What movement are you seeing at local RV lots?

[dieselguy]

Kind of a two-part question here. Our local Camping World has had save one sale ... the same 11 Montana models sitting on the lot since around last Thanksgiving. They have sold a few smaller weekend get away TT's. What's your observations locally or is it just my area?

Dropped by a region wide brand local credit union to pay off a balance. The loan officer in conversation just pointed to the rear of the parking area and said they're all repos. Heck, I thought they were employees or customers! She's never had this percentage of repos or just people bringing in their cars and handing over the keys in the past 8-10 years. Again, what's your local observations?

[Carl n Susan]

We have been on the road for the last couple of weeks with either the RV or the car, in AZ and CA and the RV lots we have passed are CHOCK FULL! There doesn't seem to be a lot of traffic at the stores. It sure looks like the bloom is off the rose.

[BB_TX]

Made a trip down I-35 from DFW area to near Austin then out thru the TX hill country in December. Lots of dealers along that route. All were packed full to the point of parking them in the grass off the main lots. So close it didn’t look like they could extend the slides. Looks like lot of new units arriving but not many being sold.

[Lee-CI]

Have no idea on current pricing as we aren't interested, but every place we've been to or drove by has been chock block full. The amount of repos really doesn't surprise me. Legacy models are beautiful units, but we had a High Country budget. I think a lot of folks got caught up in the rush and glitter of ownership. Just my 2 cents.

[Rotnjonny]

The RV market has most definitely slowed down. The wild ride of month over month and year over year improvements are in the rear view mirror. They simply are not selling as many as they did last year. All the “artificial stimulus “ money is long gone and out of the economy. Interests rates are up significantly. Credit card debit is at an all time high. As you know, RVs of any size are not a great investment as the depreciation is horrendous. People are scared and if they have cash, they are looking for security and where it won’t lose 15% in the next 18 months.

[Skw774]

current conditions based on interest rates, it is not a buyers market.

[DutchmenSport]

I pass my local RV dealership at least once a week when I go into town, sometimes more. In the last year, I've noticed the different lots full and then not so full. Their inventory shifts. They have 2 lots. The new lot is more noticeable from the road and it shifts all the time. And brands shift also. Sometimes one brand is lined up along the front, and then another time a different brand and trailer is along the front.

The parking area for the RVs and trailers waiting for service is packed full. And then their used area seems to be the smallest section. It's always shifting units.

Nearest their front door, the inventory shifts all the time.

I'm not sure in RV dealerships are simply shipping RV back and forth to each other to make it appear inventory is moving, or if they are actually making sales. But their building remains open. Their service center takes about 6 - 8 weeks for an appointment and then often another 4-8 weeks for parts after that. Their bays (and they have many) always have a camper sitting in them, and they have people working everywhere. Their parts department and parts store always has people in it and it seems no matter when I walk in the door, there is always someone at the counter buying something. But when I need help, it's always immediately available.

I think, at least the RV dealership nearest me is successful (at something). There's more than just selling new units going on all the time. But again, their inventory seems to change all the time.

What's really happening? I certainly hope they are making those sales and not simply playing a shell game to make it look like they are making sales.

[MandK]

We have been south for several months so don’t know what the lots look like at home but the lots sure are jammed full in Fl, Ga and Sc, to the point that it looks like they may be leasing vacant land to park them on.

[Montana Man]

Production has past up demand and the Feds cooling of the inflation is working to some degree. RVs are a litmus for economic factors and repos are the result. Like in 2008 there were dealers that thrived on selling repos bought at auctions.

[Foldbak]

FLRV typically sales around 45 units per month. In January they hit an all time low of 4 due to the economy and loan interest rates. Last month they sold around 25 so things are picking up slowly. We'll see if it lasts.