n 2019 the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, (RVIA) polled 800 RV owners on what areas of RVs they felt required upgrading. The results showed:
- Plumbing and sanitation 44%
- Climate control 37%
- Electrical 34%
- Leveling 25%
- Set-up 23%
- Add-ons and replacement parts 8%
In 2023 an RV Aftermarket Parts and Accessories Survey supported the 2019 RVIA results with the largest block of RVers (more than half) mentioning plumbing and sanitation on RVs as requiring upgrades.
Lack of RV consumer education:
I agree that some of these categories do require upgrading from an engineering and design perspective, but I also said for years, (25 to be exact) that many RV issues can be solved through consumer education. The lack of RV consumer education is the primary reason for us starting RV Education 101 and our RV Online Training program.
As the RV industry searches for solutions to these consumer issues, consider this; of the top six areas addressed as needing upgrades, all can potentially be solved through RV consumer education.
Let’s look at each of the six RV owner poll concerns:
a) Plumbing and Sanitation 44%:
The RV plumbing issue (odors from the holding tank) is primarily due to a design issue. RV holding tanks are designed with a vent pipe going from the top of the holding tank to the roof of the RV, to vent the tank and the tank odors. The problem is, holding tank odors accumulate in the tank and can’t really be vented outside because there is no air pressure inside the tank to force the gases up and out of the vent pipe. And whenever the air pressure is higher inside the holding tank than it is inside the RV, the odors escape into the RV by way of the toilet, when it is flushed. When there is no water remaining in the toilet bowl (to serve as a barrier) tank odors escape to the RVs interior. There are products like holding tank treatments and aftermarket vents, but it’s difficult to overcome the holding tank design. The good news is, through proper education the consumer can learn techniques to effectively control the majority of holding tank odors. I teach these RV odor control techniques through my articles and videos.
b) Climate Control 37%
Climate control in RVs requires an understanding on how to properly use the air conditioner and forced air furnace. At home you aren’t concerned with tripping a breaker when the AC is on and you try to use the microwave and coffee pot at the same time. The majority of RVs come equipped with a 30-amp electrical system, so the owner needs to understand how to live on 30 amps. RV owners also need to understand the AC and furnace BTU ratings and what they as an owner can do to maximize the units efficiency in extreme hot or cold temperatures. Not to mention preventive maintenance requirements you most likely don’t do at home.
c) Electrical 34%
This is an area where consumer education is extremely important. Without easy to understand instructions the RV owner is left scratching their head in confusion. RVs have three separate electrical systems, the 12-volt DC coach system, the 12-volt DC automotive system, and the 120-volt AC system. Confusing, yes! But, through education it can be easy to understand and operate the electrical system in your RV.
d) Leveling 25%
This one is a bit surprising considering my guess would be RV tires, but I do understand the confusion here. Again, it is solved through RV education. When you reach your camping destination the first thing you do, after locating the RV on the site, is level the RV side to side and front to rear. There are reasons for leveling the RV, like how uncomfortable it is to walk or sleep in an RV out of level, and for things to operate properly (refrigerator) the RV must be close to level. To add to the confusion there are numerous RV leveling systems and aftermarket products that require a good understanding of proper operation. All of which revolves around education, beginning with the basics. RV Online Training Courses
e) Set-Up 23%
Years ago, when I wrote the first edition of my ‘Checklists for RVers’ e-book one of the first checklists was titled, Campground Set-up. It included probably 25 steps to ensure everything having to do with the RV was set-up and operating properly. It also provided the order in which to do the set-up. After you set your RV up 10 or so times you get the hang of it, but new RV owners are intimidated and confused at first. The common denominator is once again education. There are lots of aftermarket products available to assist the owner with campground set-up and make life more enjoyable during your stay, but we need to learn the basics first and then go from there.
f) Add-Ons and Replacement Parts:
When I worked at the dealership I always explained it like this, RV parts are the things required for the RV to operate properly (not fun to buy), whereas RV accessories are the nice to have items that make camping more enjoyable (fun to buy). One of our first RV training videos was titled ‘RV Essential Items’. Every new RV owner knows what an RV starter kit is, and knows shortly after their first camping trip it was a nice gesture but extremely inadequate. We provide a list of essential items you need (and why you need it) in addition to a list of the “fun” items to make camping more enjoyable. We include this information in all our bundled sets and it is also in the checklist e-book I mentioned earlier. Checklists for RVers E-book Course
Sadly it took Covid and unheard of RV sales numbers for the RV industry to finally acknowledge the need for basic RV owner education. The RV industry manufactures RVs, markets RVs, and sells RVs, but typically after the sale new owners are left to fend for themselves as it relates to learning how to properly use and maintain their RV.
Note: There are a few RV related companies who in recent years made RV consumer education a priority, but I would venture to say most have an ulterior motive. To those who don’t, I personally commend you.
Buying a new or used RV is different than buying a new or used automobile. Most adults understand automobile operation because they drove vehicles since an early age in life. On the other hand, new RV owners are thoroughly lost when it comes to using the “new to them” RV. Let’s face it, components on RVs work differently from the same components found in your home. At home there are no concerns about exceeding 30-amps, lighting a water heater, or emptying sewage holding tanks. This list goes on-and-on, so wouldn’t it make sense to place RV consumer education right up there with manufacturing, marketing and selling RVs. Yes, it would! I look at RV education and training as the number one priority, especially for first-time RV owners.
When I was an RV sales manager I experienced this lack of RV consumer training firsthand. After the sale, you give the new owner a one or two hour class or orientation on the RV (no retention whatsoever) and they leave the dealership with a 5-ton trailer in tow or driving a 36-foot motorhome for the first time in their life. Scary proposition? Yes, it is! It doesn’t stop there, afterwards they only retain about 20% of what they learned in the orientation. Something I knew from my military training was, it takes repetition to effectively learn a process or procedure. This is why our RV training program is so effective, the owner can view the training as often as necessary to become proficient. I always say, we will be there for you until you no longer need us!
When we started RV Education 101 in 1999, my thoughts were it might take five years for the RV industry to embrace the concept of RV consumer education to the point we would be out of business. And I was okay with that, because my number one concern was always teaching the consumer how to properly and safely use and maintain their RV, so they can enjoy the RV lifestyle as opposed to being intimidated by it. To me, it wasn’t about the money. Sure we could charge $300 per online course, but we wanted the training to be affordable and easy to access to all RV owners. That’s why after 25 years we still only charge $47 for individual online training courses, and offer discounts on our bundled RV training courses. Additionally, we offer several online RV blogs and well over 400 short RV videos on YouTube at no cost to help facilitate RV owners in their quest for RV knowledge.
Something else that bothers me is RV related companies who imply they are genuinely interested in providing education to consumers through a blog or other online source; only to discover the truth is it’s more about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and garnering web traffic than it is about real RV education. What is scary in many of these scenarios is the amount of misinformation there is in the content they post, and the recent use of artificial intelligence (AI) with inaccurate technical information. What is really scary is many of these companies don’t care about the misinformation RV owners get and depend on to be true and accurate.
So, even though we are a very small company ‘you can take it to the bank’ our RV information and training is reliable and affordable, and our number one concern is you, the end user. After 25 years, RV Education 101 is still the leading RV consumer training company in America.
Happy Camping,
Mark Polk
RV Education 101
http://rveducation101.com/
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A Collection of RV Education 101 E-Books – 9 RV E-BOOK BUNDLE SET
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