US recreational vehicle industry booming
AP
Georgia: About 20,000 motor-home owners and industry representatives gathered last week in the heart of Georgia to social-ise, attend seminars and kick the tyres of more than 1,000 enticing new models - some costing more than $1 million each and getting only six miles per gallon.
With gasoline prices climbing in recent years, the turnout at the Family Motor Coach Association's 77th International Convention is much better than most outsiders would expect.
Recreational vehicle industry sales figures show record sales for the past five years - a surge that owners and industry insiders attribute to a growing number of baby boomers nearing retirement, as well as younger families opting for vacations closer to home.
"There's no better way to do it," said Bob Dalton, 70, who has owned a motor home for 30 years. "I can sleep in my own bed and I can eat my own food. I travel at my own pace. I go where I want."
Motor homes have long been popular in the United States, where many see the comfortable vehicles as a means to see America's varied landscape at a leisurely pace and in comfort.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, however, the RVs have steadily gained a new following, in part as Americans looked at alternatives to air travel.
In addition, dealers have been able to lure younger buyers through favourable interest rates offered on the costly vehicles, said Kevin Broom, a spokesman for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, which represents 500 manufacturers and suppliers.
Surging fuel costs over the past couple of years, in which the price for a gallon of regular self-service gasoline rose 21 per cent since March 2005, have done little to dampen demand for the mobile homes. While sales are expected to dip a little this year, 2007 still looks to be the fourth best sales year over the past three decades, said Broom.
Cost effective
"RVs are the most cost effective way to vacation for a family, even when you factor in the cost of fuel," he said, citing the common vacation costs of hotels, restaurants and rental cars that can be avoided or lowered when using a RV.
Mark Tuggle, sales manager for Douglasville-based John Bleakley Motor Homes, Georgia's largest motor home dealership, said the younger buyers are a new phenomenon.
"If they weren't gray headed and had a handicapped sticker, sales people would shy away from them," Tuggle said.
"Now they can be 32 years old and have two kids and you need to pay attention to them."
The appeal for young families, especially those living in urban areas, is that they can spend a weekend in a campground and return on Sunday evening "feeling like they've been on vacation", Tuggle said.
The influx of younger RVers still was not apparent at the motor home convention, which ends on Thursday. Many were gray-haired retirees. Some limped around the vast exhibit area. Others zipped around on bicycles and golf carts.
A few appeared to be baby boomers - people born between 1946 and 1964 who are reaching retirement age with company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plans and similar employer-backed programmes.
"Baby boomers have more expendable income," said Dave Uhlenbrock, spokesman for the association, which has 120,000 family members.
"The baby boomers are looking at motor homes... when they consider their travel options," he said.
"They can do what they did at home in a motor home.
"There are motor homes with washers and driers, lovely shower areas, satellite TV and Wi-Fi. They call them land yachts and they truly are."
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Tuesday, April 3, 2007
US recreational vehicle industry booming
US recreational vehicle industry booming
AP
Georgia: About 20,000 motor-home owners and industry representatives gathered last week in the heart of Georgia to social-ise, attend seminars and kick the tyres of more than 1,000 enticing new models - some costing more than $1 million each and getting only six miles per gallon.
With gasoline prices climbing in recent years, the turnout at the Family Motor Coach Association's 77th International Convention is much better than most outsiders would expect.
Recreational vehicle industry sales figures show record sales for the past five years - a surge that owners and industry insiders attribute to a growing number of baby boomers nearing retirement, as well as younger families opting for vacations closer to home.
"There's no better way to do it," said Bob Dalton, 70, who has owned a motor home for 30 years. "I can sleep in my own bed and I can eat my own food. I travel at my own pace. I go where I want."
Motor homes have long been popular in the United States, where many see the comfortable vehicles as a means to see America's varied landscape at a leisurely pace and in comfort.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, however, the RVs have steadily gained a new following, in part as Americans looked at alternatives to air travel.
In addition, dealers have been able to lure younger buyers through favourable interest rates offered on the costly vehicles, said Kevin Broom, a spokesman for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, which represents 500 manufacturers and suppliers.
Surging fuel costs over the past couple of years, in which the price for a gallon of regular self-service gasoline rose 21 per cent since March 2005, have done little to dampen demand for the mobile homes. While sales are expected to dip a little this year, 2007 still looks to be the fourth best sales year over the past three decades, said Broom.
Cost effective
"RVs are the most cost effective way to vacation for a family, even when you factor in the cost of fuel," he said, citing the common vacation costs of hotels, restaurants and rental cars that can be avoided or lowered when using a RV.
Mark Tuggle, sales manager for Douglasville-based John Bleakley Motor Homes, Georgia's largest motor home dealership, said the younger buyers are a new phenomenon.
"If they weren't gray headed and had a handicapped sticker, sales people would shy away from them," Tuggle said.
"Now they can be 32 years old and have two kids and you need to pay attention to them."
The appeal for young families, especially those living in urban areas, is that they can spend a weekend in a campground and return on Sunday evening "feeling like they've been on vacation", Tuggle said.
The influx of younger RVers still was not apparent at the motor home convention, which ends on Thursday. Many were gray-haired retirees. Some limped around the vast exhibit area. Others zipped around on bicycles and golf carts.
A few appeared to be baby boomers - people born between 1946 and 1964 who are reaching retirement age with company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plans and similar employer-backed programmes.
"Baby boomers have more expendable income," said Dave Uhlenbrock, spokesman for the association, which has 120,000 family members.
"The baby boomers are looking at motor homes... when they consider their travel options," he said.
"They can do what they did at home in a motor home.
"There are motor homes with washers and driers, lovely shower areas, satellite TV and Wi-Fi. They call them land yachts and they truly are."
AP
Georgia: About 20,000 motor-home owners and industry representatives gathered last week in the heart of Georgia to social-ise, attend seminars and kick the tyres of more than 1,000 enticing new models - some costing more than $1 million each and getting only six miles per gallon.
With gasoline prices climbing in recent years, the turnout at the Family Motor Coach Association's 77th International Convention is much better than most outsiders would expect.
Recreational vehicle industry sales figures show record sales for the past five years - a surge that owners and industry insiders attribute to a growing number of baby boomers nearing retirement, as well as younger families opting for vacations closer to home.
"There's no better way to do it," said Bob Dalton, 70, who has owned a motor home for 30 years. "I can sleep in my own bed and I can eat my own food. I travel at my own pace. I go where I want."
Motor homes have long been popular in the United States, where many see the comfortable vehicles as a means to see America's varied landscape at a leisurely pace and in comfort.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, however, the RVs have steadily gained a new following, in part as Americans looked at alternatives to air travel.
In addition, dealers have been able to lure younger buyers through favourable interest rates offered on the costly vehicles, said Kevin Broom, a spokesman for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, which represents 500 manufacturers and suppliers.
Surging fuel costs over the past couple of years, in which the price for a gallon of regular self-service gasoline rose 21 per cent since March 2005, have done little to dampen demand for the mobile homes. While sales are expected to dip a little this year, 2007 still looks to be the fourth best sales year over the past three decades, said Broom.
Cost effective
"RVs are the most cost effective way to vacation for a family, even when you factor in the cost of fuel," he said, citing the common vacation costs of hotels, restaurants and rental cars that can be avoided or lowered when using a RV.
Mark Tuggle, sales manager for Douglasville-based John Bleakley Motor Homes, Georgia's largest motor home dealership, said the younger buyers are a new phenomenon.
"If they weren't gray headed and had a handicapped sticker, sales people would shy away from them," Tuggle said.
"Now they can be 32 years old and have two kids and you need to pay attention to them."
The appeal for young families, especially those living in urban areas, is that they can spend a weekend in a campground and return on Sunday evening "feeling like they've been on vacation", Tuggle said.
The influx of younger RVers still was not apparent at the motor home convention, which ends on Thursday. Many were gray-haired retirees. Some limped around the vast exhibit area. Others zipped around on bicycles and golf carts.
A few appeared to be baby boomers - people born between 1946 and 1964 who are reaching retirement age with company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plans and similar employer-backed programmes.
"Baby boomers have more expendable income," said Dave Uhlenbrock, spokesman for the association, which has 120,000 family members.
"The baby boomers are looking at motor homes... when they consider their travel options," he said.
"They can do what they did at home in a motor home.
"There are motor homes with washers and driers, lovely shower areas, satellite TV and Wi-Fi. They call them land yachts and they truly are."
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