Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians

Also called: Custom Van Converter, Hitch Technician, Master Certified RV Technician (Master Certified Recreational Vehicle Technician), Mobile Service RV Technician (Mobile Service Recreational Vehicle Technician), Mobile Van Technician

Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians

Varies

estimated salary

Diagnose, inspect, adjust, repair, or overhaul recreational vehicles including travel trailers. May specialize in maintaining gas, electrical, hydraulic, plumbing, or chassis/towing systems as well as repairing generators, appliances, and interior components. Includes workers who perform customized van conversions.

  • Explain proper operation of vehicle systems to customers.
  • Locate and repair frayed wiring, broken connections, or incorrect wiring, using ohmmeters, soldering irons, tape, or hand tools.
  • Repair plumbing or propane gas lines, using caulking compounds and plastic or copper pipe.
  • Confer with customers, read work orders, or examine vehicles needing repair to determine the nature and extent of damage.
  • Examine or test operation of parts or systems to ensure completeness of repairs.
  • Connect electrical systems to outside power sources, and activate switches to test the operation of appliances or light fixtures.
  • Connect water hoses to inlet pipes of plumbing systems, and test operation of toilets or sinks.
  • Inspect recreational vehicles to diagnose problems and perform necessary adjustment, repair, or overhaul.
  • Inspect, repair, or replace brake systems.
  • Diagnose and repair furnace or air conditioning systems.
  • Repair leaks with caulking compound or replace pipes, using pipe wrenches.
  • List parts needed, estimate costs, and plan work procedures, using parts lists, technical manuals, or diagrams.
  • Remove damaged exterior panels, and repair and replace structural frame members.
  • Open and close doors, windows, or drawers to test their operation, trimming edges to fit, as necessary.
  • Reset hardware, using chisels, mallets, and screwdrivers.
  • Refinish wood surfaces on cabinets, doors, moldings, or floors, using power sanders, putty, spray equipment, brushes, paints, or varnishes.
  • Seal open sides of modular units to prepare them for shipment, using polyethylene sheets, nails, and hammers.
Work Context

Work Context information for this career will be available soon.

Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Inspect completed work to ensure proper functioning.
  • Repair pipes to stop leaking.
  • Inspect vehicles to determine overall condition.
  • Repair defective engines or engine components.
  • Repair electrical circuits or wiring.
  • Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed.
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Knowledge

Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills

Repairing
  • Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting
  • Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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Abilities

Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
Electronic mail software
  • Email software
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