RV Sales has been named as New Mexico’s 2024 Albuquerque Journal Readers’ Choice Award winner in the Best RV Dealership category.
This is the first year that the RV Dealership category was included in the newspaper’s annual contest that has been in place for more than 20 years.
Readers of the Albuquerque Journal had the opportunity to vote for their favorite businesses in various categories.
“We’re absolutely thrilled, honored and humbled to receive this recognition from the readers of the Albuquerque Journal,” said Valerie Chowning, president and owner. “It’s especially meaningful because our dealership is a small, multi-generational and locally owned business located in little ole’ Moriarty. It demonstrates that consumers are appreciative of the personal service that many larger dealerships don’t provide.”
Chowning’s grandfather and grandmother, Tony and Mildred Nanneman, opened their RV dealership, Cavalier Campers, in 1967 in Albuquerque. In reflecting on her family’s business philosophy, Chowning shared one of her grandfather’s values, “Take care of your customers and they’ll take care of you.”
“Our family has practiced this principle since the beginning and that continues to be our number one priority… taking care of our customers,” she says.
After the Nannemans sold Cavalier Campers in 1977, Chowning’s parents, Ralph and Kathy Chowning, managed the dealership, and then opened their own dealership, RV Sales, in Albuquerque in 1982, following in the footprints of Kathy’s parents.
“I think my parents were very bold when they decided to move their business from Albuquerque to Moriarty in 1988. It didn’t take long for them to become dealers for the Peterson Industries Excel fifth wheel RV, which was a very high-end product.”
Although Peterson Industries closed in 2015, RV Sales was the number one dealership in North America for nearly 15 years.
“Apparently, location really didn’t matter,” Chowning said. “People came from hundreds and thousands of miles to purchase Excel RVs from us.”
In 2015, Ralph and Kathy Chowning began relinquishing the duties of the business to their children, Valerie and Clayton, who share various responsibilities.
“They are officially retired,” Chowning said, “but we still call upon them for assistance from time-to-time and they are always happy to help.”
RV Sales is known for its long-standing traditions in the community including an annual Halloween Trick-or-Trailer event. Since 1993, the business has provided a fun and safe place for children to trick-or-treat with the support of community sponsors and volunteers. For several years, RV Sales has partnered with Bethel Community Storehouse in Moriarty.
A unique feature of purchasing a recreational vehicle from RV Sales is its on-site campground. Customers can stay on the premises equipped with full hook-ups while they become familiar with the features and operation of their newly purchased RV. Chowning said, “When you buy from us, we make sure that everything on the RV works, and that you know how to use it before you get on the road.”
Another aspect that differentiates RV Sales from other dealers is that the employees own and camp in their RVs.
Chowning concluded, “Of course, our business wouldn’t be the success that it is today without the employees we’ve had the good fortune to be a part of our family over the decades. We’re all sharing this award. We look forward to continuing to serve the RV community in the Albuquerque area, New Mexico, and beyond for many more years, and providing the excellent service that is expected from us.”
