A new report from Go RVing examines how the RV buyer of the future will use technology so that the RV industry can determine the best ways to reach out (i.e., sell RVs) to those potential customers, reports Woodall’s Campground Management.
The report suggests some new ways for Go Rving to best reach emerging audiences — Millennials, African-Americans, and Hispanics — in an authentic way. The survey’s results are not only important, but are also relevant to sellers and marketers of RVs who can incorporate the action points into their own sales and marketing procedures.
Some key findings of the report focus on how three emerging groups of future buyers of RVs have different expectations when they consider the outdoor lifestyle and what they would enjoy about RVing. Millennials, for example, are young and driven by a need for freedom found in the great outdoors. Hispanics are price-sensitive and fiercely independent and are focused on self-expression and creating experiences. They also respond to the DIY nature of road trips. And African-Americans, most of whom are city dwellers, value family escapes to the country, spending time with loved ones, and enjoying the outdoors.
Some of the survey’s key takeaways and action points:
- California, Texas, and Florida had the highest amounts of conversation.
- Content about RVing does best on Instagram and Twitter across all audience segments.
- Hashtags are widely used by the RVing community on social media.
- Upgrading and maintaining RVs is a point of pride for owners.
- Most of Go RVing’s current social content focused on the benefits of RV travel, while very little content aimed to address the barriers preventing people from purchasing/renting an RV.
##RVT861
Just an observation. Stopped by the RV show next to the RV hall of fame a couple weeks back. Manufactures are not including the propane stove as an option, huge mistake. Also, got a peek inside a Thor 24ft. Sprinter chasis, and again no oven. Not sure what’s going on, but if you use your oven at home, then why change up the equipment, at least offer it as an option, THOR.
The vast majority of National Parks, are no hook ups. So, the only offering of microwave/convection oven is just dumb.
Chuck,
We have conversed before. I am an Industrial Engineer and I worked in the RV industry in Elkhart. I have a 2015 High Country and I expect some issues. Some are design problems and some are workmanship and some are because we are driving down the worst roads in American history. But the roads are another story!
A lot of the problems with RV quality are the inconsistent processes at the mfg – building 1/2 million unit in a year means pushing them thru quickly. The mfg’s need to spend a little more time on process control and the “stupid” errors would go away like my wiring from the inverter for the residential frig that was actually connected to the TV. Simple error but avoidable. Literally one wire connected wrong. If you are going to hire unskilled labor, you need to give them good instructions. It will improve quality and actually allow the units to be built faster.
I worked for a consumer product mfg and their goal was out of the box quality. We were measured by warrentee cost, the lower the better. The RV industry needs to adopt this logic.
Keep up the good work – the squeaky wheel gets the grease and we definately need the grease!
I have a 2017 29.4’ THOR A.C.E. that I purchased in late 2016. I have put about 23,000 miles on it and,so far, I’m very happy with it. It’s had some issues but Thor and the dealer have stood behind it and everything has been repaired as found. It’s not a Prevost but I knew that going in. I put a Blue Ox True Center steering system and a Roadmaster Torsion Bars on it and now it handles very well. Before that it was a struggle. The toilet goes off at an angle but I’ve never had a problem. (Knocking on wood).
Just saying, not all of us newbies are miserable. I’m getting a little tired of reading all the negativity.
Jerry, no, most of our readers are happy with their RVs. But when 21 percent of them describe the workmanship on their RVs as poor or terrible, that is a problem. As I have said many, many times, the other 80 percent typically have normal issues that are easily fixed. These people don’t need any help from us, but those 100,000 who buy poor quality RVs each year — especially all those people who cannot get them repaired — do need someone to represent their interests. I’m at the time in my life where helping people who need it is far more important to me than being a cheerleader for an industry that does not give a hoot about its customers beyond getting their money. Camping World is the worst, of course. Yes, there are exceptions, but sometimes I think they are in the minority.
After all the negative reporting on new RVs, we decided to buy a used one. We researched the best reviewed and reported units in our price range. We weren’t concerned with the year. Ended up in an 8 year old American Coach. Lightly used, all records and well within our budget. We couldn’t be happier. W very well designed and built RV. Now, we simply pass all of those service centers.
Paul. That’s great news, and, frankly, it’s what happens to most RV buyers who do their research, and especially those who buy used coaches that were well maintained and have records to show it.
The RV industry got burned in 2008 when the banks tightened their greedy grip on money and many RV brands were gobbled up by large corporate conglomerates who only think about profits for their shareholders. Now these same greedy conglomerates are after a fast buck any way they can get it and fools who do not do their research before buying an RV are getting a grease job. I know I got burned by Grand Design and it’s Blue Dog RV dealers,I will NEVER buy another new RV again,instead I will look for an older well built rig that has been maintained well.Buyer beware nowadays. As for most banks…well use your imagination.
“instead I will look for an older well built rig that has been maintained well”
Exactly. That’s what we do.
Five things the RV industry can do to get me back into an RV are:
1. Build a quality product with quality assurance checks at the factory to fix the multitude of defects 2014 and newer RVs are leaving the factory with. My many RVs prior to that year had one or two minor defects we quickly resolved during a service visit. The last one was a clear lemon (which unfortunately doesn’t apply to RVs). 22 months of ownership meant 11 total months (3-4 months each visit) without it while it was in the shop. Each visit involved 11-37 defects to address.
2. Lemon laws need to be extended to RVs in all states.
3. Consider loaner RVs during new unit warranty repair visits. I lost 11 months of use of my new $100,000 RV, while making loan and insurance payments and watching it depreciate faster than my loan payments could keep up with – all while it sat at service departments. I had to cancel several trips…or resort to hotel stays.
4. RV service departments need employ more techs, warranty/parts clerks, and have more service bays to process our defective RVs in a more timely fashion.
5. RVs need to have TVs in positions where you can directly view them without having to sit with your head turned at a 90 degree angle. RV industry designers need to be RVers so they can experience these issues first hand, and design RVs for real RV users…