RV Production must be booming

[ryand]

I have heard from multiple sources that RV production is going nuts....today traveling north on 57 in Illinois I counted over 20 trailers of all types being hauled south by transporters including a fleet of windjammer's.


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[gmacklem]

This is my 3rd season camping and the first time that I have had trouble getting campsites. The last 2 seasons I have gotten a site most anywhere I wanted to go even on short notice. This year I am finding campgrounds very busy and booked well in advance of holiday weekends So that might indicate camping is on an upswing.

[Sterlingsilver]

Baby Boomers retiring are the boon of RV dealers and Campground s.

[BigJohnD]

Some of the parks we frequent in Arkansas and Louisiana are being booked 1 year in advance now. It is getting very hard to get a spot. Yes, the RV industry is booming. I think it's the highest it's ever been in history, or right at it.

[lgray]

Originally Posted by ryand

I have heard from multiple sources that RV production is going nuts....today traveling north on 57 in Illinois I counted over 20 trailers of all types being hauled south by transporters including a fleet of windjammer's.


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You are correct. Good for the industry, but a huge disincentive for improvement in quality.

[scootingranny]

RV spots within about a 250 mile radius of us are at a premium right now because of flooding and storm damage. We hope to start traveling a lot more within the next 6 months and a shortage of rv spots is something we haven't figured into the plan. Guess we need to start taking that into consideration.

[vinmaker]

Yep. It is booming!!!

Jobs are plentiful, retail numbers are up, money is cheap, and people have lots of cash to spend.

I agree about the quality issue; speeding production up to meet demand will only lessen overall quality.

[lgray]

This is only through 2014, but averaging well over double digit yearly increases since 2010.


RV Shipments and Sales Data

• RV shipments in January totaled 28,494 units, 11.9% greater than the same month in 2014, and the largest January total in nine years. Shipments in 2015 are expected to reach approximately 365,000 units, which would be the highest total since 2006. This would mark six consecutive years of shipments growth as the industry has bounced back from effects of the Great Recession.

• In 2014, RV shipments climbed to 356,735 units, a gain of 11.1% over the previous year. This was the fifth consecutive annual increase and the fourth double digit percentage gain in RV shipments since the end of the last recession.

• Recent shipments history.

YEAR
RV SHIPMENTS
CHANGE
2014 356,735 11.1%
2013 321,127 12.4%
2012 285,749 13.3%
2011 252,300 4.1%
2010 242,300 46.2%

[Iwritecode]

We are certainly seeing an increase in the CG we stay at. It's still not up to where it was 10 years ago where we had to book sites months in advance, but it's getting better.

The CG seems to be slowing but surely making improvements.

[donhillphoto]

I may have to invest in land and infrastructure and set up RV resorts. Makes cents!

[justwinginit]

Maybe people no longer trust our government and want to go off the grid LOL

[lbrjet]

Had the same number of shipments in 2013 as in 1999 and 2003 for a little perspective. 390 was reached in 2006. Will probably pass that next year so it will have taken 10 years to make the comeback. I bought my first in 2009 at the lowpoint for the decade. Then my 2nd in 2010 and never had a problem with it in five years. May have had better quality control maker fewer units.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[Herk7769]

Gas is supposed to Yo-Yo later this year.

That should slow things down some...

[maxjr758]

I think people are just sick of redictlous hotel/motel rates, bed bugs ect! I know that was a factor for us. Wife and I have been looking at tt since we were married (8years). I Got put on VA disability, and Disability Retirement from the State of North Carolina, after 13 years as a Detention Officer in the local county jail. Going to try to get it paid for before my wife retires, then hit the road!

[ColoradoRick]

Yes, we've noticed how full the Colorado State Parks have been when making reservations, especially if one or more of the nights wanted is on the weekend.

Maybe it is because of the Baby Boomers are getting older and wanting to explore America, the greatest nation on earth! (And I've been to 18 other countries so I think I know what I'm talking about! God Bless the USA!)

[David Providence]

Another thing affected by increased sales of RV's is availability of service. Service lots are packed to the brim. Getting in and out can take forever, even during the off season.

[lgray]

Originally Posted by David Providence

Another thing affected by increased sales of RV's is availability of service. Service lots are packed to the brim. Getting in and out can take forever, even during the off season.

That statement is not an overgeneralization and a great reason to locate an independent repair professional. You would be surprised how many are willing to take warranty reimbursement and I have never had an issue with authorization from the factory. IMO, IF the local dealer is not committed to expanding their service department to keep up with their huge increases in sales, no reason to buy local…two way street.

[larryo]

Actually, things are not booming. This is what I see as an rv transporter. This Thursday, Hourglass transport closed their yard due to lack of business. Hoosier transport in Elkhart has a yard that would easily hold 300 trailers. I was there yesterday and they had about 10 trailers to ship. There are drivers who have been sitting in the Walmart parking lot in Goshen for a week waiting for a load. Plants normally shut down for 2 weeks in July but some have also shut down for a week in June this year. Lippert says that production is lower than anticipated. Things normally slow down but this is very early for a slow down.

[CampingGator]

Originally Posted by donhillphoto

I may have to invest in land and infrastructure and set up RV resorts. Makes cents!

My husband and I were just discussing the same. We would need investors though, since we don't have a couple of million to throw around. The area where we are would be perfect as the other two major RV parks in our area do a booming business and we are close to I-75 in north central Florida. Near a great college town with a lot of sports, plays and other cultural activities going on all year round, as well as many rivers and springs to canoe or kayak on. Also, 90 minutes or less to either coast, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and two hours to Tampa.

[RooVader]

I always have to set up on Tuesday to get sites for the weekend. It is kind of rough spending 100 bucks to camp 2 nights every time I go.

It makes me wonder why camp sites allow reservations when they can make this sort of money.