What Kind of People RV?

Unlike the old stereotype, today’s RVers aren’t silver haired grandpas and grannies headed to Florida to while away their retirement years. Since RVing took off in the 1960s, millions of people of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds have embraced the RV lifestyle as a relaxing, convenient and economical way to travel. Today more than 8.2 million Americans own RVs, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. The typical RV owner is married, middle-aged and spends 26 days a year traveling nearly 4,500 miles in his RV. 

Baby Boomers are projected to herald a new boom time in the RV industry. The single largest population group in the U.S., the Boomer generation will bring 350,000 potential new RV customers to the table over the next two decades. More physically active, healthier and more mobile than previous generations, Boomers are already embracing the RV lifestyle, creating a growing customer base that bodes well for the future of the RV industry.  

While the $37 billion RV industry, just like every other U.S. industry, has experienced a bit of a sales slowdown during the current economic recession, RV shows are drawing record crowds. Industry watchers expect new RV sales to start rising as credit becomes more available. As in the auto industry, the impact of the tight credit market on buyers’ ability to obtain loans has been a stumbling block to new RV sales. However, used RV sales have remained strong, particularly at online sites like RVT.com. More buyers are turning to online RV sales sites to improve their purchasing power and selection beyond local resources. Visit RVT.com today to find out more about embracing the RV lifestyle.