Wholesale shipments made to retailers of all RVs were reported at 37,600 units in April of this year, up 6.2% over this same month last year. Year to date, total 2005 RV shipments were reported at 148,500 units, up 12.8% over the first four months in 2005.

April marked the ninth month in a row that was higher than the same month one year earlier. Conventional travel trailers continue to set the pace pushing all towables higher. Motorhomes were off again this month with loses in type A and type C contradicted by a small gain in type B, van campers.

Consumer confidence slipped lower this month with the greatest concerns centered on rising interest rates and higher fuel prices (see page 16). According to the University of Michigan’s director of consumer surveys, Dr. Richard Curtin, consumers in the April survey expect a slower rate of growth for the economy in the second half of 2006.

Retail sales for three of the five RV categories reported by manufacturers in April were above the readings as this same month last year with conventional travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers and type C motorhomes performing best (see pages 14-15). The sharply upward sloping trend in wholesale shipments of conventional travel trailers that began last fall has been matched by a similar rise in retail sales of those coaches, according to our survey.

Towable RVs
All towable RVs were reported at 33,100 units this April, up 11.1% compared to this same month last year and has pushed year to date totals to 129,300 units, a rise of 18.2% over the first four months last year.

Shipments of all conventional travel trailers, including hybrid trailers, were reported at 20,200 units in April, higher by 19.5% compared to April 2005. This was the largest total of conventional travel trailers in the month of April in more than 30 years. Year to date, conventional travel trailers are up 27.8% on shipments of 80,100 units through April.

Motorhomes
All motorhome shipments declined 1,100 units compared to this same month last year, finishing at 4,500 units. Both type A and Type C shipments declined while type B van campers improved.

Year to date, all motorhomes have now reached 19,200 units, off 13.9% compared to the same period last year. Type A motorhomes shipments have fallen the most, off 20.0% on deliveries to retailers of 11,200 units. Type C motorhomes have slipped 5.4% on shipments of 7,000 units while type B motorhomes have gained slightly, rising 11.1% on a total of 1,000 units through April.

Conversion Vehicles
Conversion vehicle shipments were down again this month, dropping 28.6% in the April survey of manufacturers to just 2,500 units (see page 17). Van conversion manufacturers reported shipping a total of 1,600 units in April, off 20.0% as compared to one year earlier. Pickup truck conversions and sport utility conversions were off a greater percentage but on smaller volumes. Year to date, all conversion vehicle shipments have now reached 10,400 units through April, down 21.8% compared to the first four months last year.