RV Industry

Pete’s RV Center to Break Ground on 7th Dealership Location

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On September 1st, Pete’s RV Center owners Todd McGinnis, Chad Shepard, and Scott Borden announced plans to start construction on a sixty acre parcel of land located in Saco, Maine.

The Vermont-based company is planning to break ground in January 2022 and be completed in early 2023. The Maine dealership will be Pete’s RV Center’s seventh location, and will be a state-of-the-art facility with a spacious showroom, parts and accessories store, and service center with multiple bays.

Pete’s RV Center – Maine is set to carry a wide variety of travel trailer, fifth wheel, and motorhome brands, including Jayco’s full lineup.

Saco, Maine is just four miles from Old Orchard Beach and 17 miles from Portland, both iconic destinations for RVers.

“Maine is called ‘Vacationland’ for a reason.  We’re thrilled to get the opportunity to become a community fixture in the Saco and greater Portland area, plus be surrounded by amazing campgrounds, beaches, and national parks,” remarked Pete’s RV co-owner Chad Shepard.

Along with the flagship store in Vermont, Pete’s RV Center has dealerships in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and South Carolina.

For more Pete’s RV news, events, and inventory, check out https://www.petesrv.com/–location-maine today!

Ten Year Rule Troubles RV Owners

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Imagine not being let into your favorite campground because of your RV’s age. It’s more likely than you think. Despite the increasing popularity of vintage RVs, some campgrounds are not admitting RVs aged 10 years or older. When enforced, the rule takes no account for the condition or maintenance of an individual’s RV, eliminating them from some high-end campgrounds strictly based on age.

RV parks who enforce the ten year rule usually list this information on their website, and drivinvibin.com says that while the rule is seen in some campgrounds across the country, Florida and Arizona enforce it most frequently.

Many campgrounds who say they enforce the rule might not be as strict as their stated policies.

“Almost every RV park that implements the 10 year rule also allows exceptions for it. In our experience (owning in vintage RVs for 5 years), we’ve never been turned away. Most often RV parks will ask for a picture of your RV. They will either allow or deny based on the picture.” drivinvibin said.

The website polled nearly 500 RVers, and a whopping 88% did not agree with the rule.

Park owners use the rule to guard against RVs on the decline, but most RV owners say there’s no foolproof way to weed out unkempt RVs.

Of the same RVers surveyed about the 10-year rule, 82% agreed that park owners do have the right to deny entry based on the RV’s condition. Check out the original article here for more details.

At Pete’s RV Center, we have a solution to your concerns about the ten-year rule. It’s our large supply of new RVs for sale! With locations in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, check out petesrv.com and roll into the campground of your choice this summer.

Pete’s RV Center Featured in WCAX Camping News Release

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WCAX-TV featured Pete’s RV Center in South Burlington, Vermont this week in an update on COVID-caused supply shortages in the RV industry.

Pete’s RV Marketing Director Phil LeClair explained that the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic shut down RV manufacturing factories for several months, and although they are all back up and running, they’ve fallen behind as orders for new RVs have boomed. While Pete’s RV has many RVs in stock, some still being built will take up to 18 months to arrive.

Interest in RVs grew enormously during the pandemic as a place to quarantine, work remotely, or travel in socially distant comfort. Despite this rush to camp, Pete’s RV Center has created the Express Pick-Up program to speed up the buying process. Select RVs on site at any of the five Pete’s RV dealerships are eligible for the program, allowing customers to view, purchase, and pick-up campers within days.

Despite the obstacles in the industry, customers are in good hands at Pete’s RV. “Some may have to be more patient than others but we’re gonna get them out there camping,” LeClair told WCAX.

The original release can be found here.

For more information on Pete’s RV Center’s Express Pick-Up program, check out our post with details below.

Pete’s RV Center has customer care in mind. With five locations in Vermont, Indiana, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, check us out at petesrvcenter.com today!

Keystone RV’s Sprinter Sees Market Share Growth

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Keystone RV’s Sprinter Sees Market Share Growth
Tuesday June 18th 2013 18:12:14

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We can vouch for Sprinter’s reported growth shared in a recent news press release published by RV Business. Over the years, we’ve sent many, many happy customers off of our lots with an new Sprinter travel trailer or Copper Canyon fifth wheel. This year is no exception. Across the board, they did a fantastic job with the updated interior woodwork and flooring. Floorplan-wise, the 316BIK island kitchen travel trailer and 333FWFLS front living room fifth wheel get top nod this year. Keep up the good work Sprinter!

Combined retail market share for Keystone RV Co.s Sprinter has grown by 19% this year with fifth-wheel market share climbing 62%, according to the March report by Statistical Surveys Inc. According to a press release, Sprinters fifth-wheel gain is the strongest of any Top 20 brand in the marketplace.

Product Manager Josh Miller credits Sprinter dealers for the brands incredible results., noting, As Keystones very first brand, we have had the privilege of building strong relationships over the course of 17 years with many of our dealers. Their feedback and support have been truly amazing. They have given generously of their time in conveying to us the importance of our Camping Made Easy message as well as what they feel we need to do to keep Sprinter strong into the future.

Adds Miller, Based on retail sales numbers and what we hear from our dealers, we feel very positive about where the Sprinter line is today and our ability to sustain success for years to come.

Keystone senior management is also confident about Sprinters ongoing success. The brand will continue to evolve and improve, noted Keystone General Manager Ryan Juday, who served as a Sprinter district sales manager when he began his career with Keystone over 10 years ago. The Sprinter of today is an unbelievable value in the market. The most recent Stat Surveys numbers prove this. Josh and our team have been hard at work and will roll out some unbelievable new Sprinters at Open House this fall.

Check out what’s new with Sprinter travel trailers for 2014!

Pete’s RV Business Manager Wins Ninth Straight EasyCare Award

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Pete’s RV Business Manager Wins Ninth Straight EasyCare Award
Monday June 25th, 2012 19:01:28

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Pete’s RV Center Business Manager, Kyle Williams (pictured at left with Pete’s RV EasyCare Representative and General Manager Chad Shepard) was recently presented with his ninth consecutive Circle of Honor Award for excellence in providing clients with extended vehicle warranties.

As Kyle explains, “Winning this award year after year never gets old. Not only is it an honor, but also an incredibly good indicator that I’m doing my job educating our clients on the benefits of carrying extended coverage on their new or used RVs.”

229725_243936108970299_1880521_nFor nearly a decade, Kyle has ranked in the nation’s top fifty administrators of EasyCare’s Vehicle Extended Service Contracts–fourteenth overall in 2011 and number one for RV warranties six out of the last nine years.

EasyCare is administered by Automobile Protection Corporation (APCO). They are members of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and the National RV Dealers Association (RVDA). EasyCare’s RV Extended Service Contracts provide comprehensive coverage on new and used fifth wheels, travel trailers, pop-up campers and motorhomes.

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.

Walmart App Guides RVers to Overnight Parking

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Walmart App Guides RVers to Overnight Parking
Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:13:25

iexitwlogo120x114For the most part, RVers new and old are aware that a number of Walmart’s thousands of locations in the United States and Canada offer a complimentary night’s stay for their weary bones. The challenge is determining which ones allow, or do not allow overnight parking. AllStays.com removes such guesswork with their Walmart Overnight Parking app for iPhone and Android smartphones.

Well worth the $1.99 (we’ve been using it as a logistics tool for our North American Delivery Program), the Walmart Overnight Parking app is searchable by location and provides remarks from those who actually stayed there. In reviewing this app over the past couple of weeks, we were pleased to see that there are continuous updates on the addition or withdrawal of participating Walmart stores. You can imagine how frustrating it would be to pull into a lot after a long, tiring day only to be turned away. Another nice feature is the ability to toggle an advanced search for Walmart locations with pharmacies, groceries, diesel refueling, or open 24 hours.

If you do not have a smartphone, the AllStays.com website does provide basic information and updates on overnight parking at Walmarts in the United States and Canada.

If internet access is a no go, Walmart Atlas, Second Edition (Roundabout Publications) is available in paperback for under twenty bucks.

Give the Walmart Overnight Parking app a spin!

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 Center Acquires Indiana Dealership Rollin-On RV

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Pete’s RV Center Acquires Indiana Dealership Rollin-On RV
Thursday, May 5th, 2011 23:56:52

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On May 2nd, Vermont-based Pete’s RV Center officially assumed ownership of Rollin-On RV in Schererville, IN.

Located just 34 miles from Chicago, Rollin-On served thousands of customers in Southern Illinois, Indiana and surrounding states since opening its doors in 1977.

Pete’s RV co-owner and treasurer Dave McGinnis explained the acquisition was an amicable one, “We’ve had a great, longstanding relationship with Rollin-On RV over the years. There’re lots of similarities in how we run our dealerships including being family operated. With owner Paul Craven looking to step out of the business after nearly 35 successful years, it definitely piqued our interest when the opportunity arose to buy Rollin-On.”

Like Pete’s RV, Rollin-On RV was also a Keystone RV Company dealer, so Cougar, Montana, Passport, Sprinter and other popular brands of fifth wheels and travel trailers are now more widely available in the United States and Canada from Pete’s RV. McGinnis further explained, “With our Indiana location, Pete’s RV can expand and grow our customer base, providing the same excellent sales and service our Vermont, Northeast U.S, and Canadian customers have enjoyed for almost 60 years.”

Pete’s RV is retaining the services of the employees at Rollin-On RV. Kris Craven was named the general manager of the Indiana dealership and is excited about the dealership’s growth opportunities under Pete’s RV. “Knowing Pete’s RV as long as we have, the Indiana team and I are very much looking forward to combining our experience, plus the omnipresence of two dealerships, to reach a much larger community of RVers.”

Check out Pete’s RV Center Indiana’s website for more information on the dealership.

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 Enjoys Visit to RV Hall of Fame

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Pete’s RV Enjoys Visit to RV Hall of Fame
Thursday, October 7th, Oct 2010 19:40:37

By Phil LeClair

HallFame_photoWhen visiting any hall of fame, there’s always the expectation of being up and close to history. Be it Babe Ruth’s baseball bat, a football helmet worn by Jim Brown, or John Lennon’s guitar, if you can’t touch it, you at least need to be close enough to absorb the aura of the historical artifact. Sure the plaques, pictures, and statues are impressive, but let’s be honest, we go to a hall of fame to see the memorabilia!

It was no different on my trip to the RV/MH (Recreation Vehicle/Modular Home) Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN with Pete’s RV Sales Manager Todd McGinnis. While some time was spent paying tribute to Hall’s 300-plus industry inductees, and viewing the pictorial exhibits, we couldn’t wait to see the RV collection. We weren’t disappointed!

Representing 100 years of U.S. RVing, RV Founders Hall houses an impressive collection of early tent trailers, campers, and motorcoaches. The self-guided tour starts with a 1913 Earl Trailer and Model T Ford and winds you through the decades until you reach a 1967 Winnebago Motorhome. Along with the latter, here’re a few of my favorites:

  • 1958 Airstream Travel Trailer
  • 1954 Shasta Travel Trailer
  • 1957 Serro Scotty Trailer
  • 1974 GMC Motorhome

1211rv-02+rv-mh-hall-of-fame+rv-mh-hall-of-fame-road-walkwayBeing able to step into many of the museum pieces is a treat. It really puts you back in the moment when the camper was being used and enjoyed by a family (the sound of chirping crickets coming from the museum speakers further enhances the mood!).

If you are passing through Indiana, I highly recommend visiting the RV/MH Hall of Fame, It is located in the heart of U.S. RV manufacturing, right off Interstate 80 in Elkhart. The RV/MH Hall of Fame is a fun and interesting experience for the whole family.

You’ll notice the first part of the video below was taken in low light. As I explain in the clip, the museum closed while I was still poking around in there. Initially, I thought I was locked in, but that wasn’t the case. Thanks to the museum staff for letting me lag behind and get a few extra minutes to complete my tour!