Desertsam
Phoenix, AZ
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Joined: 04/10/2003
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I remember when in 1975 I bought one of those new Dually Chev pickemups Crew cabs and put a slid-in camper on it. Gas was $0.38, then in six months it went to $0.60 and only could get it on even days. What a pain. I like it at $5 better and get all I want. CU on the road.
2004 Winnebago 25ft E450
2006 Honda CR-V
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ron.dittmer
Near Chicago
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Joined: 02/26/2007
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Bordercollie wrote:We have been living in our Tioga 26Q in our driveway while our home is being renovated and remodeled. Only drive it to the dump site once a week. Without it, we would be spending some 3K per month in temporary housing for us two and our two dogs. In all it will save us some $12K by the time the house work is completed. Now that is utilizing your resources. And you are on-site too to keep a good eye on the renovation. Very smart.
Bought new in June 2007, Phoenix Cruiser-2350
Fits inside our garage.
Dingy towing a red Toyota MR2 Spyder
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hermant
Varies
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Joined: 07/05/2003
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I'm sure that most of the RV industry will survive this economic slowdown. It's actually good to weed out the weaker ones once in a while.
As painful as these energy prices are, in a way it's nice that they now justify domestic oil production again. We're seeing lots of idled pump jacks rocking and rolling again all along our travels.
It's probably a good thing that soaring energy prices have awoken the sleeping giant which is America's Big Three auto makers. For example, in a couple of years (cross your fingers), we'll be able to buy an American made, electric powered car which, on most days, won't require a drop of petroleum to operate; the Chevrolet Volt. When these things catch on (and I'm betting they will), they'll almost certainly reduce oil demand in a significant manner. This should help to lower (or at least hold steady) the price of the gasoline and diesel still required by the truckers and us RVers. At least, I sure hope so...
2008 Winnebago View
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DAS26miles
San Fernando Valley, California
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Joined: 10/11/2003
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We have made 56 trips in our 22ft class c winnebago since Sept 03. Put on 29k miles. When we started, it costs us $165 for gs to Yosemite. Now it costs $300. We usually make 5-7 trips up to Yosemite a year. We will probably do fewer trips but stay longer. Now it's costing 50 cents a mile. This put a halt to our dream of getting a class A in a few years. I figure by the time the Winnie is paid off, it won't be worth a dime. But look at all we have seen and done over the years.
I think MH class C will probably thrive as class A owners downsize. Auto manufacturers will make more fuel efficient chassis' and MH manufactuerers will lighten the load.
I think gas prices will drop back down in the $3 range within a year.
Boy it's hard to type this on my cellphone.
2004 Class C Winnebago Minnie 22E
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Charles2222
Macon Georgia
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Joined: 04/22/2001
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dollars per day income div.by cost per gal times mpg =distance to drive,then look out wally world or fj.
Retired no clock,no time to be anywhere,just on the road agian is all that matters to me.
Income is better than out go ,so who cares.Only child passed away in oct.06, three grand kids and looks like two of them are worthless,and the jury is still out on the third.have made arrangements to help her in school,or that will go to the church,so my class C will go when we wish.
Charles
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lzasitko
Regina, SK Canada
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Joined: 11/30/2005
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So far I have not seen a lot of change on the road. We are just past a long weekend and I recall seeing the news a couple weeks ago saying that all provincial camp grounds were booked completely full.
I just got back from Calgary 3 weeks ago and I have never seem so may RV's on the road. I was pretty much always in sight of one or two. And that was before schools were out.
Past weekend we took the motorhome out to Moose Jaw for a 50 aniv. There were at least 10 RV's there including a couple of RV's from Victoria and Vancouver, one from NWT and two from Ontario. We had a great time. The drive for us was under 1 hr each way but again a lot of RV's on the road. Can't say for certain if they were long trips or whatever for them but all the same.
Euro MH's are dif from ours, smaller lighter and mostly small diesels. Number of factors include narrow roads over there and lot higher fuel costs. Don't see as many MH's w slides etc but again that adds a lot of weight. Better layouts really help and NA manufacturers should really look at them more.
As for us, we will still use it and so far have. will see about the rest of the summer but want to go to Winnipeg and back to Calgary probably a couple times. Have talked some about going east as I have never been to eastern Canada (past Ontario). I have been along the eastern coast of the States, just not Canada yet.
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TexGeorgiaBoy
Fort Worth Texas
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Joined: 12/04/2002
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martinandanne wrote:Since the motorhome manufacturers are dependent upon others for the chassis on which they are built, I doubt that we will see any major change until the auto makers get around to changing the basic chassis designs.
Even at $4.50 a gallon, it is tough to justify spending extra money on say a diesel Sprinter unit. The extra MPG will never make up for the extra up front cost.
I would imagine that the number of RV dealers will decline. Some manufacturers will go out of business, but I doubt that it will be a major contraction in the number of manufacturers. They may make fewer units and perhaps adjust their product mix to reflect a change in demand, but that is exactly what Ford and Chevrolet and Chrysler are doing right now. And it is highly unlikely that either of those three are going to go away.
What the RVing community will loose will be those people who purchase and operated their RVs with the last dollars in their budget. Those dollars will need to be spend on other things. For some that will mean not taking the MH out as often or as far. For others that will mean selling it outright.
For those of us who already have purchased our MHs, one thing that we don't appreciate is how hard it is for people to get financing these days. Credit markets for RVs are tight. There are fewer lending options for dealers to turn to. And buyers are being required to put up more of a down payment. Ultimately this will be a good thing, as it will keep some folks from making a terrible financial decision that they truly cannot afford.
Martin
Great post Martin. Very well said. Tex
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buchrob
Stanstead QC
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Joined: 10/10/2002
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Sooner or later mfgrs will be able to offer an 8000 lb unit on a lighter chassis that everyone can relate to, rather than the previous "foreign" Renault, VW or ((Sprinter??)) offerings.
Too many pioneers have arrows in their backs many years down the road when trying to get major service done by VW dealers who can't accommodate the rig on a lift or non-existent Renault dealers.
Of course, the industry will haver to change. In the SUV heyday, more was better. Why not a Hummer with a camper back pulling a Hummer as a toad?
We're going to see the demise of slides and big steel chassis as everyone goes onto a drastic diet to pass the treadmill test.
'99 Glendale Royal Expedition 24' Class C
2003 Subaru WRX wagon as toad.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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buchrob that is interesting remark about the demise of slides and big steel chassis. Composites are changing the aircraft and other industries today. A strong light weight cage could address safety issues. The weight of some to the materials used inside of MH's is unreal and it all can come at your head in a crash. Well the MH of today can regress in the direction of the tent a good deal and still be very nice. 
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kendall69
Palm Springs California
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Joined: 05/02/2004
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First thing that will happen some manufacturers will drop out, ( that's already happened ) the ones with marginal sales and brand recognition. That will leave only the strong ones like Winnebago. Now being the only one, or a few like Coke and Pepsi, they will be strong.
There will always be money to buy RV's and the fuel, just not as many as today. Like I said months a ago, people would stop buying Starbucks, and going to the movie and dinner.
$5.00 gas has made the roads virtually a ghost town. The only time I have seen the local roads ( and I'm talking So. Ca. ) this empty was always on Christmas morning, now they are empty daily. Many times I have shown my wife just 4 cars in either direction where there used to be traffic jams.
Rving is a stress reliever and many people NEED to RV, just as one would need a therapist.
Lastly Rv's are ideal to go with battery systems because they have the room for a huge battery bank. Mercedes is already working on a big rig with hybrid technology, that will transfer to Rv's easily,along with hydrogen RV's.
2002 - Bigfoot M-29G, 2004 Jeep Rubicon Toad
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