2017 was a strong year for the industry. RV shipments for all segments continued to increase and break records each quarter, and web traffic was notably higher across the board. The industry’s success is largely due to manufacturers acting on dealer feedback and producing models with the latest in technology and innovation, meeting customers’ demands and surprising them with equipment they didn’t know they needed. The industry continues to push the envelope and attract attention from existing and new customers, particularly of younger generations.
With that in mind, it was expected that the lighter and smaller segments of trailers and motorhomes would generally look healthier than the heavier segments in 2017. Starting with travel trailers, standard hitch units started out slow in the first half of the year, but picked up in the second half. Values averaged 5.8% lower year-over-year. Fifth wheel trailers experienced a slight downturn, with values in 2017 falling short of 2016 by 10.7%.
Moving over to motorhomes, class A motorhomes had a sluggish start, coming in 2.6% below 2016, although a second-half bump helped move things back in the right direction. Class C motorhomes had a very strong year, outperforming 2016 by 2.8%, essentially equaling 2015’s strong performance. Looking at camping trailers and truck campers, both segments started out somewhat slow in the first quarter, but quickly ramped up to strongly outperform recent years. Camping trailers were 5.0% higher year-over-year, while truck campers were 2.4% higher.
Younger buyers will continue to support demand for camping and truck trailers, and, to a lesser extent, class C motorhomes. Economic fundamentals continue to trend in the right direction, and the new tax code should further support demand in 2018.
| > 300,000 | |
| 125,000 - 300,000 | |
| 50,000 - 124,999 | |
| < 50,000 |
| > 100,000 | |
| 50,000 - 100,000 | |
| 15,000 - 49,999 | |
| < 15,000 |
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