Rv Industry on the rebound?

[grantgoold]

Interesting article suggesting a rebound in the RV manufacturing world? If true, perhaps surplus parts inventories will also rebound eventually!

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/12/06/rv-industry-rebounds-americans-hit-road/


Not sure this is happening on the West Coast as we see stagnat inventory and very few new units sold. The inventory of used RV's for sale is tremendous.

[Mike in GA]

About 10 years ago, when first starting our conversion, I made a trip to the surplus houses in Elkhart, IN.       
     I went into a small cafe for lunch and by chance made the acquaintance of the mayor. It was during an earlier slump in RV sales, as I recall.  When I asked him how a town like his, so reliant on RV isales and accessories, was making out, he smiled and said, "the RV industry is the first to feel a recession, and the first to lead the way out." 
     I've thought about it many times, and it has the ring of truth.
     Let's hope so!
Mike in GA

[Gary '79 5C]

I would like to see the better side of the RV business, but I can't agree.
Fuel prices have increased $ 2.60 to $3.00 diesel in NJ last two 1/2 months, other places must have seen increases as well.
Lapeer, Mi is a small town without a great economy ( 10 15 years ago last time I worked in that area ) maybe all that changed since then.
I see people agonizing over the purchase of a needed auto, much less than a RV.

There are better days out there, but depends on your horizons.

Have a great day .

[fe2_o3]

    I have a relative who works for an RV retailer. His take on things has been that most of his work is essential repairs for folks living in their RV.  Almost no detail or prep for new or used sales. Very little warranty work gets approved. We are hoping things pick up, for his sake...Cable
   

[Rick59-4104]

 I think we are in for a up and down economy for a while. I think that $4.00 a gallon fuel 2 years ago had a lot to do with the downturn in the economy. It was mostly blamed on the housing market, but high fuel costs and the resulting increased cost in about everything we buy forced more people I know to cut back on spending more than problems with their housing costs.
Now just as the economy was showing some signs of recovery gas and diesel prices seem to be headed back toward the $4.00 per gallon range. I expect another plunge in the economy as a result. Fuel prices seem not to follow the old capitalist rule that supply and demand sets the price of a product. For what it is worth I think the RV article is a little on the optimistic side.
Just my 2-cents worth.

Rick

[belfert]

Supply and demand seems to be more on the investor side than on the consumer side.  Investors keep buying up oil pushing up the price.

I wish oil was just sold directly to the refiners/wholesalers without going through the fianancial markets.  Oh well, my monthly fuel costs don't change much because I drive an efficient car.  Many pickup/SUV drivers have seen their monthly fuel bill jump more than what I spend on fuel in a month. 

[JackConrad]

We did see more RVs on the road on this year's trip, than we have the last couple years. But fuel prices started climbing just about the time we got home.  Dang, I knew I should have filled that tank before we parked the coach LOL   Jack