If I Could Go to RV Inspection School All Over Again, Would I Do Things Differently?

In this video I go through how I would do things differently as an RV Inspector. I discuss the training, the fees, sertting up the marketing materials and more. This video is for anyone looking to be a Certified Inspector or Certified Technician. It will provide lots of great tips for those getting ready to enter the program.
#rvlife #rvlifestyle #rvliving #debsrvservices
My website is www.debsrvservices.net

[@Bruce-da-Roamer]

Awesome info Deb! Looking at Inspector/Tech training in about 2 years when I retire, so this helped a lot!

[@daddie_longlegs9357]

Great video Deb, very informative! Thanks to your great inspection we are enjoying our Artice Fox 1140 Truck Camper, your inspection was the deciding factor in our purchase, thank you so much! We hope to see you in desert this fall! Keep these great videos coming!!

[@debsrvservices]

Thanks so much!!! Yes I hope to see you this fall!

[@mikewatkins978]

Morning Deb, as always a well laid out informative vid, Inspecting carries a weight, the "What Did I Miss", Having a plan and check list helps keep you on track for the on site procedure, have a routine, a full walk around and then get in close and inspect. Look for siding separation and delamination is the easiest and a definite walk away from the deal. Once it starts there's no stopping it. The roof is the most revealing of how the RV was taken care of, if it hasn't be resealed and is over 5 yrs old you can bet on a leak, also is it a crowned roof or a flat top,, flat tops become swimming pools in the fall, winter & spring so water has a long time to find its way back to earth. The running lights along the roof, front & rear are also very prone to leakage, it happens where the screws pernitrate the roof or roof caps, also the hole into the house where the power wires go, Sealant around the bases of these lamps is an indicator that there might have been a leak under one of them. When I reseal them I first remove them from the surface, remove most of the sealant around the wire hole then reapply sealant, then force sealant into the screw holes and follow that with sealant on the screw threads before installing them. Awnings, they love to collect water, even rolled up, always do a full roll out of it and inspect the seam line against the roof for separation of the track screws to house joint. Any dry piriod during these months I'll roll out the awning just to let it dry and change the water that collected during the rains. Having a portable 6ft ladder along will let you up above eye height and find what the seller might be hiding, also helps you climb those rear roof ladders. I guess I could go on and on about what tools to take on an inspection, but if you don't know how to use them they're dead weight. Did you know that you can check the condition or the engine coolant with a multi meter? It's simple, one probe, don't let that probe touch the radiator, in the coolant and the other on the chassis ground, be it a frame member or the wiring harness, anything over .5 volts the cooling system is now a battery and moving soft metal to the hard metal. Don't use the coolant ranivore for coolant access, it's isolated from the engine and I guarantee that coolant is old but not an issue This means the the gasket material is denigrating, aluminum is pitting, where the aluminum timing chain covers to engine block surfaces are pitting, even the surface where the coolant hose is covering the the thermostat housing and lower water pump to hose surface, heater hose surface to aluminum cooling system outlets, and so on. Watch out for generators, the Onan's have problems with fuel pumps and supply, they might run for a quick test but they need to run for more than an hour to be dependable. Se what I mean about on & on,,,,? Love your vid's !

[@debsrvservices]

Game changer!!! I am a visual so I had to go to KZbin land and find a video watching someone do it. This is wonderful! I will start doing this right away. So many people ask about fluid analysis and it takes a long time to get the results back and is pricey for my client. This is a simple way to verify! Thank you for your helpful information and please do go on and on 🤣

[@mikewatkins978]

@@debsrvservicesOn & on,,,,,,, Fluids and dip sticks, easy condition check is the carboning on the dip stick itself, if the stick isn't clean metal and has discoloration on the area in the pan & fluid then the trans and/or engine has been well maintained, decolorization is an indication of heat build up due to poor lubrication, again, a walk away from the deal. It's easy to have a fluid changed before selling but you can't hide the tale tale signs of neglect. Also inspect the end of the stick for fine scratches of someone cleaning the stick with an abrasive pad, even sand paper can be used to clean the sticks, I've seen used car dealers do that to conceal excessive wear. On dry batteries, most of the time just adding distilled water can rejuvenate them, but if they don't come back to life with the refill then they're toast. Cheap easy check, hook up the multimeter to the batteries posts and watch as the voltage increases when you've topped them off, don't fill above the lower lip of the cap hole, never fill a battery to the top of the hole, when the battery is being charged the water will force it's way out of the cell and spill out on top of the battery, and it's not water now, it's acid that eats everything in it's path. Avoid handling the caps without rubber gloves on or letting the the battery housing touch your cloths, there's always a fine layer of acid on the outside of any used battery. On & on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, And what engine is in your rig?

[@debsrvservices]

@mikewatkins978 I have a Ford E450 Triton V10

[@mikewatkins978]

@@debsrvservices Great, that's what I needed, is your email listed on your web site? That way we can communicate and I can link Amazon ads, can't can't link in the comment section of YT.

[@debsrvservices]

Yes and it is [e-mail]

[@ceetee2021]

Great video Deb. This is not a field I would go into because I love being retired but I enjoy watching you do your thing. I purchased a 2 year old motor home 6 1/2 years ago and hired a certified tech to go thru my RV. That was the one thing I did right. I got very lucky with the inspector I hired & the Class C I purchased. Nothing came up on the inspection and nothing has gone wrong since I purchased it. I keep up on maintenance which keeps me busy but I take tools and supplies with me on the road so I can do things when I feel like it. I don't change my oil and filter, perfectly happy to pay someone with lift do it. ✌☮

[@debsrvservices]

That is awesome! Thank you so much for watching. 😊

[@aricellis]

Great video. I am changing careers and headed to Athens, TX next month for Fundamentals and the inspection courses. I will add on all the tech courses before the end of the year, so hopefully the testing won't be such a challenge.

[@debsrvservices]

Great idea! You will love it!

[@lady_kas7825]

19:36 TY for the specific recommendations!!

[@debsrvservices]

You’re welcome!☺️

[@scottwall4669]

OMG I am waiting for Deb to be the professor of the class. I will sign up!! I have a major crush on the teacher!!

[@debsrvservices]

Lol! You would be my top student!!! 🤣

[@lisanichols6837]

Some day

[@debsrvservices]

Haha Lisa!!!

[@nomad1500mb]

Excellent video which provided a great follow-up to our conversation last week. Thank you so much! We're heading to Athens this weekend for the fundamentals course. Looking forward to putting all this to great use. Regarding computers, I'm an Apple guy as well for phones and tablets, but we still use PCs for other stuff so that works well for us. Regarding the Plum (iPlum?) service, I assume you use this app on your personal iPhone to keep business calls separated. Did you consider Google Voice? It does look like iPlum is a tad cheaper than Google Voice, so I'm open to that. Again, thank you for the insight. Mark B.

[@debsrvservices]

Yes, it is called IPlum and it is an app. I created a phone number based on my earlier location. It has worked great for me. I’m glad you enjoyed the video and I am excited to hear how the class goes for you!

[@swayme67]

Great video! I go to school in September for just the inspector classes and will return in '25 for tech school (time away from work is the limiter) so I have a more steady income stream. Thank you for your insights! PLM

[@debsrvservices]

Wonderful! Best of luck to you!

[@daviscrt]

Great information. As a Retired correctional officer, I decided to become a RV tech instead of an Inspector, because of the yearly fees, and slow seasons. I think as a RV tech, there is more opportunity for repair than inspections. More if your both. Thanks Don

[@debsrvservices]

I agree Don! I’m learning my tech slowly and was just thinking of having classes on Tools 101. For those that never worked with tools before. It is an assumed knowledge going into these programs. Everytime I fix something new It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

[@williamrobison]

Interesting. Can someone share the fee differences between the two options? Any discounting for both?

[@williamrobison]

sorry, this was answered, just needed to listen longer. Great video.

[@borabora4480]

Do you have access to each manufacturer build specs. Wiring diagrams etc.

[@debsrvservices]

I attempt to get a build sheet for each inspection. I download the brochure for my inspection as well.

[@ready2roamrv289]

I'm considering becoming an RV inspector, but I'm just not sure if there's enough business in my area. The locator says there aren't any Certified Inspectors within an hour radius of me, but I'm still feeling out the local need. 😬🤷

[@borabora4480]

Include industry standards citations for report. Electrical, plumbing, flooring. Roofing, structural, etc. These citations will assist during client negotiations with dealerships.

[@borabora4480]

Errors & omissions insurance ( same as professional liability) is critical to have.

[@diann546]

I owned a small business. If a person has not owned one, or heard someone rant about what is needed to own one, I would think the business class, might be a good choice. You don't know, what you don't know. Of course, I learn much from KZbin, so perhaps that with some other study would be enough? Spot on with your KZbin referrals! I watch them both.

[@debsrvservices]

Thank you! Yes this being my first business I didn’t know much. They give you a small course included with the training. There is so much to learn! Thank you for watching and commenting. I appreciate it!

[@borabora4480]

Always check web domain name availability prior to business registration and ordering cards. Make sure your client files are secure on your computer, phone and servers. You are responsible for their data privacy.

[@debsrvservices]

Yes the client information is all part of answering purchased software that requires credentials to access. Thank you!

[@SpykersB]

I would definitely find this video helpful if I were pursuing to become rv tech or inspector. I'm done in this life time of school n careers. This would be my choice of career in my next life lol. But this was still interesting to hear. If I ever get across the border in my truck camper would love to send u an email n meet up to say 'hi'. I think you're a fabulous inspiration to women looking to go into the rv service careers. 🍻

[@debsrvservices]

Thank you so much and I would be happy to meet up too!

[@ariesbarb418]

I have an EIN, and I've never had an LLC, I was only a sole proprietor. So I'm not sure an LLC is really necessary.

[@debsrvservices]

Ahhhhhh ok! That is really good to know! I thought it was my LLC that gave me the EIN. Thank you!

[@ready2roamrv289]

Your EIN is for tax purposes, no matter the business type. It's a federal identifyer. I had a sole proprietorship in the past and just started an LLC (not as an inspector, though). Got my new EIN today! 😊

[@debsrvservices]

Thank you for clarifying!! 😊

[@Kentucky4runner]

Thanks for a very honest video with some great perspective-both from where you have been and what is working and should be modified as you move forward.

[@debsrvservices]

Thank you! I appreciate the comment and watching the video😊