Technician
I would like to become an caravan technician and agree that a 5 days course doesn't make you so,but wich dealer take to work someone with no certifications?
I been Looking around at course like MCEA wich it s only 5 days course.After that of course you still have to do some other course and qualifications wich brought me on the NCC accademy
http://www.nccacademy.org.uk/
who give qualifications like STGW for gas (ex ACOP).
I think to do their course as they are AWS approved, and after that looking for job to some dealers.
What people think about that?
Any help tips advice very appreciated!!
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5 days on gas
5 days on electrics
5 days on brakes and chassis
5 days on bodywork and leaks
5 days on customer relations
and a lifetime of experience!!
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Thanks for answer, But for the few job opportunity I see online everyone looking for experienced people JVB66. But if you know someone who can give me a job let me know
So Navigater in less than a month:P Cool!!
Nope. That is more than a month unless they do courses through the weekends
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Wow is that how long training programs are now.
I served 5yrs as a tea boy learning engineering,then worked in engineering for 44yrs at many tasks, and I can still learn new things from watching others.
There is no substitute for experience and a good apprentaship.
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Wow is that how long training programs are now.
I served 5yrs as a tea boy learning engineering,then worked in engineering for 44yrs at many tasks, and I can still learn new things from watching others.
There is no substitute for experience and a good apprentaship.
I also served a 5 year indentured apprenticeship with a Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Jaguar main dealer when I left school, at very low wages. I left because I wanted to be an engineer not a fitter and it was at the beginning of when garages repaired very few
items, but merely replaced them. My formal engineering training and skills were rarely called upon. It's even less satisfying now with the proliferation of diagnostic electronics and unrepairable components.My advice to MadMax is to phone a couple of technical/workshop managers at 'van/motorhome centres and ask them if he could drop in for advice. Surely they'd be happy to give a keen person fifteen minutes over a coffee even if they had no vacancies themselves?
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It would be worth getting in touch with these people: http://www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk/
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Thanks everyone for the answer, but if you see the post title says technician not Engineer!! Was too much to pretend to be engineer in a month is it Navigater :P
Thanks Spriddler infact it s what I am trying to do, already applying for job in all the centre near London and not, I am willing to move for this job, and I mean with all my family
Brian1 already contacted them about the course cost and will contact as well one of the member near to me for a chat.
About the course, personally I think that would be better looking for a job with some qualifications and just a bit of known about the think you going to do "if this make sense", and if luckly found the job before the course ask the company to pay for them?
I am reading a lot around and at the end of the day you should have like the stwg qualifications to work with gas for example.Thanks again to all for answering
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It's no suprise that people are unhappy with the service they get at some of these so called Dealers. MMM is working with the National Caravan Council Approved Workshop Scheme ( AWS ) on a MAJOR AWARENESS CAMPAIGN to highlight why motorhomers should take
their prize possession to these so called workshops. I took our Swift in with a water leak and I was told they had re-cut the thread in the plastic tank. Enquiring if they had fitted an adaptor I was told it didn't need one. All they had done was put even
more PTFE Tape round the fitting and it still leaked.As for training these so called technicians should have proper qualifications. Not just a certificate to say he / she attended a course on screw fitting. Last guy I meet working on my MH was an ex-policeman. All they do is swap parts. No one repairs or knows
how to repair anything. All they have is a few screwdrivers and spanners and they are QUALIFIED .. Best person to fix your MH is yourself. At least when it's done you know it's fixed. Also less hassel than taking it back and a darn sight cheaper.So if MMM want to do something useful how about doing some PROPER Training.
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You had a very bad luck QFOUR...
I agree with about the training but there are the only think that you found around to start somewereand have a little qualifications. And are course approved by AWS and NCC as well. I mean I got a bit of experience but they come as someone said from life
and you must have to work. It' s a big change for me and a bit of money that hope will be come back working and always learning more
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You had a very bad luck QFOUR...
I agree with about the training but there are the only think that you found around to start somewereand have a little qualifications. And are course approved by AWS and NCC as well. I mean I got a bit of experience but they come as someone said from life and you must have to work. It' s a big change for me and a bit of money that hope will be come back working and always learning more
Experience is something you get just after you need it!
I think all workers on cars and caravans are 'technicians' these days. I have been restoring vintage British motorbikes for 20 years and have found that traditional oily rag 'Engineers' are more usually found in small businesses tucked away in converted farm buildings or 'Business Park' units with lathes and milling machines etc .........and they are usually not young!
My nephew was trained as a motor mechanic at a BMW dealership. He's been there 17 years and is now officially called a 'Technician'.
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"Best person to fix your MH is yourself. At least when it's done you know it's fixed. Also less hassel than taking it back and a darn sight cheaper."
I would still rather have a qualified gas engineer to check out the flammable side of things though.
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Best person to fix your MH is yourself. At least when it's done you know it's fixed. Also less hassel than taking it back and a darn sight cheaper.
I couldn't agree more. Same applies to nearly every other job I can imagine in a domestic situation. Occaisonally jobs are so unpleasant, or require specific facillities/tools (not skills) that one may prefer to contract them out, but IMHO you should know
- or find out - HOW to do the job yourself.(Hard hat on
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"I have been restoring vintage British motorbikes for 20 years and have found that traditional oily rag 'Engineers' are more usually found in small businesses tucked away in converted farm buildings or 'Business Park' units with lathes and milling
machines etc .........and they are usually not young!"I would love to find a little place where build campervan expecially. I build my own and it's cool for my use (will show pics in other post
So for this reason this kind of course will be no too bad, I am not pretending to do the corse and the day after
work on my own."I agree that it's ideal if one can do one's own servicing etc. but Max is seeking
paid employment."you get the point as I got a family to look after and don't think at 37y I am too old start a new career in what I love to do.
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don't think at 37y I am too old start a new career in what I love to do.
You have something there that cannot be got from a course, no matter how long or what acronym approves it!!
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Two years training ten years learning in electricity industry not much seen or done retired after 35 years still Learning so much learn in life
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Of course guys you always will be learn...In my country we say that the old man was 90 years old and still learn, I agree, but I havee to start somewhere. I didn't say and don t pretend to be professional after this course but just to have something where start
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Max, you go for it. Try and get some qualifications relating to gas, electrics and the mechanical side of caravans, such as working on the braking systems, maybe something relating to construction (both new and older vans). New buyers, with fancy all singing
and dancing new vans won't use you, they have to go back to the dealers for warranty and checks. But older van owners will find mobile services like gold dust. A lot of fittings and fixtures are not rocket science, still use screws and glue, still no more
than basic plumbing and wiring, learning the best way to put something back together or check it out safely is just basic DIY and a bit of common sense. We have done all sorts in our vans, replaced fridges, water heaters, gas fires, rebuilt slightly damp walls,
resealed leaking joints, upholstery, carpets, shower trays. If you are carrying out the work for others, then it needs to have some sort of guarantee and safety recognised standard, hence the need for some qualifications and study. Might take you a while and
a bit of expenditure to get your business on a sound footing, but once word and recommendation gets around, I am sure you could make a go of things. Start a photo diary as well, before and after, so that you can showcase your work. Perhaps get hold of an old
van, do it up to hone your skills and then sell on?
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Max, you go for it. Try and get some qualifications relating to gas, electrics and the mechanical side of caravans, such as working on the braking systems, maybe something relating to construction (both new and older vans). New buyers, with fancy all singing
and dancing new vans won't use you, they have to go back to the dealers for warranty and checks. But older van owners will find mobile services like gold dust. A lot of fittings and fixtures are not rocket science, still use screws and glue, still no more
than basic plumbing and wiring, learning the best way to put something back together or check it out safely is just basic DIY and a bit of common sense. We have done all sorts in our vans, replaced fridges, water heaters, gas fires, rebuilt slightly damp walls,
resealed leaking joints, upholstery, carpets, shower trays. If you are carrying out the work for others, then it needs to have some sort of guarantee and safety recognised standard, hence the need for some qualifications and study. Might take you a while and
a bit of expenditure to get your business on a sound footing, but once word and recommendation gets around, I am sure you could make a go of things. Start a photo diary as well, before and after, so that you can showcase your work. Perhaps get hold of an old
van, do it up to hone your skills and then sCheers takethedogalong...very appreciated your answer....I will do my best to start working in this "world"
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Diversify as well... Valeting, inside and out. Towing too and from sites, there are a few who might consider this, especially if they have lost license for one reason or another, but don't want to give up Caravanning.
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Oh and of course business cards delivered to local caravan sites. I often see mobile repair bods undertaking repairs on site when folk have problems whilst towing. I had a chap out this year as I had a leaking pipe joint. I couldn't do it myself as the location was awkward and because of that the arthritis in my thumb stopped me getting a purchase. Easy job for him. I had met the chap before when he sorted out a motor mover problem a few years ago on another site. He is ex Army and said that he often is called to the site that I was on. How did I find him? One of acouple of cards pinned up in the site info room.
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Diversify as well... Valeting, inside and out. Towing too and from sites, there are a few who might consider this, especially if they have lost license for one reason or another, but don't want to give up Caravanning.
Thanks mate for idea...My post was to have advice not moning about unlucky job
Thanks to easyT as well for another good advice
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