Washington Post: Top RV Winter Road Trips

Historically, winter RV trips are not the norm — but this year has been anything but normal.

At a time when many industries are experiencing record lows and astronomical budget cuts, recreational vehicle (RV) sales are up — and not just by a little bit. Year-end totals for 2020 are predicted to hover around 425,000 units — nearly a 5 percent gain from 2019. And, 2021 predictions are looking even brighter with most estimates creeping near a 20 percent increase over 2020.

“It’s unprecedented,” says Jon Krider, a vice president of Thor Motor Coach, one of 16 RV companies under the Thor Industries umbrella (others include Airstream, Jayco and Dutchmen). Krider says the pandemic has introduced a new audience to the world of RVs, once the province of the baby boomer generation. Younger folks are driving the trend, gravitating toward smaller camper vans and vehicles under 30 feet long. The new buyers don’t often have experience, either.

“This is the first time we’re seeing people buy the products sight unseen,” Krider says. “They’re paying for the vehicle online, getting it delivered to their home, and getting out there for the first time in their lives.”

But there is another significant difference, too: Buyers are interested in extending the travel season. According to a 2020 impact survey conducted by Thor Industries, nearly 50 percent of respondents said they were still planning trips in October, a clear indication that consumers are eager to make up for lost time.

Check out the full article from the Washington Post here.

Photo credit: Go RVing