EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column by Larry Troutt III of Topper’s RVs in Waller, Texas, who serves as chairman of the RV Dealers Association, was published in the July 2025 issue of RV Executive Today, It is posted here with permission.

If you put enough people together who have a positive energy for a cause, it’s amazing what can get accomplished – and the optimistic feeling you have after being part of the gathering.

That’s how things felt coming out of RVs Move America Week in Washington, D.C., last month.

Not only did many industry representatives join in the action of sitting in meetings and lobbying members of Congress, but for the first time to my knowledge, the entire RVDA Board of Directors was on hand not only for the meetings, but to go on Capitol Hill to represent the industry.

It’s not only rewarding to help educate Washington about the industry you love, but honestly, it’s a fun thing to do.

You get to see how Washington works and if you’re lucky enough you get to meet with an actual congressman or senator. This year I got to meet with Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada and Rep. Roger Williams from Texas.

Both were very encouraging meetings. Titus is very supportive of what we are doing as part of the RV Caucus, and we are hoping to bring her to the RVDA Convention/Expo in November to thank her as a group for all the support she has given to our industry.

Williams is a former Airstream dealer and car dealer, so he has a good understanding of the inventory tax issue. He’s also a stand-up guy – literally. He has a stand-up desk in his office and doesn’t sit down all day. His aide even told me that he doesn’t get to sit down unless Williams is taking a break.

These guys are just like us, and they work hard. I guess they just have better ideas than we do and know how to get things done in this political atmosphere.

The other benefit that comes from the gathering is that you are able to continue to build relationships within the industry. In the meetings, you might get paired up with people that you don’t know.

I was grouped with some people from the Texas Association of Campground Owners, which were relationships I needed to gain and build upon. These are the kinds of relationships you can build through these events.

But it’s the footwork and lobbying that get the most work done. It was reported that industry representatives had 107 meetings with legislators that day on The Hill. I feel like they actually listened.

Outside of government meetings, dealers also met with RVIA representatives to talk about concerns for the market. We came out of those meetings agreeing that we need to be cautious for the year ahead in order to get inventory in a better position nationwide.

I feel like things are settling down from all of the tariffs talk of previous months and once Texas is able to ramp up oil and gas production and drilling, that state’s economy will start to thrive, but not all states are that fortunate.

Even so, the industry is not dying. We’re just gearing up for the next build up.

That’s something my dad talked to me about in downturns. You’re going to go through these but who makes it through? It’s that guy making it through while getting ready for the moment it all comes back.

So, that’s what we’re focused on – getting our expenses in line at the dealership. If you have your inventory in line and get your expenses in line, then when it turns around you will be ready to act. We have to control the things we can control and act on those things that will help in the future.

When we get together for events like this, we can compete with each other while learning from each other.  I think that’s one of the great things about RVDA. We’re all available to talk to each other, so if you have something you come across, reach out – that’s what memberships are for.

The post Troutt: ‘RVs Move America Week’ a Time of Action & Insight first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column by Larry Troutt III of Topper’s RVs in Waller, Texas, who serves as chairman of the RV Dealers Association, was published in the July 2025 issue of RV Executive Today, It is posted here with permission.

If you put enough people together who have a positive energy for a cause, it’s amazing what can get accomplished – and the optimistic feeling you have after being part of the gathering.

That’s how things felt coming out of RVs Move America Week in Washington, D.C., last month.

Not only did many industry representatives join in the action of sitting in meetings and lobbying members of Congress, but for the first time to my knowledge, the entire RVDA Board of Directors was on hand not only for the meetings, but to go on Capitol Hill to represent the industry.

It’s not only rewarding to help educate Washington about the industry you love, but honestly, it’s a fun thing to do.

You get to see how Washington works and if you’re lucky enough you get to meet with an actual congressman or senator. This year I got to meet with Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada and Rep. Roger Williams from Texas.

Both were very encouraging meetings. Titus is very supportive of what we are doing as part of the RV Caucus, and we are hoping to bring her to the RVDA Convention/Expo in November to thank her as a group for all the support she has given to our industry.

Williams is a former Airstream dealer and car dealer, so he has a good understanding of the inventory tax issue. He’s also a stand-up guy – literally. He has a stand-up desk in his office and doesn’t sit down all day. His aide even told me that he doesn’t get to sit down unless Williams is taking a break.

These guys are just like us, and they work hard. I guess they just have better ideas than we do and know how to get things done in this political atmosphere.

The other benefit that comes from the gathering is that you are able to continue to build relationships within the industry. In the meetings, you might get paired up with people that you don’t know.

I was grouped with some people from the Texas Association of Campground Owners, which were relationships I needed to gain and build upon. These are the kinds of relationships you can build through these events.

But it’s the footwork and lobbying that get the most work done. It was reported that industry representatives had 107 meetings with legislators that day on The Hill. I feel like they actually listened.

Outside of government meetings, dealers also met with RVIA representatives to talk about concerns for the market. We came out of those meetings agreeing that we need to be cautious for the year ahead in order to get inventory in a better position nationwide.

I feel like things are settling down from all of the tariffs talk of previous months and once Texas is able to ramp up oil and gas production and drilling, that state’s economy will start to thrive, but not all states are that fortunate.

Even so, the industry is not dying. We’re just gearing up for the next build up.

That’s something my dad talked to me about in downturns. You’re going to go through these but who makes it through? It’s that guy making it through while getting ready for the moment it all comes back.

So, that’s what we’re focused on – getting our expenses in line at the dealership. If you have your inventory in line and get your expenses in line, then when it turns around you will be ready to act. We have to control the things we can control and act on those things that will help in the future.

When we get together for events like this, we can compete with each other while learning from each other.  I think that’s one of the great things about RVDA. We’re all available to talk to each other, so if you have something you come across, reach out – that’s what memberships are for.

The post Troutt: ‘RVs Move America Week’ a Time of Action & Insight first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.