Setting Up the RV Industry for Growth

As the RV dealers and the industry adjust to new market conditions and set the stage for growth in 2025, the RV Dealers Association (RVDA) is actively working on several fronts to support dealers and the industry.

Here’s a look at some key priorities for the RVDA board and staff:

Dealership Employee Education

The Mike Molino RV Learning Center, a cornerstone of RVDA’s educational efforts, recently launched a new online training course specifically for RV warranty administrators. This program addresses a critical need within dealerships, ensuring staff have the knowledge and skills to effectively serve customers who require warranty work.

The warranty administrator course joins the service/writer adviser, parts manager, and parts specialist online training available through the RV Learning Center, providing a comprehensive foundation for fixed operations professionals.

In addition, the RV Fixed Operations Today Mobile App offers five free readiness tests designed to assess the knowledge of various fixed operations personnel within an RV dealership. By taking these tests, individuals can identify their knowledge gaps and determine if they’re prepared for the corresponding RV Learning Center’s certification exams.

RV Dealers Convention/Expo

The knowledge and connections gained at the RVDA Convention can provide a significant return on investment for dealers. By staying informed, building relationships and discovering new opportunities, dealers can create more profitable partnerships and find solutions to navigate a challenging RV market.

This year’s convention, Nov. 11-15 at Paris Las Vegas, offers a wide range of workshops and seminars covering critical industry topics like financing, marketing, sales, service and compliance. These sessions can equip dealers with the latest knowledge and strategies to stay competitive in the ever-evolving RV market.

The event also provides a platform, through Partners of Progress meetings, for dealers to meet directly with representatives from RV manufacturers. These face-to-face interactions can be crucial for building rapport and reviewing manufacturer policies, procedures and products.

More than ever, attending the 2024 convention can be a valuable investment for any RV dealer looking to stay ahead of the curve and grow their business.

Advocacy

RVDA actively reaches out to policymakers on issues that impact the RV industry. RVDA participated with the RV Industry Association (RVIA) in RVs Move America Week, which brought industry leaders to Capitol Hill to discuss the importance of outdoor recreation and advocate for policies that benefit RV dealerships and manufacturers. These issues included:

• Tax Fairness: The industry seeks passage of the Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act, which aims to create a level playing field by ensuring towable RVs (travel trailers) and motorized RVs (motorhomes) receive equal tax treatment for dealer inventory financing interest deductions.
• Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): The RV industry relies on the GSP program to import lauan, a specific wood used in RV construction, duty-free from Indonesia. Advocates pushed for the reauthorization and reform of the GSP program to ensure continued access to this important material at a competitive cost.
• De Minimis Reform: Currently, a loophole allows for duty-free import of merchandise valued at $800 or less directly shipped from abroad. This can put American manufacturers at a disadvantage and potentially lead to lower quality parts in the market. The industry advocated for reforms that would close this loophole and create a fairer playing field.
• Support for Outdoor Recreation: The RV industry is a major player in the outdoor recreation market. Advocates likely voiced their support for legislation that promotes access to public lands and expands opportunities for outdoor recreation, which in turn benefits the RV industry.

Improving Dealer-Manufacturer Relations

RVDA’s 30th annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey is currently underway. This survey plays a vital role in gathering feedback from dealers on their relationships with manufacturers. The insights gleaned will be used to identify areas for improvement and foster stronger collaboration within the industry.

Industry Trends & Benchmarks

RVDA provides valuable resources to its members, including RV Executive Today and RV Executive Today Online, which feature industry news, trends and analysis.

Additionally, the association offers dealership financial benchmarks, allowing dealers to compare their performance metrics with others nationwide.

These are just a few examples of how RVDA is working to address the needs of its members and promote the RV industry. The focus on warranty administrator training highlights the association’s commitment to professional development, while advocacy efforts ensure the RV industry has a strong voice in Washington, D.C.

For more information on any of these programs, visit rvda.org or send an email to info@rvda.org.