Have you ever flung open the windows on that first warm day of Spring and been met with a refreshing breeze that made you grateful winter was over and excited because the best was yet to come? It’s officially Spring, and not because the calendar says so or that the days are longer, but because you can finally pack away that winter coat and enjoy the wonderful outdoors. 

I have made a career out of RV service. I’m a master certified technician, certified service writer/advisor, certified service manager and certified parts specialist. I’ve written books and articles, and now even a blog on RV service.

I have a couple of questions to pose and a few people to pose them to.

Lately we hear a lot about technician training and participation. RV PRO’s own Dana Nelsen recently wrote about the industry possibly losing the Trouble Shooter Clinics. RVIA has just said it will spend money on marketing the program, which another publication called a crossroad for training.

My first question is posed to each of my intended groups here: manufacturers, associations, dealers and the technicians themselves.

An RV dealer recently told me his shop guys were debating an issue having to do with shore power cords. I knew exactly where he was going with this.

“If a vehicle is found with a damaged or missing shore power cord end, can I just put on one of those plastic ends you get through a distributor or a local electric supply?” 

Any takers?

If you use a connector, adapter or anything electrical that is not designed or specified for outdoor use, you are taking a big risk. Many connectors are said to be OK to use outdoors and are even called “weather resistant.”

Editor's note: Muriel Wieber, age 87, passed away peacefully Feb. 25. This blog post was written by Bob Wieber, the founder and CEO of RV PRO’s parent company, National Business Media (NBM). 

In the early days of NBM it was just me and a desk.

Then it was me and a desk, and Mom.

As life sometimes steps in and changes our plans, my son Matt was born the same week that NBM was born, and he was two months early. Most of my time for those next two months was spent at the hospital.

Then it was Mom and a desk. And occasionally me.

RV technicians, service managers, service writer/advisors and even dealer principals contact me on a rather regular basis with a plethora of interesting questions and concerns.

The questions might be technical or safety related. They may have to do with legalities in the service and parts departments, with regard to dealership liability. And, of course, I get questions on the training materials we provide along with the Technician Career Ladder.

I work with the RVDA/RVIA Technician Certifications and the Certification Preparation Course. I am also the technical consultant for the national RVDA and work with the RV Learning Center, including the service, parts and warranty training programs.

There is a very real possibility that by the end of this year RV technicians will lose what, in my opinion, is an invaluable training resource – RVIA’s Trouble Shooter Clinics.

Why is it potentially going away? The answer is simple: RV dealers and RV repair shops aren’t sending their employees to get trained. The fate of the program will be determined in coming months by registrations for the three remaining clinics scheduled this year. One of the five clinics has already been canceled and another is potentially on the chopping block.

I can’t express how sad I think that is. I sure hope there are others who agree with me and are willing to do something about it.

RV dealers always ask us at RVT.com: "Is it really worth the effort to create a video for each of my RVs?"

So we did the math...

Random Sample:

We analyzed a large random sample of RV ads – half with video, and half with no video.

The ads with videos pulled 46 percent more leads. Yes. FORTY-SIX percent MORE leads.

Reality Check:

Video converts the clickers (ad viewers) into leads (ad inquirers). Hey, if they're watching your video, they're not scoping out your competitor's inventory.

RV industry media and pundits are all fairly optimistic about prospects for growth in 2013. And, so is RVT.com. But, there’s more ...

We’re seeing some intriguing dynamics on the consumer side and some converging positives on the dealer side as well. It could mean significant impact in the RV industry – and specifically – RV sales.

Consider these factors as you plan out how you’re going to make 2013 your best year ever:

1. With Print Gone, Look for Online Competition to Intensify

If you have read the Dale Carnegie book How to Win Friends and Influence People, you are to be commended. If you have not, I would highly recommend you do. To read that book will make this blog more relevant.

One of the basic principles of the book is the importance of using the name of a person when dealing with them. The other side of this coin is the principle of making it easy for people to use your name, or the name of one of your associates.

Are you paying a fine when your customers see an outdated sign at your dealership?

When is the last time you walked around your dealership and took a good look at your signs? Does the oldest RV on your lot still have an attached sign from a show eight months ago?  Is that sign clean, current, crisp and fresh, or is it faded and outdated? 

Does every sign in your dealership help your customers perceive that you are on top of your game? What do your customers think when they come in and see old, outdated, and sloppy signs?  Do you think they will be comfortable giving you $72,000 of their money for a new play toy?