markopolo said:
I read through some articles on RV Business
http://www.rvbusiness.com
The top three Class B manufacturers based on unit sales were:
#1 Roadtrek with a 47.3% market share
#2 Pleasure-Way with a 23.7% market share
#3 Thor Industries (Airstream) with a 17% market share
That leaves only 12% market share divided up among all the other Class B manufacturers.
Class B sales declined 15% in 2011 compared to 2010.
Could many class B manufacturers be slowly pricing themselves out of the market?
I wonder if larger RV sales were up through the same period?
$100,000+ (brand new, of course) for what amounts to a converted cargo van, may seem
like too much money, to many folks these days. Even used class B vans are getting pricey,
unless you're prepared to buy much older, or wait and hope for a really great deal to come along.
At what point does the long term class B fuel economy get eaten up by the original cost of the unit?
If I can get a roomier B+ or a small C for less than half the price for a comparably equipped and aged class B, which might only get a few mpg less, or I simply don't plan to "tour" as much in whatever I buy anyway, that price difference will buy a lot of gas/diesel to lug the bigger machine around for a while.
At some point, some folks probably will consider the practical math, and weigh the $$$ paid for what you're really getting in return (for some of us on here?). :think:
If I were considering full timing in a class B, and selling everything else, I would probably be willing to spend a little more for some extra creature comforts, and just more room inside, and might even
stick with a B, but I'm the guy considering doing more "destination" camping lugging a trailer around.
Less up front expense for a brand new trailer, and class B-like mobility in the TV, once I get where I'm going. You can re-sell trailers, but I'm thinking I'll keep it until it's no longer roadworthy, as I'm sure their used value is much lower than a B. Like many folks these days, we're comfortably retired, but I'd never buy a brand new class B, even if I could afford one. I prefer to let someone else deal with the "evil depreciation".
