As we head further into the first quarter of 2022, the recreational vehicle industry stands poised to continue its scorching-hot pace of growth. Early-year RV consumer shows and industry events have reported record-breaking crowds, and the outlook appears favorable well into the future.

And it is not just RVing that is experiencing this bump. It is also camping, hiking and boating. Consumer excitement about outdoor recreation is at an all-time high. Of course, Covid-19 continues to present problems, as do labor shortages and the ever-changing supply chain. But the truth is, the pandemic has fundamentally changed people, leading many to re-evaluate what is important to them.

Many have found that getting back to nature and having authentic experiences through spending time outdoors has become a priority in their lives. The pandemic afforded the RV industry with a massive opportunity to highlight the benefits of RVing and how it allows people the freedom and control to travel the country. The RV industry continues to see never-before-seen levels of interest, and the industry continues to improvise and innovate to meet the ongoing supply challenges and demand for RV products.

Looking back on the past two years and how much the RV industry accomplished, it truly is remarkable. In 2021, the industry shipped more than 600,000 units — a record that eclipsed the 504,000 units shipped in 2017. And while it is easy to focus on the most recent success, the truth is that the RV industry has been experiencing steady growth for the better part of 40 years.

As we look to the future, RV shipment estimates continue to be strong, with projections for 2022 to be at or above last year’s record-breaking numbers. Perhaps nowhere is this growth more evident than in the rollout of electrified RV products at the Florida RV SuperShow, held in January in Tampa, Fla. It was so exciting to see the industry usher in a whole new vision for the future of RVing. This future will include all outdoor-industry businesses pulling together to support the much-needed infrastructure that future growth and greater electrification will require.

On the heels of our successful efforts to pass the Great American Outdoors Act, the RV Industry Association once again partnered with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and our champions in Congress to get the Outdoor Recreation Act introduced. This bipartisan legislation would increase and improve outdoor recreation opportunities across the nation, while improving infrastructure, and would drive economic and job growth in rural communities. This bill comes at a critical time, as RVing is growing, particularly with younger and more diverse Americans. The legislation is critical to attracting the next generation of park stewards and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. It would provide assistance to gateway communities for outdoor recreation businesses and campgrounds, responsibly extend shoulder seasons, and make broadband more widely available.

Much like what the marine industry has experienced with respect to marina access, and having enough places for boaters to launch, the RV industry is experiencing capacity issues at campgrounds. We recently completed the largest research project to date into America’s campgrounds, and learned that across federal, state, local and private campgrounds, there are approximately 1.6 million RV campsites nationwide. Contrast that with our research showing there are 11.2 million RV-owning households, with another 9.6 million planning to buy an RV in the next five years, and you quickly see what a challenge and opportunity this is for our industry.

We also recently formed a campground task force with key members of the RV Industry Association, the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, state campground associations and campground operators. That task force will focus on enhancing the customer experience and removing obstacles to campground modernization and growth.

The RV industry also must be vigilant in delivering a first-class experience at every step of the purchase and ownership cycle. Caring for the customer has never been more important. Improving repair times has become a rallying cry across all segments, from OEMs to suppliers and dealers. At the RV Technical Institute, we made a multimillion-dollar investment in training more technicians. This spring, the RV Technical Institute will launch a recruitment campaign with a goal of reaching 1,000 non-RV industry students. Filling the funnel with more highly trained technicians is an important facet of our continued efforts to improve repair times.

Our successful Go RVing program also continues to evolve, utilizing a broad mix of media and platforms to help attract new and diverse consumers. Go RVing also develops resources for new RV owners. During the past year, the team created more than 100 pieces of video content to familiarize consumers with the intricacies of the RV experience. As we look ahead, Go RVing’s marketers will continue to focus on the primary mission of attracting new consumers to RVing, while producing content that will help to keep newcomers in the game.

Both the RV and marine industries have been fortunate during one of the most trying times in history. In the RV industry, our success has largely come from uniting, and through members’ innovative work to rise and meet the many challenges.

When I look at the outdoor recreation landscape on the whole, I see not only that our industries have been an economic powerhouse, but also that all of us have played a critical role in soothing the psyche of millions of Americans. The pandemic left people scared, stressed and desperate for an escape, and the outdoor recreation industry helped provide that escape. We brought smiles and laughter back into people’s lives at a time when it was so desperately needed.

Here’s to another great year of growth, and to delivering the products that help people get out and enjoy their active outdoor lifestyles. n

Craig Kirby is president and CEO of the RV Industry Association.

This article was originally published in the March 2022 issue.