Month: December 2024

The RVBusiness staff wishes you a Happy New Year. Our newsfeed will return on Thursday, Jan. 2.

The post Happy New Year from the Staff at ‘RVBusiness’ Magazine first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

If building a motorhome on a military-spec M1089 A1 6×6 chassis sounds excessive, that’s because it is. This new offering from Nevada-based Hunter RMV, called the Sherpa XLE, is nearing the limits of what’s possible for a recreational vehicle, according to an article at Motor1.com.

Sitting atop that chassis is a 22-foot “habitat box” made from composite panels. A full 18 feet is dedicated to living quarters, with the rearmost section serving as a garage. This particular Sherpa XLE has a motorcycle lift and dedicated storage for two bicycles, ideal for exploring small spaces. Alternatively, you can kick back for some downtime on the queen-sized bed or the leather dinette area, grabbing snacks from one of two refrigerators. The kitchen is equipped with an induction stove, microwave, an air fryer, or you can do some grilling with the external barbeque setup.

When you’re done eating, you can also grab a shower outside. There’s a second shower inside, nestled in the back by the washer and dryer. The Sherpa carries 120 gallons of fresh water, runs a Victron Energy system with 800 a/h batteries, and the roof has 1,000 watts of solar panels for off-grid charging. Nobody said exploring remote parts of the world couldn’t be luxurious.

Click here to read the complete article.

The post Massive 6×6 RV from Hunter is as Big as an Entire Campsite first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

After nearly 90 years as a historic nudist resort, California’s Lupin Lodge is up for sale – and its next owners are likely to require guests to wear clothes, according to The Guardian.

The 112-acre Silicon Valley property became a retreat for members of the “naturist” movement in 1935. Today, its hundreds of members enjoy the resort’s clothing-optional hiking trails, pickleball court and nude-only community pool. (Yes: the members really do hike naked.)

But the family-owned Los Gatos resort is now on sale for nearly $30m – and any buyers of the northern California property are likely to abandon its nudist roots.

Lupin’s likely transformation comes at a time when several California nudist destinations, from Olive Dell Ranch to DeAnza Springs, are “going textile”, as members of the community call it when a property that was once clothing-free returns to banning nudity.

To read more, click here. 

The post One of California’s Last Nudist Parks Could Be Yours for $30M first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Western Sands RV Park is spreading holiday cheer in a big way, donating over $3,000 to Toys for Tots, according to a video news report posted at KYMA.com.

The funds, raised through community efforts, will go toward providing toys and gifts for families in need.

Organizers say the donation is part of their commitment to giving back and making a difference during the holidays.

They hope their efforts inspire others to support the cause.

“It’s been grand. I was up there for the Christmas dinner. I just want to thank all of our community that supported this. It’s just great. It’s good for the heart and soul,” said Olias Rivera, Supervisor for the local Toys for Tots.

Click here to see the video.

The post Arizona RV Park Donates More Than $3,000 to Toys for Tots first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

Throughout fiscal year 2024, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) worked on behalf of recreational marine businesses in the U.S. and Canada on top strategic priorities, including advocacy and market expansion, according to a release.

This report looks back on the Association’s and industry’s highlights this year, including efforts related to government relations, Discover Boating, business intelligence, consumer and trade shows, engineering standards, membership trends and more.

Click here to view NMMA’s FY2024 Year in Review report

Looking ahead, NMMA remains focused on uniting the recreational boating industry and delivering compelling value to its member-owners.

The post NMMA Outlines Marine Sector’s FY2024 Accomplishments first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

From Xantrex: This video provides an overview of how to upgrade a Sprinter van to a Xantrex eGEN system, which replaces the generator and includes lithium batteries, an inverter/charger, a solar controller, a solar panel, and a Gateway.

The RVBusiness Featured video is sponsored by CURT, a Lippert towing brand.

The post Video: Xantex Features its eGEN Upgrade in a Sprinter Van first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

Performance Brokerage Services and The Stanek Group at Morgan Stanley will be hosting a Panel Discussion with Raul Rodriguez, senior vice president of Business Development for Blue Compass RV, at 2 p.m. EST, Jan. 8, according to an announcement.

“Are we finally entering the new normal?” the announcement stated. “Gain insight on the current buy-sell market conditions, understand how dealerships are being valued post-COVID, and obtain the keys that can ensure a successful transaction. If you are considering a purchase or sale in the next few years, this is the place to start. Join our experts for a panel discussion.”

Learning Objectives during this discussion inlcude:

• Understand the principles surrounding dealership valuations post-COVID, including the multiple of earnings method, adjustments to income, assets, and inventories.
• Learn essential steps to prepare for a purchase or sale to ensure a successful outcome and minimize the friction.
• Gain insight on the current buy-sell market conditions, including transaction activity, valuations, and trends.

Please join us for this exclusive webinar as we give attendees the opportunity to seek out answers to their most pressing questions on the exit process.

Click here to register for this webinar.

Featured Speakers

Jesse Stopnitzky
Performance Brokerage Services
Jesse Stopnitzky is co-owner of Performance Brokerage Services, the director of the RV Division, and a proud Silver Level Partner to the RVDA. Their family-owned company advises clients on the purchase and sale of automotive and RV dealerships. With 30 years of experience, 900+ dealerships sold, a 90% closing rate, and 10 regional offices, they are the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. As the leading expert on RV buy-sell activity, the company demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty and integrity.

Raul Rodriguez
Blue Compass RV
Rodriguez is Senior Vice-President for Blue Compass RV, the fastest growing company in the RV industry. He has been instrumental in Blue Compass’ growth since inception leading all acquisition and greenfield development efforts. With the acquisition and development of over 100 RV stores in 5 years, including 52 stores in 52 weeks in 2021, Rodriguez’s efforts have catapulted Blue Compass to the second largest RV dealership group in the United States.

Brad Stanek
The Stanek Group at Morgan Stanley
Brad Stanek, CFP ® is a RVDA member, financial advisor, executive director, certified financial planner, and is registered to do business in all 50 states. Having worked with countless RV dealers for more than a decade, he is highly familiar with the many challenges RV dealers face in achieving their unique financial goals. In fact, Stanek spends 90% of his time assisting dealers with their wealth and exit plans. The Stanek-Haack Group prides itself on helping dealers become financially independent of their dealerships, assisting over 200 dealers with graceful business exit strategies.

The post Jan. 8 Webinar: State of the RV Dealership Buy-Sell Market first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Recreational Vehicles crammed the River’s Edge Convention Center on Saturday. It was the last day of PleasureLand RV Center’s Annual Used RV Show, according to a report at KDHLradio.com.

Over the past two weekends, thousands turned out to look at over 120 used RVs from all 9 of PleasureLand RV’s locations. People came from South Dakota, Iowa, and all over Minnesota to check out the vehicles.

The event has been going on for about 10 years now and a PleasureLand RV spokesperson says it is a positive event for them and a great way for people to check out some of their best-used RVs in climate-controlled comfort. PleasureLand RV says they typically will move as many as 60-70 RVs over the 6-day sale.

Click here to read the complete report at KDHLradio.com.

The post PleasureLand’s Annual Used RV Show Reportedly a Big Hit first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

JASPER, Ind. – Meyer Distributing announces new partnership with Cyclops Lighting, a brand under GMS Outdoors.

Cyclops Lighting, known for its portable lighting solutions, has been a significant player in the lighting industry, particularly in the realm of flashlights and related products. Cyclops has been at the forefront of portable lighting technology for over two decades. They have focused on producing innovative, high-performance LED lights for various applications, including automotive, outdoor, and professional use. They have consistently redesigned, reinvented, and rediscovered illumination technology, focusing on energy efficiency and brightness with the advent of LED technology. Their product line includes a wide range of flashlights, headlamps, spotlights, and specialty lights tailored for different environments and needs. Cyclops has also innovated markets with items like clip-on hat lights, predator hunting lights, and submersible fishing lights.

“GSM Outdoors is grateful for the ongoing support Meyer Distributing has provided as we continue to grow our brands,” stated Jake Montoya, a representative for GSM Outdoors.  

“GSM has been a wonderful partner,” claimed Nick Gramelspacher, VP of Brand Strategy for Meyer. “We’re excited to continue to bolt on many of their great brands like this new lighting line from Cyclops.”

Meyer Distributing is a complete international automotive and RV/towing distributor. With 109 locations nationwide and over 3,500,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, Meyer has a huge inventory of parts to service their customers. With strategically positioned warehouse facilities, Meyer Distributing is able to provide next day delivery to most locations using Meyer Logistics direct ship.

The post Meyer Dist. Announces Partnership with Cyclops Lighting first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column by Larry Trout III, board chairman of the RV Dealers Association (RVDA), was originally published in the December issue of RV Executive Today. It is reposted here with permission.

It was a great experience seeing so many dealers and industry folks at the convention last month where I had the honor of being elected your RVDA Chairman of the Board. Further into this issue of RV Executive Today (see page 10), there’s a Q&A where I talk about some industry issues, but for this first column I thought I would introduce myself to those of you who I haven’t had the opportunity to meet yet.

Our family’s dealership is getting close to 60 years in business. Just like Ryan Horsey at Parkview RV Center who served before me, we are in our third generation of ownership and located in Waller, Texas, just west of Houston.

My grandpa started Topper’s Sales in 1967 by selling camper shells – or toppers – that you put on the bed of your pickup truck. He quickly began selling travel trailers and then pop-up trailers came along.

My dad, Larry Troutt, had two careers before getting involved with Topper’s. He was journalist at the Houston Post, and after that he worked as the spokesman for the chief of police at the Houston police department. When he got bored with that, he decided a real challenge was what he needed, and came over to Topper’s in the early 1980s. It wasn’t long before he bought my grandfather and his partner out and solely owned Topper’s. My dad is a past James B. Summers Award winner and former chairman of RVDA as well. My mother, Janis, had a financial career before being the controller at Topper’s. She worked with John Hancock as a stockbroker, but didn’t relocate after the company moved to Boston. Now being married and having kids I’m beginning to understand what it took to not only run a great dealership but come home and be two great role models for me and my sister.

I’ve always been hanging around the dealership. My story is probably familiar to a lot of you. I started by cleaning units.

Jumping roof to roof. OSHA would like to hear that, I’m sure! Then I got my chance to drive the forklift which we still have at the dealership! Then I worked the service desk, the parts desk, sales management and then GM.

Through all these years, I’ve been attending the RVDA Convention since my dad was chairman, and it’s had a big impact on my career. Without the convention I wouldn’t be in the 20 group I am in today. Most of those folks are still great friends and remain 20 group members with me to this day. Those rela- tionships all started in Las Vegas.

As we head into 2025, the Board of Directors and staff are working on a number of projects to set dealers up for success in the coming year. We are excited to roll out the new dealer member hotline this month to provide help and offer solutions in an increasingly complicated business environment (see page 25).

The RV Learning Center is working to complete its fifth online course for service managers that will provide members with a suite of fixed operations training for both new hires and those moving up the career ladder. And RVDA will continue to play a leadership role with our industry partners to improve customer service through the Repair Event Cycle Time initiative.

I look forward to the coming year… and working for you as RVDA Chairman of the Board.

The post RVDA’s Larry Trout: From Pickup Toppers to Topper’s RVs first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.