RV industry leaders weigh in on high gas prices at meeting

Weather:
Temperature:
Relative Humidity: %
Wind:
Barometric Pressure:
Dewpoint:
Heat Index:
Windchill:
Visibility: miles

Courtesy of NOAA

Back to Home
Posted: 6:36 PM May 4, 2011 RV industry leaders weigh in on high gas prices at meeting Elkhart, Ind. Leaders meet in Elkhart for Park Trailer Association. New marketing approach allows people to test out trailers. Reporter: Stephanie Stang Email Address: stephanie.stang@wndu.com

Font Size:

Will record high gas prices take a hit on the RV industry this summer? It's a question yet to be answered as summer vacation season approaches.

Elkhart County leaders are cautiously optimistic and hoping that gas prices will come down this summer.

“Obviously as discretionary spending gets tighter because of the gas prices, it does create a little bit of a tough situation for consumers looking to purchase a model whether it be a park model or travel trailer,” says John Soard from Fairmont RV.

In the meantime efforts are being made to allow people to "test out trailers."

Recently KOA campsites started renting out "park trailers.” They call them lodges.

Gas prices are easier on the tank too. Since you park the trailer permanently and only drive your own car around. It's a way of getting people interested in eventually buying an RV.

“As the economy has faltered a bit, what we've found is that people still want to camp,” says KOA’s Director of Lodging Mike Atkinson. “They still want that experience but don't want to afford that huge investment.”

Some RV leaders are saying sales are up compared to last year but nothing like they were in 2006.

The park trailers or lodges at the Granger KOA Campsite are usually booked for the entire summer -- and football season. They cost about 99 dollars a night.