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Recreational vehicles have been all the rage for the past few months. According to a survey, the sale of RVs has increased exponentially since the travel restrictions have been lifted.
The benefits of owning an RV are pretty well known to all. They are more like homes on wheels than just a mode of transportation. And their importance is more realized mostly because of the social distancing and other precautions that people seek.
Noteworthy is the fact that the hospitality industry has borne a significant blow due to this pandemic. Travellers are avoiding hotels and public transportation services. As a result, most of the vacationers are now choosing to stay in their RVs during their vacation period.
With nearly half a year of being locked indoors, people are now excited about their travel plans and vacations. And many vacationers have already taken the road.
Of course, before the world was hit with the Corona Virus Pandemic, there were no travel restrictions. And likewise, people preferably chose to stay in hotels and using public transports. These are, by far, the most economical choices that any traveller can look for.
Though, in the long run, it might cost a lot more than investing in an RV once. Earlier, buying an RV was only for the people who were into a nomadic lifestyle or likely had to be on the move for more than two weeks.
For people who travelled often, investing in an RV might not be as economical an option, as for full-time travellers. Of course, there are maintenance costs associated with an RV. And keeping up with these expenses would mean an additional burden on the budget.
February to March is usually a dull period for RV sellers. Besides, from late March this year until the first week of May, the production lines were completely on halt. Of course, there were no buyers for RVs, and production without demand makes no sense.
But, as soon as the restrictions were lifted, as already mentioned, a huge upsurge in RV sales was noted. According to a report, RV shipments increased by 11% since June 2019. And more surprisingly, there was a whopping 45% increase in sales during June 2020 as compared to the sales in May 2020.
Notably, a large number of buyers are first-timers. As the data from https://www.nelsonrv.com/used-rv-listings-tucson/ reveal, built-in van platforms such as Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, a type-B camper van, witnessed a 90% increase in sales. The data is compared between June 2019 and June 2020.
Reportedly, people are opting for self-sustainable accommodations for their vacations.
Also, it is noteworthy that not every buyer is looking for the same features. Several data reveal that people are choosing minimalistic designs over feature-loaded RVs. Of course, there are those who can accommodate luxury expenses into their budget. But, that’s merely a small population among the travellers.
As already mentioned, buyers need the most necessary features in their RVs. Only a few are looking for add-on features in their RV purchase.
Most of the travellers visit exclusive tourist destinations with irregular terrain. According to a report, more than half of the purchase enquiries are for AWD camper vans.
The ability to trail every terrain is something that people cannot dispense with. A Front-Wheel-Drive or a Rear-Wheel-Drive train is proven inefficient at off-road trails.
To put this into perspective, campers moving into the Yellow Stone National Park often need to drive through swamplands or rocky trails. Having full control over all the wheels distributes the power uniformly. As a result manoeuvring through uneasy terrains becomes easier.
Another trend that surfaced lately is the bedding arrangement. While earlier, travellers or camper-van dwellers used to look for a convertible bed, now they are opting for bunk beds.
Bunk beds are known to take up less space while accommodating more people. Of course, when stacked over each other vertically, the beds take up space for a single bed. And at the same time, accommodate more than one person.
Notably, most of the enquiries are from couples with low family income or small families that cannot afford a bigger camper van.
With the Covid Cases still surfacing, people are not comfortable with sharing the facilities. Public toilets and gym washrooms are used by many people throughout the day. And it is not easy to sanitize these facilities after each use.
Having these facilities built within the van reduces the dangers of contracting the Corona Virus. And of course, it also helps the travellers maintain social distance with others.
Evidently, this trend is anticipated in the RV market. While still not as many people are looking for these inclusions but experts believe there might be a sudden boom in these demands.
Another trend that surfaced post-lockdown is the demand for used RVs over new ones. Experts believe several factors to be responsible for this trend.
One of the major factors is the increased unemployment during the lockdown. With a reduced monthly income buyers are not ready to invest in a new RV, which would cost a lot more than a used one.
Another factor that the experts believe to be responsible for this trend is the decision to customize. Yes, many RV buyers are opting for designing their homes by themselves.
According to a report, RV rentals were at their peak last year. Mostly because travellers going out for even a two-week tour chose RV over hotels. But, this trend has been revised, surprisingly.
On the other hand, post the lockdown, even short-term travellers are now choosing to buy an RV over renting it. Of course, health concern is one of the many reasons for this trend.
Notably, people are choosing 5th wheelers more than camper vans or other forms of RVs. And this is because these can be towed with the help of a regular truck. And travellers can park it anywhere and move around in their truck if needed.
Experts believe that these trends are not temporary. And they also have supporting claims for their belief. Several studies reveal that people adjust to the changes in their lifestyle if subjected for long enough. In short, the boom in the RV sales market is nowhere to come to halt or slow down in near future.
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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