While the RV Industry Association says wholesale RV shipments to dealers are up 9.5%, there’s much more to know. Right now, travel trailers are keeping RV manufacturers alive. That’s our sum-up from the April 2024 RVIA shipment survey.
The devil is in the details
The RVIA touts that 34,197 RVs moved from manufacturing plants to dealers, up 9.5% compared to April 2023’s 31,216 rigs. But the devil is in the details. “We are encouraged by the continue [sic] incremental increases we have been seeing in RV shipments over the past six months,” said Craig Kirby, RV Industry Association President & CEO. “Incremental increases”? That depends on what kind of RV you build.
Travel trailers marched out the door at a good clip. The comparison to 2023’s 20,394 units versus 24,589 “bumper pulls” moved out this April showed a whopping 20.6% increase. In the same “towable” category, however, things got ugly. Fifth wheel builders moved only 5,319 rigs, down nearly 2% from April 2023. And “pop-ups” deflated badly—only 1,738 of them going to dealers, nearly a 26% decline in wholesale sales. Truck campers were just about as dismal: 290 units going to dealers, a 20% decline.
Not even a race between trailers and motorhomes
Still, in the race between towables and motorized, there’s not even a race. Class C units showed dead-steady, i.e., no loss, no gain. Class A units took a licking, moving a paltry 681 rigs out the door for a 27% decrease compared to April 2023. And van camper manufacturers? Singing the blues, moving only 712 Class B units for a 45% decline.
In real terms, motorized RVs took an overall loss of 19%. But that’s just for April. For the first four months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, motorhomes have more than stalled out, showing a 21.5% decline in wholesale movement. It may make some wonder about the wisdom of Grand Design rolling out its brand-new “Lineage” motorhome.
In reality, the consumer has spoken. The heady days of high-priced RVs with plenty of bling and long-term sales contracts look like a thing of the past. Reality is setting in. If you want to RV, get something you can afford and enjoy. Travel trailers are keeping RV manufacturers alive.
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Sad news for the wholesale RV industry, but maybe not so bad for the current owners and travelers…less crowding maybe.
Thanks again for the updated report Russ and Tina.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Interesting information. I am beginning to gather information with the ultimate end trading our 2022 RV for a 2025 RV. We’ll see at what point things stop. At this point I’m researching sales prices, availability, and trade-in valuation. We might cause motorhome sales to tick up by 1. 😉 Meanwhile, thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
Nope. I was drunk with optimism. 😯 DW yesterday (5/31) said categorically that she would entertain no thoughts of trading Newton the New Aire until, at the very least, he got to go to Alaska. At the earliest, that will be next summer. So DW and I won’t “save” the driveable market until the fall of next year, if then. 🤔😉
This is pure free market results. RVs went through a bubble and its normalizing thanks to the free market. Next year things will be back in a normal condition.
I wonder if the production slow down has resulted in any attempts to incorporate quality control on the assembly lines.
🤣 Oh, sorry, Ray. You were probably being serious.😉 We can only hope, eh? Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I’d really like to see a report on how many “brand new” RVs more than 1 year old are sitting on dealership lots awaiting a 1st owner.
Delivered to dealerships is one thing .. from dealerships to non-commercial buyers is quite another.