Members’ Guide To RV Industry Association Resources

The RV Industry Association is the leading trade voice of the $140 billion dollar RV industry, representing more than 500 manufacturers, component suppliers, and aftermarket suppliers who together produce 98 percent of all RVs made in the United States, and approximately 60 percent of RVs produced worldwide. It is the collective voice of these members that makes the Association so impactful and beneficial to each member.

The Association provides member companies with access to research, resources, and reports unavailable anywhere else. But even more importantly, membership means having the expertise of a talented group of standards, government affairs, research, and marketing professionals who serve as an extension of your own staff. 

We will share how to get the most out of your membership by first detailing what makes up the RV Industry Association and then explaining the specific ways you can maximize your membership.

There are three main pillars that make up the RV Industry Association:

• Go RVing, our consumer-facing advertising arm charged with attracting new consumers to RVing and conducting consumer research.
• RV Technical Institute, our educational arm charged with the training, certification, and recruitment of RV technicians.
• The core programs of the Association consist of self-regulation and industry standards, government relations, events, and market data insights.
  • The Standards  team maintains and contributes to the creation of, and updates to, eight industry standards regulating traditional and park model RVs. They maintain a professional team of full-time inspectors who promote the enhancement of safety by monitoring the adherence to over 500 safety-related standards requirements for the construction of RVs and Park Model RVs. These efforts keep the RV industry self-regulated.
  • The Government Affairs team advocates for the RV industry at the state, federal, and international level to create a favorable business environment, protect against onerous legislation and regulations, and make it easier for consumers to buy, drive, and own an RV.
• Our Data and Research experts provide research, resources, and reports that allow members to stay informed of current and future market trends, consumer trends, and policy trends, as well as resources on current laws, regulations, and standards affecting the RV industry. View the reports available to members.
• The Public Relations team is the voice of the industry, ensuring a cohesive and positive message across the media landscape. The team’s messaging continues to focus on the RV industry’s ability to draw a younger, more diverse consumer base to enjoy the benefits of the outdoors. 

These three pillars of the RV Industry Association work together to promote and protect the RV industry and our members. Now that you know what the Association does, here are the specific steps you can take to ensure you are maximizing your membership:

Set up your My RVIA account. While there is a lot of information and content that can be accessed without logging in as a member on the RV Industry Association website, a login is required to fully access the tremendous amount of resources, research, and reports. Creating an account is a simple, one-time process that will make registering for events and accessing members-only content a breeze! Directions on how to set up an account can be found here.

Sign up for the News & Insights newsletter. The twice-weekly News & Insights Newsletter is the best way to keep tabs on the latest industry trends, new reports, and Association program updates. To sign up for the newsletter, simply fill out the web form at the bottom of this article. In addition to receiving the newsletter on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, you will also receive critical legislative updates on issues impacting the RV industry as well as special member updates.

Participate in events. Examples of industry events hosted by the RV Industry Association include…

• Our signature RVs Move America Week, which place in early June in Washington, D.C. and offers all members the opportunity to set the direction of not only the Association but also impact public policies affecting the RV industry.
• The 2024 Leadership Conference, which brought together over 190 top-tier management, as well as next generation leaders across all segments of the RV industry, for two days of impactful networking, leadership development, and motivational speakers. 
• The 2024 RV Aftermarket Conference, which provides a space for suppliers and distributors to meet in one-on-one "appointment sessions" and pitch new products while taking advantage of key networking opportunities. Attendees also hear from thought-leaders on the state of the RV industry. 

Attend webinars. The RV Industry Association hosts a variety of webinars on topics relevant to the current and future success of the industry. Webinar subjects include quarterly forecast insights, data releases, discussions around trade, information on emerging technology such as e-RVs, sustainability, and more. This is an excellent tool for members who would like an in-depth review of ongoing trends and what they can expect looking ahead!

Get involved on a committee. There are nearly thirty RV Industry Association committees made up of industry volunteers who set the direction of the Association. These committees range from the Go RVing Coalition to the Public and Legislative Affairs Committee to the multiple committees and subcommittees that oversee the Standards Programs. All members are encouraged to serve on a committee. A short description of each committee is available here. To get started, reach out to the staff liaison or chair of any of the committee to express your interest in serving on the committee.

Follow us on social. Whether your preferred social network is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn, we have you covered. Follow us to get the latest updates and engage in conversation on emerging trends.

Have a specific question about your membership? Contact Bill Baker, Vice President of Membership and Research at bbaker@rvia.org or view the directory of department contacts here.