Recreational Vehicle Travelers

The RV defined

According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), an RV is a vehicle that combines transportation and living quarters for travel and recreation purposes.

Three primary RVs are identified:

1. Towable RV: travel trailers, folding camping trailers, and truck campers.
2. Motorhome, a motorized vehicle with three ‘class’ distinctions: Class A motorhomes, the largest, are assembled from the chassis up by a single manufacturer; Class B motorhomes are smallest, and begin using a standard van chassis and body, then modifying it; Class C motorhomes are medium to large, using a standard van or truck cab and chassis, then building the living quarters onto these that include sleeping quarters over the cab.
3. Conversions are vehicles much like the Class B motorhomes in that they begin with a stock van, pickup, or SUV, then convert interior and exterior aspects to provide additional amenities, roominess, or towing specialization.

Market size

One in every 12 vehicle-owning households in the US owns an RV, representing approximately 7 million RV households, a growth of 38% since1980 (2001 University of Michigan).  In 2001, there were 7.2 million RVs on the road. Sales of RVs since this time have steadily increased: 2002, +21.1%; 2003, +3.2%; 2004, +15.4%. RV rental has become a $350 million/year business, experiencing a 63% growth rate between 1997 and 2002, according to the US Census Bureau and the RV Rental Association.

Demographics

• The typical RV owner is 49 years of age, married, with household income of $56,000.
• Typically RVers travel 4,500 miles annually on excursions that total 28 to 35 days annually.
• Baby Boomers account for the largest segment of RV ownership, as well as the fastest growing segment of the market.
• Reasons given for choosing an RV: flexibility and convenience, comfort, family appeal, affordability, lure of the outdoors, versatility, and availability of rental RVs.

Associations

• RVIA, Recreational Vehicle Industry Association
  • For the Media (facts/statistics links)
• RVDA, The National RV Dealers Association
  • RVDA, RV Learning Center, RV Statistics
  • RV Buyer and User Demographics
  • Rental Demographics

Demographics

• Outdoor Recreation in America
  • General Statistics
  •  Roper Research
    
• ARVC, National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds
  • National Survey Indicates RVers & Campers Spend Billions of Dollars in Local Communities (citing highlights of Michigan State 2001study)

Journals and selected publications

• Habits of RVers (RV Travel, News, Information & Advice for RVers, Past Survey Results)
• A Paved, Well-lighted Campsite (article: Business Week, 10/11/2004)
• Grey Winds (article: Forbes, 1/10/2005)
• RV is Cause for NV (article: US News & World Report, 3/22/2004)
• Life in the Slow Lane (article: Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Jul/2003)
• More at Home on the Road (article: American Demographics, Jun/2003)

State/regional studies

• Wisconsin's RVers Travel Tracker