Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians
The occupation Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians covers people who diagnose, inspect, adjust, repair, or overhaul recreational vehicles including travel trailers. A regular part of the work is to diagnose and repair furnace or air conditioning systems. The strongest interest signal is Realistic (7.0 of 7), then Conventional (4.1) and Investigative, which gives it the code RCI. Plan on a few months to a year of learning on the job; O*NET labels this some preparation. Strength in repairing, troubleshooting, and quality control analysis helps most here. One core duty is to connect electrical systems to outside power sources, and activate switches to test the operation of appliances or light fixtures. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.
What they do
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.
Main tasks
- Diagnose and repair furnace or air conditioning systems.
- Connect electrical systems to outside power sources, and activate switches to test the operation of appliances or light fixtures.
- Examine or test operation of parts or systems to ensure completeness of repairs.
- Repair plumbing or propane gas lines, using caulking compounds and plastic or copper pipe.
- Inspect recreational vehicles to diagnose problems and perform necessary adjustment, repair, or overhaul.
- Locate and repair frayed wiring, broken connections, or incorrect wiring, using ohmmeters, soldering irons, tape, or hand tools.
Skills
- Repairing
- Troubleshooting
- Quality Control Analysis
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Equipment Maintenance
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
- You are comfortable relying on repairing and troubleshooting.
May not suit you if
- You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
- You want a career built on years of advanced study.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.
Preparation
Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- ATV Tech (All-Terrain Vehicle Technician)
- Certified RV Technician (Certified Recreational Vehicle Technician)
- Hitch Technician (Hitch Tech)
- Mobile Service RV Technician (Mobile Service Recreational Vehicle Technician)
- RV Body Mechanic (Recreational Vehicle Body Mechanic)
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.