National Park Week: April 17-25
With COVID-19 restricting openings and limiting travel, not everyone can travel to a national park at this time, so the National Park Service is looking to bring the parks to you — or at least to a computer near you. The agency and its charitable arm, the National Park Foundation, are hosting a variety of special programs, events, and digital experiences to celebrate National Park Week, which runs from April 17-25. Visit bit.ly/3bCmGBn for more information.
RV/MH Hall Of Fame Inducting New Members
The RV/MH Hall of Fame is welcoming 10 new members at its annual induction dinner in August — pandemic pending. The Class of 2021 was announced in January and includes the following five individuals from the RV industry:
*Eleonore Hamm, President, Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada: Strengthened and unified the RV industry in Canada as well as the United States, passionately promoting technical education, developing bonds with the campground segment, and successfully lobbying governmental agencies.
*Jeffery M. Hirsh, Campers Inn RV: Built a network of 28 RV dealerships in multiple states; served the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association in many capacities.
Jim Sheldon
*Robert “Bob” Parish, Wells Fargo CDF: Helped maintain the viability of the industry during the uncertainty of the 2008-2009 Great Recession and served the RV Industry Association at the board and committee levels.
*Jim Sheldon, Fleetwood Enterprises – Monaco Coach: Industry advocate, RV Industry Association chairman and board member, and a founding member of the Go RVing Coalition.
*Bob Tiedge, Lippert Components: Developed, designed, and built a wide range of innovative RV products, including hydraulic slideouts and leveling systems.
These individuals from the RV industry are joined by five from the manufactured housing industry.
RV Industry Sets 500,000 Unit Sales Record
In 2020 the RV industry surpassed a retail sales mark of more than half a million units.
Maybe there is a silver lining in the pandemic cloud. In 2020, RV sales in North America set an all-time record, soaring past the 500,000 mark in retail sales for the first time ever, according to Statistical Surveys Inc., which tracks retail and consumer data for the RV industry. The new mark comes after 2020 wrapped up with seven straight months of record-breaking sales reports, including December, which saw a 43.6 percent jump in sales compared to 2019.
The 515,819 units sold in 2020 represented an 11.5 percent increase in sales compared to 2019, Statistical Surveys reported.
Travel trailers reported a 17.8 percent year-over-year increase, while camping trailers increased 9.9 percent, and fifth-wheels were up 6.1 percent. Type A motorhomes dropped 9.3 percent in year-over-year sales; Type C sales were up 4.4 percent; and Type B sales were up 42.7 percent.
In Canada, all segments posted year-over-year sales decreases, including Type C and Type A motorhomes (35.9 and 34.7 percent, respectively), fifth-wheels (18.7 percent), and travel trailers (3.6 percent).