Greg Gerber posted on July 03, 2008 03:39
ALABASTER, Ala. -- Cahaba RV, located in Alabaster, specializes in lite travel trailers and fifth wheelers. Its owner tells NBC13 that sales are down 11 percent.
“People are staying close to home,” owner Ian McCullough said. “They’re not buying an RV to go the Grand Canyon anymore. And with expensive gas, it’s now called a staycation instead of a vacation. So it’s your trailers, 5th wheelers and smaller motorized homes that are hitting the road these days, but it’s these large RV’s that are seeing slow sales.”
Burton Campers Sales Manager Mickey Price said, “The motorized sales, the larger ones, has dropped some. Our primary business are Class B and Class C motorhomes.”
Price said repeat customers have helped their bottom line. Sales of smaller motorhomes are up 27 percent over last year.
For many campers, this is a way of life. High gas prices won’t keep them from parks. They’re choosing staycations instead of vacations.
Smaller motorhomes get 15 to 16 miles per gallon, while the larger ones get 8 to 10 miles per gallon. Because of that, diehard campers are deciding to downsize their motorhomes.
SOURCE: NBC13