Industry Overview
RV Market Update
2018 remained a good year for the RV industry, despite wholesale shipments falling short of 2017. Used values for most segments were similar to 2017, with the exception of camping trailers and truck campers, which notably outperformed last year. Market trends continue to favor smaller and lighter units.
Starting with travel trailers, values remained steady throughout the year, with only mild seasonal depreciation to close out the year. Standard hitch trailers remained on the plateau established after the pricing bump in the third quarter of 2017, finishing the year 7.7% ahead of 2017 on average. Fifth wheel trailers mirrored 2017 pricing almost exactly, with less than 1% change year-over-year.
Moving over to motorhomes, values generally followed a seasonal arc. Class As finished the year higher than they started, ultimately bringing an average of 2% more money than in 2017. Class Cs saw a less notable seasonal bump in the spring of 2018, but remained stable through the third quarter to come in less than 1% lower than 2017.
Looking at camping trailers and truck campers, demand for new and used units appears strong. This segment was one of the few to see an increase in wholesale shipments, coming in 20.8% higher in 2018 according to the RVIA. Used camping trailers brought 6% more money in 2018, while truck campers brought 5.6% more.
Going forward, the ongoing demographic shift towards younger customers means smaller, lighter, easier-to-maneuver units should represent the strongest segments of the market. Fundamentally, the 2018 tax cuts are behind us and economic conditions look somewhat less stable. We recommend keeping these observations in mind as you plan your year.
J.D. Power
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