Shrinking demand for RV Towables.

[simple]

Yeah, if people don't buy, they will have to have a sale! LOL
My boomers are pushing 80 as well but the tail end of that generation is 59 right now.

 

[Kevin108]

The aging surplus inventory is sitting around looking for owners. Word is out that the covid-era build quality was awful. Pricing based on peak demand means a lot of these things are going to be left to sit.

 

[TGK]

The aging surplus inventory is sitting around looking for owners. Word is out that the covid-era build quality was awful. Pricing based on peak demand means a lot of these things are going to be left to sit.

That's a concern I'd have about purchasing a "Covid Era" build. Of course, the build quantity from many of the conventional outfits was not great to begin with and one shudders to think it went further downhill over the past 3 years.

 

[TGK]

My Boomers are on the down hill run. One is living at my house now. The others are fully downsized and definitely not doing RVs.

The wife & I are "boomer" on the early side of our 7th decade, but figure we have a few more years to squeeze out some grand adventures. Keeping our fingers crossed the genes on the maternal side was passed on to both of us, as the Mom's both made it into their late 90's.

 

[Ozarker]

Was that a recent pic???

Look at all that green grass......

View attachment 761671

Yes, it was from a January 2023 ad, I have no idea when then picture was taken, but I drive by there and that lot hasn't ever been empty since 1999 when they opened. I don't take inventory, but just passing by I don't recall any time they didn't have inventory on the lot.

BTW, in January we've only had 6 days of snow, my yard is still green.

Didn't show Bass Pro's HQ lot, they have as much if not more. Bass Pro/Cabela's headquarters is here in town, they have tons of boats and RV's in lots spreading from Springfield, to Lebanon where they build them.

I'm pretty sure there are at least a thousand RV's for sale within a 40 mile radius, manufactures and retailers along I44.

Yep, SUM **********!

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

View attachment 761470

Just one of the dealers here in town. Trailers are in the back lot.

I'd say prices will come down.

Here another one

View attachment 761470

Just one of the dealers here in town. Trailers are in the back lot.

I'd say prices will come down.

Here's another one

 

[vintageracer]

Inventory goes UP!

Prices come DOWN!

As is always the case the manufacturers and dealers will be the ones driving prices DOWN! Special financing, rebates, price reductions. All are on the table as manufacturers and dealers have to "Move the Iron"!

ALL that individual seller's remember is the value of their asset (trailer, motorhome, house, car, truck) at the TOP OF THE MARKET which makes it far more difficult to buy anything from a private seller when this happens. For those individual sellers REALITY SUCKS! Whatta ya mean my asset is now worth LESS???

The sooner these individuals face REALITY the better off they will be in most all aspects of their lives!

 

[FordGuy1]

In my obsession of searching for an off road trailer for the last several years it seems like this off road trailer market has been a totally different animal then mass produced RVs. Way ahead in growth and sales. So the question is will it slow enough to cause dealers and direct to customer MFGers to start dropping prices? In these last few years there has been so many new small builders and there are dozens of choices in every category from Teardrops to stand up four season 150k beasts. My guess is these companies won't be able to stay in business if they tighten thier profit margins too much. I do wonder about the Chinese and even AU import madness. I see typical RV dealers and specialized off road dealers with huge inventory s of the Chinese rigs on thier lots. Now these type of trailers are going to very likely take a dramatic drop in prices. I do get the feeling that the off road market is flooded as bad as Cali right now. I guess we shall see.

I think you are totally correct on this. The one thing that seems to hold true it the super high end builders are not effected nearly to the extent of the rest of the market. Bruder, Kimberely, etc.. have paid orders for years. They can trim production by 50 % and be fine. There is always a market for top quality. I wonder about the new high end builds in the US market, will they be able to weather the down turn being so new? If not, I feel sorry for ROA.

 

[vintageracer]

"Overlanding" is just one of the "Many Fads" of the last 3 years for the general public to engage in. Just another way to get away from all that bad you see on TV from the Pundits and Government Idiots. Once again it's time Follow The Herd!

The Big Problem for most families is that LIFE gets in the way of all this planned enjoyment!

Time, Money, Family, Life and everything else that competes for your attention and all of a sudden that new "Fad" that you are so engaged in FOR THE MOMENT gets kicked to the side by Time, Money, Family and Life!

Nothing new here that's just modern life in the Good Ole USA!

Keep your cash in your pockets as great deals are a coming to location near you!

 

[Treefarmer]

Here another one


Here's another one

Oh no!! It looks like ROA needs to move a bunch of Dweller units! Maybe they could throw in a small Taxa or Dweller with every Pause/Roamer1/X195 they sell.?

 

[Treefarmer]

I think you are totally correct on this. The one thing that seems to hold true it the super high end builders are not effected nearly to the extent of the rest of the market. Bruder, Kimberely, etc.. have paid orders for years. They can trim production by 50 % and be fine. There is always a market for top quality. I wonder about the new high end builds in the US market, will they be able to weather the down turn being so new? If not, I feel sorry for ROA.

If ROA is smart, they'll build out their service department ASAP and make a killing modifying and repairing all those "off road" trailers that will be soon dropped off with them after every weekend. The "Experience Centers" need to upgrade their coffee and snacks!

 

[Treefarmer]

"Overlanding" is just one of the "Many Fads" of the last 3 years for the general public to engage in. Just another way to get away from all that bad you see on TV from the Pundits and Government Idiots. Once again it's time Follow The Herd!

The Big Problem for most families is that LIFE gets in the way of all this planned enjoyment!

Time, Money, Family, Life and everything else that competes for your attention and all of a sudden that new "Fad" that you are so engaged in FOR THE MOMENT gets kicked to the side by Time, Money, Family and Life!

Nothing new here that's just modern life in the Good Ole USA!

Keep your cash in your pockets as great deals are a coming to location near you!

Yes, great cash deals are coming soon to many, many asset classes.

 

[Treefarmer]

Inventory goes UP!

Prices come DOWN!

As is always the case the manufacturers and dealers will be the ones driving prices DOWN! Special financing, rebates, price reductions. All are on the table as manufacturers and dealers have to "Move the Iron"!

ALL that individual seller's remember is the value of their asset (trailer, motorhome, house, car, truck) at the TOP OF THE MARKET which makes it far more difficult to buy anything from a private seller when this happens. For those individual sellers REALITY SUCKS! Whatta ya mean my asset is now worth LESS???

The sooner these individuals face REALITY the better off they will be in most all aspects of their lives!

People need to relearn the old saying: "Your first loss is your best loss."

 

[calicamper]

I think you are totally correct on this. The one thing that seems to hold true it the super high end builders are not effected nearly to the extent of the rest of the market. Bruder, Kimberely, etc.. have paid orders for years. They can trim production by 50 % and be fine. There is always a market for top quality. I wonder about the new high end builds in the US market, will they be able to weather the down turn being so new? If not, I feel sorry for ROA.

Its a numbers game sell 15 100k trailers a yr at $50,000 profit. Or sell 8000 trailers a yr at $25,000 profit. High end builders only survive when they have deep pockets filling the gaps to keep the office open. The smart builders have other business they roll into thats less affected by economic downturns such as building equipment for military contracts etc.

But if you think camp trailers that are 100+K aren’t affected by economic downturns but cheaper trailers are ??. Then your missing some basic economics.

 

[calicamper]

Here another one


Here's another one

Taxa was offering direct manufacturers discounts to buyers before Christmas 2022. Which they haven’t done in the yrs I started eyeing their stuff. It’s likely two part. Doing direct rebates to buyers is an attempt to correct the dealer pricing issues and reduce inventory sitting on lots.

The issue however is that savy dealers roll that manufacturers rebate into their deal vs the buyer negotiating a price then getting the rebate after purchase.

Oh you want to buy that Mantis? Your in luck today we can cut $2000 off the $44,000 price such a great deal??.

Vs buyer negotiating it to $34,000 then getting their Taxa rebate in the mail for $2000 a month later.