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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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!