Own RV, Will Travel

American Demographics, July 1, 1998 by Nancy Ten Kate

One in ten U.S. households owned a recreational vehicle (RV) in 1997, according to a University of Michigan study for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Assocation. This is the highest level of RV ownership in the last 20 years. Nearly 9 million people own RVs, an 18 percent gain since 1984. Projections indicate that 10.4 million households will own an RV by 2010.

The typical RV owner is married, 48 years old, with an income of $47,000. Ownership rises with age, increasing about 3 percentage points for each 10-year age bracket until age 65. People aged 55 to 64 are the age group most likely to own an RV-16.4 percent owned one in 1997. Eighty-five percent of current owners are married, 5 percent divorced, and 4 percent widowed. On the other hand, 66 percent of past owners are married,18 percent divorced, and 13 percent widowed, which may explain the reason for selling the RV.

The median number of days an RV was used for an overnight trip was 13.9 days during the past 12 months. Van conversions were used the most, at 25.8 days, and folding camping trailers were used the least, at 7 days.

Motorhomes, travel trailers, and folding camping trailers gained in popularity, while the slide-in truck camper declined. Travel trailers replaced van conversions as the most commonly owned RV. Motorhome owners are the oldest and least likely to have children at home. Folding camping trailer owners are the youngest and the most likely to have young children.

The majority of owners purchased their RV used directly from a previous owner rather than a dealer. Just one in three RVs was purchased new by the current owner. Almost two-thirds of current owners plan to purchase another RV in the future, and nearly one-fourth of former RV owners intend to purchase another RV in the future. Only about one in seven households that had never before owned one planned a future purchase of an RV.

Recreational vehicles include motorhomes, travel trailers, folding camping trailers, van conversions, and slide-in truck campers. For more information about The RV Consumer, contact the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, 1896 Preston White Drive, P.O. Box 2999, Reston, VA 20195-0999; telephone (703) 620-6003; fax (703) 620-5071.