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Tuesday, March 29, 2022

End of the RV boom?



The recreational vehicle market exploded during the pandemic. Camping was seen as a relatively safe way to get out and do something. There is also the added security of having your own cooking and comfort facilities. 


High fuel prices just might put an end to that boom. A lot of people have seriously cut back on their travel plans. It’s been my experience that high fuel prices take a while to really take hold. Most serious RV people plan their travel planned a year in advance. It’s what you have to do to get into the more popular campgrounds and attractions. High fuel prices won’t be the killer this year. Most people will suck it up and go with their plans. Next year will be a different story. Should higher prices persist then the RV market will crater. 


In late 2019 I was actually toying with the idea of selling the house and moving into an RV. That’s the sort of crazy thinking you do after spending an unseasonably cold week in a tent. What the heck was I thinking? For less than $100 I could have purchased a propane buddy heater and kept the tent toasty. 


There might be some great deals for RVs in the future, but who’s going to want them? 


-Sixbears

9 comments:

  1. All part of the lefts plan.
    You will ONW NOTHING and be happy.
    You will GO NOWHERE and be happy.
    You will be hungry and BE HAPPY.

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  2. Or maybe things will work out that people will purchase these 'steel tents' and live in them full time, cruising between locations and not accruing any property taxes levies. Retain the standard North - South winter visitor pattern. Losing the several thousand dollar property tax would allow some planned travels. Adventurous souls might like it - or give them the shivers knowing their spouse would be around 24/7/365. Depends on the folks I guess.

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    1. The snowbird life style has its advantages. Assuming you don't get stuck somewhere, unable to get enough diesel or replace tires. I've met plenty of people on the road who vow to never pay property taxes again.

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  3. Yeah , you know what my RV has become lol.
    However it is good extra storage, and possible accommodations for extra folks after shtf...it does have a huge gas tank though for storing long term fuel to rotate out. Handy for having a special built enclosure for the gennie that is also plumbed to that tank. Taking a bit of tech from the boating world and building a water muffler for maximum quietude...

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    1. You get good value out of vehicle that doesn't go anywhere. :)

      I don't think an ice muffler would work all that well up here. Wind chill is -4 right now.

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    2. In your case , you'd have to use a little more complicated glycol/water muffler with a recovery belch tank, to return precipitate coolant. Still doable , just not as cheaply maintained and there'd be losses to make up.

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  4. the rv industry and the campgrounds are killing the industry. the rv builders knocked out record numbers of cheaply made, poorly constructed rv's at huge mark ups, the campgrounds crammed even more rv's into tiny footprints at premium prices, then cull the herd by not allowing older rv's in. ruined the experience for most everybody. now the stimulus money runs out, albatros hanging around their necks, they have to work thru vacation season to pay the bank, while the rv rots in the driveway.

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    1. Yes and yes. Don't even get me started on "build quality." There's none. Look at most RV dealerships and you see a huge sales force and tiny repair department. It can take many months for simple repairs.

      One of our formerly favorite campground was sold. The lots were cut in half and the prices doubled. They also put in a slew of new rules. There are some bargains with Federal campgrounds and public lands, but those have been discovered too.

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