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Recreational Vehicle
Facts
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:
- towable RV: travel trailers, folding camping trailers,
and truck campers.
- 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.
- 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.
The RV Traveler:
- 1 in every 12 vehicle owning households in the U.S. owns an
RV, representing approximately 7 million RV households, a growth
of 38% since1980 (2001 University of Michigan).
- The typical RV owner is 49 years of age, married, with household
income of $56,000.
- Typically RVers travel 4500 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.
- 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%.
- Reasons given for choosing an RV: flexibility and convenience,
comfort, family appeal, affordability, lure of the outdoors, versatility,
and availability of rental RVs.
- RV rental has become a $350 million/year business, experiencing
a 63% growth rate between 1997 and 2002, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau and the RV Rental Assoc.
Trend in the RV Market:
- US Vacation trends are towards shorter, more frequent trips
closer to home. RVs fit this style very well, and so will find
favor with consumers as these trends continue.
- The 2001 Michigan study reported that one in six U.S. households
intends to by an RV in the future. This is being borne out in RVIA’s
reported sales increases since that time.
- Gen Xers will become a prime market for RVs in the future.
2001 Harris Interactive
- Estimates of growth in RV ownership are that by 2010 over 8
million household will own RVs in the U.S.; a 15% increase.
RV Market Web Links
Associations
Journals and selected publications
State/regional studies
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