There are now about 8.2 million RV owners across the nation, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. Unlike the stereotype of older couples hitting the road after retirement, the average RV owner is middle-aged and married, traveling a total of 4,500 miles and 26 days annually.
The industry is betting on an expected increase in new buyers entering the market, as the baby boomer generation enters retirement.
“Baby boomers have had a really large impact on the industry already. They represent the largest group of owners in the industry,” Mark Polk, owner of RV Education 101, an education program that publishes how-to books and videos for newcomers to the RV lifestyle, told CNBC.
RV companies have been anticipating the influx in potential customers for awhile.
“All along, for the last four or five years, we’ve known the baby boomer population is coming. Every month there will be 350,000 potential customers in the baby boomers through 2030,” said Winnebago CEO Bob Olson. “There is a potential opportunity for our customer base to grow. A portion of them will want to join the RV lifestyle. This bodes well for us in the future.”
posted by Laura Rossman
April 14, 2009 at 12:11 am
RVing gives Boomers (and all ages) the chance to live economically yet still travel and make dreams come true. There is true freedom on the road. Plus, RVers can work or volunteer while they travel, thus seeing an area in depth and often receiving perks as well as income from doing so.
Jaimie Hall Bruzenak
author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road
June 8, 2009 at 11:46 pm
I love your site,Beautiful website!
Wisconsin is a Four Season Wonderland that borders two of the five Great Lakes, Our State is rich in arts, historic & cultural, where you can find great adventures for the whole family.