You won’t have to wait quite as long in the future to buy the latest model RV.
Last week, the RV Industry Association Board of Directors approved its RV Model Year Task Force’s recommendation to move the Voluntary Model Year Introduction Recommended Best Practice dates from the July 1 through August 31 time frame to a June 1 through June 30 time frame, effective as of the 2026 model year.
It’s about time. Right now, somewhere in RV manufacturing land, a manufacturer is already trying to get a new model advantage on competitors by advertising 2026 models.
The new voluntary, recommended best practice on RV model year changeover was initially adopted in 2020 in an effort to improve the RV buying experience by alleviating a common source of confusion that consumers were experiencing when purchasing RVs. The Taskforce previously reaffirmed its commitment to the voluntary practice last year.
This year’s updated best practice, as reported by the RV Industry’s latest RV News and Insights Report, recommends that RV manufacturers announce their annual model year and major product design changes between June 1 and June 30 each year, starting with the 2026 model year.
The adoption of the voluntary, recommended model year changeover period has assisted consumers in distinguishing between model years and helped determine the value of used RVs when consumers want to trade in a currently owned RV for a new one.
Others who benefit
In addition to improving the customer experience, the voluntary adoption of a model year changeover timeframe also benefits RV industry businesses. RV dealerships can more efficiently manage their inventory and communicate model year information to shoppers.
Component part suppliers can more efficiently produce and stock the changing part needs of manufacturers. RV manufacturers and suppliers are better able to provide dealer service centers with current parts for consumer repairs, and the ability of finance institutions to establish RV valuations will be enhanced.
The Board of Directors reiterated that adoption of this best practice is entirely voluntary and encouraged RV manufacturers to exercise their individual, independent discretion in deciding whether to adopt the recommendation.
EDITOR’S NOTE. Please let us know if you see any ads for 2026 models showing up soon. And, we wonder, is anyone daring to introduce a 2027 model? Stranger things have happened.
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They shouldn’t start new model year RVs till the end of the present year. Many times they do anything to the RV other than change the year on the title. Then later on they make changes. I seen that on a TT I bought.
This makes it even more confusing, especially since it is not uncommon for the chassis of a motorhome to have a different production year than the house. It seems we could end up with 3 different years: 1=chassis production year, 2=house production year, 3=model year
I agree with Bob M that next year’s models should be available at the end of the current year.
Instead of new design and development, maybe they should concentrate on fixing their design flaws on 2024 models first…jus’ sayin’
Thank you, RV Travel! 🙂 Seems an odd game of semantics, labeling, to announce next year’s models, floorplans, and options six calendar months ahead of a particular model year. So, all the component people stop making parts for this year’s RVs and start making parts for next year’s RVs a month earlier is going to magically result in perfect and trouble-free RVs? Okay. I’d like a seat near the front row to watch the amazing transformation. 😉 Or maybe I’ll just read about it in RV Travel. 🙂 Thanks again and safe travels! :