Executive Summary

Current market conditions indicate that expanding operations into Canada represents a strong growth opportunity for Camping World Holdings, Inc. While the U.S. RV market is experiencing a significant “sobering up” period following the pandemic‑era surge (Moreau, 2026), the Canadian market has shown notable resilience, achieving record‑high sales of approximately $640 million in 2023 (Bush, 2026). As the world’s largest RV retailer, Camping World is well positioned to leverage its existing infrastructure, brand recognition, and supplier relationships to capture a meaningful share of Canada’s $4.6 billion RV industry (Bush, 2026; Camping World Holdings, Inc., n.d.).

Market Landscape and Competitor Analysis

The Canadian RV market is defined by a large number of independent retailers and a strong dependence on U.S. manufacturing. Canada currently has 1,128 RV dealers and 1,753 RV rental and leasing companies, creating a fragmented yet mature competitive environment where Camping World’s national‑scale service model could provide a significant advantage (Bush, 2026). On the manufacturing side, the competitive landscape is dominated by major U.S. suppliers. Thor Industries remains the “undisputed king,” holding a 34% market share in shipments, while Forest River leads the towable segment with roughly 105,000 units shipped in 2022 (Moreau, 2026). Additional key suppliers include Winnebago Industries, which delivered 39,900 units in 2023, and the REV Group, which maintains a 12% share of the motorized market (Moreau, 2026). Towable's continue to dominate overall demand, accounting for 83.8% of all shipments in 2023 (Moreau, 2026), and remain especially popular among Canada’s 2.1 million RV‑owning households (Bush, 2026).

Strategic Advantages for Camping World

Camping World’s headquarters in Lincolnshire, Illinois, provides a logistical advantage for expansion into Ontario, which currently represents 54% ($1.6 billion) of all Canadian RV manufacturing imports (Bush, 2026; Camping World Holdings, Inc., n.d.). Additionally, the company’s Good Sam brand aligns well with Canadian consumer behavior, as 33% of Canadians identify as “lifelong campers” (Bush, 2026). This cultural alignment strengthens Camping World’s ability to build brand loyalty and community engagement. Furthermore, with digital sales channels projected to account for 20% of all RV purchases by 2026 (Moreau, 2026), Camping World’s industry‑leading online presence can be scaled into Canada more efficiently than traditional brick‑and‑mortar competitors (Camping World Holdings, Inc., n.d.).

Critical BI Metrics and Projections

Key business intelligence indicators further support expansion. While U.S. wholesale shipments declined by 24% in 2023, Canadian RV sales increased by approximately 3% during the same period (Bush, 2026; Moreau, 2026). The Canadian RV industry contributes $17 billion to the national GDP and supports 145,000 jobs, demonstrating its economic significance (Bush, 2026). Affordability trends also favor Camping World’s product mix, as used RV sales are projected to grow 7% faster than new RV sales through 2025 (Moreau, 2026). This aligns with Camping World’s “comprehensive assortment” of both new and used inventory, which is especially important for Canadian households earning between $40,000 and $100,000 (Bush, 2026; Camping World Holdings, Inc., n.d.).

Conclusion and Recommendation

The Canadian RV market is not simply an extension of the U.S. market but a resilient, independently strong sector with high barriers to entry—barriers that Camping World is uniquely equipped to overcome due to its scale, supplier relationships, and omnichannel capabilities. Recommendation: Move forward with a phase‑one expansion focused on establishing Ontario‑based service and retail centers to capitalize on the region’s high import volume and the projected 4% industry growth expected in 2025 (Bush, 2026).

References

Bush, O. (2026, January 22). RV and camping industry statistics in Canada. Made in CA. https://madeinca.ca/rv-statistics-canada/

Camping World Holdings, Inc. (n.d.). Overview. https://investor.campingworld.com/overview/default.aspx

Moreau, I. (2026, February 13). 90+ RV sales statistics | Fact-checked 2026. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/rv-sales-statistics/

AI Disclosure: Portions of this analysis were assisted by artificial intelligence tools to support writing, organization, and clarity. All data, interpretations, and final conclusions were reviewed and approved by the author.