Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians
Overview
SaveJob Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
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.
Yearly Salary
| High: | $63K |
| Median: | $40K |
| Low: | $27K |
Demand
Core 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.
- Confer with customers, read work orders, or examine vehicles needing repair to determine the nature and extent of damage.
- 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.
- Connect water hoses to inlet pipes of plumbing systems, and test operation of toilets or sinks.
- Inspect, repair, or replace brake 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.
- Reset hardware, using chisels, mallets, and screwdrivers.
- Explain proper operation of vehicle systems to customers.
- Open and close doors, windows, or drawers to test their operation, trimming edges to fit, as necessary.
- 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.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Mechanical
83%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Building and Construction
82%
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Customer and Personal Service
76%
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
73%
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.
Education and Training
72%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language
64%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Engineering and Technology
62%
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Mathematics
61%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Computers and Electronics
58%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Production and Processing
58%
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Top 10 Skills
Repairing
80%
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting
73%
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Complex Problem Solving
63%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Equipment Maintenance
63%
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Operation and Control
63%
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring
63%
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis
63%
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Learning
60%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
60%
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.
Critical Thinking
60%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Top 10 Abilities
Near Vision
80%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Manual Dexterity
78%
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Problem Sensitivity
75%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Finger Dexterity
73%
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Oral Expression
73%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Control Precision
70%
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Oral Comprehension
70%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Arm-Hand Steadiness
63%
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Deductive Reasoning
63%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information Ordering
63%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Top 10 Work Activities
Getting Information
86%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
80%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
76%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Handling and Moving Objects
75%
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Performing General Physical Activities
73%
Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
73%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
72%
Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
Controlling Machines and Processes
71%
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
71%
Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
71%
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
Detailed Work Activities
- Inspect systems to determine if they are operating properly.
- Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
- Connect electrical components or equipment.
- 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.
- Confer with customers or users to assess problems.
- Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
- Connect hoses to equipment or piping.
- Estimate costs for labor or materials.
- Plan work procedures.
- Record information about parts, materials or repair procedures.
- Remove parts or components from equipment.
- Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.
- Reassemble equipment after repair.
- Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Cut materials according to specifications or needs.
- Explain use of products or services.
- Refinish wood or metal surfaces.
- Seal gaps or cracks to prevent leakage or moisture intrusion.
Education
Interests
Realistic
100%
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
Conventional
58%
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
Investigative
38%
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
Social
24%
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Enterprising
19%
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
Artistic
15%
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.
Work Values
Support
62%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
58%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Relationships
48%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Working Conditions
48%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement
43%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
39%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.