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Reading Time: 15 minutesLast Updated on October 27, 2026 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
Current RV Industry News and Trends
Fall 2026
RV Industry Outlook: Fall 2026
A Tough Year on the Factory Floor, a Busy Year at the Campground
The RV industry heads into the final stretch of 2026 with two very different stories running side by side. On the manufacturing side, it has been the hardest year since the post-pandemic hangover of 2023. Wholesale shipments are down double digits, the big builders have cut their outlooks, and dealers are ordering cautiously.
Out on the road, though, Americans haven’t stopped camping. More than 52 million North American households camped in 2025, rental bookings rose this summer, and the typical RV owner keeps getting younger. The disconnect comes down to one word: affordability. People still want the lifestyle; they’re just finding cheaper ways in, from used rigs to rentals.
Here’s what’s driving the market right now, and where it’s likely headed through 2027 and into 2028.
Key Takeaways for Fall 2026
- 2026 shipments are now forecast to fall about 15%. RVIA’s fall RV RoadSigns forecast (Oct. 16, 2026) projects roughly 290,000 wholesale shipments, down from 342,220 in 2025, with shipments flat at 285,000 in 2027.
Source: RV PRO - Used is outselling new. Camping World’s same-store used unit sales rose 5.2% in Q2 2026 while new unit sales fell 16.3%.
Source: Camping World Q2 2026 results - Fuel, rates and tariffs are the big three headwinds. Higher fuel prices, elevated interest rates and expanded metals tariffs have squeezed buyers and builders alike.
Sources: RV PRO, Camper Report - Power and connectivity are the new standard features. 2027 models are rolling out with bigger lithium banks, larger inverters, solar packages and Starlink-ready connections.
- Recalls and lawsuits remain front of mind. Check any new or used RV against the NHTSA recall database before you buy.
Market Overview & Sales Trends
Wholesale shipments: from “modest growth” to a 15% drop
At the start of the year, the industry expected 2026 to be a third straight year of gains. RVIA’s spring forecast still called for a median of about 349,000 units. That outlook didn’t survive the summer.
By midyear, RVIA had trimmed its estimate to roughly 314,000. Then, on Oct. 16, the fall edition of RV RoadSigns (prepared by ITR Economics) cut it again, to about 290,000 units for 2026, a range of 284,600 to 295,400. That would be a 15.3% decline from 2025. For 2027, ITR expects shipments to stabilize near 285,000, with declines easing in the first half and year-over-year growth returning in the second half.
Source: RV PRO, Oct. 16, 2026
Source: RV Travel
The monthly numbers tell the same story. RVIA’s August survey showed 23,599 units shipped, down 16.4% from August 2025. Through eight months, the industry shipped 207,191 RVs, down 14.2%. Towables fell 16.9% for the month, motorhomes fell 11.7%, and only 441 Class A motorhomes shipped in all of August. One bright spot: park model RVs rose 5.8%.
Source: RV Travel / RVIA
| Year | Wholesale RV shipments |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 313,174 |
| 2024 | 333,733 |
| 2025 | 342,220 |
| 2026 (forecast) | ~290,000 |
| 2027 (forecast) | ~285,000 |
Sources: RV News, RV PRO
For perspective, the pandemic years of 2020–2022 averaged about 508,000 shipments a year. The industry is now operating at a little more than half that pace.
New vs. used: value-first buyers take over
The clearest signal from the retail floor is the swing toward pre-owned. At Camping World, the nation’s largest RV dealer, Q2 2026 new-unit sales fell 16.4% to 22,312, while used-unit sales rose 5.2% to 19,882. The average new-unit selling price jumped 13.6%; the average used price dipped 3.6%.
Source: Camping World Q2 2026 results
Used prices themselves are holding up well because there are fewer new units to go around:
- National Powersport Auctions (NPA) reported average wholesale used RV prices up 10.6% year over year in June, with September prices still about 17% above a year earlier, even as the usual fall softening began.
Sources: NPA June 2026 report, OpenVan / RV PRO - J.D. Power found used travel trailers averaging $27,164 in Q2 2026, essentially flat from a year earlier. Used camping trailers rose 6%, while Class A values fell about 4% and Class C values fell 10%.
Source: RV News / J.D. Power - Black Book noted that wholesale motorhome values settled near the low $60,000s in early 2026, with sharper declines on older, entry-level towables.
Source: OpenVan / RV PRO
Seasonal demand patterns
The traditional calendar still holds: spring brings peak shopping, summer brings peak travel and rentals, and fall is clear-out season. This year, the fall discount window looks especially wide. Dealers are moving out leftover 2026 units as 2027 models arrive, and NPA expects used wholesale prices to keep sliding into winter. For buyers with financing lined up, the next few months may be the best negotiating window of the year.
Consumer Behavior: Who’s Buying and What’s Holding Them Back
Younger, more diverse, and on the road more often
The RV owner of 2026 doesn’t fit the old “retiree in a motorhome” stereotype. Go RVing’s most recent RV Owner Demographic Profile, conducted by Ipsos, found:
- The median owner age fell to 49, down from 53 in 2021, with 46% of owners now between 35 and 54.
- 36% of owners are first-time buyers, and 43% have children under 18 at home.
- Owners use their RVs a median of 30 days a year, a 50% jump from 2021.
- 16.9 million households say they intend to buy an RV within five years, and 73% of those “intenders” are under 55.
Sources: RVDA, Modern Campground, RV PRO
In practice, that shows up as three core buyer groups:
- Young families and first-timers looking for bunkhouse travel trailers that a half-ton truck can tow.
- Remote workers and digital nomads who prioritize lithium power, solar, a real workspace and satellite internet.
- Retirees and downsizers, still a large and loyal group. Baby boomers remain the most likely to own the RV they camp in, according to KOA.
Source: RV News / KOA
Economic factors: fuel, rates and inflation
If younger buyers are the market’s long-term promise, affordability is its short-term problem. RVIA President and CEO Craig Kirby pointed to persistent inflation, elevated interest rates, higher fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainty as the forces weighing on consumer confidence, especially for big discretionary purchases.
Source: RV PRO
- Fuel: A spring briefing from NCM Associates reported diesel up 57% and gasoline up 40% year over year at one point, enough to delay purchases for fuel-sensitive shoppers. Bish’s RV analyst Josh Winters noted gas prices jumped about a dollar in roughly a month this spring, pushing toward a $4 national average.
Sources: NCM Associates, RV Travel - Interest rates: NCM noted that RV loan rates track the bond market more than the Fed, and base rates for well-qualified buyers moved from about 6.5% to 7% or more. The rate cuts many expected in 2026 largely haven’t materialized.
Sources: NCM Associates, Bish’s RV - Trading down: Buyers haven’t disappeared; they’re shopping lower price points, choosing used, or renting first. NCM’s briefing described buyers as still in the market but trading down on price.
One possible relief valve sits in Congress: the bipartisan No Tax on RV Loans Act would explicitly extend the federal vehicle loan interest deduction to all RV types. It had not become law as of this writing.
Source: Bish’s RV
Manufacturing & Supply Chain Updates
THOR Industries: “more challenging than we anticipated”
THOR, the world’s largest RV maker, reported fiscal 2026 results on Sept. 22 for the year ended July 31, 2026. Revenue came in at about $9.61 billion, and fourth-quarter net sales fell 8.4% to $2.31 billion. Annual diluted earnings per share dropped to $3.38 from $4.84.
The pain was concentrated in North American towables, where Q4 revenue fell 22.7%, and unit shipments fell 19.7%. Fifth wheel shipments plunged 34.7%. Gross margin slipped 280 basis points on lower volume, heavier discounting, and a higher material cost percentage. Europe was the bright spot, with Q4 revenue up 5% to $969.2 million.
THOR expects a relatively flat retail market in fiscal 2027 and is targeting more than $100 million in annual cost improvements. The company also said dealer inventory is at healthy levels heading into the new fiscal year.
Sources: THOR fiscal 2026 results (SEC), Pulse 2.0, RV PRO
Winnebago Industries: motorhomes up, towables down
Winnebago (parent of Winnebago, Grand Design, Newmar, Chris-Craft and Barletta) reported fiscal Q3 2026 (March–May 2026) revenue of $698.7 million, down 9.9%. Motorhome volume grew, but towable and marine units declined as dealers kept orders tight. The company held gross margin steady by pairing cost cuts with selective price increases.
Source: Winnebago Q3 FY2026 results (SEC)
Watch this week: Winnebago reports fourth-quarter and full fiscal 2026 results before the market opens on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.
Source: Winnebago announcement
Forest River
Berkshire Hathaway’s Forest River, which doesn’t release standalone quarterly figures, showed its model year 2027 lineup at its usual Elkhart locations during Open House week in late September. It also kept issuing routine fixes for 2026 units, including a placard GVWR correction on certain Wildwood and Salem travel trailers.
Sources: RV PRO Open House coverage, Family RVing
Tariffs and material costs
Trade policy is the biggest cost wildcard for builders:
- A presidential proclamation effective April 6, 2026 set a flat 50% tariff on products made entirely or almost entirely of steel, aluminum or copper, and a 25% tariff on derivative products made substantially of those metals. That reaches frames, chassis parts, appliances, wiring, plumbing and HVAC.
Source: Camper Report - A renewed U.S.–Canada trade dispute this summer spared finished RVs, but tariffs on inputs like plywood, plastics and wiring raise costs across the cross-border supply chain.
Source: Camper Report
Builders have three options: absorb the cost, rework supply chains, or pass it on. So far, it’s been a mix. Winnebago cited higher input costs offset by selective price increases, and THOR flagged a rising material cost percentage.
New 2027 models and features
The 2026 Elkhart Open House in September showed where builders are placing their bets: lighter, more towable floorplans for younger buyers and more off-grid capability as standard.
- Alliance RV introduced new lightweight travel trailers, fifth wheels and toy haulers, a high-end four-season fifth wheel, and a Solar Package Plus. The company said towability and value were priorities for younger buyers.
Source: RV PRO - The Mini Lite travel trailer line added a Starlink connector and a built-in voice assistant as 2027 standard features. Winnebago showed the new Elora compact Class C and new Access floorplans.
Source: Camping World blog - Terex’s RV segment (Fleetwood, Holiday Rambler, American Coach, Renegade) said its 2027 models offer expanded lithium batteries, larger inverters and upgraded solar.
Source: OpenVan / RV PRO
Technology & Innovation
Lithium, solar and inverters move into the mainstream
Factory power packages are the most meaningful upgrade in modern RVs, and in 2027 models they’re spreading well beyond the luxury tier. Expanded lithium banks, bigger inverters and roof solar now appear on midrange towables and gas motorhomes, cutting reliance on generators and making weekend boondocking far easier. The used market is following suit: NPA’s spring report said demand for RVs with energy-efficient appliances and solar integration is expected to grow.
Source: RV News / NPA
Smarter, more connected rigs
App-based control of lights, HVAC, tanks and leveling is now expected rather than optional. The industry’s open RV-C communications standard is helping components from different suppliers talk to one another, and 2027 features like built-in Starlink connectors and voice control show where things are going: RVs designed around connectivity from the factory.
Lighter builds for smaller tow vehicles
Towability is the design brief of the moment. Builders are leaning on composite panels, aluminum superstructures, better insulation-to-weight ratios and simpler floorplans so younger buyers can tow with half-ton trucks and SUVs. It’s partly innovation and partly cost control, but buyers benefit either way through better fuel economy and less towing stress.
Electric RVs: real, but still niche
The first all-electric travel trailers are on the road, and they work differently from conventional towables. Instead of relying solely on the tow vehicle, they carry their own batteries and electric drive to push themselves along.
- Lightship is delivering its 27-foot AE.1, built in Broomfield, Colorado. Its roof telescopes down for travel to cut drag, and the company claims it can double the range or fuel economy of the vehicle pulling it. Prices start around $157,500.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News / Washington Post, WSB-TV / Outwander - Pebble has shipped production versions of its all-electric Flow trailer, which automates hitching, leveling and energy monitoring.
Source: RV.com - Evotrex, which debuted at CES 2026, is targeting Q4 2026 production with pricing from $119,990 to $159,990.
Source: WSB-TV / Outwander
The obstacle remains range. Real-world tests of EV trucks towing conventional trailers show range losses of roughly 40% to 60%, depending on weight, speed, and terrain. Charging stations built for pull-through trailers are also scarce. For now, self-powered trailers are a premium solution, and traditional brands are mostly responding with lighter, more aerodynamic conventional trailers.
Regulations & Safety
Recalls: a steady weekly drumbeat
RV recalls arrive nearly every week, and 2026 has been no exception. Recent NHTSA campaigns show the range of issues:
- Highland Ridge is recalling certain 2022–2024 Range Lite Air travel trailers because the fresh water tank may detach (campaign 26V627; owner letters expected Oct. 30, 2026).
Source: NHTSA - Winnebago recalled certain 2022–2027 Ekko motorhomes because the touchscreen may register phantom inputs and start the generator without the operator knowing.
Source: RV PRO - Jayco recalled certain 2026 Seismic toy haulers and Heartland Cyclone trailers whose inverters may have been installed without a ground connection.
Source: Family RVing - Forest River recalled certain 2026 Prime Time Crusader trailers because the waste tank vent pipe may end inside the trailer, allowing sewer gas into the cabin.
Source: Family RVing - Several builders, including Grand Design and Rossmonster Vans, issued recalls tied to a MaxxAir N-Series rooftop fan whose circuit board may overheat.
Sources: Family RVing, RV PRO
The practical takeaway hasn’t changed: run any RV’s VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup before buying, and confirm the dealer completed open repairs.
Lawsuits and quality concerns
- Keystone RV lost a California class action, Guisinger v. Keystone RV Company, over Passport Western Edition trailers built with wood roof trusses despite representations otherwise. A June 23, 2026 judgment awarded $2,000 per eligible current owner, with a claim deadline of Aug. 28, 2026.
Sources: Open Class Actions, Top Class Actions - A Montana federal judge in April narrowed some class claims in a suit against a Berkshire Hathaway-owned RV maker, finding some claims time-barred.
Source: Law360 - A nationwide class action filed in 2025 against Winnebago and Grand Design over alleged frame failures on 2020–2023 Reflection, Influence, Solitude and Momentum models continues to shape the quality conversation online. The companies have not been found liable.
Source: Weitz & Luxenberg
Policy changes to watch
- Metals tariffs: The April 2026 Section 232 changes (50% on primary metal products, 25% on derivatives) are the most direct policy cost hitting RV manufacturing.
Source: Camper Report - Dealer law: Nebraska’s new RV franchise law took effect this month, adding to a patchwork of state rules governing manufacturer-dealer relationships.
Source: RV PRO - Tax relief: The proposed No Tax on RV Loans Act, mentioned above, remains pending.
Travel & Lifestyle Impact
Camping is bigger than ever, even if sales aren’t
KOA’s 2026 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report found more than 52 million North American households camped in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and generating about $66 billion in local spending, up more than $5 billion from 2024. RVs remain the preferred way to camp for 47% of campers, and 8 in 10 RV owners said they bought specifically for camping, up from 72% in 2024.
Sources: KOA, RV PRO, RV News
2026 destinations: Route 66, national parks and big events
This year’s calendar gave road trippers plenty of reasons to go: the Route 66 Centennial, the FIFA World Cup in U.S. host cities, and America’s 250th anniversary. National parks remain the top draw. RVshare’s 2026 Travel Trend Report found 87% of travelers would likely choose RV accommodations over other lodging when visiting a national park. Travelers are also favoring shorter, more manageable trips, which rose from 15% to 23% of plans.
Sources: Modern Campground / RVshare, Modern Campground
Campgrounds are evolving to match. Operators are adding glamping units, pet amenities and better Wi-Fi, and larger resort-style parks keep opening. One example: a former Florida RV campground on Orange Lake reopened as Camp Margaritaville Resort Orange Lake with hundreds of RV sites, cottages and a water park.
Rentals: the try-before-you-buy boom
Rentals are where the industry’s growth is showing up this year:
- Outdoorsy reported a 15% year-over-year increase in summer 2026 reservations, tied to the World Cup, the 250th and Route 66.
Source: Modern Campground - Nearly 60% of operators in an RV Rental Association survey reported higher April bookings than a year earlier. Three- to six-night trips dominate, and 78% of rental companies now rent towables.
Sources: Modern Campground, Camper Report - RVshare launched one-way rentals and national park packages. Its survey found 89% of millennials are more inclined to book if a one-way option is available.
Source: Modern Campground - KOA found 48% of campers say they’re very likely to rent an RV in 2026, led by younger generations. The biggest barrier? A third of likely renters said they don’t know how to drive or operate one.
Source: RV News / KOA
Satellite internet makes full-timing workable
For full-timers and remote workers, connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have. Starlink Roam has become the default for many, typically paired with the compact Starlink Mini dish (around $199) and a 5G hotspot as backup for tree-covered sites. Unlimited Roam plans run roughly $165 to $175 a month, while lighter data tiers suit weekenders.
How RV culture has evolved since the pandemic
The 2020–2022 surge brought millions of first-time campers outdoors, and KOA says many of them stayed. What’s changed is how they participate. Instead of buying the biggest rig they can finance, today’s RVers are more likely to rent first, buy used, travel midweek, book sites months ahead, and treat their RV as a tool for remote work, family time, or affordable lodging. Housing costs are also pushing some people toward RV living, a trend that has prompted local debates over long-term RV parking.
Expert & Consumer Voices
From the industry
- Craig Kirby, RVIA President and CEO, framed the fall forecast as a reflection of tough conditions for consumers but said it points toward “a more stable market in 2027.” He also noted that retail registrations have outpaced wholesale shipments for the past 12 months, meaning dealer lots aren’t overstuffed.
Source: RV PRO - THOR Industries called fiscal 2026 “more challenging than we anticipated at the outset of the year.” COO Todd Woelfer argued the company can still improve earnings even in a flat retail market, once demand steadies.
Source: THOR fiscal 2026 results (SEC) - Toby O’Rourke, KOA President and CEO, said the 2026 report shows outdoor hospitality is “central to how travelers prioritize wellness, connection and meaningful experiences.”
Source: Camper Report - Jon Gray, RVshare CEO, said many of the platform’s renters are taking their very first RV trip, which is why the company added a one-on-one rental advisor team.
Source: Modern Campground - Karen Redfern, Go RVing CMO, summed up the demographic data: “There is no stereotypical RV owner.”
Source: RVIA - Josh Winters of Bish’s RV, a frequently cited dealer-side analyst, warned this spring that affordability hadn’t improved the way many expected and told buyers to watch for fuel surcharges on new-unit deliveries.
Source: RV Travel
From RV owners and shoppers
The upside: Plenty of owners are still making the most of it. At the KOA in Perry, Utah, this summer, a Baton Rouge father and his two sons were photographed unloading gear and whittling walking sticks for a Yellowstone hike, the kind of multigenerational trip KOA says keeps campgrounds full.
Source: Deseret News
Savvy owners are also using the downturn to their advantage. One RV Travel reader described selling their second RV well ahead of buying a third, anticipating falling wholesale prices, and having the dealer apply the sale toward the new rig. Another longtime RVer pushed back on all the rate talk, arguing that single-digit loan rates aren’t high by historical standards.
Source: RV Travel reader comments
The downside: Quality and service remain the loudest complaints. Grand Design owners have aired frame and structural concerns on social media for years, contributing to the class action described above, and Keystone Passport owners in California only secured payment after taking their roof-truss dispute to court. Among would-be renters, one in three told KOA they’re intimidated by driving or operating an RV, a reminder that the learning curve is real.
Sources: Trader Online, RV News / KOA
The common thread in owner feedback: buyers want reliable rigs, honest weights and prices, and a dealer service department that answers the phone. That pressure is pushing builders toward better quality control and transferable warranties, and pushing dealers to compete on service as much as price.
Forward-Looking Insights: Where the RV Industry Is Headed (2027–2028)
The consensus from RVIA, THOR and the major dealers is that 2026 marks the bottom of this cycle, not the start of a longer slide. Here’s what to expect over the next 12 to 24 months.
1) A flat 2027, with recovery building late in the year
RVIA’s forecast calls for about 285,000 shipments in 2027, essentially level with 2026, with year-over-year growth returning in the second half. THOR is planning for a flat retail market in its fiscal 2027. Because dealers have kept inventory lean, even a modest uptick in retail demand should translate fairly quickly into factory orders. A genuine rebound toward 2025 volumes looks more like a 2028 story, and it depends heavily on interest rates and fuel prices easing.
2) Used and rental keep gaining ground
With new-unit prices up sharply, expect used RVs to remain the entry point for many first-time buyers, and expect rentals, especially one-way and delivered-to-site options, to keep growing as the industry’s on-ramp. Used prices should soften through winter, then firm up again in spring.
3) Smaller, lighter and more affordable models
The 2027 model year already tilts toward towable, value-focused floorplans. Expect more compact Class C motorhomes, lighter travel trailers and fewer heavy fifth wheels, the segment hit hardest this year. Builders will also standardize platforms to control costs.
4) Power and connectivity become the baseline
Lithium, solar, larger inverters and satellite-ready connections will keep moving from option packages into standard equipment, making off-grid camping and remote work easier on midrange rigs.
5) Electric RVs stay niche, but influence everything
Self-propelled electric trailers will stay a premium product through 2027, but their focus on aerodynamics and efficiency is already shaping conventional designs.
6) Policy remains the wildcard
Tariff decisions, a possible U.S.–Canada trade deal, the direction of interest rates, and whether Congress passes RV loan interest relief could each shift the outlook quickly in either direction.
Bottom line: The RV lifestyle isn’t shrinking. Record camping participation, younger owners and rising rental demand all point to durable interest. What the industry needs now is for affordability to catch up. For buyers who can secure reasonable financing, late 2026 and early 2027 may offer some of the best deals in years.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are RV sales up or down in 2026?
Down. RVIA now projects about 290,000 wholesale shipments for 2026, a 15.3% drop from 2025’s 342,220. Through August, shipments were down 14.2%.
2. Is now a good time to buy an RV?
For prepared buyers, it can be. Dealers are clearing 2026 inventory as 2027 models arrive, and used wholesale prices typically soften in fall and winter. Compare the total loan cost, not just the monthly payment, since rates remain elevated.
3. Why are new RVs so expensive?
Higher material costs, expanded steel, aluminum and copper tariffs, and more standard technology like lithium and solar systems have all pushed prices up. Camping World’s average new-unit selling price rose 13.6% in Q2 2026.
4. Will RV sales recover in 2027?
RVIA expects 2027 to be flat at about 285,000 units, with growth resuming in the second half of the year.
5. How do I check whether an RV has a recall?
Enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls, then confirm with the dealer or seller that repairs were completed.
