As recent as July 5, 2007, the sale of recreational vehicles is still on the rise. This, despite the fact that you’re lucky to get 10 miles to the gallon and each fill-up can cost as much as $200!
(We recently spent $1,000 — in gas alone — on an RV trip from Elkhart, Indiana to Edmonton, Alberta Canada. We drove approximately 1,800 miles and got about 6-1/2 miles per gallon.)
Americans are defying high gas prices and jumping into gas guzzling recreational vehicles for their summer vacations… RV parks say changes in how the vehicles are used along with a rise in ownership among affluent people is driving higher sales.” Source
According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association:
[May 2007]
- 76% of RV owners intend to use their RVs more this spring/summer than last year
- 20% plan to use theirs the same amount
- 4% say they will use their RVs less
Of those who said their RV travel plans would be affected by higher gas prices this year, 60% said they will travel to destinations closer to home, while 56% said they will stay longer in one place.
Number Of RVs On The Road
In fact, RV sales have increased 22% in the past 3 years. Last year, 390,500 RVs were sold. This is the most recreational vehicles sold in 28 years, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association.
And when you include those who rent RVs… there are about 30 million RV enthusiasts on U.S. roads.
In case you’re wondering, RVs typically include van-based Class C motorhomes, as well as the larger bus-like Class A motorhomes, travel trailers, folding camping trailers and truck campers.
Fuel mileage is not great, but it’s better than it was 10 years ago. The industry has introduced more efficient engines, and new materials that make motorhomes and trailers lighter.”
— David Woodworth, an RV historian
Compared to all the other expenses of a vacation, such as motels and restaurants, RVs are still an economic way to go. If gas went up a $1, a family traveling 1,000 miles in a motor home that gets about 10 mpg would spend $100 more on gas.
— Richard Coon, president of RVIA
RELATED:
More recent stats from RV & Motorhome News
Over the past several years, I've been involved with transporting RVs, renting RVs, and fulltime RVing (months at a time). I'm fortunate to have had a number of different RVs available to me to try out — which has enabled me to experience the nuances of RVing firsthand. When I'm not RVing, you can find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
