Class B Market Share, Sales and Shipments

[mumkin]

Originally Posted by rockymtnb

To put that in perspective almost 10 times as many Class B's are sold in the US than in Canada.

Makes sense 37M versus 332M population.

[rowiebowie]

Thank goodness Canada traditionally punched above it's weight when it came to class b production.

[ArtDeco]

So I'm new to all this but it seems like part of the decline in RT market share is just that there are more brands and models offered to buyers today. And many potential buyers, put off by the prices elect to do a conversion on a used van with only some of the features and a lower price point like the #vanlife crowd.

[RossWilliams]

My impression is that the decline in Roadtrek sales is a supply issue rather than demand. You can't sell what you aren't producing. The new Roadtrek company has substantially less manufacturing capacity and covid created substantial supply chain and other barriers to production. I have not seen any new Roadtrek's sitting unsold on dealer's lots.

[ArtDeco]

Certainly it's true that Winnebago is having supply chain issues as well, as are most manufacturers today. And that folks who attended the big Hershey RV show reported high prices and short discounts adds credibility to your post.

[rockymtnb]

RVIA reports that Class B unit shipments for the first 8 months of 2021 exceeded all prior annual records:

2021 Jan-Aug: 8,675 units

Previous annual shipments:
2016 - 4087 units
2017 - 5249 units
2018 - 5881 units
2019 - 4248 units
2020 - 7222 units

So two-thirds into the year and we've already beat all prior annual records. I had previously speculated we might possibly exceed 10,000 units this year. That now seems conservative, perhaps 12,000 is possible?


Footnote - Class B shipments for the month of August beat the big Class A units by 13%. Granted it's just for a month but I don't recall seeing that happen before.

[Raycbee]

A bit of a slow day due to snow and I worked up quick charts attached as .jpg screen shots that may be of interest using the RVIA monthly market reports. The Dec 2021 report isn't posted yet and this attachment includes the annual #'s for 2016 through 2020 and the first 11 months of 2021.

The chart confirms what many of us have been seeing and hearing...Class B units shipped as % of All Motorhome units and All RV units has increased quite a bit in the past couple of years.

[Davydd]

It is an interesting chart. The other motorhomes stayed pretty much static over the years and Class B's have skyrocketed the past two years comparatively from past years. Any speculation as to why? Cost have gone up astronomically as well. These numbers don't reflect the DIY efforts than have garnered an interest that other motorhomes haven't.

[mumkin]

Originally Posted by Davydd

...Class B's have skyrocketed the past two years comparatively from past years. Any speculation as to why?

One word... Covid

[Davydd]

Why just Class Bs with COVID?

[mumkin]

It seems to be a younger crowd... who want to be able to get away from the crowds (many with the kids - a surprising number with small kids)... and they want to get off the beaten track into the desert or the forests or the beaches where the bigger rigs can't go.

They have no interest in the type of rig that their parents and grandparents own...

This is what I am seeing on the Facebook Class B rig pages.

[Davydd]

We have driven 550 miles today from Victoria, MN and am parked in the RV/MH Hall of Fame parking lot overnight in 26 deg. Weather. I’ve yet to see a Class B or other RV on the road. All alone. I guess everyone else is hunkered down or gone south.

[Raycbee]

We visited the museum for the first time this fall and we were really impressed. Enjoy your trip!

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Davydd

Why just Class Bs with COVID?

I also think Class-B's are popular because they can be used as a second vehicle. More so than larger RVs that create instant storage issues when not in use.

[Rocinante]

Yes, however in many places where HOA's are the rule, Class B campers are just as restricted as any other RV. We had hoped to use ours as a second vehicle since it's just a big van, but the HOA told us that since it's an RV, it must either fit inside the garage or be stored offsite. Our camper isn't exactly a stealth van, it's an Airstream Interstate. It's obviously still a Sprinter van, but also quite obviously a camper. So, into storage it went, no second vehicle for us. (sigh)

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Yes, however in many places where HOA's are the rule, Class B campers are just as restricted as any other RV. . .

HOAs are definitely a problem. Fortunately mine has provision allowing passenger vans. My 8-seat Interstate Lounge is a passenger van / touring coach. There are at lest four vans in our neighborhood that some would call RVs. My Interstate, plus a Winnebago ERA, Revel and Solis. The owner of the ERA parks it on the street right in front of the Community Center. Some home owners complained but were informed that the streets are owned and controlled by the county in our area. County allows these vehicles to park on streets so HOA has no jurisdiction on what is parked on streets. There was even a Winnebago Wini Class-C parked on the street for about a year, but it has left the development. I have a long driveway in alley behind my townhome so van stays mostly out of sight. My next door neighbors are ok with van in driveway.

[rockymtnb]

Another record breaking year with 2021 Class B annual shipments of 13,827 units! Last year's total of 7,222 units was itself a record but the 91% increase this year dwarfs all prior results.

Class B unit shipments by year:
2016 - 4087 units
2017 - 5249 units
2018 - 5881 units
2019 - 4248 units
2020 - 7222 units
2021 - 13827 units

Class B's are also growing as a share of the overall motorized RV market:

Class A - 27.3%
Class B - 24.6%
Class C - 48.1%

Given the large number of van upfitters not represented in these RVIA figures it's likely that new Class B vans already outnumber the larger Class A units. And at current growth rates that may be reflected in official RVIA totals in the next year or two.

[Davydd]

Van upfitters are probably listed in the figures. Advanced RV is a relatively small company and is a member of RVIA and adheres to their standards. Most small upfitters are small by definition and probably don’t affect the numbers. DIYers may but it is unknown how many. I was parked by a young couple with a converted ambulance with all the red and yellow lights still installed this week.

South Padre Island has over 700 camp sites and in this winter here Class A diesel pushers and 5th wheel trailers dominate. They are not campsites where you can sit and store or stay long term. It is a county campground of 500 and a KOA of just over 200.

[Raycbee]

For those who like pictures of data, this attached chart includes the # of B units shipped and the B units as % of All Motorhome Units and All RV Units also using the RVIA data. I've updated a previously posted version to now include 2012 up through 2021.

@rockymtnb, thanks for your data posts over the years in this thread since they permitted charting of data for a number of years that are no longer visible at https://www.rvia.org/news-insights.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Raycbee

For those who like pictures of data, this attached chart includes the # of B units shipped and the B units as % of All Motorhome Units and All RV Units also using the RVIA data. I've updated a previously posted version to now include 2012 up through 2021.

@rockymtnb, thanks for your data posts over the years in this thread since they permitted charting of data for a number of years that are no longer visible at https://www.rvia.org/news-insights.

The chart visually shows that rise in class b's is dramatic, yet because of the rise in rv sales generally, still represent a relatively small percent of overall sales. This maintains the exclusivity of b's, which is fine with me.