The Best RV's For Cross-Country & Camping Fun
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. RV companies geared up production to meet pandemic demand, leading to an excellent selection of new 2024 and 2025 new RV's available nationwide. Whether you want a towable RV trailer, a full-blown motorhome, or a Ram/Sprinter-style campervan, it's a great time to invest in a recreational vehicle. Be sure to compare different dealers for the best selection and models available for your needs.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the RV industry has seen a whirlwind of changes in recent years, with demand cooling from inflation and rising interest rates. The Wall Street Journal further stipulated that many manufacturers have resorted to discounting in order to counter the trend. Whether or not you can find a great offer depends on what kind of negotiator you are, what part of the country you are in, and what kind of RV you are looking for.
RV sales surged heavily during the pandemic, so the recent decrease in demand caught RV makers off-guard. 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 both Airstream and Jayco RV’s, is releasing new inventory of towable RV’s, and needs to dispose of leftover 2023 (and even 2022) models still sitting on dealer lots. Thor acknowledged that increased incentives may be necessary to the WSJ.
Currently RV sales are on the mend. Brand-new towable models with ample room cost less than you can find an entry-level car. 2024 Jayco models can be found well under $23,000 with plenty of space, discounted from $31,000-plus. More basic sleeper-only Coleman models can cost as little as $12,999, and 22 foot Forest Rivers are as low as $13,499. 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 $101,999, which shakes out to about $766/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 $105,999, or $796/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 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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