Pete’s RV Center Awarded in Jayco Dealer Homecoming

Jayco’s Dealer Homecoming returned for the first time in three years, to Nashville, Tennessee.  The event was held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, where dealers like Pete’s RV Center were invited to get an exclusive first look at the 2023 Jayco product line. 

Each item in the Jayco lineup had exciting new features and updates, including three completely new brands, the Jay Feather Volaré, the Seneca XT and the Solstice Li.

“Jay Feather Volaré – This non-traditional travel trailer was designed based off of dealer requests to target younger buyers.

Seneca XT – This rugged Super C is built on a Freightliner® chassis that’s designed and engineered specifically to handle well both on and off the pavement.

Solstice Li – This luxury Class B Motorhome, offers consumers the flexibility of lithium and a greener alternative to a generator,” Jayco told RVNews.com

Pete’s RV Center was awarded the #2 Overall Dealer for Jayco Towables, and #5 Overall Dealer for Jayco Motorized. 

Check out our photos of some of the all new 2023 Jayco RV’s below!

2023 Jayco Seneca

Jayco Volare

Modern Buggy Trailers Now Available At Pete’s RV Center

Introducing the Modern Buggy Little Buggy, the newest and tiniest trailer available at Pete’s RV Center dealerships.

The Modern Buggy Little Buggy

From midwest RV manufacturer Modern Buggy trailers, the Little Buggy is designed to be towed by family SUVs and cars, to open up more camping opportunities to those without a large towing capacity.

According to the Modern Buggy website, “This trailer is built on an industrial strength, high quality custom steel frame, and is welded together with hand-crafted aluminum and fiberglass parts.  Loaded with a 3500lb torsion axle, heavy duty diamond plated wheel wells, a steel front lip storage/battery box, accessories hitch, and a custom stainless steel roof rack, the Little Buggy is built to climb on, pull behind, and carry your adventure gear!”

The Little Buggy is also equipped with solar panels to power its amenities, such as the electric stove, USB charging stations, vent fan, and lights. Its 20″ ground clearance and 31″ all-terrain tires are perfect for all kinds of off-road and boondocking trips.

Check out this video with Modern Buggy Trailers Owner Wally Holem for more details about the Little Buggy:

And be sure to follow our Pete’s RV Info Blog for more dealership and RV news, service tips, and more!

Pete’s RV Center Wins Plethora of Awards for #1 Vermont RV Dealership

Pictured: Vermont sales team.

2020 marked another year of happy camping for Pete’s RV Center, whose Vermont dealership won seven #1 Dealer Awards from Statistical Surveys.

Despite being closed from mid-March until May 18th 2020 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Pete’s ended the year stronger than ever. The Vermont sales team collected seven #1 Dealer awards, including #1 Dealer of All Recreational Vehicles for the State of Vermont. The other #1 Dealer in Vermont awards Pete’s RV received were for motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class ‘A’, Class ‘C’, and towables.

Pete’s RV Center purchased a fifth dealership in Mountville, Pennsylvania just one week before the pandemic hit, and all five locations thrived alongside the original Vermont dealership upon their post-lockdown re-opening.

Throughout the United States, the RV sales flourished in 2020 as other industries withered, with many manufacturers reporting record sales in multiple months.

Pete’s RV Center’s Airstream of Vermont, the exclusive Airstream dealer in Vermont, benefitted enormously from this success, as Airstream reported a 36% increase in net sales in 2020 over 2019, setting a record for the infamous 90 year old company.

Some of the most popular units at Pete’s RV Center in Vermont continued to be Jayco RVs, which the dealership also carries exclusively in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and alongside other brands in Indiana and Massachusetts.

The high quality customer experience at Pete’s RV Center sets the dealership apart in Vermont. With over 60 five star reviews on Google, customers praise the exception service and sales quality at Pete’s RV.

Located in South Burlington at 4016 Williston Road, Pete’s RV has your back for all your RV sales and service needs. With locations in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, we have a RV for every type of camping fan.

10 Things You Learn Working at Pete’s RV Center

Joining the Marketing Department of a RV dealership brings a whole new meaning to the word “camping”. Ten things immediately jumped out when the job began about all of the details that distinguish each RV, and the major eye-catching amenities that campers drool over. First came the most basic two categories igniting debates at campsites: motorhomes vs. trailers. 

1.    To Tow or Not to Tow

The motorhome is made for the entire trip to occur in one vehicle. Motorhomes are self-propelled, so the driving of the RV is done by the driver sitting inside it. 

      2021 Jayco Redhawk 22C

The trailer, however, provides more flexibility, but without being able to run to the bathroom as easily at a red light. It is a non-driving vehicle that must be towed by a driving vehicle, usually a pickup truck, to get anywhere. The major perk of owning a trailer is being able to detach it: once you’re at a campsite, you can take your car off the trailer and head to a nearby attraction without having to move everything you’ve brought along on the trip with you. 

2021 Jayco Jay Feather X213 travel trailer. 

2.     The Mutual Love of Airstream and their Fans

The fabulous and aesthetically pleasing Airstream brand is more than just a hand crafted RV from Ohio, it’s an entire lifestyle enjoyed by thousands. You don’t often spot the people who have made a full time home in their Airstreams if you aren’t frequenting camping areas, but they are out there, floating around from one beautiful campsite to another. There are so many, in fact, that all 2021 Airstreams currently being built are sold out until the end of the year.

Airstream is very aware of these “off the grid” customers who live full time inside their product. Their Airstream Ambassadors program profiles stories of many people living regularly in their Airstream vehicles. The brand even started an Airstream Customer Council in 2019, consisting of twelve members given regular contact with the Airstream executive team on product quality, dealership experience, and service experience. 

3.     The Many Sides of Forest River

At any given moment, hundreds of Forest River RV’s are eagerly waiting for you in Pete’s RV Center’s extensive inventory. Within Forest River, there are dozens of different model brand types available, each with their own array of different floor plans and features. 

The quantity and diversity of model types within the Forest River empire are astounding, and it would shock the casual RV consumer just how many different RVs one brand can produce each year. From the Wolf Pups to the Vengeance Rogues, Forest River has an RV for any customer’s interest type, with their brands listed here

4.    Indiana: The World RV Headquarters

Frequently dismissed as a “flyover state” by nonresidents, there aren’t many facts that come to mind when an outsider wonders what’s going on in Indiana. But mention the state to a RV enthusiast, and their eyes light up at the thought of thousands of new RVs coming out of the state each year. 

Indiana is the RV capital of the world. Over 80% of RVs are made in the state, with an entire 128 page guidebook written by RV historian Al Hesselbart about Indiana’s thriving RV industry. Elhart, Indiana even holds the RV and Motorhome Hall of Fame Museum and Library, a charming stop with RVs from several iconic eras. 

5.     Off the Grid Actually Means Better WiFi than at Home

Full-time RV enthusiasts who live and travel in their units love to show the world their photogenic “off the grid” experiences. And many of us are jealous of their frequent scenic stops! But off the grid doesn’t mean what it once did. 

With the rise of remote workers, office space built inside of RVs, and increasingly high quality WiFi systems built into new RVs each year, one can live off the grid of traditional neighborhoods while remaining completely in touch with the rest of the world, online. In a way, you’re choosing which grid it is you are on or off of–avoiding troublesome neighbors while hopping from one faraway campground to another, but still keeping up with that daily news podcast that keeps you in the loop. 

6.     The Childish Joy of Bunkhouses

Every kid who’s ever laid eyes on a bunk bed has strong opinions about them, from the eternal debate of whether the top or bottom bunk is the better option to whether they even want to sleep that close to a sibling in the first place. Surely, a bunk bed where you can wake up in a new place everyday is the content of many childhood dreams. 

Naturally, some genius RV designers have taken this into consideration. “Bunkhouses”, which are often separated from the rest of the unit by their own door, are quite possibly the best feature for a camping family. 

Bunkhouse in the 2021 Forest River Arctic Wolf 3880SUITE.

Looking at these as an adult, childish instincts quickly kick-in and excite campers of all ages. 

7.     Storage is King

A bunkhouse would be in chaos without appropriate room to store all the toys, gadgets, and snacks that join kids on a trip. Each year it seems that RV manufacturers become more innovative with how much storage room can be neatly packed inside. 

A plethora of cabinets and a loft area in the 2021 Keystone RV Montana High Country 377FL.

8.     The 2020 RV Boom

In a year where most vacations came to a screeching halt, RV sales exploded. RVTravel.com said that “The 507,200 units projected for 2021 would represent the best annual total on measurable record for the RV industry, eclipsing the 504,600 units shipped in 2017.” This is remarkable, especially considering that RV manufacturing was shut down for a full two months of 2020 due to the pandemic. 

And it makes sense that in times of isolation, people would turn to RVs. Staying in your camper creates an automatic barrier of social distance from everyone else that is impossible to achieve in a hotel. Campers are often found parked far away from highly populated areas, with many campgrounds occupying some of the most remote areas of the United States. 

9.     The Amazing Quality of Luxury RVs

The peak of RV design is seen in the most luxurious units, the kind of RVs that make you think, “Wow, why am I paying for an apartment when I could live in this?”. Not only are the sleek features of these vehicles superb, they are illuminated by some stellar lighting. 

This Party Deck option on the 2021 Jayco Seismic 4125 looks like something out of a modern California coastal home built hundreds of feet above the ocean. The Seismic 4125 also has one of the finest walk-in showers in a 2021 RV, and a beautifully lit bedroom hidden away from the party. 

You can tell by a quick look at the floor plan how much luxury can really fit into one unit.

In the quality-of-life Olympics, this stacks up far better than most apartments–and many homes. 

10.     The Magic of The Slides

Holding down the button to open the slides of your RV is a very similar feeling to being a child and choosing which bunk bed belongs to you, some scientists believe. These seemingly magical slide-out walls increase the RV’s size significantly, providing more than enough room to stretch your legs after a day on the road. 

Not only are slides a neat feature to flex at the campground, they turn a vehicle into a classy home. 

If you saw a picture of this kitchen and dinette in the 2021 Keystone Montana 3231CK without context, how would you know that it’s in a RV and not a high-end kitchen store? The transformation that slide-out walls created here give the kitchen the ability to hold such large dimensions. 

At Pete’s RV Center, we bring all of your favorite parts of RVs to you. With a wide variety of RVs with many features in stock, now is the time to check off your own list of the best features that belong in your RV. 

RV Extended Warranty – Protect Your RV

Hey guys. Welcome to Pete’s RV Center. My name is Christine. I work in the Vermont location. I’m going to talk to you a little bit about what is included in our Full Protection Platinum Package. Um, so then that way you guys have an understanding and know what is covered in your camper. Um, so first off, you are going to have in your Protection package, is a service coverage. Everything covers you for five years. You’re going to have all of the major appliance covered. You’re going to have your microwave, your stove, your refrigerator, your AC system, all of your holding tanks. Anything electrical and mechanical will be covered in this camper.

Uh, you also have a 100% parts and labor, that’s going to be covered so you don’t have to worry about paying those additional costs. You will also have, um, a mobile technician straight for you to use, that will come to wherever you are, so then you don’t have to worry about pulling your camper if you are a seasonal camper, or you’re just gotten to your camping location. Within this Protection, you also are going to have an eco-protection, a tire protection, and roadside assistance.

Going to go a little bit more to explain to you what the eco-protection is, which is an interior/exterior protection. Included in that, you will see that I’m dropping some oil onto a little platform. I’m going to explain how that’s going to protect you, and then I will show you how that works. Uh, the interior/exterior protection will protect all of your upholstery from stains and odors, mildew, bacteria, viruses, and it’ll protect the outside of the camper from any harsh elements such as sun fading, acid rain, and bird droppings.

As you can see, with that little bit of talking, with the upholstery that you have here, you have one side that is not protected, and one side that is protected. The unprotected side, the oil has seeped in. If you can see, the oil has not seeped in on the other side. That is going to put a barrier, which protects all of that upholstery, even leather, if you have jeans that might [transpire 00:02:17] to that leather, it will protect that as well.

If you guys want to come onto the outside, I’ll go ahead and explain the tire portion. Now that we’re on the outside of the camper, I’m going to just point a few more features on the outside that are also covered on under the service coverage. Uh, you will have any of the kitchenettes, refrigerator, stoves, um, are also all covered, along with the propane connection and electrical connection. Your awnings and any slide outs your camper might have, as well.

On to the tire portion, your tires are covered, um, with a multi seal and a road hazard. So how that’s going to protect you is it gives you a longer life in the tire, so if you roll over any form of debris, it automatically fills that hole, and it helps breakdown, helps protect the breakdown of that rubber as well. Um, if you damage any of the wheel as far as hitting a pothole, you will also have that covered on both your camper, and your towing unit.

One of my personal favorites is also the roadside assistance. With the roadside assistance, you have a 24 hour help hotline and an emergency line. So if you run into any situation along your camping adventures, you can call them. They will walk you through it. They will help you. Um, and they also have a lockout service, as well, so if you ever lock yourself out, they can come and unlock the camper for you. If you have any other questions, or if you want some more details, please feel free to call any of our locations. Ask for the de- business department, and we would be happy to answer any of your questions. I hope you’ve enjoyed this video, and happy camping!

The transcript of this presentation is available here.

Pete’s RV Center is prepared for all of your RV care needs. With locations in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, come check out petesrv.com today to make all your camping dreams come true.

Recap of the Pete’s RV 3rd Annual Campground Road Show at Bayley’s Camping Resort

During the heart of leaf peeper season, in the coastal town of Saco, Maine, we found ourselves at the luxurious Bayley’s Camping Resort for Pete’s RV Center’s annual Campground Road Show.  For the third straight year, we treated campground guests to a wide selection of this season’s best selling Jayco motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels.

Campers excitedly approach our new display

Typically located by the Troy Pond section of the campground, we found ourselves in a new area this year. Being located next to the parking lot outside of the Little River Complex, the campground guests were treated to a display with even better accessibility. Being able to connect our RVs allowed us to show at their best. So even though we missed out on the beauty Troy Pond provided as a backdrop, the new display space was a hit!

The beautiful foliage around Troy Ponrd

The Jayco product line featured at this year’s Bayleys RV Road Show did not fail to impress. Two of the biggest standouts were the Eagle 332CBOK travel trailer and the North Point 381FLWS. The Eagle 332CBOK travel trailer is a brand new floor plan for 2020 and put campers in awe with its modern farmhouse interior and rustic center bar! The North Point 381FLWS shone bright with its six slide out rooms, and breathtaking front living room with automotive-style windshield. 

The North Point 381FLWS aimed to please!

With another year in the books, the Pete’s RV show crew sends our heartfelt thanks to everyone at Bayley’s Camping Resort for making the event a success. We can’t wait to see you all with our new collection of RVs next Columbus Day Weekend!

We are eager to see everyone again next year!

Pete’s RV Center is an exceptional dealership group serving the United States and Canada since 1952. With multiple locations, Pete’s RV provides sales, service, parts, accessories, and education to our community of RVers all across North America.

Pete’s RV Top 10 Basecamp Dealer

Airstream Inc. recently honored its top dealers based on retail units sold between May 2017 and May 2018.

According to a press release, South  Burlington, Vt.-based Pete’s RV earned a No. 6 ranking in Basecamp sales, representing the first time a first-year Airstream dealer had placed in the top ten.
                                                      Pete’s RV achieved the top ten ranking in Basecamp sales in less than the normally allotted 12-month period as the dealer sold its first unit in mid-July. Also during the period, five of Pete’s RV sales consultants achieved Master Sales Certification status for travel trailers.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        For more information or details on starting your own Airstream adventure, click here.
Pete’s RV Center is an exceptional dealership group serving the United States and Canada since 1952. With multiple locations, Pete’s RV provides sales, service, parts, accessories, and education to our community of RVers all across North America.

How to Achieve Extended Hot Showers When RVing

How to Achieve Extended Hot Showers When RVing
Thursday, September 8th, 2016 18:16:23

Pete’s RV Vermont Service Writer and Resident RV Expert Randy Murray provides a step-by-step overview on how to achieve extended hot showers in an RV.

Video Transcript for “How to Extend Hot Water Showers in Your Camper”

Randy: (singing) Hey folks. Randy with Pete’s RV TV here today. Another quick fix segment for you. When you’re camping, do you go to take a shower, do you get about three minutes of good, hot water? And then it starts to go lukewarm on you? And of course your hair is full of soap, and you haven’t rinsed off yet? Happens to me too, but I’ve got a trick. So when we’re camping, different camp grounds have different water supplies. Some of them will have very deep wells. Some of them will have shallow wells. Usually on a deep well, the water coming out of the ground is very cold. This can happen at the spring of the year as well, when the water feeding that well is very cold. So what my trick is for that is I will, when I’m having that problem, I’ll fill my fresh water holding tank. And when I take a shower, I’m actually going to turn the city water off, and I’m going to turn on my water pump and feed the water from the fresh water holding tank.

The reason I do this is the water coming in from a very deep well is mixing with the hot water in your tank, as long as you don’t have a tank-less hot water heater. So it’s mixing with that warm water in the tank and it’s bringing the temperature down very quickly. And we’re also taking water out of the top, so as that cold water is mixing with the hot, it’s going to bring the temperature down. Where if we’re taking it now out of our fresh water holding tank and mixing it with that same hot water in that water heater, it’s going to be ambient air temperature coming out of that fresh water holding tank entering the hot water heater. Rather than the real cold water from the city coming in and cooling down our water a lot faster.

So if you’re looking for a little bit longer shower to get that hair, or that soap out of your hair, fill the fresh water holding tank when you arrive. And use the fresh water holding tank rather than the city while you’re taking your showers. Then you can go back over to city after you’ve done your shower. But that will give you another minute or two of warmer water to get rinsed off. So just another quick tip from Randy at Pete’s RV. Thanks for watching our quick tips segment, and I look forward to seeing you on the road. Happy camping.

The video of this presentation by Pete’s RV Center is available at: https://youtu.be/rljtuXYgpvk?list=PL90E8009ADFC48C0F

Pete’s RV Center is an exceptional dealership group serving the United States and Canada since 1952. With multiple locations, Pete’s RV provides sales, service, parts, accessories, and education to our community of RVers all across North America.