Smoother roads ahead…
Australian RV manufacturers and road travellers can look forward to a more productive year in 2021COMMENT
It's been a bumpy ride for the Australian RV industry over the past 12 months but 2021 is already shaping up as a far better year than last, as state borders re-open, the vaccine roll-out begins and restrictions on international travel continue to make caravan holidays the go-to option for all walks of life.
There are some encouraging signs for the industry as a whole, with Jayco already predicting a 30 per cent rise in production to 13,800 units in 2021, and growing demand for workers across the industry.
After being hit hard by bushfires and pandemic lockdowns, caravan park operators are also banking on busier times, with Ingenia reporting that forward bookings are up 22 per cent in coming months at its Queensland, NSW and Victorian holiday parks.
Skyrocketing demand
Sunland boss boss Roy Wyss was right when he predicted last year that “demand will skyrocket” for new RVs, which has resulted in waiting lists at many caravan manufacturers blowing out to 12 months and more.
And it's not just the prices of new and used caravans and camper trailers that are increasing as a result; buyers are also being forced to pay top dollar for the vehicles that tow them.
Carsales data shows that new and used prices of popular tow vehicles including the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Toyota LandCruiser have risen sharply in recent times (by as much as 68 per cent in some cases), potentially adding tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a new tow vehicle.
As far as trends go, we’re likely to continue to see consumers turn to online information and virtual tools when researching their next purchase, and be better informed before dealing with salespeople at shows or yards. That's despite many major RV shows making a comeback this year after being cancelled or postponed in 2020.
Another 'hip-pocket' trend to watch is ‘surge pricing’ at caravan parks, as canny operators seek to take advantage of the increased demand for sites over peak holiday periods.
Then there's the rise and rise of imported (Chinese-built) caravans. More recently we've seen new models from EzyTrail and Regent, as well as Fantasy, and there's more to come including some new hybrid models from Sydney-based Black Series.
With more caravanners hitting the road for the first time in 2021, let’s hope they take the opportunity to self-educate and get some professional training to ensure the safety of all road users.
Related:
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
