The rapid decline of the RV industry

[Jim]

The following is my opinion and is based on speculation derived from what I’ve seen happening to others and what I myself have experienced from the service departments of several dealerships and manufacturers.

I truly believe that the RV industry is in trouble, and the contributing issues are the same whether you drive a Thor, a Newmar or you pull a 5th Wheel.

• Covid brought with it a huge flurry of business to all the companies who build RV’s and the companies who supported them. This was a Christmas that lasted for several years, and the huge demand resulted in the production of thousands of poorly manufactured products.
• Service departments were overwhelmed as tens of thousands of poor quality RV’s clogged service schedules. Many RV’s made multiple visits to the same service department for the same issues, over and over again. Customers who bought with expectations of a fun and stress-free family adventure, instead were disappointed and grew increasingly frustrated.
• But now, the Covid party is over. The struggle of chasing poor quality has resulted in owners dumping their rigs in record numbers. Worse, the word is out around about the horrible service experiences you can expect if you buy one of these excessively priced money pits.
• What used to be seen as an exciting adventure, is already being viewed as a never-ending maintenance problem. Who has the time or persistence to argue with a service manager, who himself is often restricted by a manufacturer with limited accountability.
• The cost of fuels is increasing, while at the same time, society’s evolving view is that you are pillaging the earth’s limited resources.
• New sales are already suffering as people find more enjoyable, less costly, and more socially acceptable methods to entertain themselves.

I believe the bulk of these contributors can be placed squarely on the shoulders of manufacturers who don’t hold themselves accountable for poorly manufactured products, as well as under-performing and overly expensive service departments that the RV owner looks to for support.

I remember watching GM (and others) dissolve into bankruptcy based on their policies of selling poor quality with limited warranties, and then refusing to support the people who bought their products. I believe were going to see it in this industry as well,

Just my .02.

 

[dave54]

Every brand new RV I ever owned required a week of my 'fixing' everything to my standards. Retightening every screw and nut, zip tying wires, securing the plumbing, et al.
Then another couple weeks modifying it to how I wanted it.

 

[purring along]

Jim you are so right, we are still living with the nightmare created by nirvc. They were supposed to be the beacon of hope for the rv owner, for service. Not!!

 

[Tnedator]

I'm relatively new to RVing, but when in with my eyes open and knew that more than likely there would be a lot of issues from the factory (I always order cars, RVs, etc. vs. buying off the lot). I bought my first one I think in 2017, and bought from Motor Home specialists in Dallas. I drove down and planned 2 days on their site doing PDI, and two more days close, doing both a driving school and continuing to shake out the RV.

I found a lot of issues with it (Thor Ace), but fairly lucky that none were major. I remember a tech telling me that it wasn't uncommon for them to work on an electrical plug that wasn't powered, only to find that the factory worker didn't bother even hooking the cables up, just rolled it up and stuck a non functional outlet in the wall, either due to not caring, or likely running out of time as the RV was ready to move out of his station.

Point being that Covid, both the boom in RV sales and shortage of workers, certainly made the problem worse, but poor quality manufacturing and QC and long waits to get into service departments for warranty work were big issues long before Covid.

 

[Rosy]

If this means fewer loud jerks in the campgrounds around here, so much the better in my opinion.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

• The cost of fuels is increasing, while at the same time, society’s evolving view is that you are pillaging the earth’s limited resources.

There's a very narrow segment of society's hypocritial elite that propagate this view, often a part of their own agenda that does nothing other than to benefit their own situation. It's not political (for the most part) it's just a bunch of folks who think they shouldn't be subject to the same rules as the rest of the world.

I don't think the RV industry was exclusive to failing QA during covid, I think the gross lack of QA in the first place reduced it to dismal levels. The auto industry just made fewer vehicles and charged a whole lot more for them while offering few options at the same time.

The fuel thing is just good ole' supply and demand bolstered by never ending and accelerating greed. Energy dependance is helping that along nicely!

GM should have been allowed to dissolve, the bulk of their products are trying too hard to be relevant while falling woefully short of anything resembling inspiration or quality. They are most certainly not alone.

 

[fluffywhitedogs]

I'll believe it when I can get a reservation at a provincial park without waking up early 6 months in advance, opening 3 computers and hitting enter like I'm playing Hungry Hippos
That said, I have a new Heartland North Trail on order. I special ordered because I didn't want a 12v fridge, but I also wanted a 2023 rather than one of the 2022 possible pandemic units that they had on the lot. I figured if they're having big layoffs, maybe my unit will be built by guys with seniority/experience? Time will tell, it was built last week...

 

[Neemer]

nightmare created by nirvc.

@purring along , could you expound on this please?

 

[LMHS]

If this means fewer loud jerks in the campgrounds around here, so much the better in my opinion.

You might not be so gleeful about less RVers when it turns out that campground/RV park owners cannot support higher wages for support personnel and all the "upgrades" that the new crop of RVers demanded on fewer customers. Rates will climb higher and then the business will collapse.

And that's only considering the experienced business owners. It does not take into account the new owners who bought over priced-poorly maintained campgrounds/RV parks thinking the boom would last longer.

I have the latter for park owners. They bought last summer. I'm not sure how long they will last. They have already found out that overnight travelers are not flocking to this park. It was never that type of park. This is a no-frills monthly residence park. Meanwhile, they are spending money and time trying to capitalize on space aliens for the trickle of tourists. We think they are nuts.

One day they may realize that monthly sites are what pays the bills. Many other new owners will realize the same thing. More people have ended up moving into their camper that they bought to vacation in. It has turned into their primary residence for various reasons. These people need a place to stay on a monthly basis. "Overnighters" are costly and often not worth the hassle. I suspect that, in the future, a lot of small campgrounds/rv parks may become more dependent on monthlies and may decide to not accept overnighters. Where will that leave you?

 

[rvkev]

Wow JIM, you starter some conversation here at RVforums.

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I am happy with my 30-year-old coach. My rig has no slides, and no computers. Found the coach 600 miles away. Previous owner said I work on the bus more than I enjoy camping. With a sleep number bed, radiant heat flooring, and onboard reverse osmosis water, the aluminum box is quite comfortable.

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I can't fix the world around me, but I can fix the old bus.