Lazydays Holdings, Inc., a well-known name in the RV world, is making headlines as it moves toward a sale. The company announced September 16th that it has entered a letter of intent to be acquired by Campers Inn RV, the nation’s largest family-operated RV dealership group.
The expected acquisition signals a major shift in the RV dealership landscape and comes after years of customer service challenges at Lazydays that have drawn attention from buyers and industry watchers alike.
History leading up to Lazydays RV acquisition
Lazydays started in 1976 in Tampa, Florida, founded by Herman Wallace and his sons, Don and Ron. They began with just two travel trailers and a $500 investment. By the early 1980s, the company had grown fast with sales reaching $50 million by 1983.
Through the years, Lazydays expanded across the U.S., opening locations in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota and Texas. Its 129-acre flagship location in Seffner, Florida, became the largest single-site RV dealership in the world. In 2020, Lazydays went public on NASDAQ under the ticker “GORV”.
Customer experiences: The good and the frustrating
Lazydays has long been known for its wide selection and large facilities. Many customers praise the sales experience, citing knowledgeable staff and a welcoming environment. But it’s been a mixed bag regarding the company’s quality of service.
What the acquisition means in general
Campers Inn RV plans to continue running several Lazydays locations, including Tucson, AZ; Johnstown, CO; Seffner, FL; Knoxville, TN; and St. George, UT. The Seffner location will operate as “Lazydays by Campers Inn RV”. The acquisition is expected to wrap up in phases by December 1, 2025. Campers Inn is assessing which other Lazydays stores to continue operating.
Jeff Hirsch, CEO of Campers Inn RV, emphasized that both companies share a commitment to customer service: “By uniting two legacies under one family of dealerships, Campers Inn RV aims to position itself for long-term success while remaining true to its roots.”
What this means for RVers
If you’re an RV owner, this could mean changes in service and operations. Campers Inn RV’s customer-focused approach may address some of the service issues that have frustrated some Lazydays customers. For RVers, keeping up-to-date on warranties, service agreements, and ongoing projects will be important.
For those considering a purchase in the next few months, it’s worth visiting the “revised” dealerships and asking about any ongoing service improvements or changes to operations.
Looking ahead
Lazydays has been a fixture in the RV industry for nearly 50 years. Its locations, inventory, and brand recognition are strong. Some locations will continue under Campers Inn RV, while others are still under review. How the transition affects service and operations will be something RVers should watch closely.
The acquisition signals a major change for Lazydays as an independent company, but it also brings a chance for improved service and support under the Campers Inn banner. RVers who stay engaged and informed should continue to have access to Lazydays’ large inventory, unique facilities, and the support needed for their adventures.
Campers Inn RV will remain family-owned and operated and focused on sustainable growth. The company has planned openings for the following locations over the coming months: Myrtle Beach Supercenter, Milford, MA, and Washington, PA – and is expecting to surpass 50 locations in 2026.
All of this said, it’s not 100% that the sale will be completed, or, if so, that it will close within the anticipated time period.
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I have never heard of Campers Inn RV but am glad they are taking over Lazydays. A number of years ago Lazydays set up shop in Gilroy, California. Unfortunately, it was not very visible and tricky to get to. After a couple of years, they closed up shop and left. At least the remaining Lazydays won’t be taken over and destroyed by Camping World.
I did a websearch for “Campers Inn RV reviews.” What I read was horrific. Google’s AI gives them a 1.5* rating. With this information, I don’t understand how one could expect things to get better with their anticipated purchase of LazyDays unless LazyDays was even worse.
Yeah, Jay I poked around, too, to get a better idea of Campers Inn service. Some dealerships got good grades from the BBB, but others were D+. Sad to say this is par for the course in the RV service industry, which is not known for its excellence.
Of course BBB doesn’t use customer reviews as part of their rating. From the BBB website:
“Reviews reflect customers’ opinions and experiences but do not affect a company’s rating.”
They do take complaint history & resolution into consideration.
An RV is a machine for extracting money from your pocket. Just visualize $20 bills pouring out your tailpipe. LazyDays is one of the best at this game.
Couple of things Chuck. I bought a higher end DP from LazyDays in Tampa Bay at the end of 2017. I had a terrific experience with the purchase and subsequent “normal” maintenance issues. Their “Crown Club” proved to be an oasis for service despite the fact that I live about 45 minutes from Seffner and could drop my rig and go home. Living in Tampa Bay, I can tell you that the mixed reviews of LazyDays were probably as normal as one hears about all RV dealers (as you pointed out in a previous comment).
To be continued……
….To clarify your article (which incorrect facts also appeared in other coverage of this sale), I don’t believe LazyDays really started expanding until just before Covid (bad timing). It was a single point dealership with local ownership for most of its history. The expansion, with the accompanying public stock offering coupled with the ups & downs of the industry was their downfall IMO.
I happened to walk through their Seffner facility last week for the first time since we sold our rig in early 2022. Somewhat a shell of its former self. I hope Campers Inn can restore the glory LD enjoyed for decades…..
Some insight and perspective on this takeover would have been nice instead of a press release.
Yes, I would like to have done that, Lonewolf. But with a barebones staff and limited budget because 94% of our readers are like you and read this newsletter and our others week after week, year after year, and never contribute anything to help us afford to beef up our staff, we are forced in most cases, to get news out quickly with little time for analysis. And then you complain? Do you dine at a favorite restaurant week after week, and walk out without paying each time, and then write a letter to the owner complaining about the food? If I owned that restaurant I wouldn’t let you through the front door after your first visit. I’m sorry to be so blunt, Lonewolf, but my staff and I have busted our butts for years and our readers have benefitted from what we have told them. I know, for certain, that our safety messages alone have saved lives. But very few of our readers have ever said thank you with even a modest contribution, and that includes you. If more of our readers pitched in, we could run fewer of the annoying ads we are forced to run to pay our bills, and we could hire more real writers (not content creators and influencers), to dig a little deeper into our stories and do a better job of serving our readers. I’m at a point in my life, Lonewolf, that I appreciate those people who appreciate me, and have little respect for those who only use me (and my hard-working staff). I might just continue this discussion in an essay for tomorrow’s Sunday edition.
I also have never heard of Campers Inn RV, but I’ve used and been frustrated by the Tucson Az Lazydays service dept. Fingers crossed this will be an improvement and I can return to Lazydays/Tucson for annual service. I do like that Lazydays has (had?) a full (lengthy) checklist service package. This gave us a thorough annual checkup without me having to list all the specifics, including ones I might forget or not realize. It’s expensive, but good for full timers like us!
This is a sad commentary on the state of affairs in our country. Lazydays was huge and poised to pass Camping World. Now, somehow, driven into obscurity. I wouldn’t be surprised if CW worked behind the scenes to make this happen.
Thank you for the news, Russ and Tina! Very interesting development. At some point, a few years ago, it did seem that Lazydays was expanding, either by acquiring dealerships or opening new ones, at a frenetic pace. Maybe they were, but in any case, they became over-extended and have now been acquired themselves. Looking forward to seeing how well Campers Inn incorporates the Lazydays outlets. Have a great day and safe travels!