RV market struggles: Park models defy the decline in overall sales

These are dark days for RV dealers. The latest report on sales, these for September 2024, show only one segment of new “RV” sales going up: park models. Here’s the latest RV sales breakdown in an industry suffering a breakdown of its own.

RV sales breakdown: September down 9%, year-to-date down 10%+

Industry bean-counter Statistical Surveys Inc. says there were a total of 27,400 retail registrations recorded in September 2024. That’s a 9% decline compared to the 29,898 total in September 2023.

Looking at 2024 “to date” at the end of September, you can count 289,792 retail registrations. Looking back on the same period for 2023, that shows a 10.2% decrease.

For comparison, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) reported 24,595 wholesale shipments in September 2024, and 256,412 units shipped year to date. RV dealers are evidently liquidating old stock, and cutting back on new wholesale buys.

Towable units continue to slide…

For much of the year travel trailers were the positive hope for RV manufacturers. Not so for retailers with only 16,858 sold in September 2024. Compare that to the 17,996 in September 2023, a 6.3% decline year-over-year. Which brands sold the most? Forest River Inc. with 41.3%; THOR Industries Inc. in second place with a 36.8% share; Grand Design RV Co. was a distant third-place runner with 8.3% of new sales.

Fifth wheels continue to run flat, selling only 4,450 in September, compared to 5,129 in the same month in 2024, showing a loss of 13.2%. In the sales race, THOR Industries came in first place with a 39.7% market share; Forest River was some ways back at 25.9%; and Grand Design was in third place with a 17.2% share.

Pop-ups continue their foot dragging. Only 290 of the tiny RVs sold, down 31.8% compared to September 2023, when 425 sold. Market share leaders: Forest River (56.6%), Aliner (19.7%), Purple Line LLC (8.3%).

While park models sold even fewer than pop-ups, the big not-so-moveable units were the highlight of the month. 268 of the big units sold, up nearly 35% compared to the 199 that sold in September 2023. Market share leaders here? Champion Homes (27.2%), Cavco Industries (28.4%), Elevation Park Models (9.0%).

…While motorized sales skid

Motorized RVs continue to drag the market down. Only 630 Class A units sold this September, down from 850 last year, a significant 25.9% drop. Motorhome marketplace race leaders? THOR Industries (53.7%), Forest River (14.4%), Newmar Corp. (14.0%).

Class C units, while down in sales, are still running far better than their big Class A cousins. Retail sales amounted to 1,410 in September, down “only” 7.1% compared to 2023’s sales of 1,517. Market share leaders: THOR Industries (51.0%), Forest River (25.8%), Winnebago Motorized (10.7%).

Pulling up the rear? Class B sales, off a whopping 28.9%, with just 702 moving out compared to 988 last year. Market share “leaders”: THOR Industries (47.4%), Winnebago Motorized (19.4%), Forest River (8.1%).

This month’s RV sales breakdown is enough to give any RV dealer a nervous breakdown.

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