Motorcoach, Travel Trailer & Camper Manufacturers
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 640 motorcoach, travel trailer, and camper manufacturers in the US produce motorized coaches and converted vans, campers that slide into truck beds, and towable campers, such as fifth wheels and pop-up campers. Firms may also modify cargo trailers such as toy haulers and horse trailers to include living space.
Dependence on Economic Health
The health of the economy and job markets affect consumer demand for new motorhomes, travel trailers and campers.
Reliance on Automobile Manufacturers
Motorcoach and travel trailer manufacturers rely on motor vehicle manufacturers, such as Ford and GM, for chassis, engines, and drivetrain assemblies, as well as vans for conversion.
Industry size & Structure
A typical motorcoach manufacturing firm operates out of a single location, employs 288 workers, and generates about $156 million annually. A typical travel trailer and camper manufacturing firm operates out of a single location, employs 104 workers, and generates $45 million annually.
- The motorcoach, travel trailer and camper manufacturing industry consists of about 640 companies that employ about 75,000 workers and generate about $31 billion annually.
- The industry is highly concentrated with the four largest firms accounting for over 66% of industry revenue.
- Large companies include Thor (Keystone, Heartland, Starcraft, Dutchman, Airstream), Gulfstream (Ameri-Lite, Vista Cruiser, Innsbruck, Conquest), Forest River (Rockwood, Flagstaff, Salem, Wildwood), and Winnebago.
Industry Forecast
Motorcoach, Travel Trailer & Camper Manufacturers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 15, 2024 - Manufacturing Activity Falls, Labor Costs Rise
- US manufacturing activity contracted in October 2024, marking the lowest Manufacturing PMI registered in 2024, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The Manufacturing PMI registered 46.5% in October, down 0.7 percentage points from the 47.2% recorded in September. A reading above 50% indicates manufacturing expansion. Average wages for nonsupervisory employees at motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturers increased 8% in September 2024 compared to a year ago, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- RV shipments were down 0.4% in September 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year, according to a report from the RV Industry Association (RVIA). The September 2024 shipments totaled 24,595 units shipped through the end of the month. Per RVIA President and CEO Craig Kirby, “Overall RV shipments are steady for the month of September, but remain on track for modest increases in 2024 over 2023.” Year to date, total RV shipments were up 7.7% through September compared to the same period a year ago. The towables category grew 4.2% in September 2024 year over year while motorhomes saw a decline of 30.1%.
- Consumer confidence levels increased in October 2024, improving in all five components of the Consumer Confidence Index, according to The Conference Board. The index was 108.7 in October 2024 from 99.2 in September 2024. Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, noted that confidence was the highest among those between the ages of 35 to 54 and those in the income category of over $100,000. Per Peterson, “Consumer confidence recorded the strongest monthly gain since March 2021, but still did not break free of the narrow range that has prevailed over the past two years.” Plans to purchase homes and new cars rose on a six-month average basis.
- The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) monthly jobs report shows that unfilled job openings grew in October 2024, with a seasonally adjusted 35% of small business owners reporting jobs they could not fill. The reading is up one point from September 2024. A seasonally adjusted net 15% of small business owners plan to create new jobs over the next three months, unchanged from September. About 20% of owners reported labor quality as the most important problem facing the business. According to NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg, “On Main Street, the job market remains challenging. Although the labor market appears to be softening overall, small business owners reported little success filling their plentiful vacancies in October.”
Get A Demo
Vertical IQ’s Industry Intelligence Platform
See for yourself why over 60,000 users trust Vertical IQ for their industry research and call preparation needs. Our easy-to-digest industry insights save call preparation time and help differentiate you from the competition.
Build valuable, lasting relationships by having smarter conversations -
check out Vertical IQ today.