I’ve written previously that it’s the best of times, and the worst of times. (If you’re going to rip off a writer, why not Dickens?)
Unfortunately it’s the “worst” part of that equation that dominates our headlines, and often our thoughts.
I want The Long Long Honeymoon to be an upbeat, positive, happy place. But I also want to be realistic about what’s going on in the world.
So let’s put a few metaphors in my magic verbal blender. Ignoring recent headlines would make me the blogging equivalent of Nero, the emperor who famously fiddled whilst Rome burned.
And yes, Rome is burning. For the RV industry, this year actually may be “the worst of times.” Quite frankly, it’s a bloodbath out there.
If you watched our recent appearance on HGTV, a couple of the premiere manufacturers whose products were prominently featured have gone out of business. Monaco and Country Coach made beautiful motorhomes, but both have filed for bankruptcy. Last year saw Teton Homes (beautiful fifth wheels) go under. And earlier this week Fleetwood (builder of travel trailers) filed for bankruptcy.
We’re in the middle of a severe recession, contraction, depression, fiscal black hole, economic come-to-Jesus meeting, or whatever you want to call it. As previously noted, the heart of the RV industry Elkhart, Indiana has the highest unemployment rate in the United States (as of this writing, it’s 18.3%!).
So… Is this the end of the RV industry, as some have claimed?
Not so fast, my friends.
It may be the end of certain types of RVs. But the American love of camping and the great outdoors is not tied to fluctuations in the stock market.
Last year, I asked an RV campground owner whether $5 per gallon gas had hurt her business. Her answer was surprising.
“Not really,” she said. “We stay fully booked. Now people just stay here longer.”
In other words, people kept on RV camping; they just reduced their driving.
Of course, the RV industry must innovate. RVs need to be more fuel efficient. Changes need to happen in the credit market so willing consumers can buy.
But Americans love the outdoors. We love to camp. That love is not going away, no matter what happens to the Dow.
"Quit camping? I'd rather buy a razor."
Our country stretches across a continent, one filled with mountains, lakes, rivers, canyons, deserts, and trails. We have the best national parks in the world. We have an immense infrastructure supporting RV travel that has developed over several decades.
Want to see America, the REAL America? There’s still no better way than by RV.
Want an affordable second home? Even in times of plunging real estate prices, there’s no more affordable one than an RV.
And in times of economic hardship, RV camping arguably makes more sense than other forms of travel. When we camp, we can more easily control certain key expenses like dining out. Hey, Kobe beef and fine wine are nice, but it’s tough to beat fresh grilled hamburgers, cold beer, and smores. You keep the white tablecloth; I’ll happily trade it for a campfire.
We may not travel as far from home (or as luxuriously) but we’ll still go, and we’ll still have a great time.
And I suspect that when things bounce back, they will bounce back BIG TIME.
So don’t listen to all of the doom and gloomers out there. RV camping, in some form or fashion, is here to stay.
Like everything else… RV’n is what you make of it.
The manufactures just go quietly into the night.
No from what we see the RV now is becoming like it was during WW2.. a temp housing for fam’s relocated.
I don’t think you will ever see things “bounce back BIG TIME'” again. time changes a lot of ideas and the way we used to do things. People get old and as such so do enjoyments.
Don’t get me wrong.. I am not saying doom and gloom… but rather you will see a adaption, new uses and ways we will find enjoyment out doors camping.
Just as the big V8’s have been taken away… we now do more with less that has better effecencies and uses.
Families still need recreation… or it becomes a pretty sick socieity. .. the RV will always be their in somr form or another.
As we posted previous… that disappeared…
Its not the cost of the RV that sell.. but more the idea that one can use it for.
If you read Wallies B’s life… you will see that Airstream trailer were expensive back then… (comparitive price to earnings) So how did he sell so many.. easy.. it wasn’t the trailer he was selling but the idea (which he showed) of enjoyment one gets when being a member of the club … which the only way you could was to have one… so basically the RV is a tool to a great adventuer… and stll is.. but, when you get down to it.. its is temp housing.. while traveling.. emergency.. or now as we see supporting life of the fallen.
GMAs, we’ve definitely lost some fine manufacturers over the past 18 months.
And the RV industry in general is on the ropes (if not the mat). The RV business got hit from all sides last year, as both the credit crisis and the fuel prices did a double whammy.
But people still want to own RVs. The problem has been getting good buyers credit.
Lately the talk is that the manufacturers themselves may band together to offer buyers credit. I think they would be wise to do exactly that, and not to wait on the government to provide a solution.
Yes, RVing is what you make of it. For some people, it’s a cheap family getaway. For others, it’s sports tailgating. For others, it’s a summer (or winter) home. For others, it’s full time housing. But any way you look at it, the core desire to RV isn’t going away.
Sure, people may not be buying a $500k motorhome and driving it to Alaska. But there’s a huge range of RVs that will do the job in a smaller, more fuel efficient package.
Will things bounce back “BIG TIME”?
Well, it depends on how you look at it. Maybe I’m being too optimistic. But I think the good times are probably never as good as they seem, and the bad times are not as bad as they seem. The full scope of this financial crisis is still being revealed. Most economists are now saying things will bottom out later this year, and then begins the recovery.
I agree with you about Wally’s vision, and that’s why RVing is here to stay. There’s just no better way to roam our vast country. And it’s possible to do so while managing the cost.
I’ve just returned from an outing to Chapters. Where I’ve bought the latest RV gazette. its showing whats new for 2009. New is smaller. I think the mfg’s are reacting to the fuel cost from last summer and current economic times. The offerings are well thought out,look cute and should be affordable. I don’t know if I could step back at this point but you never know……….
Really, I’m not convinced that any models of RV are “on the way out.”
Yes, we need more fuel efficient motorhomes.
But since a lot of people park their rigs in one place for an extended time, even fuel efficiency is not a complete deal breaker. It’s not a big deal if you aren’t burning much fuel anyway. :O
Available credit is the deal breaker. Last year’s credit freeze, combined with fuel prices, killed RV sales.
I really hope that the high quality motorhome manufacturers like Tiffin can ride out this economic storm. The industry needs to get some credit options in place fast.
I don’t know what to say about fuel efficient. My own experience is that the new green laws are causing the diesel industry to go backwards. I had a 1997 Kenworth with a 14 litre Cummings. That truck used to get 7 to 8 miles per gal.
my new 2005 western star with a greener motor (15 litre Cat) only gets 5 mpg. Over a year and 100000 miles there is a 5714 gal difference in fuel used. The pollution laws have been forced down with no time to perfect the science. The 1st round came in 2003 the second round 2007 and the third is due in 2010. Cat has said “we give up” they no longer produce a semi truck engine.
I heard that VW wont be making any new cars for north America with a diesel because of the restrictions. Yet the world record for mpg is held by a 4cly diesel.
I understand the need to go green but right now greener is meaner. Burn more to pollute less?
Just another 2 cents from my soon to be bankrupt mind……;o)
Good point about the diesel engines.
It’s sort of like the “water conserving” toilets we are forced to buy in the United States. They only use 1.6 gallons per flush. Of course, when you are forced to flush THREE TIMES because they don’t work, the water savings go right down the proverbial drain…