaluation process, skills test, work history confirmation, three professional reference checks, and background check through ClearChecks, a leading independent background check company that performs comprehensive reviews of local and federal criminal records and driving history. RV on Call Receives 2023 Southern States Business Award We are pleased to accounce RV on Call received the 2023 Southern States Business Award for Best Mobile RV Service Provider & Community in North and South Carolina. The award was issued by New World Report, a business news platform featuring stories and insights from businesses across the Americas. This is the second year in a row RV on Call has been recognized for outstanding service in the RV industry, and these acheivements would not be possible without the fantastic work of our contractors. We are grateful for their passion, dedication, and expertise. The Southern States Business Award was reported by RV Pro and RV News, two leading RV industry publications. New Listings for RV on Call RV on Call now appears in the RV Industry Directory, a major national listing of prominent RV dealers, vendors, and service providers. The directory is published annually by RV Business, a leading RV industry publication (seen on pages 41 and 42, Certification and Inspection, and Education and Training categories). In addition, RV on Call is now established with the Better Business Bureau of North Carolina and we are pursuing accreditation. ***** Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates.

Early Fall is approaching - that means less scorching heat and fewer crowds, and yet the weather is still great, the water is warm, and the days are long enough. In short: Let's go RVing! Try these RV trip planning tips - planning is a critical RV soft skill that will help make your trip safe and efficient and avoid bumps in the road. Contents 1. Choose Your Destination 2. Make a Plan that Fits Your Budget 3. Plan an RV-Friendly Route 4. Follow the 2-2-2-2 Rule 5. Be Flexible Choose Your Trip Destination The first step to creating a well-planned trip is to choose your destination well in advance. Do some research and find RV-friendly places to stay. When you’re choosing where to stay, make sure the campsite or park has the amenities you’re looking for, which may include things like clean restrooms and outdoor features you want to check out. Book your campsite in advance so that you know you have a place to stay and make note of the cancellation policy terms. Make a Plan that Fits Your Budget When you’re planning your trip, consider your budget. The RV lifestyle can add up quickly, with the costs of food, gas, campsites, and vehicle maintenance. Write out your budget for your trip, calculate how much gas money you will need, and allow some extra funds for miscellaneous expenses that come up. Plan an RV Friendly Route Once you decide on your destination, you can book your route. Plan a route that includes places where you can camp your RV, and make sure you research any low clearance restrictions for bridges and tunnels, plan your gas stops, and be aware of any steep grades that you may want to avoid. Follow the 2-2-2-2 Rule Some people refer to the 2-2-2 rule of the RV lifestyle, but we like to say the 2-2-2-2 rule and offer room to modify it to the 3-3-3-3. This rule helps you with planning your trip and means: Stop for breaks every 2 hours. Limit driving distance to 200 miles per day. Arrive at your destination by 2 pm. Stay for at least 2 days. If you have more stamina or are planning a longer trip, try following this rule with 3 - and 300 for the second point - instead of 2. Be Flexible When you’re planning your RV trip, the most important thing is to be flexible. Obstacles inevitably arise, and having a positive attitude and being flexible will help you and your family roll with the challenges and enjoy your trip more. Planning your RV trip will help you make the most of your experience. You’ll be able to see and do the things you want while sticking to your budget and avoiding common pitfalls that can arise. Of course, some roadblocks inevitably come up with any RV trip, and staying flexible and planning ahead will allow you to still enjoy your adventure. Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates. Please note, all blog posts are subject to RV on Call's Terms of Service, Disclaimer, and Privacy Policies.

Spring is here! The warmer weather has us thinking of travel, campfires, and breakfast on the outdoor griddle. But before you hit the read, check out these Spring safety and maintenance tips. Before You Hit the Road - Spring RV Maintenance Ready to rouse your RV from its long winter's nap? Purging the pink anti-freeze from your water system isn't the only thing you'll want to do before you hit the road. After you pull your RV out of storage there are a number of recommended checks to ensure your RV is clean, safe, and running in peak form for the upcoming season. Below is a roundup of seven to-do lists for de-winterization and overall Spring safety checks. Top 7 RV Preventative Maintenance Checks to do After Storage RV 101 – Spring Checks 11 Spring RV Checks Not to Skip The Ultimate RV Spring Checklist Top 11 Things To Do To De-Winterize Your RV Annual RV Maintenance & Spring Cleaning 13 RV Spring Cleaning Tips To Start Your Season Right RV on Call Can Help Unsure about some of the items on your Spring maintenance list or just need a helping hand? Here are just a few ways we can help jump-start your camping season. De-winterization Fresh Water System Sanitization Water Heater Flush and Sanitization Pre-trip Safety Inspection Interior and Exterior Cleaning Exterior Wax and Tire Detail Roof and Awning Cleaning Decal Protectant and Seal Conditioning Slideout Service Roof Re-Sealing Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates.

Cultivating the right mindset will help you get the most out of your RV trip. An RV adventure begins not at the destination, but the moment the planning and packing begin, and through the return trip home. Even the most well-prepared person will experience hiccups when Rving. And learning to cultivate the right mindset will help you and your companions enjoy the adventure and adapt to challenges that arise with the RV lifestyle. By incorporating the RV soft skills of a positive outlook, being flexible, and communicating well, you can maintain a healthy a nd realistic mindset that will make your RV experience the best possible. If you cultivate these mindset shifts during your next RV trip, you’ll have the best experience possible. A healthy and realistic mindset throughout the trip helps us cope with problems, maintain a positive attitude and maximize enjoyment Contents Harness a Positive Outlook Be Flexible When in Doubt, Communicate Harness a Positive Outlook A positive outlook is the first key to preparing your mindset for your next RV adventure. Even a newer, well-maintained RV will have issues at some point. Things rumble loose on the highway inviting problems. If we anticipate that problems will inevitably happen, they are less likely to spoil our experience. There’s no such thing as a perfect RV trip. Embracing an adventurous spirit and a positive outlook and accepting that problems will occur helps everyone keep a calm and realistic perspective. Be Flexible Flexibility is vital for maintaining a healthy RV mindset. Unexpected issues will inevitably arise during your trip. From closed roads to inclement weather or unexpected vehicle problems, challenges will arise. Practice flexibility and you’ll be able to adapt better to overcome these issues. Flexibility can also help you stick to a budget while traveling so you can enjoy your adventure without spending a lot of money. When in Doubt, Communicate Ongoing communication is the key to making your RV experience the best for you and your loved ones. So often arguments and tensions arise due to a lack of communication or misunderstanding. Be open to discussing and communicating throughout your trip planning and travel process, and you will help everyone enjoy the trip more. Traveling is also a great opportunity to boost your interpersonal skills with those close to you as well as with new people you encounter during your trip. If you cultivate these mindset shifts during your next RV trip, you’ll have the best experience possible. Cultivating the right mindset will help you get the most out of your RV trip. An RV adventure begins not at the destination, but the moment the planning and packing begin, and through the return home and unpacking. A healthy and realistic mindset throughout the trip helps us cope with problems, maintain a positive attitude and maximize enjoyment. And you’ll enjoy the many benefits of a great trip, including more passion, confidence, and curiosity that carry over into the other areas of your life. Bon voyage! ****** Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Site membership is free, which provides access to the forum. Paid members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates.

Creating an RV travel itinerary is a key soft skill you won’t find in your owner's manual or in a fancy newbie's book. Yet, having one will help you make the most of your time, prioritize your favorite activities, estimate expenditures, and even ensure essentials aren't left behind. Basically, an itinerary is an organized outline for a journey. It focuses on how and where you’ll spend your time and has plenty of leeway for unforeseen circumstances. But with so much to consider, writing an RV trip itinerary can be daunting, even for seasoned RVers. In this post, we will show you how to prepare an RVing itinerary so you can have a harmonious and fulfilling trip. Contents Choose an Editing Tool Harness the Power of RV Trip Planning Apps Research Your Destination Divide Your Document into Sections Get Input from Family and Make a Plan for at Least Three Consecutive Days Include a Packing List Be Flexible Include a Backup Plan Print a Hard Copy Choose an Editing Tool While you can use a pen and paper to make your travel itinerary, a simple program like Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel will help you share the plan with your travel companions. Plus, a digital copy is easier to access and update from different devices. Harness the Power of RV Trip Planning Apps Apart from a spreadsheet program, there are other tools that are a must-have for anyone organizing an RV trip. Visit our Media Guide Resource to discover our compilation of over 350 RVing mobile apps, websites, books, magazines, podcasts, films, and YouTube channels. Below are some of the ones related to trip planning: AllStays - Finding private and public campgrounds and RV amenities even without internet. Campground Views - Virtual tours to help you see and book campsites. RV Spot Drop - Sends you canceled or unsold sites at the most popular RV parks to your inbox. Campendium - Locating paid RV campgrounds, free camping opportunities, and their reviews. CampNab - Alerts you when a spot opens up in your preferred RV campground. CampSpot - Discover and instantly book campgrounds, RV parks and glamping spots. RV Life's Trip Wizard - Finding routes that match your RV's dimensions, discovering points of interest on the route, and reading campground reviews. ToGo RV - Use pre-made RVing checklists and find the best RV mobile service, nearby campgrounds, attractions, and service centers. Research Your Destination Using the tools above, collect all the information you can about your upcoming trip. That includes the best routes to the destinations, contacts for campgrounds to stay at, RV rental owner contacts, attractions to visit, interesting local events, foodie stops, reviews, what to pack for the weather, RVing rules in the region, travel costs, and expected weather. Divide Your Document into Sections Open a blank page in your word-editing tool and create sections to note down what you’ve researched. Your rows can include the following headings: Travel Date - The first row should have columns of your vacation dates. Where to Stop - In this section, list specific places you’ll visit on each date in the morning, afternoon and evening, and note the route and entrance fees. In addition, factor in driving time and waiting time when approximating arrival and departure time. Where to Eat - List the places you’ll stop for meals on each date. Where to Stay - Campground you’ll stay, contacts, address, and rates. General Information - List things like contacts you’ll need on each date, interesting information about each stop, opening/closing hours, emergency numbers, and other expenses. Get Input from Family and Make a Plan for at Least Three Consecutive Days It’s time to fill the sections above with the actual plan. Consult your travel companions and note down activities for three consecutive days. Ideally, the spots you visit on a particular day should be close by to minimize travel time. Make sure you allocate each activity a time frame to avoid spending too much time in one area and missing out on other activities. Include a Packing List On a different page or section, add a packing checklist. It should include clothes that match the weather that’s forecasted in your destination and gear that complements the activities you’ll be doing. Don’t forget to add travel documents. Be Flexible While it’s smart to have time frames, you don’t have to create a strict schedule. Instead of rushing from one place to the next and restricting fun hours, leave enough time for you to appreciate each attraction. There are also days when you’ll need a day off, and sometimes you can deviate from your plan to check out a hidden gem. Include a Backup Plan Have a Plan B regarding the attractions you want to visit and places to stay. Record details of free campsites near your destination in case the campground you booked is closed or can’t be reached on time. Find and list alternative attractions in case you find annoying lines or extreme traffic near your target attraction. Print a Hard Copy To easily keep track of what you’ve done and what needs to be done, print the plan. A hard copy is easier to follow and tick. Also, electronics aren’t always reliable, plus not every place is safe to use a gadget. A Complete RVing Itinerary is Your Recipe for a Successful Trip. Take the guesswork out of your trip by crafting a well-thought-out RV road trip itinerary. Creating a precise plan will ensure you know exactly where to visit, how to get there, where to camp, and how much time to spend at every point of interest. Plus, with all details in one place, it will be easier to refine your budget. ****** Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Site membership is free, which provides access to the forum. Paid members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates.

Join us! RV on Call will be at booth #76 at the NCRVDA RV Show, February 16-19, 2023, at the State Fairgrounds Exhibition Center in Raleigh. If you have never been to an RV show check out the photo gallery below, which shows scenes from the 2022 RV show at the same fairgrounds location. We are so excited, this will be the first year RV on Call has a formal presence at the Progressive NCRVDA Raleigh Show and Sale, February 16-19, 2023, at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Show hours are Thurs-Sat from 10am-7pm and Sunday from 10am-4pm. The RV show occupies two buildings at the Fairgrounds - the Exhibition Center and the Jim Graham Building (which are connected via breezeway). RV on Call will be at booth #76 in the Exhibition Center, which is immediately to your left as you enter the RV show from the Exhibition Center’s main entrance and ticket window (left-hand side of panoramic photo immediately below). Regardless of whether you’re in the market for a new RV, the annual show is a big impressive display where all the major dealers in Central NC display their latest models and allow visitors to walk through any rig, ask questions, and explore - from tiny teardrops to Super Cs and Class As. Industry representatives and service providers are also on hand to answer questions. Photos shown below are from the 2022 RV show at the same fairgrounds location in Raleigh. We are most looking forward to the opportunity to meet with you, our customers, so please come say hello and tell us about your adventure plans for 2023. We will have swag on hand for your RV, and you can test your knowledge with our interactive RV quiz. And who knows, maybe we’ll even get to catch a glimpse of Winnebago’s new eRV2 prototype, which they claim is the most advanced all-electric, zero emission RV ever created. Come find us here! ****** Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Site membership is free, which provides access to the forum. Paid members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates.

RV on Call received the 2022 North Carolina Business Award for Best Mobile RV Services Company by New World Report. Since 2015 the award program has honored businesses across North and South America in a variety of service sectors. This is the inaugural year of the North Carolina business awards. Contents Announcement About the Award About New World Report Announcement RV on Call, LLC, a mobile RV services business in Durham, North Carolina, received the 2022 North Carolina Business Award by New World Report, a business news platform featuring stories and insights from businesses across the Americas. “We are honored to receive this award featuring businesses across our home state,” said RV on Call owner and CEO Pete Sullivan. “This is our first year of operation and the business has been more successful than we imagined. I think that speaks both to the demand for skilled and responsive RV technicians and the unique range of services we offer,” Sullivan added. RV on Call specializes in mobile RV maintenance, inspections, cleaning, and coaching services in Raleigh - Durham - Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The company also operates an online forum with membership benefits, as well as a blog and listing of RVs and gear for sale. The Award was announced on the New World Report web site and and featured in RV Pro on October 19, 2022. RV Pro is a leading business-to-business publication for RV industry professionals featuring breaking news, interviews, emerging products and trends, and an e-newsletter. About the Award New World Report’s annual award program began in 2015, featuring a wide range of business sectors including travel, technology, manufacturing, energy, legal services, automotive, and agriculture. This is the inaugural year of the North Carolina Business Awards, and according to the company’s web site, the goal of this award is to recognize businesses of all sizes and sectors in North Carolina and honor those whose efforts have yielded outstanding products and services for the diverse clientele found across the state. Winners are considered based on criteria such as business performance, longevity, business growth, significant innovations and feedback from stakeholders, clients, and customers. Their process is to recognize parties for their industry excellence, overall performance, customer experience and amazing innovation. See the complete list of 2022 winners. About New World Report New World Report is owned by AI Global Media, a business-to-business international media group established in 2010. Its aim is to inform, entertain, influence and endorse businesses of all sizes and industries spanning North and South America. The company operates a daily news platform for business professionals and its weekly newsletter is distributed to over 100,000 recipients. New World Report is the result of the 2020 merger of two AI Global Media Group brands: U.S. Business News and Latin America News. ****** Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Site membership is free, which provides access to the forum. Paid members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates.

We are pleased to report that RV News ran an exclusive story featuring RV on Call on April 29, 2022. RV News is one of the RV industry's oldest business-to-business trade magazines. The April 29, 2022 article reports on the recent launch of RV on Call, a new mobile RV services business in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill. The article talks about services offered and how we are unique, and also talks about how the central region of North Carolina is growing in terms of its economy and RV market. The article is of interest to RV News readership because it places our Durham-based RV business in the context of Raleigh-Durham's strong population and economic growth and emerging RV market. The piece incorporates data and citations that suggests the Triangle RV market is poised to grow even more in our area. RV News is a monthly business-to-business trade magazine and is the oldest in the RV industry, with its first issue appearing in 1975. The publication is read by business decision-makers including RV dealers, RV manufacturers, RV parts/accessories suppliers, warehouse distributors, RV retail stores and repair shops. It is a leading source for information about new vehicles, technology, industry trends, parts/accessories, new RV businesses entering the market and the people working within it. RV News is owned by DRN Media.

Our first customer! A Durham resident called on March 21, 2022, requesting assistance with a broken awning arm. This customer experienced an unfortunate-but-familiar event: awning damage due to wind. Awnings are very useful and convenient, but they act like a sail when the wind picks up. The vinyl fabric, support arms, or the sidewall-mounted tracks can easily tear, bend or break when wind comes at the right angle and speed. The best prevention is to retract your awning when it becomes gusty, overnight, if there is forecasted wind or storms, or when you leave your rig unattended for long stretches. Constantly moving your awning and monitoring for wind can be inconvenient - especially if you are using it awning as a rain shelter - but better to suffer the inconvenience of wet gear than broken equipment. Fortunately we were able to find a purchase a replacement awning arm for our customer at a discounted rate and help them with the installation. What can be done if you run into awning trouble while camping? Camper Report published a helpful article on what to do in the event of awning damage. One question that comes up frequently is: Should I drive home with a broken awning? Short answer: No. Doing so could cause the awning to come unfurled or shear away from your rig, leading to a potential accident or further damage (for you or another motorist) on the highway. You might need tools and another person (or a mobile RV tech) to help fully remove the awning and supports, but it is the responsible thing to do and could save a life. Need parts or want to browse awnings and accessories? Below are some suggested products and retailers. Contact us if you need an item, we may be able to handle your purchase at a discounted rate. Camco makes an awning anchor kit that secures the front of the awning to the ground, reducing wind torque on the structural elements. An awning clamp can protect your awning from unfurling while driving. Camco makes awning repair tape for patching rips and punctures. Lippert has an extensive inventory of awnings, parts, hardware, and accessories. RV Part Shop has an extensive inventory of awning parts and accessories. High Sky RV Parts has an extensive inventory of awning fabric and parts. RecPro has an extensive inventory of awnings (manual, power, and slide-out), fabric, parts, and accessories. ****** Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Site membership is free, which provides access to the forum. Paid members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates.

Despite its remarkable the growth over the past decade - particularly during the go-go pandemic years - the RV industry suffers from a lagging support sector. But two of the industry's leading technical training programs are expanding to help get more RV repair technicians in the field. Contents How did RV Service Delays Get this Bad? The Pandemic Boom and Supply Chain Bust RV Repair Training Programs Get a Boost How did RV Service Delays Get this Bad? Despite all the media attention around surging pandemic RV sales, delays in the RV service sector are a pre-pandemic problem. The RV industry has seen remarkable growth since 2010, but the supply of trained RV repair technicians has not kept pace. In 2019, Mike and Jennifer Wendland discussed the causes of the average 21-day delay to get an RV repaired at an RV dealership in Episode 262 of The RV Podcast, and what the RV industry is doing to address it. The Pandemic Boom and Supply Chain Bust During the 2010s the industry was cruising along, then COVID hit and it began to soar. Consider this staggering figure: Earlier this month Thor Industries reported $3.9 billion in net sales for the second quarter of 2022, a 42% increase over the same quarter the previous year. But gains are not felt equally across the industry and excessive RV love has created pain points. According to the Getaway Couple, the world has changed but the RV industry hasn’t. In June 27, 2021, they noted short-cuts in manufacturing, busier campgrounds, and long wait lists for dealership repairs. Later in 2021, Marc Bennett described six reasons why it is so hard to get into an RV Repair Shop, citing supply and demand, the nature of RVs themselves (rolling earthquakes), and the shortage of RV technicians. (The State of RV Repairs, 11/30/21) And this past month RV Miles explored whether the reason for delays is due to the repair shops themselves or the manufacturers supplying the parts. (Who Is Holding Up RV Repairs — Manufacturers or Dealers? 2/19/22.). RV Repair Training Programs Get a Boost Record sales growth and the supply shortage is a one-two punch that sent shockwaves through the industry and contributed to even greater service delays. But when the spike in sales has passed and manufacturing output and distribution stabilizes, the industry will still be in a service bottleneck due to the under-supply of trained technicians. Two established technical training programs are responding to this systemic shortage. In October 2020, the RV Technical Institute launched its first-ever self-paced online training program in October 2020, and plans to add more programs over time. This evolution had been planned prior to COVID, then suddenly their in-person training operation was suspended due to the worsening pandemic. The combination of increased demand for RVs and the need to pivot to a remote training model accelerated the rollout of the self-paced option. “We kept hearing from dealers that we needed something that was online,” said RVTI Executive Director Chris Hemmeler. "They were concerned about sending techs to Elkhart, Indiana, for in-person training, or otherwise taking technicians off their floor." The organization's goal is to crank out 2,000 more technicians over the next two years, adding to the to the current field of 14,000. In addition, to accommodate increasing demand for technicians, the National RV Training Academy announced plans to add 5,000 square feet to their existing 14,000 square foot facility in Texas. The new space adds classrooms to accommodate more advanced courses and hands-on labs. “As the largest RV training center in America, NRVTA provides the most hands-on equipment of any other school,” said Terry “Cooper” Cooper, co-founder and president. “The ability of our students to use modern equipment to diagnose and repair major components onboard every recreation vehicle means we’re preparing more than 100 qualified technicians every month.” Have you been tangled up in service delays? Leave a comment below and share your story. ****** Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Site membership is free, which provides access to the forum. Paid members also get discounts on RV parts and supplies. Explore membership benefits and sign up today! You can also join our mailing list to receive future blog posts and service updates.

RVs are having a moment. The pandemic added fuel to an already-expanding industry, purchases and rentals are up, demographics are changing, and there are no signs of slowing down. Contents Wholesale RV Shipments, 2000-2017 (graphic) RV Rentals and Sales Surge During Pandemic Popularity, Shifting Demographics, and Capacity Issues Post-COVID Projections According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) Survey of Manufacturers, 55,014 units were sold in September 2021, an increase of 32% compared to September 2020, setting a new all-time high for the number of RVs shipped in any previous month and quarter. A record number of rigs are on the road and owners can now manage units with the ease of an AirBnB. And the trend does not appear to be slowing. In December 2021, The Insider reported that Thor Indstries - which includes Jayco and Airstream - now has an $18.07 billion order backlog. Their first quarter sales were up 56% over the same time in 2021, and just this week Thor reported a 42% increase for Q2 sales. Despite its efforts to improve supply chain, the backlog is so substantial that the manufacturer doesn't expect to fulfull current orders until some time into 2023. As shown in the chart below, RV wholesale shipments saw a steady increase during the 2010s. Then the pandemic shifted the industry into hyper-speed. Below is a media roundup of RV trends before, during, and after COVID. Wholesale RV Shipments, 2000-2017 (graphic) RV Rentals and Sales Surge During Pandemic RV Rentals Are Popular Social-Distancing Choice as Vacation Season Arrives. Laura Sky Brown. Car and Driver. 5/18/20. RV Rentals Are Zooming Along Right Now. Maggie Fuller, Afar. 5/18/20. RV Rentals Increase 650% as Coronavirus Changes How Americans Vacation. Sean Szymkowski, CNET. 5/19/20. Scared Americans Desperate to Travel are Buying up COVID Campers. Jeff Green, Bloomberg. 5/26/20. Worried About Social Distancing When Traveling? Join the Crowd and Rent an RV. Elaine Glusac, New York Times. 6/11/20. RV Sales are up Amid Pandemic Travel Limitations. Andy Uhler, Marketplace. 11/25/20. RV Sales Soar During Coronavirus Pandemic. Sumner Park, Fox Business. 1/23/21. Popularity, Shifting Demographics, and Capacity Issues Millennials are Flocking to RVs Like Never Before During the Pandemic. Brittany Chang, Business Insider. 12/22/20. COVID Spurred RV Sales, But Can National Park Campgrounds Handle Them? Lori Sonken, National Parks Traveler. 1/31/21. VanLife Takes off During COVID-19 as Americans Convert Vans for a Life on the Road. Nathan Bomey, USA Today. 2/17/21. COVID-19 Creates 18 Million First-time RV Travelers in the USA. RVEzy. 4/9/21. Demand for RVs High, Supply Short Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. Dolly Butz, Sioux City Journal. 5/15/21. Demand for RVs Grows as Coronavirus Crisis Changes the Way We Travel. Lori Rackl, Chicago Tribune. 5/20/20. How I Did it: Deciding Whether to Buy an RV During COVID-19. Jen Wendt, US Bank. Pandemic Pushes Travelers to Take to the Road in RVs. Robert Ferris, CNBC. 7/27/20. Not Flying This Summer? Many Americans Are Hitting The Road — In RVs. Melanie Peeples, NPR. 8/2/20. RV Life Booms During the Pandemic. Mary Raffall, CBS News. 8/9/20. The Maddening Frustrations of Getting RV Repair and Service. Mike Wendland, RV Lifestyle. 8/26/20. Popularity of RV Travel was Surging Before Coronavirus Pandemic Made it Even More Attractive. Susan Glaser, Cleveland.com. 10/22/20. RV Owners Take to the Road With COVID Campers. Heidi Mitchell, Wall Street Journal. 11/12/20. Made in America: RV Industry Booms as Families Vacation in New Ways During COVID-19 Pandemic. Haley Yamada and Eric Noll, ABC News. 5/3/21. The Rise of RV Living. Erica Pandey, Axios. 12/23/21. Post-COVID Projections Why the RV Industry Will Come Out on Top After COVID-19. Megan Buemi, RV Share. 4/30/20. RVs Are About To Take Over The World After COVID-19. Patrick Buchanan, RV Life. 5/9/20. RV Sales Have Soared During the Pandemic. These Stocks Could See More Gains Ahead. Nicholas Jasinski, Barrons. 10/3/20. Roadtrips and RV Travel Exploded During the Pandemic. This Company is Leading the Way. Manhoon Khan, Fortune. 2/17/22. The World Has Changed but the RV Industry Hasn’t. Jason and Rae Miller. Getaway Couple. 6/27/21. COVID Safety - Why RVs are Still the Best Way to Vacation. El Monte RV. 9/6/21. RV Rental Platform RVnGO Finds Enduring Popularity after Early Pandemic Surge. By Andy Blye, Bizjournals. 2/15/22. Who Is Holding Up RV Repairs — Manufacturers or Dealers? RV Miles. 2/19/22. THOR Industries Reports 42% Increase in Q2 Sales. RV Pro. 3/9/22. ****** Enjoy the read? There's more for you at RV on Call - join our Community! We maintain an RV discussion forum and a library of premium digital products. Site membership is free, which provides access to the forum. 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