RV Sales Down Because Of High Gas Prices

As gas prices continue to skyrocket, those who rule the road with huge RV's may be cutting back in the future. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reports that RV shipments declined 9.5 percent in 2007, after five consecutive years of record growth.

In the Desert Southwest RV experts say things are steady. Mike Green who owns RV World in Yuma says they're a little off the mark but are not facing some of the hardships that others are in different parts of the country.

Even though sales might be down, the true test to see how the economy will play out will be at places like this one. RV Parks. Don Gammons at the Cactus Gardens says it's too early to tell and see if any of these spots are going to be filled by winter.

"They won't really see any impact of the gas prices maybe until the latter part of August, first part of September." Gammons says. But Green doesn't have to wait until then. He adds that Yuma is destination city where people want to come. Read more about why RV Sales Down Because Of High Gas Prices.

RV Rentals

My folks have been retired for five years, and they’re spending their golden years on the road. There have been trips to China and Peru and a train tour of Canada. This year, they’re sticking closer to home — an RV tour of California with the Kelly clan.

“We’re a small company,” said Tom Franks, Director of Comfort Coach RV in Oceanside (760-554-7390; rvrentalssandiego.com). “Each of our coaches is privately owned. Not only do you have a rental company maintaining and managing the coach, but you also have an owner, who has a vested interest in maintaining it. And because these are privately owned coaches that people have purchased for themselves, they’re loaded with features and amenities — nicer upholstery and cabinetry, in-motion satellite receivers, surround-sound speaker systems...”

Franks said, “We carry both Class A and Class C. The Class C is the most popular family coach. It’s made on a van chassis and drives like a van. There’s a bed above the driver’s head and a queen-sized bed in the bedroom, and the sofa folds into a double bed, so it can sleep up to eight.” The Class A slept six people, but Franks suggested that it was a step up. “It’s a bus-style coach, so you sit up above the traffic and enjoy a great view. It will have more slide-outs, so you’ll have more living space.” Read more about RV Rentals...

Monaco Financial Services Continues Consumer Financing Program for Monaco Coach RV Customers

Monaco Coach Corporation, one of the nation's leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles, today announced the continuation of its consumer financing relationship with GE Money for consumer purchases of recreational vehicles. GE Money announced in May that it would largely discontinue its RV and Marine lending, with the exception of products eligible under the Monaco Financial Services consumer finance program.

Launched in June 2006, Monaco Financial Services was jointly designed by Monaco Coach Corporation, GE Capital Solutions, and GE Money to deliver commercial financing to Monaco's dealers and retail financing programs for consumers. MFS supports all Monaco dealers and retail purchases of Monaco Coach's brands, including Monaco, Holiday Rambler, Beaver, Safari, McKenzie and R-Vision. Read more...

Camping World/FreedomRoads Announces Expansion Into RV Rental Market

Camping World/FreedomRoads, the nation's largest RV and outdoor retailer announced it will be adding recreational vehicle rentals to their suite of RV and Outdoor product offerings.

RV Rental Centers will initially launch in major markets including: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando/Kissimmee, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. An additional twenty markets are targeted within the next 24 months such as Buffalo, Houston, Indianapolis and Sacramento. The ultimate goal is to have rental units available in Camping World locations across the country supported by the only national service network currently 100 stores strong and growing.

"Offering RV Rentals is a natural fit with our business," said Marcus Lemonis, Camping World/FreedomRoads Chairman & CEO. "We've already established state-of-the-art facilities nationwide while offering RV and Outdoor products such as Coleman at our retail stores; moving into RV Rental market offers the consumer flexibility in their travel plans while providing a unique and affordable rental experience." Lemonis added, "We plan to offer the lowest daily and weekly rates supported by our relationship with thousands of campgrounds and most importantly 24 hour road side assistance. Our goal is to provide total peace of mind to every customer."

The proposal will offer one-way and roundtrip RV reviews through online reservations (campingworld.com and rvrental.com) and a toll-free reservation center. Rental inventory will be powered by Winnebago; the leading RV manufacturer of Class A and Class C Motorhomes and the fleet will range of 25' Class C to 31' Class A models. Learn more...

RV Ratings

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RV business doing well despite rising fuel costs

Record prices at the gas pump could have put the brakes on the recreational vehicle business. But instead, area RV dealers say business is healthy and customers may be looking at their hobby as an escape from the stresses of the tough economy.

Quad-City dealers see customers buying RVs, upgrading to larger units and planning trips as they always have. But their trips might be shorter this year and fuel costs are definitely weighing heavier on their minds.

“We’re down 10 percent but it’s not from the folks who have experienced RVing,” said Mark Thompson, the president of Thompson Family RV. “It may be some new buyers are being more cautious because of consumer confidence and they’re holding back. It’s not that we won’t see them next year.” Read more...

RV Industry 'Downsizes' to Keep Pace with Slow Economy and Rising Cost of Gas

Teardrop Trailers and Other Lightweight Campers Proliferate as RV Industry Scrambles to Provide Fuel-Efficient, Environmentally Friendly Alternatives to Large Travel Trailers and Motor Homes

CANTON, Ohio, June 9 -- The June 2008 issue of RV Business Magazine, the leading trade publication for the RV industry in America, recognizes the emerging role of lightweight tow able camper trailers in the RV industry. The recreational vehicle industry, traditionally slow to adopt these small, aerodynamic campers that can be pulled with virtually any vehicle with a hitch, has been compelled to expand their product lines to include products such as the Little Guy teardrop camper trailer and the Silver Shadow teardrop.

The uptake of these micro sized campers by RV dealers has historically been somewhat slow, says Chris Baum, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Little Guy Worldwide, headquartered in Canton, Ohio. "For years, the RV industry has been hesitant to carry a product that only retails for between $5,000 and $10,000. But the explosion in the ownership of small, more fuel-efficient cars in response to the escalating cost of gas has forced the recreational vehicle industry to take another look at selling a product with a broad-based appeal." Read more...