How To Save Big On Camper Vans As Inventory Upticks
Whether you want to travel cross-country, enjoy weekend getaways, or live in a van full-time, now is a better time than ever to buy a camper van. RV companies geared up production to meet pandemic demand, only to see it taper after the pandemic ended. As a result, dealers now have great incentives on brand new 2024 and 2025 camper vans. Be sure to compare local dealers for the best deal available.
According to the Wall Street Journal, RV inventory needs to be sold to make room for new models. Many Americans are trying to wait out interest rates, further decreasing demand. What kind of discount you can find might differ depending what part of the country you are in, and whether you are looking for a complete motorhome or a Sprinter/Ram van RV.
RV sales surged heavily during the pandemic, so the recent decrease in demand has left RV makers in the lurch; they are resorting to cutting prices to make sales, sometimes as much as “30% off.” 2021 had record sales, with 600,000-plus new RV’s hitting the road in the USA. 2022 saw RV sales somersault by more than half compared with 2021. So-called “towables” comprise 90% of the RV market, which are the camper variety you can pull behind your truck; very few RV buyers take on the quarter-million-plus Class-A coaches. Slated in-between towables and motorhomes are camper vans, “Class B” RV’s, most frequently produced with a chassis from Ram, Sprinter (Mercedes), or Ford.
RV’s are seeing a renaissance with many people looking for affordable housing, cheaper vacations, and sometimes just an adventure with the newfound freedom many office-dwelling Americans have found with the ability to work remotely. While the median age of an RV owner is 53, the first time buyer median age fell to just 32 years old in 2022, as many trend to try out so-called “Vanlife.” 54% of RV’ers work remotely according to a May 2022 study, amongst the nearly half a million Americans who live in them full time.
Currently RV sales are recovering due to discounts. Thor, manufacturer of Sprinter and Ram chassis camper vans, is continually releasing new inventory of RV’s, and needs to sell remaining 2024 (and even some 2023) models still on dealer lots. Thor acknowledged that increased incentives may be necessary to the WSJ.
Many van RV’s start at a price which might surprise you. Brand new models from 2024 (and in some cases 2023) can be found, many at steep discounts. Brand new Thor Scopes with a Ram chassis from 2024 can be found for $87,999, which is $56,047 below MSRP. Winnebago Solis, which is also on a Ram van Chassis, can be found for $110,999, $49,152 below MSRP. If you prefer the Sprinter chassis, the Winnebago Adventure Wagon can still be found new from the 2023 model year for $99,249 MSRP, which is a staggering $80,564 below MSRP. Thor-manufactured Sanctuary Sprinters can also be found for over $60k off. Brand-new Thor Freedom Elite campervans, on a Ram chassis, are also $70,999 MSRP brand-new, offering a newer chassis with slightly fewer bells and whistles, still $29,966 below MSRP despite the newer model year.
If you know where to look, you can get a great deal on a brand-new RV. Whether it’s a Sprinter for weekend vacations, a complete motorhome to buck the nine-to-five, or a travel trailer for behind your pickup, be sure to do your homework and search around for the best deal you can find.
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