The rapid decline of the RV industry

[Bigblockyeti]

Gas will always come from the same source: you cannot draw oil from solar. Electric is heading towards a more sustainable future even if it’s not there yet and some states are actively fighting against it.

I've seen this too, there's a bunch of lithium under several parts of Maine yet there is powerful resistance to letting it be mined.

The supply & demand I still agree with, I intentionally left out the part about who's messing with the "supply" part and their agenda.

 

[Buc]

I've seen this too, there's a bunch of lithium under several parts of Maine yet there is powerful resistance to letting it be mined.

The supply & demand I still agree with, I intentionally left out the part about who's messing with the "supply" part and their agenda.

I’m hoping we can find ways of storing energy that don’t require tearing up wild areas or find fuels that don’t require mining. Hydrogen seems promising.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

As far as what's available right now, propane looks appealing from a customer standpoint, the infrastructure is in place to extract it so nothing new is needed, but it's unpopular having ~76% the energy density of E10 and less so vs. diesel. If it were to all of the sudden become popular, the price different between commodity and retail would shrink but we'd be back in the same situation with needing more of something that's not sustainable. West of Lincolnton, NC there's going to be another big lithium mine setup, I'm not too worried about it because after it's empty, 10 year later after reclaimation is complete, it won't be apparent a mine was ever there.

 

[kenw]

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...

You figured all this out and you bought a Heart land

 

[sanda]

Propane is produced from liquid components recovered during natural gas processing. These components include ethane, methane, propane, and butane, as well as heavier hydrocarbons. Propane and butane, along with other gases, are also produced during crude oil refining.
So we are going to process natural gas and oil to make propane? [MOD edit - politics - please refrain!].

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Propane is produced from liquid components recovered during natural gas processing. These components include ethane, methane, propane, and butane, as well as heavier hydrocarbons. Propane and butane, along with other gases, are also produced during crude oil refining.
So we are going to process natural gas and oil to make propane? Kind of defeats the purpose but I'm sure some in the white house would be all for it.

That's why I mentioned we'd be back in the same unsustainable situation as gasohol & diesel. It's not an issue now because it's not popular as a motor vehicle fuel. A big part of that is storage and as previously mentioned, the lower energy density.

 

[Buc]

That's why I mentioned we'd be back in the same unsustainable situation as gasohol & diesel. It's not an issue now because it's not popular as a motor vehicle fuel. A big part of that is storage and as previously mentioned, the lower energy density.

I seem to recall that my college had some trucks that ran off propane for the grounds crew. I started there in 1994. It kind of seems that if propane was going to be a thing, it would’ve taken off by now.

Electric is undoubtedly the future. Hopefully we can make it cost and materials efficient in the short term.

 

[Neal]

This thread seems to be one where people can't avoid politics. Warning....no politics or the thread will be closed. We come here to feel good, remember? So eat a glazed donut, because that would make me feel good, and speak RV.

 

[Buc]

This thread seems to be one where people can't avoid politics. Warning....no politics or the thread will be closed. We come here to feel good, remember? So eat a glazed donut, because that would make me feel good, and speak RV.

I’m firing up the espresso machine…

I also need to get the tow setup on the new truck. I might do that this weekend, and make sure the trailer is okay after a winter of non-use.

 

[Rosy]

Coal??? In the US? Might want to check that. Maybe 20 percent ish. More like 7 percent in Canada. Coal is definitely on the downslide for electricity production in North America.

Still about 50% in Alberta, though.

 

[Rosy]

I've seen this too, there's a bunch of lithium under several parts of Maine yet there is powerful resistance to letting it be mined.

The supply & demand I still agree with, I intentionally left out the part about who's messing with the "supply" part and their agenda.

I'd be resistant to people strip mining my home too.

 

[Voyageurs]

Still about 50% in Alberta, though.

Coal generated power is on its last three months in Alberta. Then it goes to zero. There is a single coal generating plant still running then it goes to zero.

2023: The year Alberta says goodbye to coal

Coal-fired power is on its way out in Alberta, while renewable energy is on the rise. 2023 will be the last year Alberta burns coal. In our latest blog, we explore how we got here – and why we need to chart a path forward to a net-zero grid.

www.pembina.org

 

[Rosy]

Coal generated power is on its last three months in Alberta. Then it goes to zero. There is a single coal generating plant still running then it goes to zero.

2023: The year Alberta says goodbye to coal

Coal-fired power is on its way out in Alberta, while renewable energy is on the rise. 2023 will be the last year Alberta burns coal. In our latest blog, we explore how we got here – and why we need to chart a path forward to a net-zero grid.

www.pembina.org

I thought the current administration reversed that moved and allowed someone to build a new coal fired plant.

 

[Voyageurs]

I thought the current administration reversed that moved and allowed someone to build a new coal fired plant.

No. Coal is just too expensive. Natural gas is more advantageous on many fronts. Plus Alberta continues to invest in wind.

 

[Rosy]

No. Coal is just too expensive. Natural gas is more advantageous on many fronts. Plus Alberta continues to invest in wind.

I prefer natural gas to coal. Just didn't think everyone else in this province agreed.

I'd rather see nuclear than any renewable option.

 

[Voyageurs]

I prefer natural gas to coal. Just didn't think everyone else in this province agreed.

I'd rather see nuclear than any renewable option.

Yah nuclear is kinda cool. But regulations now call for 1100 year cost projections and bonds etc to deal with the deleted fuel. 60 years of operations and minimum 1000 year projections for long term storage. Most companies and their shareholders shy away from that kind of commitment. . It’s extremely expensive now depending on the country.

 

[FL-JOE]

Anyway, getting back to the OPs original post......I think the covid years hurt the RV industry. Let's face it 90% of RV manufacturers never really produced high quality products anyway, then you throw in inexperienced replacement workers and quality went from bad to worse in a hurry. I don't see them bouncing back anytime soon.

Anyone who jumped into RVing during covid without any experience probably is out or trying to get out by now. However, many (like myself) knew up front how horrible the quality control was in the first place so it really wasn't any big deal.

We have been in a brand new (cheaper) TT for almost 2 months now. This is a 32', no slides, no options, basic toy hauler travel trailer. I have already done several minor repairs. After the first 600 miles my fresh water tank fell down. I jacked it back into place yesterday at a campground and secured it with 4 ratched straps. In a couple weeks I will spend a month at a northern CG where I will do a permanent fix. I have a 1 year factory warranty and I would not even consider letting some dealership fix this. I want it fixed right so I don't have to deal with it again. This says it all about how great the RV industry actually is IMHO.

 

[LMHS]

In a day or two, snug up your ratchet straps. New ratchet straps, and un-stressed older ones, tend to stretch slightly at first. It's not much but that extra tightening will make a difference. I have had straps that only tightened one or two "clicks" but I have had others that tightened up quite a bit. There seems to be no reason for the variance. Some straps just seem to be woven looser, I guess.