Why RVIA Sticker?

Pulled by Author. No need to upset anyone

wildmanbaker wrote:
In Washington State, the RVIA label is required for a new RV. It is like a house inspection that says it meets minimum standards for electrical, water, safety, building standards, etc. I think the factory takes care of the RVIA certifications. If it does not have the RVIA label, you may have trouble titling the MH in your state.

Titling a motorhome in the USA has NO relationship to quality of build or certifications on a Motorized/Towable vehicle. The Gov. plain does not care and has no way to verify. Now, if IMPORTING from another country, that may change things. Doug

Sooboy wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
That's the "Underwriter's Laboratory" of RV's; you can't import a new/near new RV into Canada without that certification, either.

That's completely false. There is no requirement for the sticker when importing an RV from the US into Canada. Provided you follow the importation process as set-out by RIV, importation is a breeze and has nothing to do with RVIA.

Actually, there is. The RIV only covers Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, there's several other laws that apply.

One such myth is that Canadian RV dealers refuse to work on imported US units as a way to 'protect their turf'. In fact (as an example) it's illegal for a dealer to work on a unit that isn't certified to CSA Z-240 standards.

It works like this; in Ontario someone who works on certain types of systems (including plumbing, heating, propane, natural gas and electricity) are required to be registered and licensed with the TSSA so does the company they work for. This NOT optional.

The part of that process that applies to this matter is the "RV.1" and "RV.2" designation. The regulation that sets out the scope of what they are permitted to do states it "applies to Z240 appliances only".

Therefore an Ontario RV tech, and the company they work for, are only legally allowed to work on those vehicles certified as Z-240 compliant.

Here's a link to the TSSA bulletin from their site explaining it. Clickey.

In Washington State, the RVIA label is required for a new RV. It is like a house inspection that says it meets minimum standards for electrical, water, safety, building standards, etc. I think the factory takes care of the RVIA certifications. If it does not have the RVIA label, you may have trouble titling the MH in your state.

Thank you for that article ArchHoagland! Thank you all for your responses. ADP like the $40 mandatory "documentation fee" when you buy a new car. Indeed a rip off.

I can see where a dealership might argue that making it an option helps lower the costs to those who would otherwise be forced to purchase the seal. That would be a valid point. But "scalping" the cost of the seal should be prohibited. Amazing how the law can twist it around and claim "price fixing." Indeed a rip off!

ArchHoagland wrote:
Article on cost of the seal.



After seeing RVIA approved fire extinguishers I sometimes wonder about that organization.

I sure agree with you on that deal!!! But I also agree with rgatijnet1 that RVIA sticker should be the similar to the UL seal. RVIA is suppose to be the industry standard.

Simple it is called ADP or additional dealer profit I always offer less than asking price.

RMIGHTY1 wrote:
Browsing through MH dealerships for a new class A motorhome, I came across an RVIA sticker as an option. I usually have to beat up the dealer to keep their advertising sticker off my new vehicle. Why would I pay for an RVIA sticker and how much should they sell for? Thank you!

Article on cost of the seal.



After seeing RVIA approved fire extinguishers I sometimes wonder about that organization.

Every OEM that is a member of the RVIA MUST pay for EACH sticker that is installed on the RV. They just list THAT cost on the MSRP list sheet. Doug

Sooboy wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
That's the "Underwriter's Laboratory" of RV's; you can't import a new/near new RV into Canada without that certification, either.

That's completely false. There is no requirement for the sticker when importing an RV from the US into Canada. Provided you follow the importation process as set-out by RIV, importation is a breeze and has nothing to do with RVIA.

Must be the "loophole" referred to in the last line of the following reg- this one's Alberta's but other Provinces, I think, have since followed suit:

Alberta Traffic Safety Act wrote:
Recreational vehicle CSA Standard
102(1) CSA Standard Z240 RV and the United States
Recreational Vehicle Industry Association certification process are
adopted and apply to recreational vehicles.
(2) A person shall not construct, manufacture or cause to be
constructed or manufactured a recreational vehicle unless it
complies with subsection (1).
(3) A person shall not advertise or lease a recreational vehicle
manufactured after July 1, 1971 unless it complies with subsection
(1).
(4) A vehicle that complies with subsection (1) must have a mark
authorized by the CSA or the United States Recreational Vehicle
Industry Association on the vehicle or be certified by another
method adopted by the CSA.