CONSIDER THE SOURCE
It’s easy to find information nowadays, especially online, but that doesn’t mean it’s reliable.
By Steve Froese, F276276
One can find information about everything online, from baking the “perfect” cake to building your own bomb shelter, and everything in between. The internet has become a resource for much of the human population, yet most of it is unregulated. That brings me to the topic of this article, which is how to avoid misinformation regarding your RV.
Here at FMCA, it is our mission to provide RV owners with information and resources intended to make the lifestyle safer and more enjoyable. FMCA, as well as our partners, suppliers, and vendors, strives to offer you quality services and education. For my part, I am an experienced licensed professional engineer in British Columbia, as well as an Inter-Provincial Red Seal journeyman RV technician in Canada and a certified technician in the United States. As an engineer, I have spent decades across many industries working in customer service and product support engineering, which means I have spent my career supporting customers, listening to their issues and concerns, and implementing solutions. As a senior RV technician, foreman, and service manager, I have mentored dozens of technicians, performed troubleshooting, and repaired many complex problems. Each staff member, contributor, sponsor, and supplier engaged by FMCA is experienced and dedicated to your success as an RV owner as well.
While some useful information is available on the internet, there is also plenty of bad information. The latter ranges from harmless and incorrect to downright dangerous. Many people will blindly follow this advice without knowing the difference. This is especially true when it comes to RV maintenance and repair information that can be found online.
As I mentioned, there are several sources with reliable information out there, mostly posted by RV technicians or repair centers, but those sources are severely outnumbered by other videos or postings from well-meaning individuals who just don’t have the skills or knowledge to be publishing this information.
If you are searching online for a particular RV repair procedure, I urge you to be extremely careful! If the article or video is branded from a professional RV service center or an individual who is trained technician, it may be perfectly fine. Otherwise, I would caution you to seek another source. There is just no way to tell whether a procedure is accurate, if it applies to your situation, or if it’s safe. Even the ones published by seemingly reputable sources may not apply to your situation. It can be very difficult to tell.
I invite FMCA members to email me directly for assistance with any technical issue you may have with your RV. While I won’t always have an answer for you, the editorial staff or I will generally be able to refer you to a reputable source that may be able to assist. This may include our network of skilled and experienced contributors. I have assisted many of our readers seeking to resolve their RV technical issues and have written about some of these interactions.
Please don’t risk the mechanical integrity of your RV or the safety of your family by relying on random information found on the internet. FMCA and I are here beside you during every mile of your RV journey, whether it’s through our consumer articles, partner information, affinity offerings, or my own technical contributions. Feel free to reach out regarding any of the topics we provide at FMCA, including contacting me at techtalk@fmca.com. We want to keep your journey safe and enjoyable, so avoid the temptation to blindly search on the internet.