BLOG RVtravel.com readers believe motorhomes have seen their day

[Neal]

https://www.rvtravel.com/rvtravel-readers-agree-thing-motorhomes-dead-1202/

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I tend to agree after seeing the MSRP sheets from the Newmar dealer meeting. Pricing has gone crazy.

 

[Neal]

I think the insane costs of motorhomes now with manufacturers thinking they're going to be able to sell at these levels and sustain business is probably the first time I've ever thought "self - maybe a 5th wheel or trailer is something to consider next time around?"

Interestingly, pre-owned motorhomes seem to have not risen in parallel with new motorhome prices so that is a more likely option as well. Learn to love what you have, I love mine and have no plans to sell it, it gets me there just as any other RV does. The days have changed in this industry.

 

[Neemer]

I’d love to hear @Brett Davis take.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

The questions in my mind:
- how has the volume of motorhomes changed over the last 4 decades? Give this as a CAGR.
- how has the median pricing of motor homes changed, relative to the median household income, over the last 4 decades?
- as a whole, what are the demographics of RV buyers (not just motor homes) and how have they changed over the last 4 decades? The article mentioned younger buyers but didn’t give any hard data that could be correlated against incomes, Rv types or budgets.

The shift in campground ownership and campground costs going up dramatically during the first years of COVID I believe had a big impact. For many, RVs were a way to travel economically, or at least was justified internally. This is no longer true with the daily cost having risen so much. Gone are the days of $20-$30 a night for a large campground site for full hookups.

For us, we were trying to sell our motorhome and started looking at newer trailers. But after we considered the cost of a trailer that was built well and truly 4 season, cost of a truck, then considering having to learn all new systems and their idiosyncrasies … we are now in the camp (pun intended) of those who are keeping their motorhome longer. Our coach is 11 years old this year, runs great, looks great, everything works and it is very hard to find a trailer that is built as well where everything feels solid.

We are part of those not upgrading to a new motorhome and if we did sell ours someday, it will be for something smaller and cheaper. Too much capital to sink into a new or newish motorhome model today.

 

[Boat Bum]

I think part of the reason is the sheer number of RV options today.

 

[DennisT]

Prices are getting out of hand.

Talked to a couple here that are looking at Super Cs and a dealership they went to said they sold 7 a couple years ago and 40 last year.

Will be interesting to see what that market does compared to the rest of the motorized market.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

As usual there is my camp!

I think Newell has a finger on the future niche of the MH industry. I think Newmar is trying to position itself to survive in what will come to pass. Time will tell how many of their customer base will continue with them as they transition.

About the used market? A rewriting of policy at resorts will determine how healthy the entry-level will remain as a viable option.

Personally, the shake up in the economic future may make this discussion moot!

 

[AbdRahim]

A bit discouraging to a relative newcomer., just building a garage for the coach. Garage cost more than half what I paid for the coach. Well perhaps it will make it last twice as long. This is year five. Was hoping to get another in 7 years or so. At current rates of price increases, that might not be possible or practical. It looks like gassers will be half a million or cheapened to pure junk. Very sad.

Of course who ever thought a pickup truck would cost $100,000?

 

[John&Andrea]

Look around the RV owner is younger all the time. Often I wonder what these youngsters do for a living $90,000 or more truck and a 40ft fifth wheel. Years ago I think the RV owners were a little older.

 

[Neal]

Look around the RV owner is younger all the time. Often I wonder what these youngsters do for a living $90,000 or more truck and a 40ft fifth wheel. Years ago I think the RV owners were a little older.

It's an interest topic, here are a few thoughts as I'm sort of in that group as to why I took to RVing in 2017:

• In 2025 "Internet" is available pretty much anywhere and at high speed. Compare to 10 or 20 years ago, working remote was not an option. In 2017 when I started, it was a struggle with slower that desired cellular services so look how far we've come in only 7-8 years since I started.
• Remote work is far more available and the norm now, many like myself are tech jobs. I took me far too long to discover RV's when I just went to a RV show on a rainy weekend for something to do and the lightbulb came on "I can work from anywhere in this thing, and there's so much space, it's an apartment on wheels..."
• Compare the cost of buying a house vs. a RV
• Van life is a thing and a movement among the youth, even from cars

I'm sure there's more but just a few thoughts during the first cup of coffee here. It's just very different now in many ways than 20 years ago.

 

[Neal]

One other point...those college graduates going to tech (software dev) jobs have starting salaries in the 6-digits. (not fact checked...just my thought/belief)

 

[Jim]

Look around the RV owner is younger all the time. Often I wonder what these youngsters do for a living $90,000 or more truck and a 40ft fifth wheel. Years ago I think the RV owners were a little older.

Not to say all young people are the same, but in many cases, it's not how much the item costs, it's how much is the monthly payment.

 

[Boat Bum]

They're probably content creators making more a month than we can imagine...

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

It's an interest topic, here are a few thoughts as I'm sort of in that group as to why I took to RVing in 2017:

• In 2025 "Internet" is available pretty much anywhere and at high speed. Compare to 10 or 20 years ago, working remote was not an option. In 2017 when I started, it was a struggle with slower that desired cellular services so look how far we've come in only 7-8 years since I started.
• Remote work is far more available and the norm now, many like myself are tech jobs. I took me far too long to discover RV's when I just went to a RV show on a rainy weekend for something to do and the lightbulb came on "I can work from anywhere in this thing, and there's so much space, it's an apartment on wheels..."
• Compare the cost of buying a house vs. a RV
• Van life is a thing and a movement among the youth, even from cars

I'm sure there's more but just a few thoughts during the first cup of coffee here. It's just very different now in many ways than 20 years ago.

This statement, “the lightbulb came on "I can work from anywhere in this thing, and there's so much space, it's an apartment on wheels..."” completely resonated with me.
Coworkers have used that phrase, “you have an apartment on wheels”.
We love that I have the freedom to be able to work from anywhere, as long as we can get a clear view of the sky.
Someday maybe I should start sharing some of our pics from our journeys…

One other point...those college graduates going to tech (software dev) jobs have starting salaries in the 6-digits. (not fact checked...just my thought/belief)

I also believe this is totally true, based on what I have seen from younger family members and new hires on my team. This higher pay used to be ONLY tech industry, but other industries that need tech related skills have had to up their pay scale in order to get talent.

Not to say all young people are the same, but in many cases, it's not how much the item costs, it's how much is the monthly payment.

This ^^^^^

Why People Making Six-Figures Are Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck

After taxes and adjusted for cost of living, $100,000 amounts to just $35,791 in New York

time.com

So wish I could sit down with younger people and help them see the long term picture, look at the compounding impact of interest on things we buy and money saved and/or invested. I was/am a nerd and even from teen years was thinking about life earnings.

The stats around the number of people, making six figures, who live paycheck to paycheck is mind boggling.

 

[John&Andrea]

Working remotely has definitely increased RV sales. I guess this generation is just doing it differently. Working and traveling, we worked and now traveling.

 

[osuallen]

Not to say all young people are the same, but in many cases, it's not how much the item costs, it's how much is the monthly payment.

100%. Before she retired, my wife worked in the mortgage business and every day would see applications for people in debt way over their head.

 

[John&Andrea]

I can only imagine.

 

[AbdRahim]

One other point...those college graduates going to tech (software dev) jobs have starting salaries in the 6-digits. (not fact checked...just my thought/belief)

Problem is it does not buy much more than what $20,000 bought 40 years ago. Remember when DP’s were less than $100,000. Someome tell me I am not getting old.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

We have recently decided to trade in the motorhome for a fifth wheel. We travel/camp for three reasons; motorcycle riding, music fests and concerts, and to visit friends. When we are parked, we’re limited to motorcycle travels from that point. This proved to be an issue this past Christmas when we went to see Samantha Fish in Jacksonville, FL.
With the new toyhauler, we can take the truck to see a concert if the weather is bad or if we need to make a supply run.
Having a trailer just gives us more flexibility.
See y’all at The Shed in May!