My RV Resource loves sharing details about our Featured VIP members and this week, we’re proud to spotlight Dana Cooper at I Spy RV Inspections & More LLC.
Tell us a little about your situation while running I Spy RV Inspections & More LLC.
I Spy RV Inspections & More is located in Mounds, Oklahoma. We serve all of Northeast & Central Oklahoma with RV inspections and will travel within 75-mile radius for RV repairs. We are reasonably priced, and we respond quickly.
Do you live in an RV full-time?
We live in our home in Mounds, Oklahoma but we have owned and restored several RVs in the last 30 years. We currently own a Pleasure Way Class – B RV campervan in which we travel as much as possible.
What inspired you to start I Spy RV Inspections & More LLC?
After 45 years as an auto & heavy truck repair technician, my wife & I retired.
After retirement I continued my hobby of repairing & restoring older RVs. While repairing a class B for a customer, she suggested I attend the school in Athens, Texas and become a Certified Inspector.
I took her advice and in March of 2022, I earned my NRVIA Certified RV Inspector & RVTAA Registered RV Repair Technician credentials.
I SPY RV Inspections & More LLC – Dana Cooper beside his Class B Pleasureway campervan.
What RV services or RV products do you offer?
We offer several levels of RV Inspections, from Premier Pre-Purchase inspections to Life Safety & Pre -Sell inspections.
We also operate a mobile RV repair business. We can do most repairs at the customers location while larger jobs, such as A/C Unit replacements, usually need to be brought to our RV repair shop outside of Mounds, Oklahoma.
What is your background and how did you develop the skills to start I Spy RV Inspections & More LLC?
As mentioned before, I worked 45 years as an auto & heavy truck repair technician, and I have been repairing and restoring RVs as a sideline / hobby since 1993.
This background along with my NRVIA (National RV Inspector Association) & RVTAA (RV Technician Association of America) certifications has given me the knowledge & experience to offer my RV services to the Northeast Oklahoma area.
What has been your business’s proudest moment?
My proudest moment was my first RV inspection! I had the knowledge and the tools to perform the inspection but winning over the owner of the RV was a life lesson! The owner was in his mid 80’s and he had purchased the Class A RV new in 2002. “It was his baby”.
When my wife & I arrived at his residence he was very grumpy. He did not like the idea of two total strangers going through his RV. I began by explaining to him all the precautions we would take to make sure nothing was damaged or soiled.
As the day progressed, the RV seller opened up and told me about the trips he had taken and the reason he was selling, (his eyesight was failing fast). At that point I realized, he was upset because he was losing something that had been a big part of his life.
As the inspection went on, I listened to his RVing stories, and he softened up. By the end of the inspection, eight hours later, we had shared many stories and experiences.
As we parted, we shook hands and I felt like I was leaving an old friend!
What has been your biggest challenge?
There is a big difference between doing something as a hobby versus “hanging up a sign and starting a business!”
Even though we are well on our way now, getting started was our biggest challenge. Everything from the certifications to all the intricate things involved in starting an RV business can be overwhelming as a whole but we took everything one step at a time and with guidance from knowledgeable people, (and a lot of answered prayers), we are making it work.
Describe your typical work day at I Spy RV Inspections & More LLC.
Dana Cooper inspecting and repairing a Casita camper for a customer to sell.
“A phone call changes everything!”
Unless we have RV jobs scheduled we usually just go about our day taking care of everyday items, we are always ready for “that call” which can either set us up for a thorough RV inspection or a complex RV repair.
I never thought hearing the phone ring could be so exciting!
Tell us something interesting/fun about I Spy RV Inspections & More LLC.
Starting with our first job and every job since, we learned that every person has a unique story! We have really enjoyed meeting the people and hearing their stories.
If you could go back to the beginning knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?
If I had known how rewarding this business can be, I would have started my RV company many years earlier.
What’s your best advice for someone who wants to start his/her own RV business?
Quality RV inspections are not easy! Some RV repairs can be as simple as “flipping a switch” and others can make you doubt your sanity!
Get the RV training needed and above all, if you want to be successful, be honest with your customers, be a good listener, and always leave your customer feeling good about the service you provided.
Any other comments or advice you'd like to share?
If you like repairing or inspecting RVs and enjoy meeting new people, this could be a rewarding and profitable profession to consider.
Glad to chat with you, my friend!
To read more about Dana Cooper and I Spy RV Inspections & More LLC, click here to check out his company listing page.
You can also follow Dana Cooper on Facebook or visit his website here.
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