If a tree falls in a campground and you’re not outside to see it, is it really camping?
That is up for debate and fueling part of the controversy are some of the high-end recreational vehicles with all the amenities of home. The truth is, it’s all about perspective.
“It doesn’t matter what level we’re camping at, the next level up — ‘they’re just not camping.’ We decide what level of comfort is acceptable camping and everybody else has gotta go,” said Tom Berns, sales associate at the newly-branded Camping World in Cedar Falls.
“I hear this story every summer — we were in the campground last weekend and this big blank came in. And you know those darn people never came out all weekend. I heard that story for years, and I never understood the attitude that went with it — they were half mad about it.”
Different people just desire different levels of comfort and the RV market tries to accommodate that. Convenience and automation are currently the biggest thing on the minds of consumers willing to spend upward of $400,000.
“Several trends we’re seeing, and they’re all about convenience. The first is power awnings, power jacks. It used to be — in every family that I sold to — the husband’s job was to put that awning out,” Berns said. “Now, the ladies are loving it because if the wind were to kick up, you push a button and it comes down.”
Outdoor kitchens complete with refrigerators and cabinets are also big because, despite how nice it might be inside, much of the point of having an RV is being outside. So anything that limits trips into the camper is being looked at as a positive. To that end, well-designed floor plans have always been a quality that people are looking for and the fewer steps being taken going to and from, the better.
However, top-of-the-line RVs aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be, according to Greg Heath, owner at A1 Vacationland. Heath’s shop has resorted to selling exclusively pre-owned models for a multitude of reasons.
“What you’re seeing overall, boating, RV, anything to do with fun, those industries are way off this year. The economy is floundering a little bit,” he said. “A lot of people want to get into camping, but they’re looking for used. They’re looking for good used. You can tell they’re watching their penny. They’re looking for something that’s solid, gives them good service and will be inexpensive.”
Being able to weather the wear and tear of the road may also be a concern for Heath, who has been around RVs for 40 years and says they just don’t make them like they used to.
“When you work on them your whole life, you get to see all the ins and outs. I see that a lot of manufacturers are cutting corners,” said Heath. “Not just in RVs, I’m sure in everything.”
But the reality is, people buy RVs for many different interests. Some are meant for camping and having a home away from home, while others are sometimes used as permanent domiciles based on one’s situation.
“We’re seeing across the board changes in the way people use them,” Berns said. “Some people use it as a cabin. Some people will take it up to the river. They never leave the Mississippi River, use it as a cabin to go to every weekend. When you’re not dragging it up and down the road, then you can buy a bigger one and have bigger refrigerators, places to build a deck on, sliding glass doors, those kinds of things.”
“You sit around the campfire with your family, friends and so on,” Heath added. “We have customers and clients that travel extensively. We have some who travel for business and use it extensively because they don’t want to waste all that money on a hotel room every night when they’re on the road working.”
All of this suggests that the high-end rigs, while readily available, aren’t for everyone. Whether it’s for camping, cruising or making a life on the road, there will be a dollar amount that fits.
“There’s always a market at every price point. A lot of people get into one to see how they like it. For fear of making a mistake, they’ll start with a pre-owned unit. Something that is really going to be a part of their lifestyle and then trade up as they go,” said Berns.
“Everybody’s idea of camping is different. One is barely getting a tent or a fold down, another is looking for something quite luxurious. We kind of have one for every different seat.”