After several years of growing pains, Liberty RV of Gettysburg is very optimistic about the future as it celebrates its fifth anniversary this year.

Owners Daniel Saltzgiver and Scott Geesey partnered to purchase the business on July 1, 2021, from the former owner of S&S RV Service at 40 Knight Road, Gettysburg, Pa.

They completed many upgrades to the dealership, including paving the lot, adding three sales offices and two additional service bays to the building.

Despite all the work to open, it wasn’t a smooth entry to selling RVs.

“In the beginning I couldn’t get brands,” Saltzgiver says. “It thought it was odd, but it was during COVID, so they (manufacturers) sold everything to the big guys. We had to wait until spring 2022, and the only thing I could get was popups and a couple of fifth wheels. We started with the two least popular products until 2023 when we took on KZ and Avenger.”

In 2024, the dealership began selling Heritage Glen travel trailers, and recently they started selling Liv, a lightweight composite travel trailer.

They persevered by focusing on service. Saltzgiver, who has nearly 44 years of experience, once owned Reichart’s Camping Center where he saw the value of providing quality service to his customers. He eventually sold the business to Camping World and became an advisor to the general manager.

His partner Scott Geesey was a long-time car salesman and general manager, before moving to RV sales at Camping World.

In 2023, Saltzgiver’s former service director, David Reiter joined Liberty RV of Gettysburg as a partner.

Today, Saltzgiver, Geesey and Reiter continue their commitment to service by making sure their customers get their RVs repaired and back on the road as quickly as possible.

They have six service technicians, two service advisors and two salespeople. They also added mobile technician service with the purchase of JR’s RV Repair and recently added a second mobile unit. Mobile technicians bring the service to customers’ homes, campsites or roadside within a 40-mile radius.

Liberty RV of Gettysburg service is sought out by people from other states. Saltzgiver says the service team helped them get back on the road and now they will drive long distances to have his team complete their repairs and service.

“We can always work in people for service,” he says. “We have a way of scheduling, so that our regular customers understand if there’s an emergency it may take some extra time.”

“We’ve had some of the big guys call to ask if we can help their customers when they are too busy, and I’m always happy to help. I aways want to help get an RV on the road.”

“We hope they will remember us the next time they need service, and they will come to us.”

As the industry continues to consolidate, Saltzgiver says there’s still room for the smaller dealer to make a good living. In his opinion, the big companies do not have the ability to be as agile as they are to make changes to take care of the customer.

The demand for RV service makes it a great niche for his business.

“I think the longer we are here, the more business we will pick up,” he says. “I feel the independent dealers who show they are different will succeed. The way they show that they are different is by how they take care of the customer.”

He is getting the word out through advertising on social media. He recently partnered with a company that uses AI (artificial intelligence) to drive ads. Liberty RV of Gettysburg is beta testing the advertising. While it’s been a learning experience for the company, he’s confident that once perfected, it will help drive sales.

It’s already brought in customers from other states, including Washington, California, Texas, Florida and New York.

In the meantime, Liberty RV of Gettysburg will continue to sell new and used RVs, parts and accessories, and provide exceptional customer service.

After 43 years, Saltzgiver still enjoys the RV business.

“I love taking care of the customers,” he says. “You’re helping people enjoy their free time and make family memories, which I wouldn’t be doing in other businesses. I enjoy helping people.”