Recreation Vehicles

As reported in a survey of manufacturers, deliveries to retailers of all RVs in December 2006 were 23,200 units, off 20.3% from this same month last year. Shipments a year ago were aided by hurricane relief efforts in the Gulf Coast and by the restocking of dealer inventories that were underway as a result of those efforts. Although this December was the lowest total in the past two years, it was the third best December since 1976.

Importantly, totals for all of 2006 were at 390,500 units, 1.6% ahead of last year and the best annual total in 30 years. Due largely to increases in conventional and fifth wheel travel trailers, totals for all towable RVs were ahead of last year by 3.6% on shipments of 334,600 units. Motorhomes were off 9% on shipments of 55,900 units, with type A motorhomes hardest hit.

The Index of Consumer Sentiment was largely unchanged in the December survey and finished the year above its historic average, according to the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center (see page 13). Consumers remain more positive about current conditions than their outlook for future prospects.

“Changes in home values were judged more negatively at the close of 2006 than at any time in the past ten years,” said Dr. Richard Curtin, director of consumer surveys. “Lower mortgage rates increase refinancing, but it is still unclear how much extra money will be withdrawn to support other consumer spending.”

Towable RVs

All towable RV shipments were reported at 19,100 units in December 2006, off 23% from the strong final month last year. Conventional travel trailers were off 5,300 units, dropping to 11,200 units in December. Compared to the previous year, fifth wheel trailers were off 200 units, folding camping trailers were down 300 units while truck campers gained 100 units in December.

For the year as a whole, towable RVs were up 3.6% as conventional, fifth wheel and folding camping trailers were all ahead of the previous year. In fact this was the best year for conventional travel trailers since 1972 and the second best year for fifth wheel trailers ever.

Motorhomes

Shipments of all motorhomes were reported at 4,100 units in December, down just 200 units from December last year. Both type A and type C motorhomes were off slightly while type B motorhome shipments were up.

Shipments of all motorhomes for calendar 2006 were off 9% as type A motorhomes slipped 13.7% to finish at 32,700 units. This was the first year that type A diesel chassis outnumbered gasoline. Type C motorhomes were off just 3.3% while type B motorhomes were up 15.4% on a smaller volume of shipments.

Conversion Vehicles

Shipments in December of all conversion vehicles declined 26.1% on a total of 1,700 units. This was not only the lowest December total recorded for these products but the lowest yearly total on record for conversion vehicles.

Annual totals in 2006 reached 26,300 units for all conversion vehicles, off 25.1% from the previous year. Van conversions remain the largest conversion category but they were also down the most in shipments in 2006, falling 26.8% to just 15,600 units. Pickup truck conversions of 7,700 units and sport utility conversions of 3,000 units were off 26.1% and 9.1% respectively.