Recreation Vehicles

Wholesale RV shipments to retailers of all RVs were reported at 34,300 units in April of this year, down 7.5% from last month and off 8.8% from this same month last year. Year to date totals for all RV shipments were reported at 127,900 units through April, a decrease of 13.9% over the first four months last year.

Setting a fast pace in the early months last year, conventional travel trailers have slowed considerably in 2007. Reversing trends from last year, motorhomes have made small but steady gains.

Consumer confidence slipped a bit 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, lower home prices and the threat of rising prices have been offset by lowered concerns for unemployment.

The 12-month moving total of retail sales in four of the five RV categories reported by manufacturers in April were below the same readings as this month last year. Only type C motorhomes were slightly higher (see pages 14-15). As reflected in this data, both wholesale and retail trends have followed each other closely implying little change in dealer inventory levels compared to one year ago.

Towable RVs

Shipments of all towable RVs were reported at 29,400 units in April, off 11.2% compared to this same month last year. While totals so far this year are behind 2006 by 16.2% the 108,400 units are nearly identical to the four month total in 2005.

Shipments of all conventional travel trailers, including hybrid trailers, were reported at 17,900 units this April, off 11.4% compared to April one year ago. April fifth wheel travel trailer shipments were 10.7% behind this same month last year while folding camping trailers were off 13.2% on 3,300 shipments. Truck campers held steady at 700 units for the month.

Motorhomes

Improvements were reported for all motorhome shipments which increased to 4,900 units this April, a 8.9% gain over last year. Both type A and type C shipments increased while type B van campers declined slightly.

Year to date, all motorhomes have now reached 19,500 units, up 1.6% compared to the same period last year. Type A motorhomes shipments have improved 5.4% on deliveries to retailers of 11,800 units so far. Type C motorhomes have slipped 7.1% on shipments of 6,500 units while type B motorhomes improved by 200 units, rising 20% to 1,200 units through April.

Conversion Vehicles

Conversion vehicle shipments continued their decline this month, dropping 36% in the April survey of manufacturers to just 1,600 units (see page 17). Van conversion manufacturers reported shipping just 800 units in April, half of what they shipped this month last year.

Year to date, a total of 6,500 units for all conversion vehicles have been reported, off 37.5% from this same period last year. Van conversions were off the most, down 43.3% on just 3,800 units shipped this year.