RV market remains strong, say industry reps

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on January 17, 2023.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge's Best RV Show attendees had the chance to walk through new and used RV and trailer models on Saturday at Exhihbiton Park.

Lethbridge R.V. Show attendees could view over a hundred new and used units to see what might fit their camping needs for this season and beyond on Saturday at Exhibition Park.

R.V. manufacturers were also on hand to answer any questions that people might have at the four-day long show hosted by Western R.V. Country and Eldorado RV Ranch.

“It’s kind of a kick-off to the 2023 season,” said Deryk Lawrence, Western R.V. Country finance manager. “You know for us the show is a chance for us to show the new line-up for 2023. We have factory reps on hand. Eldorado has joined us to kind of kick off the year. We’re the first R.V. kind of show. So it’s a chance for people to come out. I mean with the spring fever, with the weather and everything like that, and have a look at all the new lineups.”

Lawrence said to have two dealerships here under one roof to kick it off is nice.

“It gives everyone, whatever you’re looking for, it is certainly here,” said Lawrence. “It’s a chance for everyone to kind of come out, check it out and stuff like that and start the season with a new R.V., if that’s what you’re looking for.”

Lawrence said from an inventory standpoint, both dealerships are certainly in position to help the customers out.

“An R.V. is a want, not a need,” said Lawrence, when asked about the manufacturer’s focus in building trailers. “I mean it’s a recreation product, it’s a lifestyle…so I mean the people that are looking for R.V.s and stuff – certainly with borders being closed and hearing some of the things that are happening in airports and stuff like that, an R.V. is a way of life. It’s holidays for a lot of people and stuff like that. So I mean just with where society and stuff is, you’re seeing a lot more people look at an R.V. kind of as a family outing and stuff like that.”

Lawrence considered with what has gone on in the R.V. industry in the last two to three years, the market has been strong.

“Obviously we’re hoping that continues going into this year,” he said. “I mean there’s different things out there with inflation and stuff like that. We’re all trying to kind of see what happens. Like again, I mean we’ve had a couple of very good years in the R.V. industry and we’re hoping things continue.”

Coachmen and Apex trailer district sales manager Ray Found was on hand at the show and said there’s all kinds of new stuff in terms of the R.V.

“Solar panels are everywhere, trailers are more off-grid ready, there’s more lightweight products available for smaller tow vehicles and we’re excited for the start of the R.V. season,” said Found.

Coachmen and Apex’s focus has been on building family trailers to get out there to enjoy.

“More than ever,” said Found. “The last couple of years have been tremendous growth in the outdoors activity market including R.V.’s. And we know they’re here to support an active and outdoors lifestyle. So, like I say, we have more trailers with bigger solar installations on the roof ready to go camp outside of campgrounds in many cases.”

Found sees a lot of the R.V. trends continuing with younger and more active families in 2023.