The RV Industry Association (RVIA) has just posted its statistics for August 2024 wholesale manufacturer-to-dealer shipments. While towable units saw a bit of an increase over August of 2023, motorhomes are doing a “drive of shame.” Are motorhomes failing? We can’t say, but their sales certainly have run out of gas.
Motorhomes drive of shame
Motorhomes finished the month with a nearly 31% drop off compared to last year’s August shipments, with only 2,860 units heading down the road. Year-to-date motorhome shipments weren’t quite as dismal, down 22% compared to August 2023.
Class B conversion vans were the largest drag, down 41%, followed closely by Class A units, off 37%. Class C units did the “best of the worst,” losing only 22% in shipments.
Towables—a comparative strut
If motorhomes are doing a drive (or walk) of shame, towables are doing a comparative strut. Towable RVs, led by conventional travel trailers, ended the month up 9.6% from last August with 26,245 shipments.
In what may surprise some, pop-ups took point, blazing up an amazing 24% from August 2023. Travel trailer movements were up nearly 14% for the same period. Dragging their tires, fifth wheels were off almost 5%.
In the “also ran” category, park model RVs finished August down (-21.3%) compared to the same month last year, with 299 wholesale shipments.
RVIA positive spin story slowing down
At a seeming loss for words, compared to his usual positive-spinning industry talk, RVIA president and CEO Craig Kirby could only say this in the report: “RV manufacturers and suppliers continue to build RVs and components with new technology and features to appeal to today’s RV buyers. With RVs available at nearly every price point, RVing remains one of the most affordable ways for people and families to travel and make lifelong memories.”
##RVT1176b
“Spin City” is now in Elkhart.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Well, I hope that someone is still making diesel pushers in a couple of years. I guess we’ll see. Thanks for the news, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Spin city for sure. The people are getting wise to the junk Elkhart puts out.
5 year prices for class A’s are up 25% and quality is down 25%. Fuel prices are high and with mileage for a class A at +/-7 mpg is this really a shock?
Not to mention, (OK, I will mention it) the average FAMILY has $24,000.00/year less expendable income as a result of inflation. So again I ask, is this really a shock? Is it? Really? $24,000.00/ year is a lot of $2,000.00/month payments not being made.
Just given it straight and keeping it real.
Nailed it! Well stated.
Yep, with a stroke of a pen Joe Biden killed the KeystoneXL Pipeline that would have brought 800,000 barrels EACH DAY from Alberta oil sands into the USA. Fuel prices would not be an issue right now and inflation far less severe.
While I agree with most of your factual statements and they are mostly indisputable. Inflation however was caused by the printing of money. Some covid related but mostly caused by the post covid inflation reduction act pri ti g presses. Total inflation is 21% over the past 4 years so while the 2% number you use sounds good (but it is still over 3%), it is the other 19% that is the source of the pain.
Cont.
Pat Brown:
I should add that your position is that 4 years into Biden’s Vice Presidency gas was $3.62 and 4 years into his Presidency it is $3.24. Strange you don’t mention the 4 years he was not in the Whitehouse, when it was $2.62.
Also inflation at the height of Covid was 1.4%, Covid is simply a bad excuse for anything anymore my friend.
And to top it off, those same policies are financing the wholesale destruction of Ukraine. A completely avoidable war with the Russian side financed by bad US energy policy and the Ukrainian side financed by the US tax dollars. Gong Show. Simply Brilliant.
Try building a quality RV, defect free and stand behind your warranty and people would buy them Seems like Motorized sales are racing the build quality in the race to the bottom in manufacturer build costs- AKA as build PROFITS.
Week after week I read of declining RV sales and corresponding campground crowding reports. Maybe it’s tricky to assess, but have you entertained the possibility that “RV” sales have not actually declined because we are building our own? Perhaps look at the sales trends of vans and also trailer chassis.
Darla…look at the overall shipments YOY: Up nearly 9%! People have shifted away from very costly motorized and big 5vers and are buying TTs.
And don’t forget that there is a big used market and many first time buyers choose used. I watch several dealer sites and used motorhomes continue to move…not like a couple years ago, but there is turnover.
The motorhome stats tell a different story of the action being reported out of the recently completed Hershey RV Show. Several Mfgs., led by the REV group reported robust and surprisingly strong class A sales, far surpassing their expectations.
Expectations is the key word. So what were they? 50 units? and they sold 60 100 units and they sold 125.
This is the reason FMCA is changing their name. People aren’t retiring with big pensions any more. They can’t afford expensive Class As. If they sell their house and buy an RV to full time in it will probably be one and done.
Family RV Association will offer the same benefits and be welcoming to all those towables (like me for the past 7 years).
Campground crowding is from people buying them to live in full time.