Little-Known Facts About RVs

Even pre-pandemic, the RV industry was experiencing consistent growth. In the eight years leading up to 2017, sales expanded each year. What’s more, according to a 2019 economic study from the RV Industry Association, the recreational vehicle industry has hit a staggering $114 billion total economic impact in the U.S. annually, from RV sales to industry jobs to campgrounds and travel. 

While many industries slowed or stagnant growth, the RV industry was the opposite. According to the Fall 2021 RV Industry Association Report, shipments are expected to reach an all-time high in 2021 with even greater gains in 2022, when a projected 600,000 units are expected to be sold. 

Here’s a closer look at some of the little-known, colorful, or otherwise intriguing facts about the RV industry, culled from industry reports, association websites, and statistics research. Curious to learn some RV lingo before you hit the road? Be sure to read Boondocking and Other RV Terms You Need to Know.

Related: 17 Tips for RVers Riding Out the Coronavirus Pandemic

Kathryn Mancewicz contributed to this article.

Motorized campers began to appear on the scene as early as 1910. That’s when the first “auto campers” were created and made commercially available. By many accounts, these vehicles, sometimes also called “camping trailers,” were the predecessors of today’s ubiquitous RVs. However, they were hardly as luxurious as modern offerings. In fact, they offered minimal comforts.

Related: From Covered Wagon to Winnebago: The Evolution of the RV

By the 1950s, the industry truly started to come into its own, offering everything from do-it-yourself RVs to luxe 30-foot vehicles. It was around this era that many of today’s well-known RV brands established their businesses.

Related: The Most Outrageous Luxury RVs Money Can Buy

Hitting the open road in an RV is no small pastime. In fact, 65 million Americans plan to take an RV vacation this year, according to the RVIA. That figure represents a significant share of the overall number of people who go camping in this country. For instance, in 2020, there were 86.1 million active camper households in the U.S. A staggering 10.1 million families camped for the first time in 2020, according to the Kampgrounds of America. The best available estimates suggest that about 1 million Americans RV full-time. 

Related: What It's Really Like to Retire in an RV

The RVIA began collecting data more than 40 years ago, but it was in 2017 that RV shipments exceeded the half-million mark for the first time. Wholesale shipments reached 504,599, which was a significant increase over 2016 when 430,691 RVs were shipped by manufacturers to dealers.  Shipments declined in 2018 and 2019 to 483,672 units and 406,070 units, respectively. 

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Ongoing pandemic concerns make RV travel a safer alternative to flying or staying in hotels. In August, shipments for RVs broke a monthly record with a whopping 52,819 units sold. This represents a 33.8% increase from the same month in 2020. “The RV industry has set a new monthly shipment record for 10 straight months as RV manufacturers and suppliers work together to meet the sustained demand from RV consumers,” according to the August RVIA report. Projections for 2021 indicate sales are estimated to exceed the previous 2017 record by around 5%.

While it may seem like RV vacationers are mostly families and boomers, younger generations are buying RVs these days in increasing numbers. A study completed by Ipsos on behalf of Go RVing showed the highest interest among consumers ages 18 to 34 years. “Millennials and Gen Zers are becoming RVers for life, with an impressive 84% of 18-to-34-year-olds planning to buy another RV in the next five years,” the study says.

Related: 22 Reasons Why #VanLife Might Not Be for You

While younger RV owners may be growing, the average owner, according to RV Life, continues to be around 48 years old. These individuals are typically married, have an annual household income of about $68,000, and travel about three to four weeks each year.

Related: Why You Really Don't Want to Buy an RV

It should come as no surprise that America’s stunning national parks are a magnet for RV travelers. The most popular park among the RV travel set is Yellowstone, according to RV Share’s 2021 Travel Trends Report. The rest of the top national parks include the Grand Canyon, Zion, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Sequoia National Park.

Considering renting an RV for your next trip? Choose from a wide variety of options at the popular rental site RVshare.

RV travelers should never have trouble finding a place to spend the night. According to a Wandering RV report, there are about 16,000 campgrounds and parking facilities (public and private) that allow RV camping throughout the country. Looking for more places to park an RV? Here's How to Find Places to Boondock or Free Park in Your RV.

RV owners who are Good Sam Club members are eligible for 10% off at more than 2,400 parks and campgrounds across the country.

That #RVLife is apparently not just a beloved American pastime. Between 2012 and 2017, U.S. RV exports to China, Korea, and Japan totaled over $258 million, according to the RV Industry Association 2018 annual report. The RV industry in Canada meanwhile generates about $7 billion a year in sales annually, according to Wandering RV’s report.

Related: 20 Stunning RV Camping Destinations Across Canada

With the travel industry’s impact on climate change being a key topic of discussion these days, it might be comforting to know that an RV vacation can be more environmentally friendly than flying or driving and staying in a hotel. A study produced by PKF Consulting found that a family of four taking an RV vacation generates a smaller amount of carbon dioxide than a family that opts to fly to their destination, where they rent a car and stay at a hotel.

Related: Bucket List RV Trips Worth Planning

Given their love of the great outdoors, it should be no surprise that some RVers have taken extra steps to reduce the environmental impact of their vehicles. Go RVing says that nearly 20% of RVers use solar panels to run some of their on-board systems. While there are some downsides to solar, one huge benefit is that many RVers qualify for the 2021 solar tax credit.

Related: Solar Panels and Other RV Accessories to Make Road Life More Luxurious

RV camping is a family affair, and that includes the family pet. In addition to the 90% of owners who agree that RVs are the best way to travel with kids, more than half (54%) bring their pets along with them on RV vacations. Looking for dog-friendly campgrounds? Check out 16 RV Parks Your Pooch Will Love As Much As You.

RV design has come a long way over the years and is now able to accommodate disabled travelers. Various RV makers will provide modifications before delivery of a vehicle — everything from wheelchair lifts or ramps to widened entrances and interior pathways. Manufacturers can also create lower kitchen counters and cabinets and roll-in showers.

Related: DIY RVs and Vans You Have to See to Believe

Another evolution of the industry over the years — park model RVs, for those who want an RV that looks more like a traditional cottage or home. These unique creations bear no resemblance to an old-fashioned RV — imagine your summer cottage on wheels. But like traditional RVs, they require being hooked up to electricity, sewer, and water. Park model RVs, which are aimed at those who like to stay in one camp for an entire season, are under 400 square feet, range in price from $20,000 to $80,000 and can sleep up to 10 people. Hauling one of these homes, however, must be intimidating to say the least. 

Related: 30 Biggest Mistakes of First-Time RV Drivers

It seems there’s no end to the ways RVs can be customized. For those who love fishing in sub-freezing temps, a customized fish house RV may be the best approach to staying warm. These vehicles, which range in size from 6 to 30 feet, and in price from $3,000 to $20,000, according to Go RVing, are designed to be lightweight so that they can be towed onto the ice with an ATV. And banish images of some spare tin shelter. An RV fish house includes such creature comforts as heat, kitchens, bathrooms, beds, and satellite television. All that and, at the end of the day, you can fry your fish up on the RV stove.

Related: Best Fishing Spots in All 50 States

A 2019 RVIA report also found that a full 98% of the RVs bought in the United States were made here. Of the more than 100 manufacturers in business, most are, in fact, based in the U.S.  

Related: Cool Brands That Are Still Made in America

Of all the states in the country, Indiana leads the nation in RV production and manufacturing, according to the RV Industry Association. Nearly 87% of all the recreational vehicles made in this country come from the Hoosier state. Elkhart, Indiana, is widely viewed as the industry capital, where about 65% of recreational vehicles in the U.S. are made.  

Related: 21 Surprising Things We Learned at the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana

The largest portion of the RV market is made up of towable units, according to the RVIA. From the start of 2021 through August, 359,519 towable campers were shipped, a figure that represented 53.8% growth over 2020. Also, according to the RVIA, about 12% of RVs on the market are motorized, while 88% are towables.

Related: 24 Affordable Camper Alternatives to an RV

While there are plenty of well-known companies that specialize in manufacturing RVs, Ford Motor Co. also has a part to play in the creation of these vehicles. It makes the chassis, engines, and transmissions for most of the motorhomes bought in this country.

Throughout the United States, Wandering RV reports that there are about 2,700 dealers selling RVs who manage about $26 billion in revenue annually. These dealers also create about 51,000 jobs. Camping World is the nation's largest dealer, with more than 180 locations across 40 states.

Related: Where to Buy an RV Across America

The 2020 RVIA annual report shows Texas getting the most recreational vehicle shipments from manufacturers, at 10.2% of the total produced. California comes in second, getting 7.2% of wholesale shipments, followed by Florida at 5.6%. After that come Ohio and Michigan, at 4.2% and 3.9% of the wholesale RV production respectively.

A mere five countries account for the vast majority of RV exports from the United States, says Wandering RV. Our neighbor to the north, Canada, accounts for the lion’s share of the market, annually taking 90% of industry exports. Retail sales in Canada amount to more than $6 billion annually according to the report.

Related: 10 Countries Where They Love RVs as Much as Americans Do

Though used models and simpler models can certainly be found, RVs are not necessarily cheap. Given that reality, more than 200,000 indirect loans were provided in 2017 at retail locations that sell RVs, according to the Wandering RV’s report, totaling about $8.4 billion.

Related: 25 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying an RV

As part of its $114 billion annual overall economic impact on the U.S. economy, the RVIA reports that the industry supports nearly 600,000 jobs and 30,363 businesses, and contributes more than $32 billion in wages. It also pays in excess of $12 billion in taxes (federal, state, and local). That $114 billion impact is broken down between RV manufacturers and suppliers ($68 billion); RV sales and services ($20.1 billion) and RV campgrounds and travel ($25.6 billion). Outdoor recreation makes up 2.2% of the U.S. gross domestic product.

Given that it is the home of the RV industry, it should come as no surprise that Indiana leads the pack, at $32.4 billion, when it comes to total direct economic impact (which includes RV manufacturers and suppliers, sales and service, and campgrounds and travel). California has an annual impact of $8.8 billion, and rounding out the top three is Texas at $6.9 billion.

Even on a more local level, the RV industry is a force to be reckoned with. In Colorado, for instance, it has a $1.4 billion annual economic impact. That materializes in a variety of ways. RV manufacturers and suppliers in the state, for example, realize a $384.9 million annual economic impact, while $556.6 million goes to RV sales and services, and $496.1 million is taken in by RV campgrounds and travel companies. Also in Colorado, the RV industry supports 9,752 jobs and provides $491.7 million in wages. About 11,105 RVs are shipped to the state each year. Colorado is just one example. RVIA provides economic impact numbers such as those for each state — find yours here.

Although most RVs bought are still towable, Class B motorized RV sales have surged. Many travelers consider the Class B models to be easier to drive and overall more convenient, especially in a pandemic era. Younger, first-time buyers are reportedly behind the surge with their embrace of a more “van life” approach to RVing. In August, sales reached a new record with 1,442 units sold.

According to the KOA report, 52% of new RVers report wanting to upgrade their rig. Many may have started out with lower-cost models as a way to “test the waters.” Many RVers report wishing they had known more before buying their first RV.

According to reports from the RVIA, an RV vacation can save a chunk of change. Compared with a traditional vacation, RV trips can be more than 60% cheaper than a stay offering similar accommodations. The convenience of having all your own supplies (and your own bed to sleep in!) is also not lost on RVers.

Most RVers enjoy the glamping experience, with half of first-time campers reporting such an experience in 2020. But 30% of all RVers report camping outside of traditional campground or RV parks. This could include boondocking (which involves camping for free on public lands) or stopping at Walmart parking lots or the like during a cross-country trip.

There was a surge in new campers in 2020, and it represents a more diverse group than ever before. According to KOA, nearly 60% of new campers are under 40, with three-fourths of all new camping households having children. Six in 10 are from nonwhite groups, and one in four are black.

According to RVshare’s Travel Trends Report, of all those who rented in 2020, nearly 80% were new to the rental platform. Another RV rental company saw a surge of 1,500% from its lowest booking day to the highest during the pandemic. According to market research company Mordor Intelligence, the RV rental industry was valued at $429 million in 2018, but growth from 2021 to 2026 is expected to reach 8%.

Average RV prices can range from $5,000 to more than $140,000 new, the RVIA says. Some price tags even stretch into the millions of dollars, although this isn’t average. The cheapest type of RV tends to be folding camping trailers, commonly called pop-ups; Class A motorhomes, which have the buslike front windshield, are typically the most expensive.

Many people think of motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels. But did you know there are many more RV types? There are four types of motorhomes, including Class A, Class B, Class C, and the lesser-known and super fancy Super C. Towable RVs include conventional travel trailers, toy haulers (designed for transporting ATVs, motorcycles, and the like), travel trailers with expandable ends, folding or pop-up trailers, and fifth wheels. Then there are park model RVs and, becoming more common, towable tiny homes often built by their owners. You also can’t forget about truck top campers.

RVers are a creative bunch, and you may find them in all sorts of custom conversion RVs. You never know what you might find when you’re on the road: conversions of horse trailers, delivery trucks, utility trailers, and even school buses, fondly referred to as Skoolies, are among the less traditional vehicles out there.

Retiring and traveling the country in an RV is the dream of many as they near retirement. But why wait? The pandemic caused skyrocketing growth in remote work — and RV wannabes. The demand was so high that in March, the popular Escapees RV Club hosted a virtual conference focused on remote work. More than 3,000 people attended the five-day event. 

Related: How to Earn Money Working From Your RV