Category: New RVs

RV Shortage Information: Where Are All the RVs?

By: RV Wholesale Superstore
Last Updated: March 24, 2023

The lots of most RV dealers, once filled with rows and rows of RVs for sale, are sparsely dotted with RVs – if they have any at all. So, what’s behind the nationwide disappearing act and when will this RV shortage end?

What’s Causing the RV Shortage

It doesn’t take too much digging into the empty-lot phenomenon to find that the RV industry is up against many of the same challenges others industries are facing. Shortages of parts and labor, coupled with increased sales, is the age-old economic equation of supply and demand. In today’s market, three main factors are at the core of why it’s not even close to a balanced equation.

Supply Chain

When issues arise in getting materials ordered, getting them made, and getting those items shipped, the resulting supply chain disruptions have an enormous impact on manufacturing. In September, RV News reported that more than 40% of the country’s polyvinyl chloride (PVC) capacity was offline after Hurricane Ida swept through Louisiana. PVC is found not only in pipes, but items such as window frames, doors, and flooring to name a few. It isn’t always obvious how the weather can impact, and result in, an RV shortage.

Considering that even one missing piece for an RV can keep it held back from being lot-ready means supply chain issues in any number of industries can create quite a backlog in the RV world. No one wants to buy a new RV with incomplete parts like missing toilets! Even missing minor electronics parts means that your RV is not complete. And it shouldn’t come as a surprise that anything that uses microchips is being affected in the same way as the automotive industry.

Often, one missing part isn’t the last thing needed to complete the RV and get it out the door. You may think, ‘So, there are a few missing drawer handles, it doesn’t matter.’ But when common missing parts include RV seats, doors, and appliances, it’s easier to understand the manufacturing backlog. If you have no seats, doors, appliances, or toilets, you may as well be camping in a tent!

Labor Issues

It is hardly breaking news that there is a labor shortage. The Great Resignation over the past several months has been affecting businesses nationwide. In all aspects of the RV industry, from manufacturing to shipping to repairs and beyond, the labor disruption is having a negative impact. With fewer hands on deck, the RV supply which is already waning, is slowed even further.

High Demand

Both a blessing and a curse, the booming demand for RVs is the last major impact on the RV shortage. Going back to basic economics, when the supply can’t keep up with the demand, shortage results. What’s  absolutely incredible is that even with the parts and labor shortages, the RV Industry Association reported that manufacturers have shipped more RVs through the first 10 months of 2021 than in any previous year! If the demand for RVs were the same as in previous years, the first two factors – parts and labor shortages – wouldn’t be affecting the supply because production is soaring.

However, from the beginning of the pandemic, anyone looking for a safe way to get out of the house, find a change of scenery, or take a vacation found RVs to be a popular option. Others took advantage of a remote work environment and ventured into the full-time RV life. Additionally, RVs provided a safe place to stay for those doctors, nurses, first responders and other health care workers, who wanted to be near their families without risking exposing them to possible Covid-19 infection.

An industry-record 430,000 RVs were sold in 2020, and over 510,000 units have already been shipped from manufacturers in 2021, with two months yet to go in the year. This major spike in sales, combined with all the disruptions on the labor and supply side have created a massive scarcity of RVs.

The boon to the RV industry means RV parks, campgrounds, as well as state and national parks are seeing a marked increase in visitors and reservations. If you are in the market for an RV, don’t be discouraged. While it’s unlikely dealers will be teeming with RVs ready to be driven off the lot anytime soon, some advanced planning, flexibility, and a lot of patience will likely result in positive experiences for both your RV purchasing as well as your trip planning.

Contact RV Wholesale Superstore 

The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126

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RVing for Beginners: How to Choose Your Best First RV

By: RV Wholesale Superstore
Last Updated: March 24, 2023

There are endless reasons for buying an RV. Maybe you’ve been tent camping for years and have decided to upgrade to something with a roof that’s up off the ground. Maybe you have passed one too many RVs on the road and have decided you want to experience the great outdoors for yourself. Whatever the reason, you’ve decided you’re ready for an RV. Now you wonder, with so many choices, how do you know which RV is right? There are a few things you can do to narrow your search and get the best first RV for you.

Learn About RVs

Whether you’ve been around a lot of RVs or not, it’s impossible to know what you like about RVs without understanding them. So do some research, and one of the best ways is to read about RVs and the features each type offers. This will help you get acquainted with what’s available.

RV shows are an opportunity to see a wide range of RVs and learn more about them. You can tour several different models and see first-hand what each style has to offer. Looking at a lot of floor plans online can help you narrow down what you think you want, but walking around inside, opening cupboards and doors, and sitting down can really give you a feel and help you choose your best first RV.

Read RV Blogs

Blogs are another great resource for information. There are lots of RV blogs out there (in addition to ours) that discuss RV lifestyles. Find your best first RV with the help of RV bloggers who use their RV in the same manner you plan to use yours. From glamping to boondocking it can be an enormous help to hear first-hand from others and give you a much better sense of which RV will fit your needs.

Look up your tow vehicle’s ratings

You won’t be camping any further than your driveway if you don’t take the time to understand tow vehicles. If you already have a vehicle you plan to use, researching its towing capacity and understanding its limits is important. Once you know the weight range you can begin looking for RVs that are suitable. If your vehicle isn’t suitable for towing and you need to shop for a new tow vehicle, you may want to choose your best first RV then purchase the tow vehicle that fits the RV.

Consider Renting an RV for a Weekend

One great way to find out your likes and dislikes when it comes to what an RV has to offer is to rent one! RVs look great when you pass them on the road. They are cozy when you walk through them at an RV show. But there’s nothing that compares to the crash course in RV life like living in one for the weekend. Choose a campsite that isn’t too far away, yet gives you some decent road time to get comfortable driving it. A weekend is long enough to get the full RV experience but not so long that if you end up in a model that doesn’t suit you well, you’re stuck in it for an entire week or more. Renting an RV is like a practice run and really helps you determine the best first RV choice for the kind of camping you’ll be doing.

Make a List of Features

Once you have done your research and gotten some first-hand RV time under your belt, it’s time to ask yourself some questions. It’s important to be honest and realistic about your needs and expectations. Then you can start making a list of features that are important to you. You can even prioritize things that would be nice and those that are must-haves. Are there features you’d miss if your RV didn’t have it? Is there anything that you definitely do not need? Don’t forget to factor in the number of people who will be RVing with you on a typical trip. Try to consider every possibility to ensure you get the best first RV!

Have Questions Ready

Be prepared when you head to the dealer and have questions ready for them. They know RVs and your questions will help them determine the type of RV that would work well. They will make sure you are knowledgeable about your new RV investment to ensure it’s the best first RV for you.

Contact RV Wholesale Superstore 

The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126

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What’s Causing the Recent RV Shortages in 2020 and 2021?

By: RV Wholesale Superstore
Last Updated: March 25, 2023

What happens when you have ten hungry teenagers and only eight slices of pizza? A demand for more pizza, of course! The law of supply and demand can be found in any basic Economics lesson. The recent RV shortage is similar to the pizza scenario but, as with most economic situations, there are many more factors that come into play than hungry teenagers and pizza.

Supply Chain Disruptions

Although roughly 80 percent of RVs are manufactured in Elkhart County, Indiana, not all of the parts that make up an RV are made there. RVs, like automobiles, boats, and a myriad of other finished products, are made up of a lot of different parts which are supplied from separate manufacturers. A delay in just one part can mean production for an entire RV line comes to a halt. (Think about the delay in pizza production if there’s no cheese!)

Many parts are being manufactured in lower quantities – or not at all – due to COVID or other issues. When a part is delayed it means an RV is kept from being completed and being approved for sale. Each component for production of an RV is important for the quality of the finished product. When even one of the components is unavailable, the RV remains incomplete. From air conditioners to toilets, the lack of parts available results in RV shortages.

Reduction in Transportation Availability

Even though the majority of RVs are made here in the United States, there are parts manufactured in other countries. The COVID situation has resulted in fewer transportation vessels. International shippers are highly cautious. So even when parts are completed there could be shipping delays.

With lower manufacturing rates and delayed shipping, the supply of parts and components to build RVs results in RV shortages.

High Demand

The other half of the equation is, of course, demand. Demand has increased and RVs are generally gaining popularity, partly due to COVID. Not only have high-risk workers in the healthcare and other professions used RVs as a satellite home to avoid exposing their families to the virus; but according to a recent report on WXYZ-TV 7, “Now infectious disease specialists do say RV traveling is one of the safest ways to go.”

RV travel is an activity where families can go places together with their own things (bed, bathroom, kitchen, etc.) and not have to wonder about who else may have slept there, sat there, or touched the TV remote. It’s a great way to get a change of view with a little peace of mind.

Increased RV travel demands, coupled with limited supply, means RV shortages. It’s a simple formula. So what’s a person to do?

Shopping for an RV? Here Are Some Tips

Know What You Want

The reality is RV shortages and a limited RV supply, but that doesn’t mean shopping for an RV is impossible. Being prepared amid RV shortages means it’s important to be ready to buy. Know what you want! Do you want a bunkhouse, toy hauler, fifth wheel, and how many does it need to sleep? Do you already have a tow vehicle and what is your towing capacity? When you know what you are looking for and you find an RV that fits your criteria, don’t hesitate.  

Used RVs Are Harder to Find

Since the supply of new RVs is lower, you may think it’s a good time to turn to a used model. If you don’t need the most recent features available in the current year’s model, they are just as good as new models, especially when you purchase from a reputable dealer.

Unfortunately, the used market is just as challenging to find RVs in right now! So don’t be surprised if you’re left searching high and low when shopping used too!

Stay Vigilant

The RV Wholesale Superstore website is updated with new stock when it’s available, so keep an eye on our site! You can also reach out to us for updates and find out if the model you’re looking for is available or may be available soon!

Contact RV Wholesale Superstore 

The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126

Connect with us on Social Media! 

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest