Okay, I'll admit I was skeptical. Usually, whenever I receive a press release from the RV Industry Association suggesting their Campfire Canvass is reporting good news, I surmise the campfire is actually the coffee pot at RVIA's Reston, Va., office and the people surveyed are the RVIA staff.
After all, it's the job of a trade association to keep their industry is a positive light. And RVIA does their job very well. But, this year, what's actually happening among RV owners mirrors the survey results.
On May 13, RVIA issued a press release suggesting that RV owners would adapt to higher gas prices and continue RVing this summer. Here are a few key points from that survey:
The latest biannual Campfire Canvass survey reveals that 76 percent of RV owners intend to use their RVs at least as much this spring and summer as last year.
Of those who said their plans would be affected, 58 percent said they'd travel to destinations closer to home, 35 percent said they'd travel fewer miles and 34 percent said they'd stay longer at one destination.
One-third of RV owners say fuel costs won't affect their travel plans, according to the study.
The survey found that even as fuel prices increase, RV trips remain the most affordable way for a family to go because of the significant savings on hotels and restaurant costs.
Many families are taking shorter, more frequent weekend trips in their RVs. According to the survey, nearly 75 percent plan to spend at least five or more weekends in their RVs.
In recent weeks, we have posted news story after news story that independently confirms almost verbatim the Campfire Canvass survey results.And, in preparing an article for our next issue, I spent several days at a few campgrounds in the Midwest.. They are packed with happy campers.
News reports often quote campers saying they love RVing as a great way to connect with family. The reports show that RVers are cutting back on other expenses to offset fuel costs. The stories also show that RV owners are using their RVs frequently, but traveling close to home. All that data is confirmed by the RV park owners interviewed by reporters and those I talked to in gathering information for our story.
Consequently, it appears that the biannual survey of campers conducted earlier this year was, indeed, prophetic in predicting how RV owners would remain committed to their chosen lifestyle. Now, how can we get potential customers to increase their economic confidence, step up and discover for themselves what millions of Americans already know?
I also suspect that RV dealers are starting to flirt with dangerously low inventory. From the statistics I have seen recently, RV owners have sold far more RVs this summer than the shipment data indicates, suggesting that although the sales are coming in, dealers are not replacing sold units with new inventory.
Dealer confidence is just as important to the RV industry as consumer confidence. As manufacturers lay off staff, shut down plants and scale back their production, dealers may soon find themselves in a situation where they can't get the units they need when -- not if -- the sales rebound. Manufacturers simply won't have the capacity to meet dealer demand.
When will sales rebound? I still think sales will head north as we close the year. Recent reports suggest that snowbirds who think they can't afford the cost to drive from New England to warmer climates will quickly change their minds when they discover the cost of home heating fuel has jumped from $1,600 to $8,000.
Once again, RVing is proving itself to be an exceptionally economical way to live and travel.