Want to get your foot in the door as a technician at an RV dealership? Or, ever considered starting one? Maybe you've thought about running your own mobile RV maintenance shop. Life long RV industry expert Dave Helgeson offers tips and advice for all of the above.

Dave is a technical writer for popular RVing websites, and an expert speaker at RV shows and events. He shares the many job opportunities that exist in the RV industry, including hands-on technical work or seasonal and regional jobs. Discover why YouTube may not be the best place to research RV maintenance. And, learn how creators can stand out in the crowded RV content space.

Take a deep dive deep into RV maintenance and discover what you need to know if considering a job as a technician, or starting a mobile repair shop. Meanwhile, this discussion reveals plenty of tips for the DIY crowd who prefers to work on their own rigs.

GUEST BIO: Dave Helgeson has been around travel trailers his entire life. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership long before the term “RV” had been coined. He has served in every position of an RV dealership with the exception of bookkeeping. Dave served as President of a local chapter of the RVDA (Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association), was on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college and was a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. He and his wife Cheri operated their own RV dealership for many years and for the past 29 years have managed RV shows. Dave presents seminars at RV shows across the country and was referred to as "The foremost expert on boondocking" by the late Gary Bunzer, "The RV Doctor". Dave and his wife are currently on their fifth travel trailer with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications on his own unit.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

National RV Training Academy

https://nrvta.com/

RV Technical Institute

https://www.rvti.org/

RV LIFE Network

https://www.rvlifenetwork.com/

TOOLS:

Manometer

https://amzn.to/4eZ7dtY

Multimeter

https://amzn.to/4eCDjw3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

https://therventrepreneur.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

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Join guest Jenn Green as she shares the three email funnels that every RV entrepreneur will want to have in place when hitting the road. These email funnels will help you stay vulnerable, personal, relevant, and more intentional with your marketing. Better yet? They work for you while you're on the road.

GUEST BIO: Jenn Green is an ADHD Mama and Wifey fuelled by mocha lattes and reality TV. She is also your soon-to-be business bestie and the email marketing master you’ve been dreaming of. As a certified funnel pro, she's here to makeover your email marketing so you can easily grow your audience, enroll clients on automatic, book out your waitlist, and change your little corner of the world.

Connect with Jenn:

• Website: www.thejenngreen.com
• Socials: @jenngreenmarketing

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Nail Your Newsletter

https://www.pages.thejenngreen.com/nail-your-newsletter-2/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

https://therventrepreneur.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform

Heather Applegate is a former archaeologist and photographer who now runs a unique apparel printing business out of her customized van, which she calls her mobile workshop. On the road, and at festivals, she creates designs and prints clothing and accessories for individuals, other businesses, and events. Heather's business model allows her to bring her services directly to customers, on the spot, offering convenience and personalization. Her focus on quality and keeping things simple helps create a sustainable business she can do anywhere. Currently based in TN, traveling to festivals across the country, but working to be full time on the road by 2025.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• How Heather transitioned from brick-and-mortar to a mobile business, downsizing her operation while maximizing profitability
• The logistics of converting her van into an off-grid mobile printing studio
• The challenges and rewards of running a product-based business on the road
• Tips for finding the best festivals, RV shows, and events to sell your products
• Why simplifying your product is key to success
• The importance of perfecting your product and staying true to your passion
• Heather’s creative process and some of her favorite items to design
• Insights into the financial side of selling at festivals, including what to expect during the busy season
• Tips for aspiring nomadic graphic artists and product-based entrepreneurs

Connect With Heather:

nomadicgraphicsllc.com

instagram.com/nomadic.graphics

facebook.com/nomadicgraphicsshop

Mentioned In This Episode:

RVE episode #332 with Neil Gibson of Nomad Electric

https://therventrepreneur.com/rve332/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

https://therventrepreneur.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform

MAK shares how to transcend influence with the work they're doing at Bound for Nowhere. Beyond any typical RV content creation, they're producing meaningful movies and creating genuine organic relationships with amazing brands. MAK and her husband Owen have been traveling the globe in all sorts of overlanding rigs for more than eight years. They've been movie makers and storytellers for much longer than that. But above all, they consider themselves artists.

Learn helpful tips for landing brand partnerships, crafting deals, and nurturing long term relationships. Discover the bare bones necessary for a good pitch deck, and what that is if you don't know. Hear what it takes to tell a good story, and what tools are best for everything from planning and project management to production and distribution. And if you're not that good at marketing, discover how that may not be as important as you think if you create the best possible content you can produce.

GUEST BIO: MAK & Owen have been living and working from the road for nearly eight years and travel under the name Bound For Nowhere. They're traversed most of North America and are preparing to embark on the Pan American Highway. As adventure photographers and filmmakers they document travel, the outdoors and the personal development that comes from it. In their travels they seek long distance backpacking, remote surf breaks, spearfishing, good food, wildlife of all kinds but have a keen interest in birds.

Connect & Follow:

Bound for Nowhere

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BoundForNowhere
• Website: http://boundfornowhere.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bound.for.nowhere/

Camp Nowhere Podcast

- Spotify: https://www.headnowhere.com/Spotify

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@campnowherepod

- Website: http://www.Campnowherepodcast.com

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camp.nowhere.podast

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Audiotechnica Mic - https://amzn.to/486T0cb

Zoom Field Recorder - https://amzn.to/482D0b8

Rode Shotgun Mic - https://amzn.to/3NjCnRc

Davinci Resolve - https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve

Riverside - https://riverside.fm/

Transistor - https://transistor.fm/

Notion - https://www.notion.so/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

https://therventrepreneur.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform

Entrepreneurs were never meant to be content production houses. Learn from Sandy Sidhu about how you can stop feeding the beast and start leaning into more strategic and affordable ads. On this episode, Sandy Sidhu and co-host Kimberly Crossland talk about the best types of ads for going off-grid, how not to overspend (especially when you're traveling), and how to get going from start to finish with ads.

GUEST BIO: Sandy Sidhu is an accomplished ads specialist dedicated to problem-solving, analyzing results + making suggestions to the client based on their results. She loves all things technology + geeking out over Facebook ads & marketing strategies. She left the corporate world to pursue her own digital marketing business over 10 years ago.

Connect with Sandy:

https://www.sandysidhumedia.com/bookcall/

https://www.instagram.com/adswithsandy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

https://therventrepreneur.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform

On this episode of the RVE Podcast, Angela and Vince DiLoreto from Fitting In Adventure delve into the unconventional strategies that define their success as RV entrepreneurs. Discover how Angela breaks typical content creation rules to focus on authenticity and passion-driven content. Spoiler Alert: It's all about enjoying what you do and being genuine. Explore their unique approach to digital marketing and how prioritizing genuine engagement over algorithms has shaped their creativity and their lifestyle.

From a childhood dream of RV living to embracing full-time life on the road, the DiLoretos share their transition from traditional living to becoming RV content creators always on the hunt for adventure. Discover the joys and challenges of living, working, and producing content while living life to the fullest on the open road.

Topics Covered:

• Transitioning to full-time RVing and the decision-making process behind it.

• Strategies for content creation focused on authenticity and passion.
• The role of digital marketing in promoting RV-based business ventures.
• Practical tips for managing life and business while traveling.

GUEST BIO: Our mission at Fitting in Adventure is to Showcase that an adventurous life doesn’t have to mean expensive trips that begin with passport stamps (although we love those too). You can find an adventure to feed your soul nearby too! We hope our adventures big and small inspire you to add some adventure into your life!

Connect with Angela & Vince:

https://fittinginadventure.com

https://www.youtube.com/@FittingInAdventure

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelamdiloreto

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Notion: https://www.notion.so

TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com⁠

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform⁠

Looking to get your brand featured in the media? Need guidance from a top PR expert? This episode is just what you need! Heather Holmes, the founder and CEO of Publicity For Good, brings over a decade of experience as a publicist with a mission to help purpose-driven consumer brands expand their reach, build credibility, and make a positive impact. Remarkably, she grew Publicity For Good into a seven-figure company while living and working from her family's Airstream for 3 1/2 years as they traveled across America.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Heather's intentional decision to live in an Airstream while building her business
• Benefits of PR
• How to craft a compelling story
• Different types of media
• Common misconceptions and value of PR
• PR strategies for entrepreneurs starting out
• Hiring a PR firm and when to work with one
• Low cost and creative PR strategies
• How to build confidence in pitching to the media.

Connect with Heather:

https://publicityforgood.com/

https://www.signalraptor.com/

https://www.instagram.com/publicity.for.good/

https://www.instagram.com/heatherdesantis/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

https://therventrepreneur.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform

Just like there's uncertainty when you hit the road in your RV, there's also uncertainty when start a business. While you often think you know what you want to do, it's not until you've put your ideas into motion that you're able to fine-tune what you want and uncover what lights you up. That was the case for Jennilyn Gaitan who founded Hot Mess Fix Chick after hitting the road and starting her business. In this episode, you'll discover how she found her most valuable offers by listening to her customers. You'll also discover why she believes in the importance of multiple income streams, good connectivity, and a curious heart in entrepreneurship and life.

GUEST BIO: Jennilyn Gaitan has been a full-time RVer since November 2020. She has worked in administrative roles in multiple industries over the last 20 years of her career. From handling the admin side of photography businesses to admin roles in retail, higher-ed and real estate, to finally starting her own virtual administration business, Hot Mess Fix Chick. She loves travel, has visited 42 states in her RV (that she tows too!) and would go to Disney World every day if she could.

Connect with Jennilyn:

https://www.jennilyngaitan.com/

https://journeywiththegs.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennilyn-gaitan-88bb9192/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

https://therventrepreneur.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform

RV LIFE presents this commercial free Ask Us Anything episode of the RVE Podcast recorded Live during The RV Entrepreneur Workshop during the 2024 Hershey RV Show, with Kimberly, Rose and Jim answering questions from attendees about everything from the never-ending life/work balance game, SEO for Youtube channels, how to start a podcast, social media vs. word of mouth marketing, and so much more.

Many thanks to all the attendees and everyone who helped make The RVE Workshop and RV LIFE After Party @Hershey 2024 a success including our partners; Jayco, KoolRV, Open Road Resorts, Lithionics Battery, Airskirts, RVTV, Open Roads fuel card, Clear Two Oh, Workamper News, and more.

Meet Your Hosts:

• Jim Nelson @LiveWorkDream - https://liveworkdream.com/

• Rose Willard @ResetYourJourney - https://resetyourjourney.com/

• Kimberly Crossland @KimberlyCrossland - https://kimberlycrossland.com/

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The RVE Talent Pool - https://therventrepreneur.com/talent/

• Video AI - https://vidyo.ai/

• Zombie Loyalists, Peter Shankman - https://amzn.to/3B7kqSX

• Workampers Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/weloveworkamping/

• Derscript Podcast Editing - https://www.descript.com/

• Pad Flynn: How to Start A Podcast - https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/guides/how-to-start-a-podcast-tutorial-pat-flynn/

• Skool Community Platform - https://www.skool.com/

• Semrush - https://www.semrush.com/

Related RVE Podcast Episodes

• #325 - 10 Ways I Make Money While I RV with Kathy Belge https://therventrepreneur.com/rve325/

• #351 - Running a Land Investment Business From the Road with Jill DeWitt https://therventrepreneur.com/rve351/

• #316 - From High Stress Corporate Job to RV Entrepreneur with Suzy Wraines https://therventrepreneur.com/rve316/

Related RVE News Articles

Prevent Analysis Paralysis: Stop Researching And Start Applying https://therventrepreneur.com/analysis-paralysis/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

https://therventrepreneur.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform

Dive into the harmonious world of Chuck and Michelle, known on stage as The Status Crowes. Discover how this dynamic duo transitioned from the default life to full-time RVing, fueled by their passion for music and independence. From their first exposure to RV life via YouTube to becoming the ultimate all-request acoustic duo, Chuck and Michelle share the evolution of their musical career and RV lifestyle. Recorded as we gear up for the Hershey RV Show where The Status Crowes will perform at the RV LIFE After Party.

This episode offers a blend of personal stories, professional insights, and the unique challenges of booking gigs while on the road. Whether you're a fan of heartfelt performances or curious about nomadic living, join us for an engaging discussion that resonates with freedom, adaptation, and the art of following one’s own path. Hear hekpful tips that apply to musicians, speakers, or any entrepreneur pitching themselves or their products. Listen to the end to learn why you shouldn't be a donkey.

GUEST BIO: The Status Crowes are Chuck & Michelle, the ultimate all-request acoustic jukebox duo. With a repertoire of more than 1,500 songs, they pride themselves on making every show unique, and gladly take requests from their audience. Pop, Rock, Country, R&B, Oldies, or Current Hits. Combining their passions of travel and performing, they live the full-time van lifestyle in “Gwenivan”, their self-built, fully customized Ford Transit.

Connect with Chuck & Michelle:

https://statuscrowes.com/

https://www.youtube.com/c/StatusCrowes

https://www.facebook.com/statuscrowes

https://www.instagram.com/statuscrowes/

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Bands in Town: https://www.bandsintown.com/

Gig Salad: https://www.gigsalad.com/

RV LIFE Trip Wizard: https://tripwizard.rvlife.com/

Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps

Open Mic Finder App: https://www.openmic.us/

Roadside America App: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/mobile/

Harvest Hosts: https://harvesthosts.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

https://therventrepreneur.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform⁠

Ready for a realistic yet inspiring look at what it means to live, work, and homeschool on the road? Rose sits down with Vanessa Russell of The Adventure Detour, who, along with her husband and daughter, has been living the full-time RV life since 2015. Their journey began with a desire for more family time and a deeper sense of connectedness. This decision to hit the road led Vanessa to start blogging about their adventures, which opened the door to writing opportunities for RV-related websites and magazines. As their presence grew, they expanded into content creation, collaborating with brands to produce social media ads and more.

Vanessa discusses the freedom that comes with being an entrepreneur, particularly when it comes to finances and setting your own schedule. She shares valuable tips on finding a sustainable travel pace and navigating the sometimes tricky world of campsite availability. The conversation also delves into the unique balance of homeschooling and working from the road. Flexibility, Vanessa notes, is key–whether it’s prioritizing travel or adapting homeschooling to fit your ever-changing schedule. She encourages embracing the experiential learning that road schooling offers, turning every journey into an educational adventure.

However, working on the road isn’t always as glamorous as it might seem. Vanessa highlights the challenges, such as finding reliable workspaces and securing internet access. Budgeting is another significant hurdle for full-time RVers. Yet, these challenges are all part of the adventure, often leading to memorable stories shared around the campfire. Vanessa’s advice? Stay flexible, adapt to the unexpected, and connect with the supportive RV community. There are numerous resources out there for RV entrepreneurs, and plugging into them can make all the difference.

Connect with Vanessa:

⁠https://TheAdventureDetour.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠@theadventuredetour⁠

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RV ENTREPRENEUR

⁠⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com⁠⁠

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Join the RVE community on Facebook!

⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠⁠

Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials

⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠⁠

Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠⁠

(NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.)

Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form:

⁠⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform⁠