RV Craze Attracts New, Young Customers To Outdoor Industry

Go RVing’s recent demographic study of RV owners has revealed a steady increase in the number of RVers among those aged 18-34. Outside Business Journal has revealed similar findings: there is a marked increase in the number of younger RV owners which is good not only for the RV industry, but the wider outdoor recreation industry.

Let’s be honest: When most people think of RV owners, they imagine 55-year-old retirees. In the past, that may have been accurate. But I’ve been an avid overlander for 20 years, and during the past few I’ve seen a wave of decidedly different, 30-something RVers.

And the trend is gaining steam: Accord- ing to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), sales of RVs have never been stronger. In fact, RVIA reports 41,509 new units shipped in September 2020 alone, a 31 percent year-over-year increase.

The interesting thing is that a lot of new RV owners are road trip novices. According to Neil Morse, the Adventure Van Expo series founder, many have either never been car camping, or haven’t car camped in at least a decade.

A combination of nostalgia, the social media glamour of the #vanlife movement, and the convenience of a socially distanced, hotel-free vacation have all combined to spark the recent RV boom.

For brands, this wave of novices is a gold mine. After all, they’re going to need a lot of gear.

Check out the rest of the article from Outside Business Journal here.