Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians

Diagnose, inspect, adjust, repair, or overhaul recreational vehicles including travel trailers. May specialize in maintaining gas, electrical, hydraulic, plumbing, or chassis/towing systems as well as repairing generators, appliances, and interior components. Includes workers who perform customized van conversions.

The occupation "Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians" has a relatively low automation risk of 17.4%, only slightly below the base risk of 17.6%. This low score is primarily due to the hands-on nature of the work, which often requires specialized skills and physical dexterity. While there are certain technical procedures that could potentially be automated, much of the job involves diagnosing complex problems in a variety of systems—electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and structural—unique to each vehicle. Unlike jobs characterized by repetitive tasks, RV service work is highly situational and demands adaptive problem-solving, which current automation technologies find challenging. The most automatable tasks within this occupation include explaining the proper operation of vehicle systems to customers, locating and repairing frayed or incorrect wiring using various tools, and repairing plumbing or propane gas lines. These tasks often involve routine procedures, step-by-step troubleshooting, and communication of standard information, all of which could, in theory, be managed or assisted by sophisticated AI and robotics. For example, virtual assistants could guide customers through vehicle systems, and robotics could perform inspections or basic repairs where procedures are standardized and environments are controlled. However, the diversity and unpredictability of RV models and configurations currently limit the practicality of full automation in these areas. On the other hand, tasks most resistant to automation are those that involve detailed manual work or require creative problem-solving. Sealing open sides of modular units for shipment, refinishing wood surfaces using manual or semi-manual tools, and resetting hardware with chisels and mallets demand human judgment, dexterity, and experience—qualities difficult to replicate with machines. Bottleneck skills such as originality (scoring 2.5%-2.6% in importance) indicate that even routine repairs often require custom solutions devised by experienced technicians. As long as these elements of craft, customization, and adaptability are essential to RV servicing, the role will remain insulated from widespread automation.