Community Forums

jmon129 · 01-24-2008, 02:44 PM

Travel Supreme closes doors for who knows how long, National is history, Winnabago is laying off hundreds and Newmar is on a 2 day prodution work week.
I've heard it said in the past, the RV Industry is the first into a reccesion and the first out of it.
Are we in for some tough times ahead?

jmon129 · 01-24-2008, 02:44 PM

Travel Supreme closes doors for who knows how long, National is history, Winnabago is laying off hundreds and Newmar is on a 2 day prodution work week.
I've heard it said in the past, the RV Industry is the first into a reccesion and the first out of it.
Are we in for some tough times ahead?

SMC · 01-24-2008, 04:21 PM

No doubt the easy loans etc. are out for awhile so the RV industry will have to regroup.

I heard that Country Coach laid off a lot of workers a while ago and the same may happen to Newmar.

Seems the economy effects all but the folks who have lots of dough and can keep buying anything so they have no problems getting new coaches.

Our preference is for a big Class A diesel, but we opted for a much less expensive 5th wheel since we already had the truck. It was our way of being able to keep RV'ing a bit.

"007" · 01-24-2008, 08:41 PM

Looking thru your 5th wheel lineups wish I owned a truck years ago.

Rick A · 01-25-2008, 03:47 AM

With the economy in a slowdown/recession, financing tough to get for anything, and housing prices dropping (no equity to borrow against), big ticket purchases are probably low on the priority list for most middle class Americans right now. This is going to affect a lot of other industries in short order and nothing the feds do right now is going to reverse it quickly. it is going to get much worse before it gets better. Once the emotion of rate cuts and news of a stimulus package wears off, reality will set back in and the economy will continue to slide.

Gary RVRoamer · 01-25-2008, 05:07 AM

Home loan mortgage rates are now the lowest in years, so maybe some of that attractive financing will spill over to big Rvs.

And some segments of the motorhome market (at the higher end and also toyhaulers) are actually increasing, so it's not all bad news.

Tom N · 01-25-2008, 05:15 AM

IMHO, $1300 (~472gal) for gas/fuel from PA to FL and back is the major factor in many dropping out of RVing. Factor in campground fees, insurance, maintenance and the biggest hit of all, depreciation and a condo for 6 months is a good financial alternative.

-Tom

NSXER · 01-25-2008, 12:13 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
IMHO, $1300 (~472gal) for gas/fuel from PA to FL and back is the major factor in many dropping out of RVing. Factor in campground fees, insurance, maintenance and the biggest hit of all, depreciation and a condo for 6 months is a good financial alternative.

-Tom </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

And if your fuel was diesel @ 3.59/gal like out here in WA State X 472 that's $1694.......

Rick A · 01-25-2008, 09:10 PM

Actually, over here in PA it is $3.59\GAL and higher.

RV Wizard · 01-26-2008, 12:41 AM

Country Coach just rehired a lot of the earlier laid off workers and is gearing up for spring production again. This is according to RV Digest.

sharbra · 01-26-2008, 04:59 AM

When we were in Junction City the first of the week, Country Coach was running a night shift at the factory. There were a number of cars in the lot and we saw at least 5 or 6 people walking around the yard.

RedneckExpress · 01-26-2008, 12:26 PM

Depending on how things go, we could see a repeat of the early 80s devestation of the RV industry. Once upon a time there was 10s of Truck camper companies, with factories all over, now there's only a handful. A similar wave could come over the Large coach industry, with fuel prices at record highs and fuel economy on the larger coaches low.

In the primary Truck Camper forum, I belong to, we've been seeing a fair number of converts from larger RVs down to pickup campers to adjust their lifestyles to current costs.

Kyle241 · 02-01-2008, 05:38 AM

Unfortunately Tom has hit 'the nail on the head'. RV'ing is very expensive and the economy has been an issue before '07. There were signs then and now they are just more evident for the average consumer, it's going to get a lot worse over the next 18-24mths. I would not be RV'ing if I could not deduct a good chunk for business. I really like the lifestyle and I make a very good living but the cost is out of this world and is huge luxury.

Once I retire unfortunately RV'ing will likely be removed from my lists of 'to do's'. It's just too expensive and my 'nest egg' will have to last a long time (retiring in 4yrs at 45yrs old if everything goes as planned!).

Kyle

MtManLee · 02-02-2008, 12:13 PM

Until fuel prices become equal to or more than what they pay in Europe, Australia, Canada and all them other countries I am not going to worry about it. I dont think the market for RV's is going to fall all that far. The problem with production is the cost to build as compared to the price they sale at. Its getting harder and harder for people to afford to pay for them. It may some day come down to two or three companies building and that will be the it of it and we will still be buying them and trucking along and I am not rich my any means of the imagination so I speak as an average income person.