Thor backlogged to $14 BILLION!!!!

[BB_TX]

Think reservations have been hard to come by? And RV parks crowded? Looks like it is just going to get worse. I assume other manufacturers are experiencing the same surge.


https://www.businessinsider.com/rv-t...ventory-2021-6

[1retired06]

So will quality assurance/quality control I bet

[DutchmenSport]

Yea, business is booming right now for the RV industry, but eventually things will settle down. When that happens, I wonder how much enthusiasm there will be for RVing then. Add to that, when folks who are new to RVing discover all the problem, warranty issues, and the amount of upkeep and attention needed to maintain an RV, plus the cost, and the cost to insure it, make payments, and add the cost of storage for those who cannot park it at home, the luster and lure will wear out pretty fast.

I think there is still a strong miss-belief that RVing is all glamorous and carefree any anyone can just hitch up and go, and land anywhere on the spur of the moment. When disillusionment finally set in, there will be a mass exodus to sell, then it will be interesting!

I know getting campsites requires reservations for almost everywhere now. The days of willie-nilly camping are pretty much over. And it's frustrating (for me) when campgrounds are packed to capacity, kids cutting through your campsites, dogs barking, lights left on all night, and the whole campground resembles the Las Vegas strip! Cars constantly driving through, and nothing but hustle and bustle.

Maybe I'm getting too old, or too cranky, or too crotchety now, but I find campgrounds, especially this year, to be very unbecoming! Too many new RVers, who have no clue on campground etiquette, the unwritten codes, and sometimes, just lacking plain common sense. I've seen some pretty crazy things going on. Because it's a campground, far too many folks thinks common curtesy, safety, and respect for others doesn't apply any more.

I thought all of this was bad the last 5-7 years, but this year seems even worse. It does make me glad we have some property at home where can use the camper, have our own bon-fires, have full 50 amp service, access to unlimited water, and the ability to dump my tanks at home. It's dark at night where I live and enjoy the quiet life of watching corn and beans grow all around us. It makes me cringe every time we go to an established campground. We love our camper, and use it almost 100% of the time .... at home and on the road. All this in-rush of new RVers who are clueless, makes it more desirable to just stay home where I can still see the stars at night!

[Creeker]

The influx of the "Covid Campers" has certainly changed things. I've never seen campgrounds as crowded as they are now. Actually started last year.

I wonder if the long trend of closing campgrounds and building more hotels/motels will reverse. We are going to need more campgrounds. Lots more campgrounds...

[AZ Traveler]

I am not seeing much downside - have not had problems getting in campgrounds nor finding more unruly campers. New RV parks are opening and we still have thousands of square miles of NF and BLM open space to camp in. Some of the new COVID inspired RV owners will fall out in the next couple of years but then the industry always goes up and down.

[artfuldodger]

We were all new RV's once. We have been camping in one form or another for 50 yrs and when we were young we had our share of noisy campfires past quiet time, and happy, yelling kids. Barking dogs have always been a super annoyance for us. Some of the new Covid Campers will fall away but many will not and just get like the rest of us.

[81SHOVELHEAD]

Purchased a 2021 Montana High Country 295RL for xx.xxx . Last of 2 on lot . 2 weeks later dealer received another 2021 295RL . Due to material ,labor shortages 12 k more than we paid for ours & it sold within 1 week.

[pitman44]

Here's a little more info on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHQqIy3m5jM

[masterdrago]

It's similar in the pontoon boating industry. ~8 week wait to have one delivered. And prices are up.

[Bad Moon]

Well, just in the last 6 months we have added a million "new Americans" to the U.S. That is a population greater than Seattle. We have added approximately that many nearly every year for the last 50 years. All of these people will be vacationing in the Great Outdoors, so yeah, there is overcrowding, and it isn't going to be getting any better.

[DutchmenSport]

"Due to material ,labor shortages 12 k more than we paid for ours & it sold within 1 week." ...

Off topic, I just paid $48 for a gallon of Valspar Exterior house paint at Lowe's. It wasn't even the most expensive one either, actually, right in the middle. The last time I purchased paint was a year ago, and paid something like $24 for a similar gallon.

Our world has gone insane!

Another EDIT:

I was watching an old rerun of "Leave it to Beaver." Wally got a car. Eddie and Lumpy persuaded Wally to go for a ride somewhere. Wally's car was sitting on "empty." Both Eddie and Lumpy agreed to pitch in 50 cents to fill the tank! (I about fell out of my chair when I heard that!)

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by DutchmenSport

…..

Another EDIT:

I was watching an old rerun of "Leave it to Beaver." Wally got a car. Eddie and Lumpy persuaded Wally to go for a ride somewhere. Wally's car was sitting on "empty." Both Eddie and Lumpy agreed to pitch in 50 cents to fill the tank! (I about fell out of my chair when I heard that!)

Many times back in the early to mid 60’s I put in 50 cents worth of gas. Didn’t fill it up, but got 2 to 2 1/2 gallons depending if there was a “gas war” at the time. Enough to cruise the “strip” a few times. Putting in a whole dollar was a luxury.

[Mikendebbie]

The cheapest I ever paid was $0.18 /gal in Longview TX during a gas war that was going on between self serve stations on Hwy 80 maybe June 1971. Regular gas was normally $0.23 to $0.25 per gal. It always took about $3.25 to fill up my 1960 black Chevy 15 that my Dad bought for $350. It was a dog. 2-40 air conditioner and 60 mph pedal to the metal. I put a Pioneer 8 track in it. The bench seat was great on dates.

Way off topic...sorry.

[Gypearce]

Originally Posted by DutchmenSport

Yea, business is booming right now for the RV industry, but eventually things will settle down. When that happens, I wonder how much enthusiasm there will be for RVing then. Add to that, when folks who are new to RVing discover all the problem, warranty issues, and the amount of upkeep and attention needed to maintain an RV, plus the cost, and the cost to insure it, make payments, and add the cost of storage for those who cannot park it at home, the luster and lure will wear out pretty fast.

I think there is still a strong miss-belief that RVing is all glamorous and carefree any anyone can just hitch up and go, and land anywhere on the spur of the moment. When disillusionment finally set in, there will be a mass exodus to sell, then it will be interesting!

I know getting campsites requires reservations for almost everywhere now. The days of willie-nilly camping are pretty much over. And it's frustrating (for me) when campgrounds are packed to capacity, kids cutting through your campsites, dogs barking, lights left on all night, and the whole campground resembles the Las Vegas strip! Cars constantly driving through, and nothing but hustle and bustle.

Maybe I'm getting too old, or too cranky, or too crotchety now, but I find campgrounds, especially this year, to be very unbecoming! Too many new RVers, who have no clue on campground etiquette, the unwritten codes, and sometimes, just lacking plain common sense. I've seen some pretty crazy things going on. Because it's a campground, far too many folks thinks common curtesy, safety, and respect for others doesn't apply any more.

I thought all of this was bad the last 5-7 years, but this year seems even worse. It does make me glad we have some property at home where can use the camper, have our own bon-fires, have full 50 amp service, access to unlimited water, and the ability to dump my tanks at home. It's dark at night where I live and enjoy the quiet life of watching corn and beans grow all around us. It makes me cringe every time we go to an established campground. We love our camper, and use it almost 100% of the time .... at home and on the road. All this in-rush of new RVers who are clueless, makes it more desirable to just stay home where I can still see the stars at night!

Well said!

[masterdrago]

Originally Posted by DutchmenSport

Yea, business is booming right now for the RV industry, but eventually things will settle down. When that happens, I wonder how much enthusiasm there will be for RVing then. Add to that, when folks who are new to RVing discover all the problem, warranty issues, and the amount of upkeep and attention needed to maintain an RV, plus the cost, and the cost to insure it, make payments, and add the cost of storage for those who cannot park it at home, the luster and lure will wear out pretty fast.

I think there is still a strong miss-belief that RVing is all glamorous and carefree any anyone can just hitch up and go, and land anywhere on the spur of the moment. When disillusionment finally set in, there will be a mass exodus to sell, then it will be interesting!

I know getting campsites requires reservations for almost everywhere now. The days of willie-nilly camping are pretty much over. And it's frustrating (for me) when campgrounds are packed to capacity, kids cutting through your campsites, dogs barking, lights left on all night, and the whole campground resembles the Las Vegas strip! Cars constantly driving through, and nothing but hustle and bustle.

Maybe I'm getting too old, or too cranky, or too crotchety now, but I find campgrounds, especially this year, to be very unbecoming! Too many new RVers, who have no clue on campground etiquette, the unwritten codes, and sometimes, just lacking plain common sense. I've seen some pretty crazy things going on. Because it's a campground, far too many folks thinks common curtesy, safety, and respect for others doesn't apply any more.

I thought all of this was bad the last 5-7 years, but this year seems even worse. It does make me glad we have some property at home where can use the camper, have our own bon-fires, have full 50 amp service, access to unlimited water, and the ability to dump my tanks at home. It's dark at night where I live and enjoy the quiet life of watching corn and beans grow all around us. It makes me cringe every time we go to an established campground. We love our camper, and use it almost 100% of the time .... at home and on the road. All this in-rush of new RVers who are clueless, makes it more desirable to just stay home where I can still see the stars at night!

All the negatives you mentioned we began to experience. We had our 5r 3 1/2 years and began to experience that phenomena when we sold the whole kit and caboodle last April (dually & 5r). We made the decision to go back to the VRBO, AirBnB, & Absolute Charm style of glamping. Usually in a quiet open country house away from the hustle bustle of campsites but near enough to a small town for some nice meals. We already have a reservation under dark skies on the centerline for the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse.

[mlh]

DutchmenSport said they would just stay at home where they could see the stars at night. That is one of the best reasons I camp. We live on a farm 7 miles from town and still have light pollution. That is one of the top reasons I camp. I can get out on the prairie 50 miles from town where there no light pollution and really see the night sky. The Milky Way looks like it’s been painted on the sky. I had forgotten what it looked like when I was a kid until I looked up while I was away from all the light pollution. When is the last time you really saw the Milky Way?
Lynwood

[masterdrago]

Lynnwood, we are ~55 miles north of Houston and although the light pollution is growing (new power plant annex, truck stop), I can see the Milky Way anytime we have a clear moonless night when the summer portion is up. But our skies are nothing like those near Ft. Davis or Ft. Griffin in Texas.

[mlh]

masterdrago that is great. My favorite place to see the Milky Way is Union Pass Wyoming. It’s 8200 feet in elevation. The air is thin and pollution free with little humidity it looks like it’s painted on the sky.
Lynwood

[Bad Moon]

Dutchman Sport:
Cynical outburst alert!
I feel your pain. We always knew as more and more baby boomers retired, the parks and highways would be more crowded with RVs. What we hadn’t figured on were the hoards of Gen Xers, Gen Yers, and millineals, who just “can’t take” the 9 to 5 life of responsibility we all managed to live through, spurred on by hundreds of YouTube channels extolling the virtues of boondocking, van life, etc.

We used to look forward to uncrowned post-Labor Day camping when “everyone” else was back to school and work. Now, especially since Covid, so many are working remotely, and home schooling their kids, the Great Outdoors is getting less great every year.