Fuel prices fail to stall RV sales

OTTAWA - Chris and Feilan Xia Baker like their freedom, are planning to have children, and have aging parents who can't really sleep in tents anymore.

That explains the Ottawa couple's presence Saturday - under constant rain and grey skies - at an RV sale outside Scotiabank Place, where they were scoping out small trailers they can hitch up and hit the road.

"The fuel consumption is going to be a bit high, but nothing like those monstrosities," said Chris, 35, looking toward a section filled with luxury motorhomes and converted buses with six-figure price tags. "The tent trailer is about as domesticated as I want to get."

"The motorhomes sales are still strong," he said yesterday, standing inside a big tent filled with staff and prospective buyers hunched over computers and forms. "People are buying a seasonal campground pass and parking there, instead of driving from place to place."

For many, concern over gas prices is offset by the expensive reality of waterfront cottage property, Mr. Nelson said, adding that since nearly all RVs are manufactured in the United States, the Canadian dollar's rise has brought prices down. Read more about rv sales...

RV Sales: An Economic Indicator?

Mickey and Lucille Anderson's rv hasn't gone anywhere in the past few months. That's because the Pearl couple has chosen to keep it parked because of increased gas prices.

Mickey Anderson says, "It's nice to be able to say, 'honey, get me a glass of tea' while you're driving down the road, but that luxury has a price tag on it, and that's making the payments and filling the tank up."

The Andersons originally bought the rv just under 10 years ago, hoping to let the good times roll during retirement. Well, they both retired in 2006, and all that's rolling are the payments-- the two are still paying it off. And with the rv getting about eight miles a gallon... Anderson says, "I'll probably take a box of kleenex to the pump with me to keep the tears out of my eyes when i see the numbers rolling over."

At Turning Wheel RV in Jackson, sales are down compared with last year. But general manager Dale McGee says he's still optimistic about closing the door on sales. "We're not hurting. We're just tightening our belts and getting ready for more good times. We expect the market to be back booming before this time next year."

The 15 billion dollar industry has had a reputation as a good indicator of the economy in general. That's because, for the past three decades, deliveries of motor homes and travel trailers have dropped before each decline in the U.S. economy. Read more about RV Sales: An Economic Indicator?

High Gas Prices Hitting Boat, RV Sales

Gas prices have made getting to and from work or school difficult, but they're also hurting those gassing up motor homes, boats and other recreational vehicles.

CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports at $5 a gallon, it takes about $750 to fill up the Allegro bus, making it a pretty slow seller at Rick's RV Center in Shorewood.

"For the larger motorhomes, it is a tough market," said Rick's general manager Jeff Pilon. "Like I said, the pool of buyers has definitely shrunk down."

And it's not just motor home sales that are being affected by the skyrocketing cost of fuel. Boat sales are also being squeezed.

Cathy Santogrossi of Fox Valley Marine said sales are down, but they have not plunged.

A study by Michigan State's Marine Research Center found that "1 percent of boat owners didn't plan to use their boat in 2008 due to the high cost of fuel." Read more...