Whether you want to travel cross-country, enjoy weekend getaways, or live in an RV full-time, now is a better time than ever to buy a brand-new RV. According to the Wall Street Journal, RV 2022 and 2023 inventory needs to be sold to make room for new 2024 models. The WSJ similarly said that 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 towable trailer 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 full-size Silverado, Ram, or Expedition. Very few RV buyers take on the quarter-million-plus Class-A coaches that stars like Gath Brooks tour the country in, costing up to $3 million and getting some-odd eight miles to the gallon.
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, says the Wall Street Journal. Thor, manufacturer of both Airstream and Jayco RV’s, is releasing its 2024 towable RV’s this summer, and needs to dispose of leftover 2023 (and even 2022) models still sitting on dealer lots. Thor acknowledged that increased incentives may be necessary.
Many towable RV’s start at a price which might surprise you. Brand-new towable models with ample room cost less than you can find an entry-level car. 2023 Jayco models can be found around $23,000 with plenty of space, discounted from $31,000-plus. More basic sleeper-only Coleman models can cost as little as $16,000. Van campers cost considerably more, but because they are truly “mobile homes,” their price is a relative bargain compared to a house. An example Jayco Redhawk with a Ford chassis stickers for $152,954 but can currently be had for $106,220, which shakes out to about $787/month for qualified buyers with a typical RV 240-month loan.
Class-A motorhomes can even be had for a song, such as a 2023 Thor Axis which originally stickered at $173,943 on sale for just $119,200, or $879/month on a typical RV loan for qualified buyers with 15% down. If you know where to look, you can get a great deal on a brand-new RV. Whether it’s a towable for weekend vacations or a complete rolling chassis to buck the nine-to-five, be sure to do your homework and search around for the best deal you can find.