RV Sales Boom ... How Long ?

[DeWat]

There's been a lot of talk about a HUGE seller's market during the last year concerning RV sales due to the pandemic. While I am not looking, I can easily understand this due to production issues concerning new RVs (not just the RVs, but things like the appliances as well) combined with a dwindling supply of used RVs, because of the increasing number of people who are selecting RVing for safe travel and lodging.

While reading some aviation news today, I see that they also had a pandemic inspired sales boom, but apparently now their bubble is beginning to burst.

I know flying and RVing are entirely different, but they still have their similarities, which also includes boating. In fact, a quote from the article that I would say applies to all three, RVing, flying, and boating, says, "Others were surprised that private jets are the gifts that keep on taking, even when they’re not flown much."

With all that said, I have been wondering since the "boom" started how long it would last before those who weren't prepared for the time and money side of RVing start dumping their purchases, flipping the RV seller's market to a RV buyer's market. I know there are others who have thought or felt the same concerning the RV market and eventual flipping, so I'm just posting this as general information. The aviation article about the private aircraft turn-around may be read here: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/...ing-purchases/

[gatorb8]

I give the newcommers one summer of trying to book crowded campgrounds before they give up

[Fogbelly]

Originally Posted by gatorb8

I give the newcommers one summer of trying to book crowded campgrounds before they give up

Agree.

I might add dealing with all the defects and quirks that come with rvs.

[creativepart]

Not just RVs, boats and planes. Try buying a bicycle these days - especially an eBike. Many of the higher priced more complex eBike manufacturers are quoting 8 to 12 month wait lists.

I think it may be a slow decline to lower levels not some big drop off in demand. Certainly, going from RV dealer to RV dealer with little to no inventory can change a lot of minds.

We spent a month in Tucson and the Lazy Days dealership had nearly empty stock lots. One lot that usually had 60 or more RVs lined up had 12 RVs total when I counted. An employee that checks them out daily said they are struggling to get anything they can delivered for inventory.

I imagine shopping for an RV without any choices must be very tiring.

[DeWat]

Originally Posted by gatorb8

I give the newcommers one summer of trying to book crowded campgrounds before they give up

I fully understand your point, but I don't know if I would lump all as newcomers since there are going to be those who were genuinely looking to come into the lifestyle, even during the pandemic. However, those who have bought solely because of the pandemic truly may not have done the homework on what it takes to RV, to include destinations as you mentioned .

[jergle]

Originally Posted by creativepart

Not just RVs, boats and planes. Try buying a bicycle these days - especially an eBike. Many of the higher priced more complex eBike manufacturers are quoting 8 to 12 month wait lists.

I think it may be a slow decline to lower levels not some big drop off in demand. Certainly, going from RV dealer to RV dealer with little to no inventory can change a lot of minds.

We spent a month in Tucson and the Lazy Days dealership had nearly empty stock lots. One lot that usually had 60 or more RVs lined up had 12 RVs total when I counted. An employee that checks them out daily said they are struggling to get anything they can delivered for inventory.

I imagine shopping for an RV without any choices must be very tiring.

I've seen numerous posts here about the difficulty finding campers / RVs, but we were in central Florida a couple weeks ago, and passed several large RV dealers that had lots overflowing with hundreds of campers and motor homes! I'm not looking for anything, but just thought it was interesting that there was no apparent shortage of campers in Florida like I keep hearing about in other parts of the country. (These were new, not used.) Anyone have any thoughts on why that might be the case?

[GypsyR]

I've seen the same thing at out two local big RV dealers. Their never seemed less than full when I drove by. They may have been short on popular models or something, I don't know.
For some reason my son in law and I both like to watch the local ads on used campers of various kinds. Even though neither of us is in the market at all. We've both noted that in the last month that many of the nicer used ones are staying posted quite a bit longer now and are even being marked down here and there. We were talking about that either being some sort of seasonal thing or maybe the beginnings of the bubble burst. We don't know.

[TXTiger]

Not sure about RVs, boats or air planes but I am having an extremely hard time selling a used Harley motorcycle. Seems to be a glut of used bikes.

[USMCRET]

My crystal ball is plumb busted. No way can I forecast what’s ahead.

[jergle]

Originally Posted by TXTiger

Not sure about RVs, boats or air planes but I am having an extremely hard time selling a used Harley motorcycle. Seems to be a glut of used bikes.

If gas prices keep going up like they have in the last month, you might have an easier time selling the bike!

[kenandterry]

As best as I can tell, the comments so far are related to people who may be thinking of buying or selling RVs.

The rental side of this is going to be a rude awakening to those customers. And, because of the rental industry, which has exploded as an alternative for social distancing......MY bed, MY kitchen, and especially MY bed.....production of entire units or repairs, is causing a strain on supplies for owners like you and me.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but certainly for the last 3 months, my wife and I are extremely busy securing available campsites because of the flood of total RVs. The explosion of the number of RVs out there recently, has not been met with the same increase of new campgrounds to accommodate them. I hate the loss of being flexible, and to go where and when you want.

The biggest surprise will come to those that actually CAN secure a rental, only to find there’s nowhere to actually camp with it. Can you say Walmart? And there’s more and more of those eliminating THAT as an alternative.

Ok.....my rant is over.

Happy RVing everyone.

[RobbieH]

Originally Posted by Fogbelly

Agree.

I might add dealing with all the defects and quirks that come with rvs.

I just said this in another post - that's why I don't buy new anymore. Buy used, save a bunch of money, the previous owner has already dealt with all the manufacturer defects and they got the depreciation hit. Plus, you'll avoid the long waits for warranty service, my first RV was a new one and spent 172 days in the shop the first 11 months of ownership. Use the money you saved buying used to either fix it yourself or find a trusty mobile RV service. My mobile guy will usually show up within a couple of days, and once he knows what parts he needs, it's fixed within a day or two of him receiving the parts.

[allenb12]

I usually keep our pontoon boat in a covered slip 6 months a year, during the winter.
November thru April. Usually 10 or 12 slips always empty. This year 100% full and no slip for. People using their boats during the covid. It will not last. Lots of the boats are fairly new and they will get tired of making a payment, renting the slip, and paying the insurance you have to have to rent the slip.

[MSHappyCampers]

I'm thinking it's going to turn around about the end of this year. Then it will probably be a buyer's market!