RVIA August 2025 Industry Update – The latest shipment numbers are in, and the RV market remains sluggish. Travel trailer shipments dropped -9.1% while fifth wheels, pop-ups, and motorhomes saw modest gains. Year-to-date totals show little improvement compared to 2024, highlighting ongoing challenges like RV quality concerns and consumer debt. Let’s take a look at how August ranked against 2024 numbers.

As always let me start by saying that the RVIA is comparing their “growth rate”, only to 2024. 2024 wasn’t a great year for the RV industry.  I think the following numbers will confirm that the industry is still struggling. If you asked me to name just a few of the reasons I would say #1 is quality, (probably more realistically a fear of inferior quality), which results in a lack of consumer confidence when it comes to purchasing an RV. #2 could well be that people are still struggling to pay off their debt.  However, that’s just my opinion, but I agree with myself 95.7% of the time.

Right now, in the towable shipments for the year, they are at 216,757 Units Shipped. If you remember last month, they had shipped 191.727 for the year.  So, that’s a modest gain ytd of 25,030 units a bounce over last month of only about 5704 units. That brings them back to where they had been tracking in previous months this year – not great.

On with the Augusts numbers:

In August Travel Trailer Shipments were down -9.1%  over August of 2024. If you remember last month, they were down double digits in travel trailers.  For the year they are up only 1% over the bad 2024 year. That might tell you all you need to know.

August Fifth Wheels were up 14.8% over August of 2024, a little bit better than last month but total shipments were only 5,316 units. YTD compared to 2024 they’ve gone from 20.5, to 19.8 which is continuing a slow slide downward. 

Pop-up Campers were up 3.6% but remember YTD compared to 2024 still down at 2.5%. 

Truck Campers were up 12.4% over August of 2024. YTD compared to 2024 they are up 19.8% but their number of shipments is so small it hardly takes any increase to make it look like a major accomplishment. For instance, the shipments on Truck campers last month was only 36 units.

I won’t spend a lot of time talking about Motorhomes, but A’s B’s and C’s were all up when compared to August of 2024. Type A’s up 16.6%, B’s up 14.5%, and type C’s up 8.2%.  However, for the year, A’s are at 0%, and B’s are in negative territory at -1.5% and C’s are barely positive at 1.9%

Again, the motorhome situation is a bit like truck campers and popups. There are not a lot shipped so a modest swing results in a big percentage shift.

This month RV Industry Association President & CEO Craig Kirby said:

“The innovation of our industry is on full display as manufacturers and suppliers continue to build new products and features that appeal to a wide variety of lifestyles and budgets that make up today–and tomorrow’s RVers,” said RV Industry Association President & CEO. “RVing has always been about freedom and adventure, and it continues to be one of the best ways for families and friends to get out there and make memories that will last a lifetime.”

Remember your memories will definitely last a lifetime – now if the industry can get their act together and make an RV last that long – that would be great.