Quick Analysis of RV Shipments in 2024

 Data from the RV Industry Association’s monthly survey of manufacturers for December was recently posted. The total RV shipments of 333,733 in 2024 were 6% higher than in 2023 and exceed the forty-four year average (1981-2024) of 295,146 units shipped. 

In 2024, shipments were well below the peak of 600,240 reached in 2021 and the 2024 shipments are still higher than was experienced through the 1980s and 1990s.

You can see in the chart below that most of the volatility arises from Towable RV shipments. These include four categories [travel trailers, fifth wheels, folding camping trailers, and truck campers]. Motorhome shipments have been more stable in recent years and include those from the larger Class A's and C's, as well as, the Class B vans. 

While the motorhome shipments have been relatively stable overall, there is more variability month-to-month when looking at the subcategories. Class C's are the largest of the three categories. And, Class A shipments historically exceeded those of camper vans. Though this latter pattern changed in late 2021 and since then, more Class B's are shipped each month. 

While relatively small when compared with other categories, Class B shipments of 8,349 units in 2024  are several times larger than the 2,123 units in 2012 or 2,177 units shipped in 2013. 

Also, where Class B's represented roughly 7% of motorhome units shipped from 2012 through 2016, they peaked at 29% of motorhomes shipped in 2022. And, while a bit lower, 23.9% of motorhome shipments in 2024 were Class B's.

Comment below if you have any insights and observations or have questions and suggestions. While we are longtime campers, I do not work in the RV industry. I initially pulled together the numbers as a Covid lockdown project and maintain them now as a hobby.

RV Shipments for 2023

Data from the RV Industry Association’s monthly survey of manufacturers for December was recently posted and the numbers continue to reflect weakness in the industry.  

RVIA reported that RV shipments through December 2023 with 313,174 units, a decrease of (-36.5%) compared to the 493,268 units shipped in 2022 and a decrease of (-47.8%) from peak shipments of 600,240 at the end of 2021.

You can see in the second chart that towable RVs, particularly travel trailers with almost two-thirds of shipments (65.6%), make up the bulk of RV shipments in 2023. 

Together, conventional travel trailers plus 5th wheels comprised (82.7%) of all RV shipments in 2023.

Motorhomes represented 14.6% of RV shipments in 2023 and Class Cs account for just over one-half of the motorhome shipments (52.6%). 

Class B or van campers surpassed Class A shipments in 2023. The overall Class B shipments of 11,932 in 2023 represent (3.8 %) of all RV shipments. 

Class B shipments in 2023 represented (26.0%) of all motorhome shipments, a decrease from the peak of (29.1%) of motorhome shipments in 2022.

While relatively small when compared with other categories, Class B shipments are over 5 times what there were back in 2012. 

Comment below if you have any insights and observations or have questions and suggestions. While we are longtime campers, I do not work in the RV industry. I initially pulled together the numbers as a Covid lockdown project and maintain them now as a hobby.

RV Shipments through July 2023

Data from the RV Industry Association’s July 2023 survey of manufacturers was recently posted and the numbers reflect a continuing downward trend in the number of recreational vehicles shipped to dealers.  

RVIA reported that RV shipments ended July 2023 with 20,520 units, a decrease of (-30.5%) compared to the 29,528 units shipped in July 2022.

For the seven months of 2023 ending in July, total units shipped reached 183,927, significantly below the yearlong totals of 600,240 and 493,268 for the peak year of 2021 and 2022 respectively.

You can see in the second chart that towable RVs, particularly travel trailers with 81.6%, make up the bulk of shipments so far in 2023. These numbers also reflect the increasing popularity of travel travel trailers over the past decade.

While Class Cs account for just over one-half of the motorhome shipments, Class B or van campers have surpassed Class A shipments so far in 2023. The overall Class B shipments of 7,524 so far in 2023 represent 4.1 % of all shipments. Class B shipments, while relatively small when compared with other categories, are over 5 times what there were back in 2012. 

Class B Shipments Increase in 2022 while Total RV Shipments Decline

The RV Industry Association posted sales numbers recently for the last month of 2022. 

Total RV shipments for 2022 ended with 493,268 units shipped -17.8% less than the 2021 record of 600,240 wholesale shipments. 

Class B shipments of 17,026 units in 2022 increased 23.1% from the 13,827 units shipped in 2021.

Further, Class B shipments continued to increase as a percentage of all motorhome units [Class A + Class B + Class C] and all RVs [motorhomes + trailers + truck campers]. 

Over the past decade, the percentage of Class B sales among all RV shipments rose from just under 1% in 2021 to 3.5% of RV shipments in 2022.

Similarly, Class B shipments among motorhome shipments rose from 7.5% in 2012 to 29.1 % in 2022.

Please post any questions, observations, or suggestions that you might have in the comments below.

Changes within the Class B Market

 I have been searching online in Class B forums and RV industry publications to pull together data on the sales and relative market shares of Class B manufacturers. My search continues for a source of data and I would love to hear from you via a comment below or an email if know of places where I can find more information. In the interim, I am posting a table and chart below to show what I've found so far.

Sales of Class B camper vans began in the 1970s and have really picked up steam here in the last couple of years.

Canadian manufacturers Pleasure Way and Roadtrek were dominant in early years with Home & Park Motorhomes/Roadtrek having 20% market share through 2019.

In the last couple of years acquisition and consolidation of RV manufacturers generally can also be seen in the market for Class Bs. Just two manufacturers, Thor and Winnebago accounted for over 71% of Class B sales according to reporting by RV Business in "SSI: RV Industry Sets Retail Sales Record." Note that SSI only reported the top three firms in the last two years. 

Banner Year in 2021 for RVs and Class Bs

The RV Industry Association posted sales numbers recently for the last month of 2021 finalizing what everyone knew was an excellent sales year. 

Total RV shipments for 2021 ended with a record 600,240 wholesale shipments. 2021 shipments surpassed the 2017 total of 504,599 shipments by 19% and 2020 total shipments of 430,412 by 39.5%.

I also updated the chart from our January 17th post, "Changes in RV Industry Market Share, Sales, Shipments over the past Six Years," 

Class B shipments of 13,827 units in 2021 increased 91.5% from the 7,222 units shipped in 2020 and a whopping 551% increase over 2,213 units shipped a decade earlier in 2012.

For motorized RVs the Class B increase of 551% over the last decade exceeded the increase in Class A shipments of 5.3% or Class C shipments of 135%. Total RV shipments of both travel trailers and motorized RV's increased 110% during the decade from 2021 through 2021.

Please post any questions or observations that you might have in the comments below.

Changes in RV Industry Market Share, Sales, Shipments over the past Six Years

I spent a few minutes reviewing monthly sales reports from the RV Industry Association web site yesterday and set up a couple of quick spreadsheets to permit easier tracking of sales in the future.

While the numbers essentially confirm what we have been observing in recent years, I find that it is powerful to dig a bit further into what is happening.

Total RV Shipments have increased quite a bit over the past six years from 430,691 units in 2016 to 559,743 units shipped through November of 2021...an increase of 30%.

Within this broad trend, shipments of Towable RVs grew from 275,950 units (or, 87.3% of Total RV Shipments) in 2016 to 506,952 units (or, 90.6% of Total RV Shipments) through the first 11 months of 2021.

Overall, motorhome shipments fell from 54,741 units (or, 12.7% of Total RV Shipments) in 2016 to 52,791 units (or, 9.4% of Total RV Shipments) through November 2021.

The Class B numbers relative to their motorized Class A & C cousins are particularly interesting. Class B shipments grew from 4,087 units (or, just under 1% of Total RV Shipments and 7.5% of Total Motorhome Shipments) to 12,933 units (or, 2.3% of Total RV Shipments and a whopping 24.5% of Total Motorhome Shipments). 

It will be interesting to keep following these trends over the next few years and see to what extent pandemic related issues involving supply chains or work-life balance may alter buying patterns.

Please post any questions or observations that you might have in the comments below.