RV Dealers
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 2,900 recreational vehicle dealerships in the US sell new and used RVs, replacement parts, accessories, and services. Dealers may provide rental services for RVs and also earn fees for facilitating financing and insurance purchases through third party providers.
Seasonal Sales
Summer is the peak season for RV travel and demand drops quickly in the late fall/winter.
Vulnerability to Economic Conditions
The RV industry as a whole is vulnerable to downturns in the economy.
Industry size & Structure
The average recreational vehicle dealer operates out of a single location, employs 19 workers, and generates $9 million in annual revenue.
- The RV dealer industry consists of 2,900 establishments that employ some 56,000 workers and generate about $26 billion annually.
- The industry is relatively fragmented, as the top 50 companies account for about 47% of industry revenue.
- Camping World (Freedom Roads) is the largest RV dealer in the US with about 200 locations. Most companies are small and serve a limited geographical market.
Industry Forecast
RV Dealers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Feb 14, 2025 - Producer Prices, Employment Up
- Producer inflation for RV dealers was up 2.7% in December 2024 compared to a year ago, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment by RV dealers was up 1.1% in November 2024 year over year, per the BLS. Leading industry indicators showed improvement in November 2024, with consumer spending up 2.9% compared to a year ago and the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline slightly down in November from a year ago.
- RV shipments were up 7.6% in December 2024 year over year, according to a report from the RV Industry Association (RVIA). The December 2024 shipments totaled 23,153 units shipped through the end of the month. Per RVIA President and CEO Craig Kirby, “Despite challenges, the RV industry showed resilience and an upward trajectory in 2024, and continued to demonstrate its broad appeal to consumers.” For 2024, total RV shipments were up 6.6% compared to 2023, reaching 333,733 units. The towables category grew 11.4% in December 2024 year over year while motorhomes saw a decline of 17.7%.
- Consumer confidence levels fell in January 2025, dropping by 5.4 points from the previous month, according to The Conference Board. The Consumer Confidence Index was 104.1 in January 2025 from 109.5 in December 2024. Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, noted that the segment with the highest gains in confidence were those at the bottom of the income range while households earning over $125,000 showed the sharpest decline in confidence. Per Peterson, “Consumer confidence has been moving sideways in a relatively stable, narrow range since 2022. January was no exception. The Index weakened for a second straight month, but still remained in that range, even if in the lower part.” Purchasing plans for homes and new cars were flat while big-ticket purchases rose on a six-month moving average basis.
- RV retail registrations grew 2.6% in October 2024 year over year, reaching 27,114, according to a Statistical Surveys report in RV Business. It was the first time in over a year that there was a year-over-year increase in the monthly registration data. Year to date, RV retail registrations declined 8% to 318,193 compared to the same period in 2023. Weaker categories in October included camping trailers (-29.8%), Class A (-10.4%), and Class B (-12.3%), while categories posting growth were park model RVs (34.6%), travel trailers (5.1%), and Class C (6.8%).
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