Best thing to happen to the RV industry: Covid-19

[WhatExit?]

A major RV maker now has $14 billion in backlogged orders and is 'pretty much sold out for the next year'

It's no secret the COVID-19 pandemic gave the RV industry a major boost in sales in 2020. Popularity was so high, the RV maker Thor Industries now has a $14.32 billion order backlog, the company said in its 2021 third-quarter earnings report on Tuesday.

Thor Industries, which owns RV brands like Jayco and Airstream, first saw a boost in sales in May and June of 2020, especially with RV newcomers, Thor's president and CEO Bob Martin told Insider in May 2020. The boom in popularity only continued: Thor achieved $3.46 billion in net sales in the third quarter of 2021, the strongest in the company's history, Martin said in the earnings report, and a 105.7% increase compared to the third quarter of 2020.

And now that boost has grown to a $14 billion order backlog, which is an almost 550% increase compared to the same time in 2020. Taking a closer look, Thor's backlog for towables and motorized RVs by the end of April in North America increased 766% and 548%, respectively, compared to the same time in 2020.

And now the company is "pretty much sold out for the next year," Martin told CNBC's Jim Cramer on "Mad Money." Many of Thor's dealers also have "virtually no" inventory, but because a large portion of its backlog consists of presold orders, Thor won't be able to increase its dealers' inventories, Martin told Cramer.

A major RV maker now has $14 billion in backlogged orders and is 'pretty much sold out for the next year'

Dealers for Thor Industries brands like Airstream and Jayco also have "virtually no" inventory to sell.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[Travmon]

And when everyone side swipes a yellow pole , ill be there. Unfortunately what this industry needs is the dealer to answer the phone the day after the sale. Asshats promise the world right up to taking it off the lot and then as useless as a VICE PRESIDENT. Lots of complaints at my counter.

 

[GRADS]

COVID-19 was good for every industry, excluding maybe restaurants but even they will turn around.

 

[mobldj]

and when the next recession hits,tons will be dumped at great prices

 

[riverroyal]

Best thing? They are ALL built like shit. This will speed up the builds, making them even shittier

Good that business is up though. The trickle down to suppliers is great

 

[BHC Vic]

COVID-19 was good for every industry, excluding maybe restaurants but even they will turn around.

Tell that to the member that had to shutdown his bowling alley and sell it... don’t be a fucking tool bag

 

[Mcob25rg]

Agreed. They’re increasing sales by 5 times, but maintaining support staff, so they’re overworked / overwhelmed by newbies who expect they’re RV to have the same build quality as their cars. The expansion will be a VERY short growth cycle, followed by the biggest value drop ever seen

 

[Looking Glass]

Best thing? They are ALL built like shit. This will speed up the builds, making them even shittier

Good that business is up though. The trickle down to suppliers is great

PREVOST!!

 

[Rajobigguy]

Bring back the GMC glaciar.

 

[azsunfun]

Tell that to the member that had to shutdown his bowling alley and sell it... don’t be a fucking tool bag

alot of doors had to shut the doors at no fault of there own, not just restraunts! i believe his point is, it will come back! but we need the freedoms back first and unfortunitly some folks lives have been destroyed.

 

[MK1MOD0]

PREVOST!!

They only build the chassis. The coach builder is who ya need to look at as far as quality. Plenty of poorly built Prevost coaches rolling around.

 

[rivrrts429]

COVID-19 was good for every industry, excluding maybe restaurants but even they will turn around.

That’s not what your President is saying. Are you disagreeing with him?

 

[rivrrts429]

alot of doors had to shut the doors at no fault of there own, not just restraunts! i believe his point is, it will come back! but we need the freedoms back first and unfortunitly some folks lives have been destroyed.

This is what Grads does to make the thread about himself.

Vic is 100% correct in his post.

 

[Hydroman55]

and when the next recession hits,tons will be dumped at great prices

Had a 2000 Country Coach Magna and couldn’t give it away in 2007 when the economy crashed. Book was a $100K sold for $55K. Today the same used motorhome will bring $80K 15 years later.
As said, this is going to happen again only much worse with all the free money and socialism coming down the tracks, there will be huge numbers of RVs available. When socialism takes over you think RVs are allowed…be lucky to afford fuel let alone available.
550 percent increase currently and $14 billon dollar backlog listed by Thor alone? This is does not end well for RVs trust me.
Before anyone jumps me on my comments, I do have a diesel pusher.

 

[TeamGreene]

Tell that to the member that had to shutdown his bowling alley and sell it... don’t be a fucking tool bag

Douche bag is on ignore but I’m going out on a limb and say he said something very out of touch with the reality of what the average small business owner went and is going through in order to salvage what they have worked so hard to build.

 

[Looking Glass]

They only build the chassis. The coach builder is who ya need to look at as far as quality. Plenty of poorly built Prevost coaches rolling around.

I can not doubt you, BUT!! I have Yet to See one. I would gladly Ride around in one of their Poor Quality Motor Coaches and Smile as I drive by All the Others.

The Old Saying, there is a A** for every Seat.

 

[WhatExit?]

COVID-19 was good for every industry, excluding maybe restaurants but even they will turn around.

Yeah, it was good for the Chinese and mortuaries and refrigerated storage manufacturers for the bodies and PPE/mask makers and big pharma companies making bogus vaccines (not good for the ones making hydroxychloroquine and invermectin) and good for liberal politicians to take more power.

Sure restaurants will "turn around" except all the ones that went out of business

Were you a good sheep and get your vaxx?

 

[LowRiver2]

All 22’ Trifectas are sold out , crazy demand

 

[MK1MOD0]

I can not doubt you, BUT!! I have Yet to See one. I would gladly Ride around in one of their Poor Quality Motor Coaches and Smile as I drive by All the Others.

The Old Saying, there is a A** for every Seat.

In the last heyday of RV’s, there were a bunch of places that popped up around the country. And not all of them were 1st class to say the least. My inlaws traveled the county on an extended trip around 08or so, with a large group of other coaches. And some of the stories they told about coaches literally falling apart inside were interesting To say the least. Not all were of Marathon quality, not even close.

 

[HTTP404]

COVID-19 was good for every industry, excluding maybe restaurants but even they will turn around.

Says the no job house husband. You are clueless.

 

[Hydroman55]

Had

In the last heyday of RV’s, there were a bunch of places that popped up around the country. And not all of them were 1st class to say the least. My inlaws traveled the county on an extended trip around 08or so, with a large group of other coaches. And some of the stories they told about coaches literally falling apart inside were interesting To say the least. Not all were of Marathon quality, not even close.

You get what you pay for. You better be able cover the maintenance too.

 

[RichL]

Had

You get what you pay for. You better be able cover the maintenance too.

There's the other part of the problem. It's almost impossible to get parts to maintain them.

 

[707dog]

I often watch (haylett rv) Josh the RV nerd on youtube he always has great feed back about the rv market and whats going on. Supply and demand issues has been his last few videos

 

[707dog]

There's the other part of the problem. It's almost impossible to get parts to maintain them.

My buddy is going through this right now 2020 cyclone 40ft toyhauler (80k)been back to the dealership 3 times with electrical/Bluetooth issues and a also landing outrigger gears binding up or sparaticly just not working sat at the dealership for over a month while troubleshooting. On his 2nd power command computer took a month to getdont know when they will get another. Got it back on wendsday at the lake right bluetooth not working again, and one slider didn't want to open

 

[HotRod82]

I don't know how you can own an RV without knowing how to turn some wrenches and fix stuff. The average person knows nothing about the constant maintenance and repairs the RV lifestyle requires. The dealerships are a joke, typically booked weeks or months out for even a simple warranty repair. As we all know, RV'ing takes a certain amount of effort and IMO most of these buyers will be done after one trip. I know 2 people personally who sold their new RVs after a trip or two.....one of them was stuck in a campground with the slide inoperable. There are going to be some great deals to be had in the next couple years.

 

[MK1MOD0]

My buddy is going through this right now 2020 cyclone 40ft toyhauler (80k)been back to the dealership 3 times with electrical/Bluetooth issues and a also landing outrigger gears binding up or sparaticly just not working sat at the dealership for over a month while troubleshooting. On his 2nd power command computer took a month to getdont know when they will get another. Got it back on wendsday at the lake right bluetooth not working, and one slider didn't want to open

Man that sucks. Spending 80K on a toy, and it doesn’t even work correctly. Total bummer.

 

[Dettom]

Best thing? They are ALL built like shit. This will speed up the builds, making them even shittier

Good that business is up though. The trickle down to suppliers is great

Very true

 

[Dettom]

I don't know how you can own an RV without knowing how to turn some wrenches and fix stuff. The average person knows nothing about the constant maintenance and repairs the RV lifestyle requires. The dealerships are a joke, typically booked weeks or months out for even a simple warranty repair. As we all know, RV'ing takes a certain amount of effort and IMO most of these buyers will be done after one trip. I know 2 people personally who sold their new RVs after a trip or two.....one of them was stuck in a campground with the slide inoperable. There are going to be some great deals to be had in the next couple years.

You just knocked it put of the park with that analogy.

 

[DILLIGAF]

and when the next recession hits,tons will be dumped at great prices

two years. Combined with gas prices, insurance, lack of use after the initial usage and of course storage fees

 

[707dog]

Man that sucks. Spending 80K on a toy, and it doesn’t even work correctly. Total bummer.

He is ready to push it into the campfire. Definitely not what he had hope for the his ultimate trailer purchase. Dealership caught amnesia he is dealing direct with the oem repair shop too.

 

[Looking Glass]

Man that sucks. Spending 80K on a toy, and it doesn’t even work correctly. Total bummer.

LEMON LAW The POS. Time to Draw A Line, or get an Attorney involved. No Excuse.

 

[Looking Glass]

LEMON LAW The POS. Time to Draw A Line, or get an Attorney involved. No Excuse.

Deals like this Show what kind of A Dealer you bought from. Like with Insurance, it is Only as Good as Your Dealer/Agent.

 

[707dog]

LEMON LAW The POS. Time to Draw A Line, or get an Attorney involved. No Excuse.

I do believe it will be a heavy topic when he gets home.

 

[ElAzul]

I do believe it will be a heavy topic when he gets home.

There are forums for people in his situation with legal advice and recommendations. This is one industry that needs some better standards and supervision unfortunately. Take a look at European RV's they don't even compare

 

[HotRod82]

Deals like this Show what kind of A Dealer you bought from. Like with Insurance, it is Only as Good as Your Dealer/Agent.

Is there such a thing as a good RV dealer with ethics? My last new coach came from La Mesa RV.....they were a complete joke. The RV was broke down in my driveway less than a week after purchasing it, the service manager told me with a straight face "it will be at least 6 weeks before we can look at it".

 

[RaceTec]

I wouldn't be surprised if a large number of those pre-orders for next year go away with the cost of fuel and the way that stuff is going right now...

 

[Hydroman55]

I wouldn't be surprised if a large number of those pre-orders for next year go away with the cost of fuel and the way that stuff is going right now...

You would be correct sir!

 

[NicPaus]

My Buddy offered me his thor last week for 65k. Giant RV bought it for 69k. He called me yesterday and I asked what they listed it for. He pulled up listing $109K!. I should of bought it and flipped it. He paid 79k less than 2 years ago it was a 2017.

 

[yz450mm]

My buddy is going through this right now 2020 cyclone 40ft toyhauler (80k)been back to the dealership 3 times with electrical/Bluetooth issues and a also landing outrigger gears binding up or sparaticly just not working sat at the dealership for over a month while troubleshooting. On his 2nd power command computer took a month to getdont know when they will get another. Got it back on wendsday at the lake right bluetooth not working again, and one slider didn't want to open

I bought a 21 Voltage from a dealer back East and had it delivered, and I was pretty pissed when it showed up with a regular switched control panel instead of the "In Command" system it was supposed to have. After talking to the dealer, they said that Dutchmen stopped installing the In Command due to having too many issues, so I'm actually glad to have the regular panel now. At first I thought they were full of it, but I looked on the Dutchmen website and it doesn't show it as a feature or option anymore, so I guess they were right.

 

[4Waters]

COVID-19 was good for every industry, excluding maybe restaurants but even they will turn around.

What about the ones that didn't make it, do you think they will turn around?

 

[boatnam2]

My Buddy offered me his thor last week for 65k. Giant RV bought it for 69k. He called me yesterday and I asked what they listed it for. He pulled up listing $109K!. I should of bought it and flipped it. He paid 79k less than 2 years ago it was a 2017.

Dam!!!!1 Hook a homey up! Just kdding, i couldn't deal with all the new weekend warrior campers.

 

[HALLETT BOY]

In probably less than 1 year , it will be an epic time to pick up a used one . I don’t want to be doom and gloom , but things are not looking good … a lot of 20 year loans out there on toys , something’s gotta give .

 

[NicPaus]

Dam!!!!1 Hook a homey up! Just kdding, i couldn't deal with all the new weekend warrior campers.

It was the one I mentioned before. Got the Cobra from him and the last 4 skis I sold. Mr impulse buyer and seller. I told him I would list it and he said I decided to sell it to Giant as it was easy. I had no where to park it.

 

[GRADS]

What about the ones that didn't make it, do you think they will turn around?

Yes.

 

[Hydroman55]

In probably less than 1 year , it will be an epic time to pick up a used one . I don’t want to be doom and gloom , but things are not looking good … a lot of 20 year loans out there on toys , something’s gotta give .

This

 

[NorCalRiverRat]

does this mean there is a 500% increase in the number of RV's but the same number of RV parks, hmmm.......

..

 

[Vib]

does this mean there is a 500% increase in the number of RV's but the same number of RV parks, hmmm.......

..

Well....plus ours if we ever get some trades out here lol

 

[CLdrinker]

It was the one I mentioned before. Got the Cobra from him and the last 4 skis I sold. Mr impulse buyer and seller. I told him I would list it and he said I decided to sell it to Giant as it was easy. I had no where to park it.

Bro I have plenty of room.

 

[Buddy]

I often watch (haylett rv) Josh the RV nerd on youtube he always has great feed back about the rv market and whats going on. Supply and demand issues has been his last few videos

Josh is awesome. His voice reminds me of Jon Cryer from 2 and 1/2 men.
I bought my 2nd trailer from him, still watch his review of it!

 

[LuauLounge]

Yes.

Not to mention the supply chain for everything. Shut down the world for a year, and okay we’re open. Shortages all over.