Colorado RV Dealership Grows Business With Focused Inventory & Customer Service

Celest Bland is passionate about truck campers. They have come a long way in recent years, offering optimum durability and flexibility, she says. Pikes Peak RV, where Bland serves as general manager, is banking on a bright future for this RV niche.

“We are going in the direction of featuring truck campers because they are intriguing, first of all,” says Bland, who is also a co-owner at the Colorado Springs, Colorado-based dealership. “They have a lot of versatility to allow the customer to go anywhere without having to worry about towing. If your vehicle breaks down, you can move the camper onto another vehicle, and you are good to go.”

Truck campers, both new and used, account for about 20% of Pike’s Peak RV’s sales. Bland expects that percentage to increase in the coming years as the dealership adds more lines. The overarching goal is to become the leading truck camper dealer in the region.

“We want to try and find something able to go into even more remote areas,” says Bland, a member of RV PRO’s 2025 40 Under 40 class. “We have found that the Toyota pickup trucks need something a bit more compact and lightweight. We have talked to some manufacturers, trying to see what we can accomplish for 2026. We plan to hit the ground running in the new year, with one or two new truck camper lines. We are hoping to increase truck campers to at least 50% of our overall sales.”

Bland notes that the compactness of truck campers makes them easily moveable. For example, she suggests that fifth wheel owners, once their kids are grown, could trade in their fifth wheel for a truck camper and be able to fit in everything they need, but with the flexibility to explore areas inaccessible with a triple-axle. She says truck campers have come a long way from pop-ups to the ability to just slide the unit in and go.

“They are building them lighter and definitely smarter, with a better composite material, and aluminum frame, instead of the traditional wood framing. These factors make the camper more durable. A lighter camper makes less payload, allowing more cargo space and more water to be carried, and off-grid systems.”

Pikes Peak RV’s Strategic Expansion

Pikes Peak RV’s president Jeff Taylor purchased the dealership in 2024. The name was changed from Pikes Peak Traveland RV to Pikes Peak RV. He was previously founder and owner of Hwy34 RV in Greeley, Colorado, where Bland served as service manager. She says the move to the Colorado Springs area has been advantageous because it is more of a destination location than the Front Range, and is a better location to attract customers.

“We measure our success not only with sales, but with service and the customer experience,” Bland explains. “All of it together is what keeps a healthy business running. We help customers understand how to build value in their campers, and make sure they have the proper accessories in their campers to enhance their camping experience.”

Truck camper offerings include Travel Lite, a lightweight compact unit typically sold to customers with smaller pickups. Palomino Real-Lite truck campers and Lance truck campers are also sold. Bland says the dealership has gained a strong following with Lance customers due to the good reputation of its service department.

Pikes Peak also sells Canada-produced Citation truck campers and has a new relationship with Adventurer truck campers as well.

“When you get into the Citation, those come with a more sophisticated system,” she says. “They have the inverter with solar power. It is prepared to be equipped with the EcoFlow system, allowing you to be off-grid for several weeks without having to plug in, because you have enough battery power. It is stronger and more rugged.”

Pikes Peak RV also carries several Forest River products: the Avenger, Tracer and No Boundaries. The No Boundaries Beast Mode travel trailers are the dealership’s top seller.

“A lot of people are enjoying those, with the independent suspension and the solar panels, and the inverter already comes with it. It all just makes sense for them,” Bland says.

Pikes Peak recently started carrying fifth wheels, including the Forest River Columbus. It also carries motorhomes, including Thor Motor Coach Four Winds and Forest River Leprechauns.

“We would like to expand into Sprinter vans. Right now, we only sell used ones,” she says. “I will see what that looks like, to see if Pike’s Peak RV has an opportunity to sell a good quality brand to serve that line of customer.”

Pike’s Peak RV typically has about 75 new units on the lot. That surges to about 100 during the summer.

“Going into winter, we try to liquidate, just so we can be ready for the new model year coming up, and not start the year with too much of the previous model year,” Bland says. “We don’t want to miss out on changes or any new additions.”

Among current trends is a preference for on-demand tankless water heaters, independent suspension and anything related to solar power.

“Basically, anything that can help them go as far off the grid as possible, such as bigger capacity water tanks, more upgraded features,” she says. “A lot of families want bunk beds to increase sleeping spaces. The move toward tankless water heaters is huge. Being able to wash dishes and take a shower and not have to wait 10 or 15 minutes is helping drive that, as it is especially popular with the women.”

Building Long-Term RV Customer Relationships

Pikes Peak RV’s robust customer relations initiatives include using a media platform that enables it to contact customers over 30, 60 and 90 days to ensure everything is going well with their unit, and to offer help if needed.

“We also send email mailers every 120 days with updates and notices of new specials,” Bland says. “We try to plan regular events at the dealership to get old and new customers to come in and take the opportunity to talk to technicians and [the] service team to get insights and new information that might help them.”

Pikes Peak RV emphasizes customer service. Bland says that is a key differentiator from other dealerships.

“We strive to make every time they come in a positive experience. We build on that relationship each time, and continue to develop rapport with our customers,” she says. “We have had several customers from the Front Range who have come down to see us, because of our customer service standards. They like to know what to expect when their trailer is getting repaired. The quality of the repairs is worth their time to come here.”

Bland, 29, started her RV career as a teenager, detailing units for a dealership in Loveland, Colorado. She rapidly worked her way up through the ranks, and says she enjoys everything about the industry.

“I appreciate where I started and where I have ended up, what I have gone through and experienced, and what I have been able to achieve in the industry,” she says. “I started out in detail at age 18. It was a unique opportunity to join a small dealership and work up through different departments, and learn the responsibilities and rules. At the end of the day, it does not matter if you are the detailer or the janitorial staff or the receptionist or the sales manager. Every position is a key position. It is not just a paycheck. Every role is a key role, and without each person, the dealership will not run smoothly.”

The move to Colorado Springs offered a chance to craft a new legacy. The location has a long history under several owners, dating back about 70 years.

“Making it a place of consistent leadership and excellent service the community can trust, and years of showing up for our customers, is how we can build a big dealership without being a corporation,” Bland says. “What was attractive about coming to this location was that it was already a successful dealership. It seemed like a great foundation with great bones, and we have a chance to build on that, being able to have clients in a larger area, where people buy campers every single day. We are one of the larger dealers in the area now.”

After a challenging 2025, Bland is optimistic about the new year.

“I am hoping that it takes off in 2026. We want people to embrace the opportunity to go out and explore the open world. With flights the way they are now, I can see more people turning to RV travel.”