How will RVers be affected by latest tariffs?

On Wednesday, April 2, President Donald Trump announced his Liberation Day—telling Americans what countries would have what tariffs imposed. In the end, nearly every country on the globe will see a tariff added to products it exports to the U.S. While most RVs sold in the U.S. are manufactured here, a huge increase in the cost of new rigs isn’t anticipated, so says one industry expert. However, the new tariffs may still increase the cost of new rigs. And if you need RV repairs? Look out—it may cost more and take longer.

Liberation Day: How tariffs may affect buying new RVs

The day before the new tariffs were announced, we talked with Mike Coyle, the chief operating officer of Kunes Auto & RV Group’s RV Division. The group owns a network of RV dealerships, principally in the Midwest. Coyle is no stranger to the industry, having come on board with Tom Raper RVs in 2011. When Camping World took over the outfit, Mike stayed with Camping World, recently moving over into the Kunes group.

We asked Coyle what he sees in terms of price increases for new RVs, while trying to anticipate how the new tariffs might play in. “I think it will have some influence,” he acknowledged. “Most major manufacturers we work with anticipate price increases, likely reflected in the 2026 models.”

While Coyle didn’t specify particular manufacturers, his company does carry a wide range of brands, including Lance, Winnebago, Jayco, Holiday Rambler, and Brinkley, among others. What sort of price increases—and when? “Price hikes will likely be reflected in the 2026 models. Again, the range we’ve heard is 4 to 6 percent.”

Planning on buying a new RV? Mike Coyle’s advice is simple. “Consider timing your trade-in strategically. [If] you were planning to upgrade after the season, you might want to move up that timeline before potential price increases take effect.”

Coyle also advised RV buyers to “Choose your dealership carefully. Some dealers offer low prices but lack strong service departments. Look for a dealership with a solid support system.”

Anticipate delays in getting your rig fixed

That could be even more critical with the upcoming tariffs. While Coyle doesn’t think the impact on RV part prices will be significant over the broad range of parts, there will be some that do head up. “If anything,” predicts Coyle, “we might see price increases in chassis and electrical components, particularly for motorhomes.”

Why particularly for these items? “Many of these parts are sourced from Mexico or China, so those supply chains could see some disruption,” Coyle cautions. And that’s the second “watch out” for RVers, if your rig does end up in the shop in need of repairs. We related how we’d heard from RVtravel.com readers who complained of sometimes having their rigs sitting on a dealer’s lot for six months, waiting for repairs.

“It’s difficult to predict exact timeframes, but a six-month wait for a repair means something has gone terribly wrong,” Coyle responded. “Not necessarily with part availability but with the repair process itself.” He suggests that many dealers have been trying to build up a backlog of common parts in anticipation of the tariff effects on supply-chain snags.

To avoid potential service delays, Coyle had this to say: “My advice is to plan ahead. Schedule maintenance proactively, don’t wait until a problem arises to bring your RV in for service.” Liberation Day may signal greater awareness on the part of RVers.

Canada and Mexico tariffs unchanged—But other RV part-supplying countries hit hard

While the Liberation Day tariff announcements didn’t touch on Mexico and Canada, the two countries have already been hit with 25% tariffs on products that are not excused from them under CUSMA, or the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. What’s troubling with those exemptions is that just what is or is not “OK” under CUSMA simply isn’t clear. As a result, some products that might actually be exempt from the 25% tariff will still see the tariff imposed, simply to keep the product flowing, rather than waiting around to see if it might be tariff-exempt.

But Mexico and Canada are not the only countries that supply parts and materials that go into American-built RVs. Here are some other potential imported supply countries, showing the tariff percentages for each (with the exception of Canada and Mexico):

• Chassis and Structural Components: Often imported from countries like Canada, Mexico, and Germany (20%), which have strong manufacturing capabilities for automotive parts.
• Electrical and Electronic Systems: Components such as wiring, batteries, lighting, and solar systems are often imported from China (34%), South Korea (25%), and Japan (24%).
• Furniture and Interior Components: This includes upholstery, cabinets, and flooring, typically sourced from Italy (20%), China (34%), and Mexico.
• Plumbing and Water Systems: Often sourced from China (34%) and Mexico, including pumps, water tanks, and pipes.
• Suspension and Drivetrain Components: Imported from Germany (20%), Japan (24%), and the U.K. (10%), known for their advanced automotive engineering.

Global uncertainty

Just how much RV repair facilities have bulked up on common repair parts isn’t certain. How much RV manufacturers have planned ahead and stocked up on raw materials like steel and aluminum that they’d normally obtain from overseas isn’t certain. Likewise, how supply-line issues will plague the industry is also uncertain. The road for RVers may not be too bad. On the other hand, it could get rough. It all reminds us of a quote from the ancient Roman author Pliny the Elder: “The only certainty is that nothing is certain.”

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