Rv sales

[campersam9]

This year rv sales have been better than it has for years. The amount of new campgrounds are the same. Next summer it may be packed! Looking around the KOA we are at there are new trailers and fifth wheels. When we walk the dogs we see rows of 2020 rv’s. It is nice after what has happened to see this.

[Marcm157]

It's nice in one respect but not so nice in the other. Many of these "First Timers" have no clue about campground etiquette. The upside will be there may be a flood of lightly used RV's hitting the market sometime soon....

[THE MEEKER]

Originally Posted by Marcm157

It's nice in one respect but not so nice in the other. Many of these "First Timers" have no clue about campground etiquette. The upside will be there may be a flood of lightly used RV's hitting the market sometime soon....

I absolutely agree! There will be a glut of 1-2 year old RVs for sale in the next couple of years.

I also agree on the increased number of "wingnuts" who have no appreciation for the "Golden Rules of Camping", which include camping etiquette and leaving your campsite better than you found it.

Since reservations are handled through third parties, I hope campground operators can get access to the personal information of those who abuse campsites and go after them with stiff fines and cleaning costs.

[wiscampsin]

With the number campers being sold increasing the number of campgrounds not increasing I wonder if there will be a 'supply and demand' type of price increase at campgrounds.

[sturgissteele]

I was telling my DW, now would be a good time to have some land, either for sale, or development.

[CAG]

It was very obvious in the national forests this summer that along with many who were out of work, had the kids home during months that they would normally be in school or just got tired of being penned up filled places where I seldom see anyone.



I had predicted the glut of used RVs that I think we will see in a year or two. In any event I hope some of this gets back to normal so they are not clogging roads during the week again.

[DocBrown]

We frequent a private CG several times a season. We spent a week there from Labor Day to the following Monday. The are we went to is a high tourist area and was as busy during the week as it normally is in off season weekends. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday everything was packed. This is an area that is normally nearly dead the days following Labor Day, which is why we go. Good for them of course. They make all their money in July and August and they had a banner year when they thought they were all going bankrupt later.

So the CG workers and owner told us every weekend has busy since early June. Normally does not get busy until July. The CG was about 1/2 full during the week we were there, normally it is well under 1/4 full. The weekend was nearly full up. Mostly new rigs. The crowd was good though, quiet and respectful. We were in the rec room waiting for wash one morning and heard the office staff on the phone turning people away due to booked weekends.

The only other CG we went to was in June at a county CG in the Upper Peninsula. It was fine. It has a lot of seasonals, and the other weekend campers were all local regulars so no issues.

All that said I've been reading on the WI FB State Park page that there have been lots of issues in the parks with "newbies". It doesn't help that they are only just starting to bring back the rangers and some parks are understaffed.

This spurt in sales reminds of 2006 and 2007. People thought buying a trailer or motor home would be cool only to find out they hate owning one and selling it a year later. Same will happen in 2021 and 2022. Once festivals and sporting events open back up, the market will be flooded with used units.

[campersam9]

In 1974 my wife and I purchased a pop up camper. No awning no heater no shower just a stove beds and a ice box.
We knew nothing about raving. People at the campground taught us everything.
Now it is my turn to help them. Some will give it up and there are people like us that love camping.

[Parcany]

Reminds me that the same thing happens when people go to the pound and see a puppy and fall in love with it until it grows up and then they don't want anything to do with it. But buying a trailer will be a lot more expensive.

[THE MEEKER]

Originally Posted by Parcany

Reminds me that the same thing happens when people go to the pound and see a puppy and fall in love with it until it grows up and then they don't want anything to do with it. But buying a trailer will be a lot more expensive.

Actually, we are picking up our puppy tomorrow morning, a Golden Retriever. We have not had a dog in 14 years as the kids are grown up and married off.

I told my wife that I have not seen her this excited since we were expecting our first baby. She told me its almost the same except no pushing involved.

[Tunce the traveler]

Running into a few Billy Bob’s out there that bring their aggressive dogs camping and could care less about their behavior.

[campersam9]

We have three English Setters and that is so true.. some things you can’t change or help. We do much better at KOA campgrounds.

[Brownie]

As some of you know, I volunteer as a Michigan State Park Campground Host all summer, and we have seen a 30% increase in both campground revenue and beach/boat traffic this year! A lot of people bought new RV's, but (with so many out of work) a ton them bought less expensive tents! The sporting goods stores must be elated! And it just makes sense. Disney Land/World and all the other amusement parks & resorts were closed down for most of the summer. All festivals & sporting events were canceled. Bars, restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys & casinos were closed. People were afraid to fly or stay in hotels/motels. The only recreation you could do was go camping. So, everybody bought RV's or tents and did just that. People who'd normally spend their weekend getting drunk at the local bars, instead got drunk at the campgrounds. And yes, a lot of them were "Newbies" who had no courtesy, no consideration for others, and no knowledge of "camping etticate". Every weekend, our bathrooms were trashed and litter was "purposely" thrown all over the beach, the parking lots, and the campground. I don't even want to talk about the things people left in their campfire rings! Even the park rangers are saying "we've had a ton of 'A-holes' this summer". Every Sunday afternoon, there would be 2 or three tents left in the dumpsters, and (as others have said) I'd expect a glut of 1-2 year old RV's on the market over the next two years. [I wouldn't expect to get much for your 8-12 year old unit if you're trading it in on a new one.]

I sure hope we can get this Covid under control and return to some sort of normal by next summer. My hat is off to all the first responders, store associates, and others who've been on the front lines of this, but I don't think I can handle another Covid Summer!

[norty1]

Dogs are really worth it but don't be shocked when you go the vet with a couple of them for a annual visit! We spend more or prescriptions for them than we do on ourselves.
I'm not complaining just informing.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by norty1

Dogs are really worth it but don't be shocked when you go the vet with a couple of them for a annual visit! We spend more or prescriptions for them than we do on ourselves.
I'm not complaining just informing.

And that is why we buy the pet insurance. But again, others will think we are stupid and pet insurance is a waste of money but when the vet and med reimbursement checks come in we just laugh our way to the bank.

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by Parcany

Reminds me that the same thing happens when people go to the pound and see a puppy and fall in love with it until it grows up and then they don't want anything to do with it.

I had the opposite experience. My pup just turned three, and during the first year or two, there were times that were total hell, with the crazy puppy energy. Many times I questioned myself with "what did I get myself into....."

But now, he's finally calmed down and matured at 3, and I have him where I want him, I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world, and you will have to pry him out of my cold dead hands...

But buying a trailer will be a lot more expensive.

That kinda parallels just like buying a boat... You know, that whole "first day, last day" experience.

[Tunce the traveler]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

I had the opposite experience. My pup just turned three, and during the first year or two, there were times that were total hell, with the crazy puppy energy. Many times I questioned myself with "what did I get myself into....."

But now, he's finally calmed down and matured at 3, and I have him where I want him, I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world, and you will have to pry him out of my cold dead hands...

You mean things like this as your just sitting there trying to enjoy your morning coffee.

[TxLoser]

Originally Posted by Tunce the traveler

Running into a few Billy Bob’s out there that bring their aggressive dogs camping and could care less about their behavior.

We’ve seen the same. Very frustrating. Off leash, and sometimes aggressive. It’s beyond me how people think that’s ok. I just keep telling myself I’ve got to keep my side of the street clean and not worry about others. Easier said than done.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by campersam9

This year rv sales have been better than it has for years. The amount of new campgrounds are the same. Next summer it may be packed! Looking around the KOA we are at there are new trailers and fifth wheels. When we walk the dogs we see rows of 2020 rv’s. It is nice after what has happened to see this.

Originally Posted by campersam9

In 1974 my wife and I purchased a pop up camper. No awning no heater no shower just a stove beds and a ice box.
We knew nothing about raving. People at the campground taught us everything.
Now it is my turn to help them. Some will give it up and there are people like us that love camping.

Must be in the eye of the beholder as campgrounds packed with people with more disposable income than manners isn’t my idea of “nice.” I’m not a snob and am happy to help newbies who have questions or need help. But there’s a big difference between inexperience and ignorance. I’ve seen a lot more folks who ignore simple rules, right in front of very visible signs. Clearly, they just don’t care about anyone but themselves. Yep, the campgrounds are full, but it’s not always good.

[Parcany]

Two weeks ago today we got a 5 month old Shepard mix. Don't have any Idea what the mix is. For being only 5 months he minds really good. We have always had dogs since we came to Az. My first post was meant to compare people buying trailers and getting puppys. It is fun for the first couple of years then it gets boring and you want to get rid of the trailer, puppys grow up and they are not cute anymore and people don't want to be bothered with them, so they let then go.