Pennsylvania RV Dealer Celebrates 70 Years of Family Service

Loyal RV customers streamed into a vintage building in Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, last April to pay tribute to a dealership’s seven decades of service. People of all ages, some older than the dealership itself, came to celebrate their decades of experience with Tom Schaeffer’s Camping & Travel Center.

“It was really a neat thing,” says Mary Reinhart, daughter of the late founder Tom Schaeffer and current co-owner of the dealership with her brother, Scott Schaeffer. “We had customers attend who are in their 80s and 90s, who remember my dad when he had that first gas station. They wanted to come and pay their respects.”

Tom Schaeffer, who passed away in 2021 due to COVID-19, no doubt would have loved the celebration. All 55 employees volunteered to work that day and mingle with customers. There was music, food and an old 1955 firetruck the company restored to mark the occasion.

Schaeffer founded the business in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1955, initially including a service station and seasonal Christmas tree lot. He then launched a utility trailer business. The first camper he sold was a Nimrod fold-down unit, for $295. Then came Apache trailers, built by the Vesely Manufacturing Co. In 1968, Schaeffer moved the dealership to Shoemakersville, taking over a former fabric store. He later purchased an adjacent building that previously housed a tire store.

“We continued to grow from there,” Reinhart says. “He sold the old Tagalongs and the Aristocrats, and the Sprite travel trailers. He was self-made, with good business instincts, honesty and an engaging personality. He was devoted to his family.”

A Family Legacy

Reinhart acknowledges her buildings are old, but she notes customers are loyal because the business is family-owned and her employees are dedicated to customer service.

“When people come into the showroom, they will meet Donna, one of our 40-year employees, who we call director of smiles, and who bakes cookies and serves coffee for our customers every day. People say when they walk in, they know immediately that this is a family-owned dealership. Some customers want that old-fashioned feeling of being taken care of.”

Reinhart’s oldest brother, Tom, retired three years ago. Their parents passed away in 2021. Their father’s last conversation was about how his children would continue his legacy and make him proud. Those words continue to resonate. The family business treats its employees like family, and that helps fuel success.

“I am just so proud of my employees, because they are the ones who made these five years so special for us,” Reinhart says. “I keep telling them, we would not be who we are today if it weren’t for them. We have a lot of long-term employees. We started, a few years ago, honoring the 20-year mark. We have 13 employees who have 20-plus years with us now. We also have one 30-year and five who are 40-plus. We are proud of that, and I endeavor to treat my employees like family.”

Tom Schaeffer’s Camping & Travel Center usually has around 400 units on offer across 15 acres. This includes a variety of models from Grand Design, Forest River and THOR. After a slow recent market, Reinhart says she believes 2026 will see a turnaround.

“The market is coming back, but it is happening slowly. Every year, we feel the customer confidence coming back. Interest rates are coming down, which is a plus. We believe we will have a really good 2026. There have been a few years of things tapering off from that all-time high. There is a lot of competition out there, and you have to work hard. My dad used to have a saying: ‘Your job should be your hobby.’ It is important to do what you love. His kids and grandkids watched him firsthand, and he got that message across. Three of the grandchildren are working in the dealership now, and their goal is to be here when we celebrate our 100th year.”

Taking Care of Customers & Their RVs

Maintaining a stellar relationship with customers has long been the company’s forte. Initiatives include holding monthly owner’s clinic. The dealership’s top master technician and retired service manager run these sessions. Winterization and de-winterization clinics are held. Also, Reinhart’s husband and nephew are on call for customers if they need help. Customers may also participate in a select program for service discounts. Free state inspections are available.

“We offer a lot of perks,” Reinhart says. “Sometimes we invite customers who bought units that year on outings, such as a baseball game. We don’t say goodbye to them after they buy a unit. Our salesperson calls them within 24 hours, then again three days later. We keep communication going between the salespeople and the customers. We like to take care of them and keep them happy.”

Perhaps the longest-running RV dealership in eastern Pennsylvania, Tom Schaeffer’s is known for its meticulous attention to service. This department features 22 service bays and a 55-foot paint booth. Reinhart says her service department has helped pulled the company through challenging times.

Reinhart schedules monthly training sessions for technicians on the same day the dealership holds its new owners’ clinic. She lauds their work in front of what is usually a group of 20 to 30 customers, telling them how many years of service the techs have.

“In the RV world, it is hard to keep up with all the new technology changing every day. If we don’t know it, we can’t teach our customers what they need to know. We are really all about training. Aaron, my nephew, is a service manager. He is amazing. He keeps everyone up to date. I like letting my customers know who is going to be taking care of them if they should have a problem. I welcome them to the Tom Schaeffer family. This is who we are.”

Treating People Right

Schaeffer set the standard for top-notch customer relations, and that philosophy still permeates every aspect of the dealership. He worked six days a week, even in his later years. Reinhart keeps his office just the way he left it, as a memorial.

“Everything is still sitting here exactly the way he left it. We have never disturbed it. This was his home. He was always a mentor and a friend to his staff.”

In the 1980s, Tom Schaeffer was advised to move and was told he would never be successful unless the dealership was located on the interstate. Schaeffer was determined to stay. Over the years, he was proved right. Reinhart says the business has as much volume as those located near the interstate. She credits that success to cultivating a culture and reputation for treating people right.

“One of his old original customers from the gas station told us that my dad used to say, ‘It’s nice to be nice,’” Reinhart recalls. “It’s something that lived on in my family all these years. After every meeting, he would point his finger at the employees and repeat that saying. It is so true. I repeat it all the time. We are just simple people who want to help people make their dreams come true. This is us.”