Where have all the Class “A’s” Gone?

You may recall a few years ago when we were full time RV’ers that this was our home. Well, I’m wondering where all the Class A RV’ers have gone?

Part of being retired is having a lot of time on our hands and from time to time we break up the stints at home with a leisurely drive to the country — sometimes to local state parks where we formerly camped — or RV’d. The past three years — since COVID arrived on the scene — we have noticed a steady decline in the number of Class A campers out there. And, when we have been on the interstate system — there too — we have seen (or not seen) a decline in the number of RV’s on the move.

I appreciate that fuel has had a significant impact on the RV lifestyle. Here are two charts to graphically make the point.

The first chart is of GASOLINE prices over 9 years.

The second chart is of DIESEL prices over 10 years.

When we got off the road in 2017, Diesel prices were still about $2.25 per gallon. This morning at the nearest Truck Stop I see that the Diesel price is $4.03 — in S.E. Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is sort of in the middle of the price range for gas and diesel in the U.S. The closer you get to yellow (maybe the color of gold?) the higher the price. The closer to blue the lower the price.

I wrote — just after getting off the road — about the fact that making reservations at parks was increasingly more difficult. That continues to be the case today. In Wisconsin camping reservations are opened at 6 month and 12 month intervals — if you don’t get the spot you want on the day — sometimes at the moment the reservations become available — you’re tough out of luck. Some areas are holding some reservations to 2 or 4 week lead time so it’s not always impossible to get a place but it’s hugely different than it was when we first went traveling in 2011.

I know that RV’s are still for sale. And Winnebago and other manufacturers seem to be doing good business but prices have escalated, and in fact availability of affordable options has plummeted. We sold our RV through PPL in Houston and at that time there were 20-30 units by the same manufacturer as ours for sale. Today there is one. And the price is nearly double what we paid for a shorter RV.

I have no answers but I was really struck by our most recent drive through of the closest state park. Normally we would expect to see — midweek — four to six class A motorhomes (larger units — usually 36-45 feet long). This time there were ZERO. And that is shortly before the July 4 holiday when the park is to be fully booked.

I wonder where all the RV’s have gone?