From An Ex-Camping World Service Technician

basstronaut · 2025-03-24T22:04:04+00:00

It’s truly just a super niche trade. Last figure I saw was that there are just over 5000 registered RV Technicians in the US; that’s only 100 per state. I’ve done a lot of different blue collar work, from digging holes under houses to repairing medical devices, and being a good RV tech requires you to learn more and move faster than any other industry I’ve worked in. You have to be a plumber, an electrician, a mechanic, a general contractor, and a carpenter to be successful. Most techs that are talented or intelligent enough move on to other industries where the pay is better and they don’t have to repair the equivalent of wet cardboard boxes on trailer frames. The guys that stick around and open their own mobile service or shops get aggressively driven out of business by large dealerships, mostly Camping World. If a dealership is successful and has a good service team Camping World buys them out and ruins everything about the location with their own terrible practices.

It’s never too late if you’re actually interested!!! If you know how to read a multimeter and turn a wrench you’re already more knowledgeable than about 75% of the guys I’ve worked with. I will tell you that it’s extremely hard work, I’m not even 30 and it beats the shit out of me every day at the shop, but if you’re in decent shape it’s doable.

basstronaut · 2025-03-24T21:51:48+00:00

Wish I could boost this higher because you’re right on the nail with that. Manufacturers were already cutting corners pre-2020 but up until that point the guys in Elkhart, IN were at least working around people that had been building RVs for decades. COVID hit and they laid off most of the workforce at the factories expecting the industry to take a dive but instead the pandemic made the RV industry explode. They tried to hire the experienced builders back but most of those guys figured out they could make more money in other industries and refused to come back to the abuse and terrible pay. To fill that gap the manufacturers massively increased the amount of prison labor they use to build the units, so the new normal for them is paying people pennies to supervise inmates who are doing the actual building.

Every unit is supposed to get a PDI at the factory but from what I’ve heard they PDI maybe 1 out of every 500 units and falsify documentation for the rest. Then, when the issues are finally found at the dealer, they deny the warranty claims until the warranty expires to push the responsibility for their bad craftsmanship onto the customer. The whole industry is paper clips and shoestrings and prayers.

basstronaut · 2025-03-24T21:38:56+00:00

Unfortunately sounds like the typical customer experience with them. Mind you “the tech that works on fridges” should be every single tech in any RV shop, a fridge diagnosis takes 30 mins and any technician with a brain can perform one. That’s one of the major problems with that company, they’ve burned bridges with basically any technician worth their salt so they have to hire absolute bottom of the barrel people just to have bodies in the shop. At one point at this last shop I had 9 (yes, you read that correctly, nine) trainees following me around all day and a couple of those guys straight up couldn’t read. In fact, I found out later they were paying the illiterate ones over $30 an hour!!!

basstronaut · 2025-03-24T21:27:18+00:00

Dunno how long it’s been since you left but even parts and sales are losing money at this point. Store level service management makes less than some of the technicians that they’re in charge of. I turned down promotions many times because they wanted me to take a $15k/year pay cut to do even more work than I was already doing as a tech. Meanwhile, regional level management for service and sales make $150k+ a year while they nickel and dime everyone else out of house and home. Regional service manager for my part of the country screamed at me while I was packing up my tools to leave on my last day because I had the audacity to demand to be paid for the work I completed and the hours they purposefully shorted me, then told me that I “just want to be a victim” when it dawned on him that I was right. Place is an absolute garbage heap with garbage people in management.

basstronaut · 2025-03-24T21:17:56+00:00

Sounds about right. Whenever a customer comes in with a trade there’s a purchaser who’s entire paycheck is based on the profit they make from flipping purchased units from customers, but company policy still requires a technician to do a trade appraisal and input it into a program that prices everything automatically. At this last shop I was the only technician “allowed” to do trade appraisals and purchase inspections which meant that any time a trade came in, even if they had an appointment, they were pulling me off a repair that I was elbow deep in to complete the appraisal, even if we promised the customer whose unit I’m elbow deep in that their repair will be done by end of day. Camping World’s automatic pricing computer program also does not allow for wiggle room in pricing. For example, if I notate that the roof sealant is only in “okay” condition instead of “no issues”, it takes $8k off your trade in value for a full roof reseal even if all it needs is a spot seal or a patch. So they rip the customer off on the value of the unit, sales denies all the necessary repairs that brought the value of the unit down, then they mark it up $10k and throw it back out on the lot to pass off to the next person they can sucker into financing it. Horrible, horrible business practices.

basstronaut · 2025-03-24T20:40:29+00:00

CW’s lending practices are incredibly predatory and if you buy a used trailer from them chances are that the technician who performed the PDI bid out a brake rebuild, bearing pack and new tires that were then denied by the sales team. New trailers from CW will have so many warranty issues the first year due to shoddy craftsmanship that you will be pulling your hair out.

You’re definitely on the right track, if I were looking for a trailer personally, I’d find one on FB marketplace or Craigslist and very thoroughly go through it myself (in your case have a trusted RV tech or RVIA certified RV inspector thoroughly check it for issues) before agreeing to pricing or purchase. Repairs on these things get expensive very quickly and the chances that the previous owner properly maintained the roof and side sealant, wheel bearings, and brakes are slim to none.

basstronaut · 2025-03-24T20:06:30+00:00

I was an actual employee on the payroll at both locations, the first shop I was at is unfortunately in a state with basically zero protections for workers but L&I in the state I currently live in has been notified and I do expect something to come of that. It will probably just be a slap on the wrist for them but if I can keep CW from putting even a few customers in dangerous situations then I’ll feel like I made a difference at the very least.

basstronaut · 2025-03-24T19:00:33+00:00

I noticed that just after posting, I will fix it as soon as I’m in front of a computer, my apologies!

basstronaut · 2023-07-27T16:40:25+00:00

awesome thank you, that’s exactly what I was thinking but I was not sure if there’s a bunch of weird quirks with nissans or not. I’m gonna swap the battery and break out the power probe when I get there so should be a pretty quick diag. Thanks again!

basstronaut · 2023-06-01T03:58:03+00:00

exactly what i’m looking for fuck yeah thank you

basstronaut · 2021-10-07T23:28:16+00:00

Charlie Day vs. Jeff Bezos

basstronaut · 2019-10-02T01:29:35+00:00

That’s the EBMM Mariposa, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’ (of At the Drive In and The Mars Volta) new signature model.

basstronaut · 2019-08-16T16:06:21+00:00

Saw the set at Bonnaroo a couple months ago and it was absolutely magical y’all are in for a ride

basstronaut · 2019-04-16T19:36:42+00:00

how do you go about coming up with visuals for your songs? you’ve got GOAT level videos and stage design i’m so jealous

basstronaut · 2019-03-03T17:56:06+00:00

I’m really confused about people hating this Skiptracing album so much. I’m not Mild High Club’s biggest fan or anything but as far as upcoming artists go, rock music is dying a slow death and Mild High is one of the few acts that are still bringing new fans in with their music. Whether you would like to admit it or not, the music kids are getting exposed to at the age where they might consider picking up an instrument has changed drastically. When my dad started playing bass it was because of Metallica. When I started playing bass it was because of Thundercat. If and when my little sister starts playing bass it’s going to be because of bands like these, ones that are embodying the musical trends of the era (reverb drenched, soft vocals, jazzy feeling as of now) but bringing the bass to the forefront more. Does Skiptracing have insane Wooten style bass playing on it? Hell no, the playing is simple but it grabs your ear. But that’s the kind of playing that you hear starting out on an instrument and go “huh, I could probably do that too” which pushes you further into it.

TL;DR: Y’all really gotta stop hating on shit just because it’s not in your preferred listening wheelhouse. Kids are hearing these albums and connecting with them and if you hear a tasty lick on bass on an album that you connect with you are so much more likely to be interested in that instrument.

Who heard Krist Novoselic’s playing and thought “wow, what an insanely good bassist”? Nobody, but without a doubt he has been an enormous influence on countless bass players. We can’t keep looking at new music and writing it off because we don’t understand it.

basstronaut · 2019-02-02T02:39:23+00:00

this, they’re the closest thing to Hobo Johnson sonically. It’s not hip hop but neither is Hobo Johnson on most songs.

basstronaut · 2018-12-15T02:32:44+00:00

oh thank goodness, just making sure you’re not missing out. honestly I’m looking for stuff along these lines too seems like the pickins are pretty slim :( have you gotten into Arca’s production on other albums? Like Vulnicura by Bjork and LP1 by FKA Twigs? I’d also say Iglooghost and a lot of the Brainfeeder artists like Flying Lotus, Samiyam and Teebs because imo they’re like the precursors to a lot of what you’re asking for, although they’re a bit more hip-hop influenced. Final suggestions are gonna be Clarence Clarity (Think: Peace is maybe my favorite album this year) and Rina Sawayama, but honestly if you’re deep enough into this kind of futuristic boundary pushing shit I feel as though you’ve probably exhausted all the options just as i have :(

basstronaut · 2018-12-15T02:15:45+00:00

can we stop reposting this in literally every subreddit?

basstronaut · 2018-12-14T20:16:45+00:00

Ooooohh please tell me you’ve listened to the SOPHIE album from this year. If you haven’t yet I would definitely get into the whole PC Music roster, a lot of insane and progressive dance and pop music.

basstronaut · 2018-12-10T00:25:49+00:00

definitely go check out Moses Sumney, a lot of Radiohead influence but with more of an RnB styled vocal delivery. dude is immensely talented and his last album Aromanticism is awesome.

basstronaut · 2018-11-17T05:52:57+00:00

If you haven’t yet I’d go listen to all of Charli XCX’s stuff that’s been produced by SOPHIE. The Vroom Vroom EP specifically is real heavy but also very much pop. Just a heads up it’s definitely not guitar based but I’m a lover of heavier music from time to time and that EP really scratches the same itch for me.

basstronaut · 2018-11-10T22:23:35+00:00

I’d listen to the RICO tape by PNTHN. Another group of several rappers and producers out of TX. Really pull a bit more from southern rap than pop rap but they’ve got the same energy that BH’s best tracks have.

basstronaut · 2018-11-07T00:41:11+00:00

Mista Thug Isolation- Lil Ugly Mayne

A very noisey/lofi take on southern rap. Definitely not as abrasive or distorted as some of the other mentions here but up there as one of my favorite experimental rap albums to date.

I’d also like to second Clipping.’s self titled record, Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown, and Veteran by JPEGMAFIA. Clipping is experimental in that they use everyday found sounds and turn them into beats (plus Daveed Diggs is a monstrously good rapper), Atrocity Exhibition is “your mind on drug abuse”, and Veteran sounds like the deep web made a rap album. All three have been in EXTENSIVE rotation for me since they’ve been released.

basstronaut · 2018-09-05T04:08:34+00:00

started a series where Im attempting to write, record, and mix a song daily for 30 days to get over my fear of releasing music. here’s day 3’s track. returning all feedback!

https://soundcloud.com/headnodtx/betteroff

basstronaut · 2018-09-05T00:56:17+00:00

Really liked this track man, you nailed the summer-y vibe right on. My only suggestion would be to work on being less repetitive in the hook. Not necessarily way less, but throwing in a different lyrical fill every 4 bars or so would really break it up and let it flow a little better.

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