NRVTA Experience
Time For Some Schooling
We have been RVing for the last 7 plus years. Like most of you, we have had our share of breakdowns and handyman fixes. Many of these repairs and breakdowns during the first year or so I would take to my dealer for warranty work. Once that warranty expires your choices are three as I see it. Set up an appointment with the dealer service department. Expect for them to have your rig for weeks. Get ready to pay a min. of $130 an hour for their work.
The second choice will be to call a mobile tech in the area. Might be quicker, your rig will not be tied up for weeks, but finding a good tech might not be easy in our area. Your third and final choice is to work on the rig yourself.
You Can Fix It
If you own a sticks and bricks base home I’m sure you have tackled many a problem yourself. That should be no different in an RV. 80% of the issues you will encounter in a typical towed rig will be items you can tackle yourself. I choose that path and began to learn fast that I could use some advice.
YouTube became my go-to for everything RV. There you could find just about anything you needed to tackle those various fixes. The problem was that not all that advice was good or for that matter accurate. Through trial and error, many I became pretty proficient at sorting out the good from the bad advice. I could typically get us back on the road if we had a minor issue. Throw an electrical, water heater, furnace, or AC issue at me I could get by but not well.
How I Came To NRVTA
While searching for answers for my various RV fix problems. I came across a number of seasoned RV bloggers who would reference or call Todd Henson from RV Beard and Babe. At the time he and his wife were self-proclaimed RV Training Enthusiasts. They spent most of their time at the National RV Training Academy where Todd was the Director of Education and Stephanie was the Director of Administration.
Todd Henson
I found Todd’s advice and videos very informative and a heck of a lot more accurate than many of the Youtube RV pundits. The final push came from Chad of Changing Lanes fame. Chad was a do-it-yourself kinda guy that I followed for his sound advice. Their video on attending the NRVTA School put me over the top. If this guy who I went to for solid advice was attending an RV school to kick up his knowledge, I had to find out more.
First Contact
After some research, I landed on the National RV Training Academy site. From there I was redirected to an NRVTA Student Advisor. My advisor was Laura Stewart. We hooked up via phone first in early May and then she sent me the application for the training I was interested in. I was informed that these classes fill up quickly and I was looking at late fall early winter for the first opening. They have the courses broken down into three “programs”. (as described by NRVTA)
Educated RV Owner Program / RV Fundamentals
In this course, the student participates in a structured, instructor-led learning process of lectures, videos, quizzes, and hands-on labs on the various systems found in today’s RVs. The student will gain knowledge of the key RV systems, DC electrical systems, AC electrical systems, propane systems, plumbing systems, learn how the RV refrigerator, air conditioner, water heater, and furnace operates and how to maintain it for proper performance, and expectations of an RV. Anyone jumping into RVing who wants to be an avid DIYer can get a LOT out of this course.
The Educated RV Owner track also includes a week on generators and a week on solar. Those are great options if you want to DIY solar and maintain your own generator.
Starting Your Own Small Business – Bonus Class
A bonus during the week of RV Fundamentals training is a course on the ins and outs of starting your own business. Forming an LLC, determining startup costs, etc are all covered in optional sessions before class. This is an AMAZING benefit that the NRTVA provides completely free! Spouses / significant others not taking the tech course are welcome to attend these sessions also!
RV Service Technician Registered RV Service Tech Review and Exam
After the fundamentals training, if one wants to go for the RV Registered Technician Review and Exam here are the details. The purpose of this day-long course is to help NRVTA students prepare for the RVTAA Registered RV Service Technician Exam. The review helps students prepare to take and pass the test, typically taken the same day. This study day reviews the following systems: RV Propane Systems, RV Electrical Systems, RV Water Systems, RV Exterior, RV Water Heaters & Furnaces, RV Air Conditioning, and RV Refrigerators.
RV Certified Service Technician
Again after the fundamentals training one can pursue four more weeks of training and a certification exam in the RV Service Technician Program. Each week of additional training dives deeper into the major symptoms and in-depth troubleshooting. Of course, like all of the courses, there is LOTS of hands-on work.
RV Inspector Program
Another route that can be taken is the Certified RV Inspector Program. Becoming an RV Inspector can be a business all by itself, or in combination with the full Certified Tech Program. They do recommend that anyone going the RV Inspector route at least take the Registered RV Tech certification exam so they have that extra credential under their belt also.
Costs
From NRVTA: “The programs have variables that include credits based on what course you take. The easiest way to get pricing is to just call us. We’re following TWC guidelines and one of those guidelines is that we’re unable to discuss pricing with individuals who are looking to get state funding to come to school. So we need to talk to everyone first to determine if we can talk pricing or refer them to the state. We’re not hiding anything, just following rules we now have to abide by as a Licensed Certified Career Training School.”
Here We Go
I filled out my application and sent it along to her. I got a call a short time later and she informed me she just had a cancellation for the last week of June. If I wanted to get started early I could get into the RV Service Tech program which included RV Fundamentals and the RVTAA Registered Service Tech Certification Review and Test. I jumped at the opportunity.
It was time to put on my big boy pants at 70 years of age and get ready to go back to school. I had not been in a true learning environment outside of my work for some 50 years. To say I was nervous was an understatement. Thank goodness I had some solid support from my wife and daughter to give me the boost I needed to succeed.
Here is a video prepared by the NRVTA that will give you an indication of what you can expect. Hosted by Luara you will get a tumble nail introduction to the school.
Texas RV Park – Review
The beauty of this RV training school is its on-campus RV park. We decided to make a month-long trip out of this and hauled our Fifth Wheel to the campus. I have prepared a review from my perspective of the RV park. You can find that by clicking on this link Texan RV Park. The park has recently been upgraded adding 12 new pull-through sites with concrete pads.
These new RV sites are the closest to the BIg Red School House. You will also find cabins and tiny houses for rent as well. Here is a link to the park’s website Texas RV Website
Texan RV Park
Downtown Athens
Site 310 Back In
Site 305 Thur 309
Site 303
Clubhouse and pond
Sites 201 and 202
Pond and 100 row
My Take
This was a week of intense, sometimes an overwhelming review of the operating systems of RVs. The course is geared toward towables but offers insights into all classes of RVs. Our instructor Todd Henson ( of YouTube fame) was one of the best teachers I have ever encountered. He was able to put this technical information in a way that made it interesting and fun to learn. I made some great new relationships with folks that are starting new businesses or just like me learning how to take care of 80% of what may arise on your rig.
Todd will require you to have certain tools and various fitting for the classes. That list is provided early in the process. You will find that you may have many of these items already, but understand there will be specialized tools you will need for a number of the labs. My kit is now my go-to tool case, flushed out with a number of Todd favorites to have as well.
What The Day Was Like
This live, 5-day, hands-on, RV Maintenance Training is a combination of in-depth, live classroom instruction and hands-on labs that will transform you into a master of RV maintenance and repair! Expect to start the day at 7 am and finish around 5:30 pm. You will have about 1 hour or so for lunch, I headed back to the RV for mine. This gave me a little time to absorb what I had learned in the am.
Extra Activities
Don’t pass up the midweek gathering after class with the staff and your classmates for the “Pot Luck” dinner. It is a great time to get to know your classmates a bit better and have some casual time with the staff. At the end of the week, they will offer a Wine tasting and dinner at one of the many local wineries to celebrate your completion of the course.
City Of Athens, TX
Take a ride into Athens if you have the energy after a long day of class. Here is a link for Visit Athens Texas. Needing groceries for your stay? I would head to Brookshire’s for all your needs. You would be surprised by all Wineries in the area, lakes, and events downtown.
NRVTA RV Fundementals
Let’s rundown what the week looked like. This copy was taken from the NRVTA site.
DAY 1 & 2 – THE THREE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
- Identify and operate the House and Chassis 12 volt DC battery systems and the house type 120 volt AC system
- Learn how to identify Voltage, Amperage Resistance and to calculate Wattage loads/consumption for the RV circuits
- Learn how to use a Volt Ohm Meter to troubleshoot these 3 electrical systems
- Setting up the series and parallel configurations for the 2 different types of batteries
- Troubleshooting tips and shortcuts using the VOM and more
DAY 3 – PROPANE & WATER SYSTEMS
Propane System
- LP Gas operational theory and function of LP detectors
- The 4 key functions of LP regulator operations
- Correct gas leak testing and documentation procedures
Water Systems
- Operation of the 2 sewers (gray and black) and 2 freshwater systems that make up today’s RV plumbing
- Component operation of pumps, valves, tank sensors, and monitor panels
- Plumbing fixture life safety features
DAY 4 – AIR CONDITIONERS & ABSORPTION REFRIGERATORS
Gas and airflow patterns along with the common issues that can occur with today’s RV air conditioners and refrigerators
Air Conditioners
- Testing of the discharge air temperature via the Delta T-test
- Common installation and operational issues
- Basic troubleshooting procedures
RV Absorption Refrigerators
- RV Absorption Refrigerators
- Proper ventilation and baffling placement
- Basic troubleshooting procedures and test points for both brands of today’s RV refrigerators
- Reset procedures of the recall kits for Norcold and Dometic refrigerators
DAY 5 – WATER HEATERS, FURNACES & EXTERIOR SYSTEMS
Identify the component differences between the Dometic/Atwood and Suburban brands of water heaters and furnaces
Water Heaters
- Operation of the different models of RV water heaters and their options/features
- Basic troubleshooting procedures
- Maintenance and basic service procedures
Furnaces
- Operation of the RV furnace and its features
- Basic troubleshooting procedures
- Maintenance and basic service procedures
External Systems – Slide Out and Leveling Systems
- Theory of the operation and function of the electric and hydraulic slide outs & leveling systems
- Slide-out rails and roller locations
- Minor Adjustments
- Bulb seals and sweeps – care and maintenance
External Systems – Roof and Sidewalls Identifying the most common issues and repair procedures
- Sealants, caulking, and sealant tape applications
- Final Exam – Requires a passing Grade of 70% or better to receive credit for this class and be allowed to move into the Advanced Classes
Here are a few photos from the various classes and hands-on sessions.
Big Red School House
Talking Toilets
Hot Skin Test Lab
Lets Talk Propane
Electrical Homework
BattleBorn Battery Bank
Suburban Furnace Lab
AC Compressor Lab
Dometic RV Refrigerator Lab
I’m A Registered Tech
What A Week And It is Not Over Yet
Did you read all of that? In addition to the above, you were sent home with homework to accomplish that night. This involved Hot Skin tests, inventorying your watt and amperage usage, power panel inspections, use of your multimeter, and of course the day’s instruction study. Every day I would come back to the rig with some new enlightening fact or information that would shed light on previous bad information.
I knocked out a 90% on the Final Exam and felt pretty darn proud of myself. The first test of my learning capabilities out of the way I was ready for round two. This round would now test my Technical knowledge, time to study, and, get ready for Saturday’s class and test.
I’m Here, Why Not Become A Registered Tech
As I started the week I wondered aloud often to Ginny, what was I thinking? I may have bitten off a bit more than I could chew when it comes to this Registered Technician Class and Testing. As the week progressed the information began to sink in and become easier to recall. Once again the teaching style of Todd Henson put us all at ease and we found out that the information did not drain out our ears.
Todd reminded us to show up early for breakfast, provided by him prior to the Registered Tech class and testing. He was going to introduce us to the best Kolaches in Texas. Better known as “pigs in a blanket” to most, these breakfast sausages wrapped in homemade dough blankets were a TX treat. I can attest to them being damn good.
I scored passed the test, scoring an 85. I was jumping for joy with the rest of the class. I was officially a Registered RVTAA Tech. I had missed a few questions that involved Class A propane tanks and one that I just read incorrectly. I can easily pick up the information I need to fill in that void.
What Now
I must admit I came out of the week and a day of classes thinking very hard about opening my own business. I was armed with all this new and practical information that would give me the confidence that I could fix 80% of the problems on RVs. This could be a great side hustle while we traveled around the US.
The bonus Business class gave me a good foundation to evaluate such a plan. In the end, I choose to just appreciate my newfound wealth of knowledge and confidence. It would help us get down the road safely and without worry that if we did have an issue, I could handle it easily.
