Craig Kirby: These Are Remarkable Times

As we head further into the first quarter of 2022, the RV industry stands poised to continue its hot pace of growth. Early-year RV consumer shows and industry events have reported record-breaking crowds, and the outlook appears favorable well into the future.

And it is not just RVing that is experiencing this bump. It is also camping, hiking and boating. Consumer excitement about outdoor recreation is at an all-time high. Of course, Covid-19 continues to present problems, as do labor shortages and the ever-changing supply chain. But the truth is, the pandemic has fundamentally changed people, leading many to re-evaluate what is important to them.

Many have found that getting back to nature and having authentic experiences through spending time outdoors has become a priority in their lives. The pandemic afforded the RV industry with a massive opportunity to highlight the benefits of RVing and how it allows people the freedom and control to travel the country. The RV industry continues to see never-before-seen levels of interest, and the industry continues to improvise and innovate to meet the ongoing supply challenges and demand for RV products.

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Much like what the marine industry has experienced with respect to marina access, and having enough places for boaters to launch, the RV industry is experiencing capacity issues at campgrounds. We recently completed the largest research project to date into America’s campgrounds, and learned that across federal, state, local and private campgrounds, there are approximately 1.6 million RV campsites nationwide. Contrast that with our research showing there are 11.2 million RV-owning households, with another 9.6 million planning to buy an RV in the next five years, and you quickly see what a challenge and opportunity this is for our industry.

Read the full article from Soundings Trade Only here.