Im sure that this has been mentioned before but reading these post, mostly in the beginners forum, for a traveling classroom. Im one that is always dreaming or looking for ways to turn an honest dollar. It occurs to me that since I like to travel, why not be compensated. My thoughts are that being an experienced (Proffesional truck driver in my other life) that I could help those who are "nervous," or "scared to death" or is just not confident enough or able to pull or back an rv. At one time, I had considered going into the screen print buisness but wanted a commercial set up. The companies I contacted, many of which had a rep on site for set up and learning to operate the equipment for 2 weeks at a rate of something like $2000.00. I was thinking along the lines of $1000 to 1500 per rv couple or person plus some mileage charge. I could see an itinerary of learning some basics such as, like a commercial driver, a walk around inspection, doing a walk thru inspection and what to look for when looking or buying an rv. Figuring weights of TV and RV.and a second week of driving like drivers ed to include proper backing,set up and taking down. I see alot of apprehension on the forum about RVing by some. I know a fella who just started rving this year but the first 2 times out he had problems. He was admittedly overwelmed by the info the rv dealer gave him and so he confided in me. I walked him thru his first setup but I wasnt there when he entered the park. He scraped a tree with his brand new rv. No damage this time. 2 weeks later he comes out and moves from one site to a better site. He pulls his breakaway cable out and the brakes lock up and he has no idea what had happened. I was too far away to get to him when I saw the dilemma but another park user helped him. He circled the camp area to try to get to the site he decided on and he got the same tree but this time the tree was unforgiving and he tore up his roof so it is in the shop for repairs. He said that he pulled it down the hill with the RV brakes set up and they were smoking when he got to the place where I saw him about 1/2 mile. He now knows that if the brakes are set up that the unit wont track normally. He literally dragged it into the tree.Any how Ive seen some issues on that forums that could use some one on one real life experience. Are there any similar programs out there that anyone knows about thats not just a You tube video or a CD to purchase which are useless in the experience department. Of course I would have to get some kind of accredidation also. Just pondering!
Interesting idea, but I can see a couple of problems:
Most of the RV owners I know are on a limited budget or a fixed income. They probably would not be willing to pay a thousand to fifteen hundred dollars plus expenses for such a course, even if they did see some value in it. Would you be able to coordinate with insurance companies to give a discount to your "graduates", similar to the "55 Alive" programs?
What organization is there to certify or accredit a "Recreational Vehicle Driving Instructor"?
The "NEED" may be there, but I'm not so sure the market is ready for it at this time.
Good luck.
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
I think if you worked with your local RV centers, offering the training needed for the new to RVing type you could keep yourself in pocket money. You should develop a training guide for each type of RV you feel you could benefit the new user and talk with the owners/managers of the lots for advertising at their stores. It sure would help a new owner of a larger rig gain the experience needed to properly handle their new home on wheels.
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to hide the bodies of those people I had to kill because they pissed me off.
One of the problems is when you are taking out a vehicle this big, with a novice driver, You really want a closed course.. Imagine, if you will, you are teaching a newby how to back his new hundred Kilo-buck rig into a campside and he goofs and takes out the next door neighbor's half million dollar Prevost..
As the teacher, in a "Class" setting,,, I would not wish to be you.
However on the closed course, the half=million dollar RV is more like a thousand dollars worth of flexible sheething that just pops back into place neither damaged nor damaging.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
If you are charging for the instruction have you researched getting business liability insurance? Both availability and cost.
What would happen if one of your students has a serious accident. The student or the another party might feel that your instruction contributed to the accident. You might have to defend yourself in a civil lawsuit.
Tom_Diane wrote: Im sure that this has been mentioned before but reading these post, mostly in the beginners forum, for a traveling classroom. Im one that is always dreaming or looking for ways to turn an honest dollar. It occurs to me that since I like to travel, why not be compensated. My thoughts are that being an experienced (Proffesional truck driver in my other life) that I could help those who are "nervous," or "scared to death" or is just not confident enough or able to pull or back an rv. At one time, I had considered going into the screen print buisness but wanted a commercial set up. The companies I contacted, many of which had a rep on site for set up and learning to operate the equipment for 2 weeks at a rate of something like $2000.00. I was thinking along the lines of $1000 to 1500 per rv couple or person plus some mileage charge. I could see an itinerary of learning some basics such as, like a commercial driver, a walk around inspection, doing a walk thru inspection and what to look for when looking or buying an rv. Figuring weights of TV and RV.and a second week of driving like drivers ed to include proper backing,set up and taking down. I see alot of apprehension on the forum about RVing by some. I know a fella who just started rving this year but the first 2 times out he had problems. He was admittedly overwelmed by the info the rv dealer gave him and so he confided in me. I walked him thru his first setup but I wasnt there when he entered the park. He scraped a tree with his brand new rv. No damage this time. 2 weeks later he comes out and moves from one site to a better site. He pulls his breakaway cable out and the brakes lock up and he has no idea what had happened. I was too far away to get to him when I saw the dilemma but another park user helped him. He circled the camp area to try to get to the site he decided on and he got the same tree but this time the tree was unforgiving and he tore up his roof so it is in the shop for repairs. He said that he pulled it down the hill with the RV brakes set up and they were smoking when he got to the place where I saw him about 1/2 mile. He now knows that if the brakes are set up that the unit wont track normally. He literally dragged it into the tree.Any how Ive seen some issues on that forums that could use some one on one real life experience. Are there any similar programs out there that anyone knows about thats not just a You tube video or a CD to purchase which are useless in the experience department. Of course I would have to get some kind of accredidation also. Just pondering!
There is an outfit about 2 hours from me that does all of this including driving lessons for two in your own coach over 2 days for under 500 bucks so your price may be a bit high
Todd, Shirley, and the "Maddawgs" min-pins Precious and Buster Brown
2011 Itasca Cambria 30C
2011 Demco KarKaddy 460SS
TST 507 RV TPMS
"if there is anything left when we are gone, then we miscalculated"
I applaud your idea but we sort of worked up to our 5th wheel gradually by having pop-ups for years, then a short hybrid and finally a small 5th wheel. The backing, etc was somewhat of a concern but probably not enough that I would have paid for instruction. My main worry was wondering if I could really get it into our driveway. I did but it's never easy.
A classic business mistake is to try and back into a price for goods and services by determining what you need to make. Any service is only worth what someone will pay for it. I really don't see someone paying $1000s of dollars to learn to drive and load an RV. Comparing it to the costs to learn a skill that makes you money is not a valid comparison. If that worked, why compare the costs to training for a screen printing business, compare it to the costs of becoming a surgeon, after all one mistake in either surgery or driving a rig can be a fatal error. If this is something you really wish to pursue, visit with a couple of RV dealers and get their take on whether or not such a course would be something they might recommend or offer their customers (for a commission of course). They would also be a good source as to how much someone might be willing to pay. BTW, this is probably something that would need state licensing. I don't think you can just hang out a sign that says "driver training" and start taking money in most states. Also, as others have said, I bet the insurance will be astronomically priced.
Most of us learned by buying and reading one of the many RV "how to do it" books which cost $15-25. Then we practiced what we read. However, as this forum proves all day long....people would rather "ask" how to do something than expend some effort and find out for themselves by reading.
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