Total RV shipments to retailers were reported at 5,600 units in the December 2008 survey of manufacturers, off 75% from this same month last year. The December shipment total was the lowest December total on record with all vehicle categories reporting shipments down more than 70% for the same month one year ago.

For the year, RV shipments recorded totals of 237,000 units in 2008, off 32.9% from the previous year. 2008 started out well enough with shipments through June showing totals of 162,500 units. However, it was the second half of 2008 where the greatest losses occurred as shipments totaled just 74,500 units in the final six months of the year, off 52% from the same period one year earlier.

Consumer confidence, as measured by the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center, posted a small gain in the December survey of consumers finishing the year near record lows. Pre-holiday price discounting was largely responsible for the small improvement as concerns for falling employment and lower home values prevailed.

Retail sales activity for conventional travel trailers, type A and type C motorhomes outperformed wholesale shipments in 2008, as reported in our monthly survey of manufacturers. While actual retail sales were at their lowest levels since 1996, dealers did manage to reduce inventories throughout the year.

Towable RVs

All towable RV shipments were reported at 5,000 units in the December 2008 survey of manufacturers, off 72.7% from the same month last year. Conventional travel trailers were down to 3,200 units, dropping 7,800 units in the final month of 2008. Truck campers reported shipments less than 100 units for the month.

For the year, all towable RVs were off 30% with each vehicle category finishing lower than the previous year. Truck campers declined at the fastest rate, falling 37.3% to 4,700 units for the year. Folding camping trailers declined 34.4% to 18,900 units. Both conventional travel trailers and fifth wheel travel trailers finished 2008 at their lowest annual totals since 2001 with conventional travel trailers dropping 28.9% to 128,100 units while fifth wheel trailers finished at 57,000 units for the year, off 30.1% from the previous year.

Motorhomes

All motorhome shipments were reported at 600 units in December, an 85.4% decline as compared to the same month one year earlier. All three vehicle types participated in the decline led by type A motorhomes. Type B motorhomes reported less than 100 units for the month. Motorhome shipments for the year were off 48.9% as compared to 2007 as type A motorhomes led the declines with 54.7% less. The 28,300 total units for all motorhomes were the lowest annual totals for these products since 1970.