Baby Boomers and RV'ing

[dalford]

It seems to me that there is a lot of people getting into RV'ing lately. I am one of them. When I was younger and my kids were young we did a lot of camping. Mostly tent camping because that is what we could afford. It was our vacation in the summer. 2 weeks in the Keys or the panhandle of Florida or on the spoil islands in the Indian River. We also spent weekend camping with friends close to home.

When our kids got older and as we got older, sleeping on the ground was not so much fun and we lost interest in camping not to mention careers and making a living. I can remember the last time I tent camped was Thanksgiving 1998 at Long Point Park near Sebastian. Every morning I got up I said never again.

That held true until August of 2012 when we bought our first TT. We have since bought our second and bigger unit. Our friends, who we camped with when we all had young children, also now have RV's. It seems we have come full circle. We are all in our 60's to early 70's and it seems to me that a lot of baby boomers are now camping in a more comfortable way.

Are the baby boomers taking over the RV industry? Will we all be fighting for the same spot in a camp ground?

Just my observation, I have 6 close couples as friends and we are all camping again.. What do you say boomers....

[whj77372]

Yes the baby boomers are taking over RVing. Warren Buffet stated that he bought Forest River because as the 10,000 each day of baby boomers turn 65 they will be buying RVs and traveling

[Seasonal]

Over the Summer and Fall, in talking to a few dealers, they were most concerned about the lack of young people and young families in their showrooms.

[dbarr]

I'm at the tail end of the boomers. (1965) I wouldn't say I'm taking over. Just continuing what I've always done. This will be my 49th season of camping. Dad had me camping as an infant just like I had my daughter on her first trip at 2 months to Gatlinburg in July and to Albuquerque in Nov. the same year. Never missed a year and don't plan to anytime soon.

[breul]

Turned 65 last June. Got my medicare and will collect SS this June when I turn 66. Retired Jan 1 this year and sold my business to my son. Just dug
the TT out of a snowbank up in Northern Wisconsin. Mounted the kayaks
on the roof of the F-150 while I froze my fingers, put the bikes inside the back of the truck. Heading to Florida for 5 weeks. I've been on-call for the
last 40 years. Threw the cell phone away and I'm going to drive the tires
off the TT for the next few years.

[Sirsea]

Ditto, retired in Aug 2010 and hit the road. Over 45,000 miles on the camper and over 400 nights so far and lovin' it. So many sight to see in this great country, just hope the health and $$ holds up for a few more years.

[2012WhiteSolera]

Attached is a report issued by the Outdoor Foundation in cooperation with the coleman company. Warren might just be wrong. 5 Piece Auto Trim and Molding Tool Set Download the report, its interesting.

[2012WhiteSolera]

Opps. The Outdoor Foundation || Research || Participation || A Special Report on Camping

[RhoZeta]

Was at Fort Worth RV show this past weekend, while there was a good number of older folks, the majority were younger families. The selection of RV's proved this as well, bunkhouse models outnumbered all others in TT's, 5th wheels and MH's. (including a Newmar bunkhouse unit for over $800K!!)
I did notice that the Class B area was very popular with the older folks.
Which I still do not understand I guess, Class B Sprinter vans with $130K price tags?!?! Give me a nice 5th wheel or Class A for that kind of money!!

[dalford]

Originally Posted by 2012WhiteSolera

Opps. The Outdoor Foundation || Research || Participation || A Special Report on Camping

Senior moment..

[whj77372]

I have been going to the Houston RV which is in February for the past 5 years or so, mostly older people like us.

[alphadog99]

I saw an industry stat not long ago that showed the average age of a first time RV buyer had dropped from the mid 50's to the mid 30's. Judging from what I've seen at the RV shows, that's not far off. I think Disney needs to build some RV theme parks!

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by alphadog99

I saw an industry stat not long ago that showed the average age of a first time RV buyer had dropped from the mid 50's to the mid 30's. Judging from what I've seen at the RV shows, that's not far off. I think Disney needs to build some RV theme parks!

We're the early to mid-30s buyers.

[Badlands]

Judging from the campgrounds we stay at, the young adults and their families are well represented. From mid-April through mid-May, and after school begins in late August, the older generation holds the reins.

That's the beauty of retirement--we camp whenever we want. Both my wife and I took early retirement, and purchased a new TT that same year. We've camped for over thirty years, and owned other units, but it seemed time to reward ourselves to a new trailer.

I see the same trend in motorcycling. Lots of folks retiring, and wanting to experience their new found freedom. For certain, the Great Recession of 2008 hurt the leisure sports, but things are finally rebounding for many.

We'll need more campgrounds, and for the designers and builders out there, please give us some space! We were going to pull south this winter, but after viewing dozens of sardine-can parks on the Net, it was a bit discouraging. We'll just need to look a bit longer!