Pop Up Sales down down down

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

When we started Pop UP Times back in 1998 pop up sales were over 63000 units per year and have been shrinking ever since. September folding camping trailer shipments totaled 1,900 units, 17.4% behind last year, down 6.1% year-to-date with 26,200 units delivered. Ouch!

[brainpause]

ouchie

I'm not terribly surprised, however, when many of the high end PU's are comparable in price to some of the hybrids, especially used.

Didn't PU sales go up (temporarily) after 9/11, because of travel issues/people wanting to be with family more/etc.?

Larry

[Gone-Camping]

Well, perhaps the recent gasoline prices could help to spur their sales again! When I sold my Coleman and went to the Hybrid, I really didn't expect to take the kind of hit I did with the fuel mileage.

[AustinBoston]

Somehow, I think it has more to do with the price going up, up, and up.  We paid $9500 for a fully loaded Coleman/Fleetwood Bayside in 2000.  Any guess what they are today?

The 2003 Bayside was the same floorplan (except I think mirror imaged), so it might make a good comparison.  It's blue book value, when THREE YEARS OLD ranges as high as $9,800!  It has the same equipment and options.

Austin

[GeneF]

I quickly stopped by a dealer the other day.  Only glanced at two popups but both had price tags of over $11,000.  Ouch.  At that price, hybrids look like a better buy.

Another factor might be that camping isn't as cheap as it use to be.  On our trip, we paid from $17 a night to $30 a night.  State parks and National Parks are still a good deal but we checked one out in Florida and it was $27.50 a night no matter what tent or rig you had.

Might not seem like a lot but to a family on a tight budget, $50 just for the site for a weekend could be expensive.

Fifteen years ago I used a site that I paid about $14 a night for.  Same site today costs me $31.50 plus the ressie fee and this is at a state park.

Then add in the cost of gas and It might explain why some people are not going into popups.  And let's not mention the cost of the tv.

Even though popup sales are down, camping is still popular.  Some campgrounds are very difficult to get into, especially on the weekends.

[Old Goat]

I wonder what the sales stats for big motor homes, large TTs and 5ths are during the same period. They are surely down with the high fuel prices, perhaps alot more than popups. In recent travels I have had two people with large rigs at different rest stops ask about my gas milage and how I like popups.....

[Gone-Camping]

Actually sales are going up for just about everything else! MH's are down a little...
You can those figures posted at rvbusiness.com....
http://www.rvbusiness.com/shipments.cfm

[AustinBoston]

Actually sales are going up for just about everything else! MH's are down a little...
You can those figures posted at rvbusiness.com....
http://www.rvbusiness.com/shipments.cfm

In a way, this doesn't surprise me.  A manufacturer proably needs to sell 50 pop-ups to make the same profit they would on one "low-end" (if there is such a thing) motorhome.

Where would you concentrate your marketing money?

Austin

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

One of the delemas that the pop up mfrs are faced with is the dealer sales force.
The salesman's commission on a pop up is $300 to $600 depending on the unit while a hybid or small travel trailer with a similar price sticker can pay as much as 3 times that amount. So if you're the salesperson which model are you going to promote?

That goes for advertising too, the mfrs have more ad dollars for the bigger units than they do pop ups.

[jawilson]

Somehow, I think it has more to do with the price going up, up, and up.

In my opinion this is the real reason for the decline. For a unit with a 12' box and some options you're within a few grand of a hybrid, or small hard-sided unit. Seeing as how both of those require less work to setup/take down it's not all that hard to make the correlation. PU's used to be inexpensive "starter" campers, but now it seems as though they've lost that focus. It's a shame.

[brainpause]

In my opinion this is the real reason for the decline. For a unit with a 12' box and some options you're within a few grand of a hybrid, or small hard-sided unit. Seeing as how both of those require less work to setup/take down it's not all that hard to make the correlation. PU's used to be inexpensive "starter" campers, but now it seems as though they've lost that focus. It's a shame.

I agree. However, more people are wanting to "camp", but still have LOTS of amenities. I am not slamming, because I might be one of those people, despite having a 20 year old camper. Our next camper hopefully will be a fiver. Talk about amenities!

Larry

[GeneF]

I agree. However, more people are wanting to "camp", but still have LOTS of amenities. I am not slamming, because I might be one of those people, despite having a 20 year old camper. Our next camper hopefully will be a fiver. Talk about amenities!

Larry

Loved the word "amenities."  Just read an article where campers are demanding more and more amenities at cg's.  Thus, the big rise in wireless internet and cable tv available at sites.  

Geeeeez, can't we leave those things at home and enjoy camping as it use to be.  Chasing frogs, singing around the campfire, reading a book and just enjoying nature.

I do have to admit that we did bring a television along on both of our trips.  Main reason was to keep an eye on the weather.  Glad we did on our recent trip.  Avoided driving into hurricane and New England northeaster.  Other than that, no tv on trips.

[chasd60]

Loved the word "amenities." Just read an article where campers are demanding more and more amenities at cg's. Thus, the big rise in wireless internet and cable tv available at sites.
 
Geeeeez, can't we leave those things at home and enjoy camping as it use to be. Chasing frogs, singing around the campfire, reading a book and just enjoying nature.
 
I do have to admit that we did bring a television along on both of our trips. Main reason was to keep an eye on the weather. Glad we did on our recent trip. Avoided driving into hurricane and New England northeaster. Other than that, no tv on trips.

I agree Gene,
It is enough to have a microwave, water heater, shower, refrigerator/freezer, AM/FM/CD Stereo, furnace and an air conditioner. Why would you want to spoil the rustic nature of camping by bringing a TV?

I am not sure why popup sales are down but I do wonder how the entire RV industry is doing in each segment. Is it just popups or is it other types as well?

I don't like the increase in CG fees and fuel as compared to just a few years ago. It is getting to the point where it would be less expensive to fly somewhere for vacation and stay a week. Oh yea, we are going to Cozumel Mexico in Feb of 06.:p

[ForestCreature]

I am not sure why popup sales are down but I do wonder how the entire RV industry is doing in each segment. Is it just popups or is it other types as well?
 

Would we get a true picture this year with FEMA buying up TTs by the lots?

[GeneF]

I agree Gene,
It is enough to have a microwave, water heater, shower, refrigerator/freezer, AM/FM/CD Stereo, furnace and an air conditioner. Why would you want to spoil the rustic nature of camping by bringing a TV?

LOL Chas

You got me.  Seems like I never think about those things now that I have them in the hybrid but then they come with the trailer.  Computer and TV does not.