Posted on 12/26/2021 8:24:52 AM PST by blam
It was one thing when Americans panicked hoarded food and toilet paper during the early days of the virus pandemic. Then guns and ammo after social unrest broke out, but 20 months later, recreational vehicles continue to be hoarded at levels never seen before.
A new RV Industry Association (RVIA) report released Tuesday shows shipments for towable RVs jumped 14% in November to 43,881 from 38,485 the same month last year. All motorhome shipments soared 30.4% to 5,254 vehicles for the month, and total RV shipments increased 15.6%.
Like all of 2021, November’s sales are a record for that month…
For the first eleven months of the year, towable RV shipments totaled a mindboggling 506,952 versus 353,109 a year earlier. Motorhome shipments increased to 52,791 from 36,921, and total RV shipments erupted 44% to 559,743 vehicles.
The pandemic has transformed the way Americans vacation. Instead of fancy resorts and hotels in big metropolises, people opt for self-contained motorhomes parked in rural areas or nature parks.
“Demand for RVs remains incredibly strong, driving RV manufacturers and suppliers to continue to build a record number of RVs month after month for the past 13 months,” said RV Industry Association Chief Executive Craig Kirby.
“Interest in RVing remains high even in what has traditionally been the ‘offseason,'” Kirby said.
In a separate report, RVIA forecasted RV wholesale shipments would exceed 600,000 units in both 2021 and 2022.
“RV manufacturers and suppliers have accomplished something never before seen with the incredible number of RV produced in 2021 and forecasted to be built in 2022,” Kirby said in early December.
Americans are rediscovering the great outdoors, and the RV boom may continue well into 2022 and beyond as millennial ownership steadily increases.
I bought a new 2021 Redwood 5th wheel and paid way too much for it.
The good news is, with the price increases lately, I can now sell it used for more than I bought it for new.
It is my home. I live in it. And I can hook it up to my truck and get it out of the way of Hurricanes. Doesn’t work against tornadoes.
Life is a Crap Shoot,,,
Works fine for little people but 6’4” megh ...
But prob discourages you from getting fat.
Tiny toilets and tiny showers.
Big dogs, storage Pooh tanks.
Not for everyone
RV ownership is an acquired taste. Having owned 10 travel trailers and 5th wheels over 40 years, I feel I can comment from experience.
1. They can be a disaster given the generally poor construction of lower-price entry level units and the initial unfamiliarity of new owners with towing protocols, safety, electrical and plumbing systems.
2. Rent or buy used as an initial foray into the rv world,, If buying used is being considered, research the names of quality manufacturers and units then try to find an individual owner who has one or something similar for sale or that they dont appear to be using much.
3. Less is more. Bathroom space with a walk-in shower is way more important (to me) than a kitchen since a lot of cooking is done outside. Also slides are convenient but not sure worth the cost difference.
4. RVs are not a cheap way to travel, Maybe cheaper than air and 5 stars but not a fuel efficient car and Motel 6’s.
5. But if you have the time you can go anywhere you want, stay in your own place for as long as you like and see this country in no other way possible. It is likely the last one great freedom available to the average person.
Yup,
I bought a 2019 F250 New and planned the samething.
Wuhan Changed everything.
Oh, don’t worry. The government will figure out a way to tax and make the life of RVers miserable. Can’t have happy people!
‘Towable motor homes’ - that sounds like type of living spaces that are piping up all over my neighborhood as living accommodations while peoples homes are being repaired from Hurricane Ida.
“I can boondock in places most people never even know exist. One way to go where you want to go and do what you want to do with minimal contact with government or regulations. In pretty nice comfort.”
Absolutely, we live this way also. Nice to be independent, mobile, and not “tethered” to anything. Pack up in an hour and move anywhere in the country we want.
I think this is going to be a lifestyle pretty soon for even those who do not want it. Financially they will have no choice. Those who already have a nice rig will be the wise ones.
Regular rent has skyrocketed due to the eviction moratoriums which represents an illegal taking of private property and rights thereof. A multitude of mom and pop landlords have been forced into foreclosure or are selling to get out of the biz. Property taxes and insurance have skyrocketed as well as maintenance costs (no moratorium on those).
What’s left is high priced Blackrock style rental properties.
Problem is the mom and pop segment were the most “affordable” rentals and often would give leniency (mostly unjustified) to the deadbeat tenants they housed for practically free throughout the scamdemic.
Yep they hope to through a monkey wrench into the retirees who plan on doing an 1031 exchange and happily RV from blue states into red ones. I predict endless IRS audits.
It all comes home to roost, doesn’t it? The piper must be paid.
Even the multi-million top end motor coaches are selling like hot cakes. I live about 45 miles from the Marathon Coach factory in Coburg, OR. 45-foot coaches built on Prevost bus chassis. The new ones sell for 2.5 million and up, and they are frequently sold before they are finished.
The “cheapest”, and only, new bus currently in stock is listed for $$2,458,044. The next cheapest on their web site is a 2014 model, listed for 1.2 million.
Earlier in our retirement we lived full time and spent winters in the Rio Grande Valley.
Health problems caused us to quit and now as we age we no longer own the RV ( it costs to park it in a lot somewhere close to where we live).
However, the South Texas border is also far more dangerous due to the cartel activity than when we visited. In an RV you have to be able to defend yourself. (Yes, we were armed.)
I pull mine with a 2005 F350 V8 Turbo-diesel (that looks and runs like new). Pulls it with relative ease. (The 5th wheel is 16k lbs.).
Bought our 2020 Grand Design on Christmas Eve day in 2019 for $26k. They’re going for $38k now. I’ve seen our 2019 model advertised at $32k used.
Dang nice Rig,
The Casitas 18 ft trailer is what I had my eye on.
Seemed a good pick for an old guy with an UGLY Dog!
As far as NYS is concerned, the militantly pro tenant laws that were coincidentally passed in July 2019 just before the plandemic (wink wink) allow STATE WIDE RENT CONTROL should the vacancy rate drop below 5%.
Well whaddayaknow...the plandemic and it’s illegal moratoriums have done just that. This was an entire plot to enact rent control statewide for NY IMHO.
BOV - bug out vehicle and an RV doubles as a bug out domicile when you get to that property in the country.
And that's all I have to say about that.
In an era where working from home is increasingly viable, people can also work from wherever they can get wifi.
I think SpaceX StarLink will further revolutionize working on the road.
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