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, 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
Jul 19, 2024 - Industry Sales Decrease
- Quarterly sales for motor vehicles and parts companies, including motorcoach, travel trailer, and camper manufacturers, decreased in Q1 2024, down 1.4% from Q1 2023 and 2.7% from the previous quarter, according to the Census Bureau. Wages at motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturers were relatively steady in the first five months of 2024, according to the US Department of Labor Statistics.
- RV shipments were up 7.2% in May 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year, according to a report from the RV Industry Association (RVIA). The May 2024 shipments increased to 31,150 units shipped through the end of the month, continuing a stretch of “moderate increases” over last year, per RVIA President and CEO Craig Kirby. The uptick is a positive signal for the industry, which has faced headwinds due to falling consumer demand and higher interest rates. Year to date, total RV shipments were up 8.9% through May compared to the same period a year ago. The towables category grew 14.9% year to date while motorhomes saw a decline of 31.2%.
- Consumer confidence levels fell in June 2024, after an uptick in May, according to data from The Conference Board. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index was 100.4 in June 2024 from 101.3 in May 2024. Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, noted that confidence was the highest among those under age 35 and those in the income category of over $100,000. Plans for large appliance and smart phone purchases rose on a six-month basis, while plans for car purchases stalled.
- US manufacturing activity contracted in June 2024 for the third consecutive month after a brief expansion in March, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The Manufacturing PMI registered 48.5% in June, down 0.2 percentage points from the 48.7% recorded in May. A reading above 50% indicates manufacturing expansion. Prior to the uptick in March, US manufacturing activity had fallen below the baseline for growth for 16 consecutive months. June’s New Orders Index was in the contraction zone at 49.3%. The June Production Index was 48.5%, a decrease from May’s 50.2%. Eight manufacturing industries tracked by the ISM reported growth in June: Printing & Related Support Activities; Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Furniture & Related Products; Paper Products; Chemical Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Nonmetallic Mineral Products. The industries reporting contraction in June were Textile Mills; Machinery; Fabricated Metal Products; Wood Products; Transportation Equipment; Plastics & Rubber Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Computer & Electronic Products.
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