National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) faculty members will be actively involved in the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA)’s convention this week.
The association’s in-person 102nd International Convention & RV Expo will take place March 10-13 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, Georgia.
“We are really looking forward to being at the FMCA convention this year,” NRVTA Marketing Director Tony Flammia said. “This is the first large RV rally to be held in more than a year, so we are expecting a large turnout of current and prospective RVers. We know they are going to be hungry to learn more information about their units and the RV lifestyle.”
NRVTA President Terry “Cooper” Cooper led FMCA’s RV Basics Workshop at the venue Sunday, where participants were offered courses on key preparation, operation, safety and maintenance practices essential for “trouble-free travel,” Cooper said.
The upcoming convention’s 2.5-day course will reacquaint RV owners with their unit’s operation and systems, the company stated. Cooper will lead the event for the first time after “The RV Doctor” Gary Bunzer’s death last year. Bunzer previously led the presentation for years, NRVTA stated.
“Through a series of workshops, demonstrations and hands-on exercises, participants will be able to perform basic maintenance on their own RVs,” Cooper said. “By the time the workshop ends, they will know what repairs they can do themselves and which problems are best left to a trained RV service professional.”
In addition to the RV Basics Workshop, NRVTA staff members will present one-hour seminars throughout the week, including:
- “Top 5 Things That Will Go Wrong”: Cooper will describe common problems RVers face on the road and offer solutions to resolve them.
- “Do I Need Solar Power & Batteries?”: Cooper will explain how much solar power RVers typically need, in addition to reviewing solar panel types and sizes that are needed. He will discuss technical confusion regarding volts, watts and amp-hours.
- “RV Electrical”: Participants will gain an understanding of RV wiring and power sources to make informed decisions about what sources to draw power from, Cooper said. He will also provide troubleshooting tips.
- “Waste Management: It All Flows Downhill”: Cooper said he will explain dumping holding tank basics without making a mess. He will demonstrate how to get the job done in less than 15 minutes, NRVTA stated, and offer maintenance tips to care for the three holding tanks types installed on nearly every RV.
- “Learning to Live Easy in Your RV Kitchen”: Presented by Cooper’s wife, NRVTA Administrator Evada Cooper, participants will learn how to enjoy home conveniences with RV appliance operation. She will provide a popular appliance overview, in addition to offering tips on food storage and kitchen organization.
- “Storage Tips & Tricks”: Evada Cooper will lead the workshop, showing attendees how to fit food, clothes, camp chairs, kids, pets and hoses into 400-square-feet or less so items fit securely and can be accessed when necessary.
“Because the RV industry exploded in popularity last year, we know that wait times to get RVs in for service can be discouraging in some parts of the country,” Flammia said. “We have developed these seminars and workshops to educate RV users to better maintain their units so they do not have to go in for repair as often. But we are also going to show them do-it-yourself basic maintenance procedures to help reduce their dependency on dealership service departments.”
Flammia said he will staff NRVTA’s booth in the supplier area to assist those interested in enrolling in NRVTA classes as RV owners, in addition to those interested in advanced training to become NRVTA-certified RV technicians or inspectors.
Those interested in attending FMCA’s international convention can do so here or call 800-543-3622.
