How to Use MARVAC’s Member Listings to Choose an RV Dealer or Service Provider in Michigan

Start with the category that matches what you need, then narrow by Michigan region, and finally read the service tags on each member entry before you contact anyone. MARVAC’s directory separates Michigan Campgrounds, Member Dealers, Member Manufacturers, and Member Services/Supplier, and the service category is further broken into regional groups (Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, South Central, Upper Peninsula, plus Out of State). That structure is what lets you go from “I need roof air conditioning service in the Southeast region” to a short list of members without calling around blind.

Step 1: Pick the right category first

The directory’s “Find members by category” section is the entry point. Choosing the wrong category is the most common way to waste time here.

If you are shopping for a vehicle and also expect service after the sale, check both Member Dealers and Member Services/Supplier — a dealer listing and a service listing are not the same thing in this directory.

Step 2: Narrow by region before you read listings

Region matters more than most buyers expect, because a dealer two hours away is a different ownership experience than one twenty minutes away. The directory’s regional groupings are:

• Northwest Region
• Northeast Region
• Southwest Region
• Southeast Region
• South Central Region
• Upper Peninsula
• Out of State

Open the region closest to where you store or camp with the RV. If you split time between two parts of the state, check both regions rather than assuming a member appears everywhere.

Step 3: Read the service tags on each member entry

This is where the directory does the most work for you. Member entries carry short service tags describing what the business actually does. For example, the Camper Trailer Parts & Repair entry in the South Central region is tagged with:

• Sells & Installs Hitches
• Sells Parts & Accessories
• Services All RVs
• Services Major Appliances
• Services Roof-Mount Air Conditioning

Use those tags as a filter against your own checklist. If your job is a roof-mount air conditioner, an entry tagged for major appliances but not air conditioning is a weaker match than one tagged for both. If you need a hitch installed, the hitch tag is the signal — not the word “service” alone.

Some entries are tagged only as Services with a region and no further detail (for example, Base Camp Van Company in Southwest, Blast Cornhole in South Central, DeHondt Storage in Southeast, Dolenga & Dolenga in Southeast, Greenman’s Printing & Imaging in Southeast). For those, the tag tells you the business is a member service provider in that region, but not the specific work — plan to confirm scope directly.

Step 4: Separate dealers, manufacturers, and service providers correctly

A frequent confusion: assuming every RV-related member sells RVs. They don’t. The directory mixes dealerships, manufacturers, campgrounds, and a wide range of suppliers — including businesses like Business Finance Depot, Campspot, General Agency Company, and Hitch House USA. Before you drive out, confirm which category the member sits in and whether their tags match your task. A finance or software supplier is not a repair shop.

Step 5: Use the guide and map to plan the trip

MARVAC describes its publication as focused exclusively on camping and RVing in Michigan, complete with 6 fold-out maps, and notes a complete listing of Michigan state parks. The site offers Request a Copy and View Online Version options, and a “Find it on the MARVAC Map” section organized by the same regions.

A practical sequence: shortlist members by region and tag, then use the map and state park listing to group a dealership visit with a campground stay or a service appointment in the same trip. That turns a two-hour drive into a weekend rather than a round trip for one errand.

A worked example

Suppose you want roof-mount air conditioning service and you camp in the South Central region. Open Member Services/Supplier → South Central Region, scan entries for the air conditioning tag, and note that Camper Trailer Parts & Repair carries it along with major appliance service and hitch installation. Cross-check the map to see whether the location fits an upcoming campground trip. Then call to confirm they will take your RV’s make and the specific job — the tag tells you the capability, not the schedule or price.

Common sticking points

• Skipping the category step. Searching by business name only works if you already know the member.
• Treating “Services” as a full description. Generic tags require a phone call to confirm scope.
• Ignoring the region. The same type of business may appear in several regions; pick the one you will actually travel to.
• Assuming price or availability is listed. The directory is a membership listing; rates, wait times, and appointment policies are not part of the entry, so confirm them directly with the member.
• Confusing the guide with the directory. The printed/online guide is a planning publication with maps and state park listings; the member listings are the searchable business directory. Use both, for different jobs.