RV & Camper Prices vs Inflation

anume

New member
I am new to overlanding after realizing this is the type of camping and travel I prefer (or dream about)! While researching overlanding options and equipment, reading and watching YouTube University these past months, I am amazed at how many creative ideas, solutions and options are available... and it is totally awesome! As I looked at some of the towable trailer options, I found it interesting how base prices changed compared to the U.S. Consumer Price Index (used as an inflation benchmark). Below, are sample base prices I gathered as of September 202X using the Wayback Machine website or marketing/news information of some towable units:

YearCPIBoreas XT%Mammoth Overland%Off Grid Expedition%Xpedition Voyager%TetonX Hybrid%
20201.20%$29,990---$26,900-$37,499$21,995
20214.70%$31,9906.67%$22,500-$29,5009.67%$42,49913.33%$30,99540.92%
20228.00%$34,8906.02%$27,50022.22%$32,75011.02%$47,00010.59%$38,99925.82%
20234.00%$42,99016.22%$29,5007.27%$34,7506.11%$51,70010.00%$44,99915.39%

Mission Overland doesn't list their base price on their website and I didn't search further. Boreas Campers raised prices twice in 2023 with their first increase of 5.41% and their second increase of 10.26%, resulting in an increase of $8,100 in 12 months and may indicate Boreas is experiencing supplier price pressures. Base price increases rising at a faster rate than CPI and wages paired with higher retail RV borrowing rates, could place pressure on new unit sales, unless demand for overlanding style units is more elastic than for traditional camper trailers. Do the price trends make it challenging to budget and invest in the overlanding hobby lifestyle? This is also causing some interesting effects on used units by propping up prices, combined with a somewhat effective sales strategy of owners pitching "why wait for X months". Owners may use their camper for 12 months and sell it for the same price or higher due the market and manufacturer price increases, has anyone seen that happening? Some companies like TeteonX and Mission Overland were recently sold, while others have gone out of business or are trying to retool/rebrand such as Overkill rebranding as Epik Adventure Series RV. Will overland camper prices stay up, stabilize, or decrease over the next 12 to 24 months? What do you think?
 

Todd780

OverCamper
Personally I think the whole toy market is bottoming out.
RV dealers are still trying to get rid of 2022 inventory.

Screenshot 2023-10-12 151656.png
I was at a motorcycle dealership yesterday and there was $4,500 cash back on Triumph Tiger 1200's. That huge!

Screenshot 2023-10-12 151347.png
Not sure what the boat market is like as I haven't set foot in a marine dealer.
On the vehicle front, one Ford dealer here is advertising 11K off remaining 2023 F150's.

Screenshot 2023-10-12 151845.png
 

calicamper

Expedition Leader
Ok so interest rate increase is expected soon. Realestate has stalled. A family member is a realtor in CA in a market where their office typically sells 20-30 properties a month yr around. Last month they sold 3!!! This month they are going to shocked if they can best that number.

I’m currently shopping a real estate market generally influenced by cash buyers. That market had also stalled. Working theory is that most cash buyers spent their wad during COVID..

RV and toys market be it power sports stuff or RVs are in a uncontrolled nose dive with the wings ripped off about 60 days ago. I think they are still at about 15,000 feet tho.

Only this week have I seen 2023 dealer rigs once listed for $45,000 at sub 20k prices by early dealers dumping inventory just to get cash to cover inventory payments.

I think the next 4-6 months we will see dealers closing up shop. Some big chains have already announced they are shutting down.

If you can wait? Discounts are going to get steeper at the next rate hike
 

calicamper

Expedition Leader
Personally I think the whole toy market is bottoming out.
RV dealers are still trying to get rid of 2022 inventory.

View attachment 800716
I was at a motorcycle dealership yesterday and there was $4,500 cash back on Triumph Tiger 1200's. That huge!

View attachment 800717
Not sure what the boat market is like as I haven't set foot in a marine dealer.
On the vehicle front, one Ford dealer here is advertising 11K off remaining 2023 F150's.

View attachment 800718
Been eyeing the boat market due to my lake house plan to get a sense of Whats going on. The larger 25-29ft bow riders are starting to get dumped on the market. Many have been on the market for a month or more already. I haven’t noticed pricing drops just yet. But inventory is climbing in the used market and thats what I’m eyeing.

27ft sea ray i/0 bow rider running the 8.2gm v8. Is likely my target but the house comes first and thats still tbd
 

Gravelette

Active member
I am new to overlanding after realizing this is the type of camping and travel I prefer (or dream about)! While researching overlanding options and equipment, reading and watching YouTube University these past months, I am amazed at how many creative ideas, solutions and options are available... and it is totally awesome! As I looked at some of the towable trailer options, I found it interesting how base prices changed compared to the U.S. Consumer Price Index (used as an inflation benchmark). Below, are sample base prices I gathered as of September 202X using the Wayback Machine website or marketing/news information of some towable units:

YearCPIBoreas XT%Mammoth Overland%Off Grid Expedition%Xpedition Voyager%TetonX Hybrid%
20201.20%$29,990---$26,900-$37,499$21,995
20214.70%$31,9906.67%$22,500-$29,5009.67%$42,49913.33%$30,99540.92%
20228.00%$34,8906.02%$27,50022.22%$32,75011.02%$47,00010.59%$38,99925.82%
20234.00%$42,99016.22%$29,5007.27%$34,7506.11%$51,70010.00%$44,99915.39%

Mission Overland doesn't list their base price on their website and I didn't search further. Boreas Campers raised prices twice in 2023 with their first increase of 5.41% and their second increase of 10.26%, resulting in an increase of $8,100 in 12 months and may indicate Boreas is experiencing supplier price pressures. Base price increases rising at a faster rate than CPI and wages paired with higher retail RV borrowing rates, could place pressure on new unit sales, unless demand for overlanding style units is more elastic than for traditional camper trailers. Do the price trends make it challenging to budget and invest in the overlanding hobby lifestyle? This is also causing some interesting effects on used units by propping up prices, combined with a somewhat effective sales strategy of owners pitching "why wait for X months". Owners may use their camper for 12 months and sell it for the same price or higher due the market and manufacturer price increases, has anyone seen that happening? Some companies like TeteonX and Mission Overland were recently sold, while others have gone out of business or are trying to retool/rebrand such as Overkill rebranding as Epik Adventure Series RV. Will overland camper prices stay up, stabilize, or decrease over the next 12 to 24 months? What do you think?
What size "overland" camper are you shopping for?
 

PhatPanda

Member
I am new to overlanding after realizing this is the type of camping and travel I prefer (or dream about)! While researching overlanding options and equipment, reading and watching YouTube University these past months, I am amazed at how many creative ideas, solutions and options are available... and it is totally awesome! As I looked at some of the towable trailer options, I found it interesting how base prices changed compared to the U.S. Consumer Price Index (used as an inflation benchmark). Below, are sample base prices I gathered as of September 202X using the Wayback Machine website or marketing/news information of some towable units:

YearCPIBoreas XT%Mammoth Overland%Off Grid Expedition%Xpedition Voyager%TetonX Hybrid%
20201.20%$29,990---$26,900-$37,499$21,995
20214.70%$31,9906.67%$22,500-$29,5009.67%$42,49913.33%$30,99540.92%
20228.00%$34,8906.02%$27,50022.22%$32,75011.02%$47,00010.59%$38,99925.82%
20234.00%$42,99016.22%$29,5007.27%$34,7506.11%$51,70010.00%$44,99915.39%

Mission Overland doesn't list their base price on their website and I didn't search further. Boreas Campers raised prices twice in 2023 with their first increase of 5.41% and their second increase of 10.26%, resulting in an increase of $8,100 in 12 months and may indicate Boreas is experiencing supplier price pressures. Base price increases rising at a faster rate than CPI and wages paired with higher retail RV borrowing rates, could place pressure on new unit sales, unless demand for overlanding style units is more elastic than for traditional camper trailers. Do the price trends make it challenging to budget and invest in the overlanding hobby lifestyle? This is also causing some interesting effects on used units by propping up prices, combined with a somewhat effective sales strategy of owners pitching "why wait for X months". Owners may use their camper for 12 months and sell it for the same price or higher due the market and manufacturer price increases, has anyone seen that happening? Some companies like TeteonX and Mission Overland were recently sold, while others have gone out of business or are trying to retool/rebrand such as Overkill rebranding as Epik Adventure Series RV. Will overland camper prices stay up, stabilize, or decrease over the next 12 to 24 months? What do you think?

Not all of these campers are specced the same year to year. Some of prices increases are justified with equipment upgrades, ie more or larger lithium, better suspension etc. Regarding the general market, the bottom is definitely dropping out for Indiana crappy brands, the boutique overloading market I think is still relatively strong but may take a hit in the future.
 

ExpoMike

Well-known member
Yeah, I have been shopping with the idea of getting a towable camp trailer. Some of the prices I see are just crazy. Sure base price might seem attractive but when you start adding options, they balloon to insane amounts. There are a lot of really cool designs and ideas out there. As mentioned, it seems the ones coming up on the market used, are going for almost as much as new (in some cases more). I just don't understand the economics of pricing today. I see this across the board on many different items. Just crazy.
 

eatSleepWoof

Do it for the 'gram
Mission Overland doesn't list their base price on their website and I didn't search further.

Some 3-4 years ago I spoke to Mark at MO regarding pricing, and I recall the Summits being around $34-$36k CAD.

I thought they were ludicrously overpriced at the time. Now the same trailers are listed at dealerships for $60-66k CAD. My opinion hasn't improved! :)
 

calicamper

Expedition Leader
Some 3-4 years ago I spoke to Mark at MO regarding pricing, and I recall the Summits being around $34-$36k CAD.

I thought they were ludicrously overpriced at the time. Now the same trailers are listed at dealerships for $60-66k CAD. My opinion hasn't improved! :)
Dealers have been tacking 15k on bare minimum
 

anume

New member
Looks like Boreas raised base prices for the third time in 2023. That's around a 21% increase for the XT since September of 2022.

I am seeing some dealers discounting around 30% for some 2022 models such as Vorsheer and Mission Overland.
 

Obsessed2findARuggedHybid

Well-known member
Looks like Boreas raised base prices for the third time in 2023. That's around a 21% increase for the XT since September of 2022.

I am seeing some dealers discounting around 30% for some 2022 models such as Vorsheer and Mission Overland.
I don't believe vorsheer is in business anymore.
 

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