About RV Advocacy

Who are we?

We want to welcome all of you to our new RV Advocacy website, which was created for the RV community, not the RV industry. We came into the RV community in 2022 as full-time RVers, knowing nothing, and have learned a lot in the last few years. We have found the RV community to be warm and welcoming, but our experience with dealerships and manufacturers has left us discouraged and, at times, angry. There are many others just like us.

How many of you have known more about the RV you are shopping for than the salesperson? How many of you have had to fight tooth and nail to get your RV fixed? If this is you, and we suspect it is most of you, we hope this website will provide encouragement, education about the reality of the RV industry, and resources to continue with your RV lifestyle. Only together can we make true and actual change for good.

We are, #StrengthInNumbers

Why do we care?

The RV industry is like no other industry in the United States. According to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), the RV industry is permitted to be “self-certified and self-regulated,” which means the RV industry has zero federal safety regulation requirements. You could say it is like a fox in the hen house.

1. We have to have a VIN (vehicle identification number), right?
2. We have to have a license plate, right?
3. We have to have insurance to drive or tow out of the road, right?
4. We travel up and down U.S. roadways, correct?

So, why are there no “federal safety regulations” for RVs? Baby strollers and car seats have federal safety regulations, but RVs don’t? — Let’s make a change!

The RV industry (majority) is primarily located in one geographic (Elkhart County, Indiana) area with a revolving workforce that bounces around between companies, including many of the owners who start new RV companies with the intention of selling to one of the larger RV parent companies. In most cases, this is when poor design, engineering, and overall quality control issues emerge. We, as RV consumers, are left holding the bag.

In many regards, this industry is well behind the automation curve, which shows up in poor-quality builds and a decrease in safety. Their version of innovation tends to describe cabinet colors or floor plans rather than stronger and better-built frames, suspensions, or structure. The industry has been successful over the decades in manipulating its customers into thinking all of this is normal. A good example of this is saying, "These are rolling earthquakes," or #RVLife, or “You need to be handy to own an RV.” These phrases have been normalized and have allowed the RV industry to get away with poor-quality builds and poor customer service. They throw around the terms, on a case-by-case basis, and goodwill gestures to make excuses for why they won’t honor your warranty and make your repairs.

What We Do?

We believe that we, as RV owners, deserve much, much more than what we’ve been handed. We are their customers and have a say in what we buy! It is time to stop pandering to the RV industry and force them to stop producing poorly designed, under-engineered, and unsafe RVs. We work daily to assist and guide RV Owners in finding the best resolution for their unique situations. We actively push for accountability from RV manufacturers’ executive leadership and federal regulations by NHTSA. While this may be a long process, we believe we have a duty to facilitate these changes in the industry.

Purpose

This website is an advocacy site for YOU and will continue to grow and evolve as needs require. Your contributions to this website will help it grow as well, so thank you for being part of this journey, as we are all in this together! We will force change in this industry, but it requires #StrengthinNumbers and many of you to stand up to the RV industry and hold them accountable.

Contact Us

Need help with an RV-related issue? Contact us at info@rvadvocacy.com