RVing is becoming incredibly popular of late. In fact, it might just be the most popular it’s ever been. We’re seeing more RV shipments and sales, more RV rentals, and even more families hitting the road full-time.
If you’re wondering about the numbers behind this, why this is happening, or what it all means for you as an RV owner, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we will dive into each of these things so you can make the best decisions for you and your RV, and to be prepared for the future of the RV world.
RV Sales on the Rise
We mentioned that RVing has become very popular. This is pretty apparent if you spend any time at all on RV forums or even in RV campgrounds. That said, these things don’t really allow us to see the whole picture and really appreciate what is happening in the world of RVing.
Actual numbers offer a much better look at how much the industry has grown, so let’s take a peek, shall we?
In May 2020, because of the COVID shutdown, RV shipments were down a full 25%. However, this all changed in June, when numbers jumped back up amazingly quickly. Now, the industry is well on its way to a full recovery.
In October, a total of 47,326 RV units were shipped out. This is up from 38,972 shipped in October 2019, and is the second-highest October on record. Additionally, this was the highest number of shipments made in any month since April of 2018.
The entire year has seen a total of 347,517 RV shipments. While this is down 0.4% from last year, it is much better than anyone might have expected when the two-month shutdown is taken into account.
There is a chance all losses from the shutdown will be recovered before the year is out. However, even if this isn’t the case, the RV industry will almost certainly see a busy and bright 2021.
Why This is Happening
RV shipments sales have seen a significant jump, but why is this? Well, the idea of full-time RVing at a younger age has been growing in popularity for quite some time now, and the fact that online work is so much more available these days has been making it easier and easier for young people to make this dream a reality.
That said, while many of the individuals who purchased an RV in 2020 likely are planning to live on the road for some amount of time as they work remotely due to the pandemic, many are simply taking their RVs on vacation. This huge wave of RV vacationers is likely made up of adventurous individuals looking for ways to get away and explore the world safely in a time when hotel rooms may not be the safest option.
Additionally, open-air natural attractions such as national parks are ideal for social distancing. Because of this, many are using this time to see the national parks on their bucket lists. Because RVing and natural attractions tend to go hand-in-hand, more people are looking for RVs to take on their park adventures.
What This Means for RV Owners
So what does this mean for you as an RV owner? It means there is excellent potential for starting or growing a business! This is especially true considering stock is running low at many dealerships, and many who wish to go on an RV vacation are unable to find trailers or motorhomes to purchase at the moment.
RVshare has seen a huge jump in the number of RV rentals we are sending out each day, and those numbers remain high, even as we enter the colder season. Whether you’ve been an RVer for a while or you just jumped on the bandwagon like so many others, if you’ve been considering listing your RV to make a little extra money, now is the time to do it.
Now would also be a great time to grow your fleet if you’ve already been renting for a while. With so many people looking to rent, having an extra RV or two will mean you can help meet demand while making even more money. Of course, the trick will be finding a good, rentable RV that is available for sale.
Once you get your RV(s) listed, be sure to promote your little home-on-wheels as a safe way to travel during the pandemic. Help people see the safety benefits of RV travel as well as the fun and unique experiences an RV can offer.
The Future of RVing
It’s impossible to know exactly what will happen in the world of RVing in the future. That said, we are fairly confident that we will continue to see people choosing RV travel over hotels for some time to come in order to remain safe as they explore.
In fact, the following was shared by RVIA president Craig Kirby:
“The demand for RVs continues to be strong heading into the fall, and the industry is on track to surpass last year’s numbers, despite the six- to eight-week closures earlier this spring. Between the growing trend to work and learn from your RV and the incredible fall and winter RV travel options, we do not see the demand for RVs going down anytime soon.”
Even once the pandemic has died down, we anticipate that RV vacations will remain more popular than they were before 2020, as so many will have tried RVing and fallen in love, and some will even be living on the road. This means more renters, more friends to meet while camping, and more adventures all around!
