Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Industry Profile

The US recreational vehicle (RV) manufacturing industry consists of about 900 companies with combined annual revenue of about $9 billion. Major companies include Fleetwood RV, Monaco RV, Thor Industries, Forest River, and Winnebago. The motor home, and travel trailer industries are both highly concentrated: the 50 largest motor home manufacturers account for almost all of industry revenue; the top 50 travel trailer manufacturers generate more than 75 percent of industry revenue.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by consumer income and demographics, as RV buyers are mainly older. The profitability of individual companies depends on the ability to design desirable products. Large companies have economies of scale in production and distribution. Small companies can compete successfully by concentrating on a product line or by specializing in components.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products are motor homes, travel trailers, and folding (or "camping") trailers. Motor homes and travel trailers each account for about a third of industry revenue; folding trailers account for about 10 percent. Some manufacturers also make "park" models, which are essentially small manufactured homes that require hookups and are intended to be moved, but only occasionally.

Motor homes are complete, self-propelled units. Travel trailers are complete units that must be towed by a car or truck. "Fifth-wheel" trailers are towed from a mount in a pick-up truck and extend over the bed of the truck. Folding trailers have walls that unfold to form the camping unit. Within ...