Childhood camping leads to RV ownership

Did you know the average age of an RV owner in Australia is 33, and that you’re more likely to purchase an RV if you camped as a child?

Or that RV buyers consider road handling almost as important as price?

That’s some of the findings to emerge from a consumer study of 2541 RV owners as well as non-owners, commissioned by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia.

The research provides a snapshot of the average RV owner in Australia, including average income (between $48,000 and $72,000) and average age of ownership (just over two years).

With more and more family caravans on the market, it's not surprising that close to half, or 42 per cent of current RV owners surveyed, had children under 15 living at home.

The research also indicated that there was a greater inclination to purchase an RV if the person camped as a child, with 67 per cent of current RV owners camping during their childhood.

Related reading: Many caravans rarely used

The results also showed that RV owners tend to be active as well as enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, with 87 per cent of current RV owners indicating a preference for activities such as hiking and fishing.

When it comes to buying an RV, 40 per cent of RV owners said that road handling was one the most important criteria of a purchase, with only one in seven willing to compromise on this feature for a lower purchase price.

However, 80 per cent ranked pricing as the most influential factor when purchasing an RV. Perhaps reflecting the rise in peer-to-peer RV sharing, 47 per cent of new market entrants indicated they would consider hiring an RV in Australia to ‘try before they buy’, with many of these aged under 40.

Many of the RV owners (80%) also indicated they were likely to travel to new places without planning in advance, resulting in more confidence in exploring regional destinations.