RV Industry Faces Business Challenges

Posted by Thomas Alan Gray Apr 9, 2009

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." The glass is half-empty, the glass is half-full.

Fleetwood in the US has filed for Chapt. 11 Bankruptcy, and Bigfoot RV, one of Canada's oldest names in ultralight RVs, is gone.

Yet Newmar and LazyDays report rising sales of Class A units.

RVIA President Richard Coon wrote in a letter to the editor of the NY Times (April 4, 2009),"RV manufacturers are adapting [to economic conditions] by producing lighter and more fuel-efficient vehicles. New models include the first-ever RV hybrids, ultra-light composite trailers and green technologies such as fuel cells and solar panels."

So consumers with credit can get more RV for their money, with lower operating costs in the future.

I'm an optimist. The glass is half-full!