Roadtrek Sold Again. Will This Finally Be Its Forever Home?
The RV industry woke up to another surprise this week.
Roadtrek, the iconic Canadian company that helped invent the modern Class B motorhome, has changed hands once again. In a letter sent Wednesday to dealers, Roadtrek executive Len McDougall announced that ownership has transferred from France's Groupe Rapido to Conestogo Partners, described as “a U.S.-based permanent capital ownership group focused on the outdoor recreation industry.”
The letter assures dealers that it will be business as usual. Roadtrek will continue building motorhomes at its Cambridge, Ontario, manufacturing facility under its current leadership team. No operational changes were announced, and the company emphasized its ongoing commitment to dealers, customers, suppliers and warranty support.
For Roadtrek owners, that's welcome news. But if you've followed this company over the years, this latest sale raises a familiar question: Can Roadtrek finally find a permanent home?
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A Brand That Helped Create an Industry
Roadtrek isn't just another RV manufacturer. Founded in Ontario in the late 1970s, the company pioneered the Class B camper van segment long before it became the hottest category in the industry. For decades, the name Roadtrek was practically synonymous with camper vans in North America.
Unfortunately, its corporate history has been far less stable than its reputation. Since founder Jim Hendrick sold the company, Roadtrek has lived through one ownership change after another. It was acquired by a Chicago investment group before becoming part of Germany's Erwin Hymer Group, where it became the centerpiece of Hymer's North American expansion plans.
Then everything unraveled.
The Collapse That Shocked the RV Industry
In 2019, Thor Industries reached an agreement to purchase Erwin Hymer Group in what was expected to be one of the biggest acquisitions in RV history.
During due diligence, however, Thor uncovered significant accounting and financial irregularities involving Erwin Hymer Group North America. Rather than assume those liabilities, Thor completed the purchase of the European operations but excluded the North American division.
The result was catastrophic. Roadtrek entered insolvency proceedings. Production stopped. Hundreds of employees lost their jobs. Dealers were left wondering whether the company would survive.
For a while, it appeared one of the RV industry's most respected brands might disappear forever.
Rapido Brought Roadtrek Back
Later that same year, France's Groupe Rapido stepped in and purchased Roadtrek's assets. To Rapido's credit, it invested in rebuilding the company, restoring production in Cambridge, reestablishing dealer confidence and modernizing the product lineup. The company survived when many believed it wouldn't.
Now, roughly seven years later, Rapido has decided to move on. Neither Rapido nor Roadtrek has announced financial terms or publicly explained the reason for the sale. Still, the timing is interesting.
A Challenging Time for RV Manufacturers
This transaction comes as the RV industry continues working through softer retail demand following the post-pandemic boom. Higher interest rates have made financing more expensive, and many buyers have become more cautious about major purchases.
For Canadian manufacturers like Roadtrek, another layer of uncertainty has emerged. With nearly all of its motorhomes built in Ontario and sold into the United States, Roadtrek depends heavily on stable trade between the two countries. Ongoing uncertainty surrounding tariffs and broader U.S.-Canada trade policy has created another variable for manufacturers trying to plan production and pricing.
There is no indication that tariffs drove this sale, and neither company has suggested they played a role. But they are part of the business environment facing every manufacturer that builds on one side of the border and sells on the other.
The Westfalia Experiment Is Ending
The dealer letter also quietly signals the end of another chapter. Roadtrek announced it will gradually phase out its licensing agreement for the Westfalia brand after current production is completed.
That means the Wave Skylight, Wave SL and Wave for 2 floorplans will continue into the 2027 model year, but under the Roadtrek name.
Westfalia is one of Europe's legendary camper van brands, and Rapido hoped its return to North America would resonate with buyers seeking European design and heritage. While the products were well built, the Westfalia name never appeared to gain the traction many expected in an already competitive Class B market.
Who Is Conestogo Partners?
That remains the biggest unanswered question. The company describes itself as a permanent-capital ownership group focused on the outdoor recreation industry.
Unlike traditional private equity firms that typically buy, improve and eventually sell companies, permanent-capital investors generally acquire businesses with the intention of owning them indefinitely. If that philosophy proves true, Roadtrek could finally gain something it has lacked for much of the past decade: stability.
Maybe This Time…
It's hard not to feel a little sympathy for Roadtrek. Like an unwanted foster child searching for a forever family, this legendary company has spent years moving from one owner to another. It has survived investment firms, multinational corporations, financial scandal, insolvency, and corporate rescue. Through it all, the people building motorhomes in Cambridge kept showing up for work, and loyal Roadtrek owners kept believing in the brand.
Perhaps Conestogo Partners will be the owner that finally provides the long-term stability Roadtrek has been searching for.
For the sake of the employees, dealers and thousands of Roadtrek owners across North America, everyone should hope that's exactly what happens.
We'll continue following this developing story as more information becomes available about Conestogo Partners, the terms of the transaction and the company's long-term plans for one of the RV industry's most enduring brands.
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