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 620 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 257 workers, and generates about $104 million annually. A typical travel trailer and camper manufacturing firm operates out of a single location, employs 102 workers, and generates $33 million annually.
- The motorcoach, travel trailer and camper manufacturing industry consists of about 620 companies that employ about 69,300 workers and generate about $23 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, Airstream), Gulfstream (Ameri-Lite, Vista Cruiser, Innsbruck, Conquest), Forest River (Rockwood, Flagstaff, Salem, Wildwood), Winnebago, and Dutchmen (Coleman, Atlas, Rubicon).
Industry Forecast
Motorcoach, Travel Trailer & Camper Manufacturers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 15, 2022 - Steep Drop in RV Shipments
- Total recreational vehicle shipments in September totaled 28,333 units, a decline of nearly half (-48.5%) compared to the 55,014 units shipped in the year-earlier period. Through September, RV shipments were down 8.2% compared to the same point last year with 415,594 wholesale shipments, according to the RV Industry Association’s September 2022 survey of manufacturers. Towable RVs, led by conventional travel trailers, ended September down 54.4% versus September 2021, with 23,103 shipments. Motorhomes finished the month up 21.1% compared to the same month last year with 5,230 units, according to the survey. Park Model RVs, which are designed to look like a home, ended September up 28.6% compared to the same month last year. To date, park model RVs were up 13.3% with 3,440 shipments.
- Automakers are developing new voice control capabilities for vehicles and adding voice commands that go deeper into the car’s controls, including verbal cues for turning on windshield wipers, adjusting mirrors, or raising the tailgate, The Wall Street Journal reported in November 2022. In an effort to keep drivers’ eyes on the road – and not on dashboard screens – carmakers are expanding voice capabilities and using artificial intelligence to transform cars “into a travel companion of sorts,” WSJ wrote. More drivers are embracing voice controls as the technology has improved. Some 40% of owners said they used their in-vehicle voice systems at least once a week, up from 30% in 2019, according to a US survey conducted last year by research firm Strategy Analytics, according to WSJ.
- Winnebago, Keystone, and Newmar are among the makers of wheel-chair accessible motorhomes and travel trailers, RV Magazine reported in October 2022. These RV makers offer accessible accommodations designed to be more inclusive to people with special needs with features that include platform wheelchair lifts, wider doors and hallways, ramps, lower countertops, and bathrooms large enough to accommodate a roll-in shower, assist bar, and adjustable showerheads. Most manufacturers can modify vehicles to meet the specifications of people with disabilities. Accessible models include the Winnebago Inspire, Keystone Outback 342CG travel trailer, and the Newmar Mobility Lineup of RVs.
- The California Air Resources Board’s ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035 does not include motorcoaches and recreational vehicles – at least for now. Gas-burning vehicles that weigh less than 8,500 pounds aren’t subject to the 2035 ban. However, an exception to the new California rule could be Class B models that may be light enough to fall under the 8,500-pound threshold, according to RV Magazine. While not many camper vans fit into that category, those that do will likely disappear from the marketplace by 2035. A ban on heavier vehicles — including medium- and heavy-duty trucks — won’t go into effect until 2045. The sale of RVs with internal combustion engines will also likely be restricted at that time, RV Magazine reported in September 2022.
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