Millennials and RVs

Being in the HVAC trade for 35 yrs and working with the other trade groups I have talked to a bunch of them that are hands on and enjoy camping/rving. Most are under budget constraints and are just looking to enjoy the outdoors with their families. My guess most will give up camping when the kids fly the coop. As far as those high tech RV's I see it as a HGTV fad and not much more.

Mike

ken56 wrote:
Economic conditions for those millennials is different today than when we were their age. It took some us boomers until we were in our 40's and 50's to achieve some sort of financial prosperity to afford the luxury of an RV, a nice RV. We raised families and paid for college and weddings. Millennials have delayed marriage and families for their careers. I see many 30 somethings at campgrounds today with little ones that have some very nice rigs, some have pop ups yes but that is the rarity IMO.

If my boomer parents had paid for my college, I'd have one hell of an RV.

Old Days wrote:
We didn't go to the Denver RV show this year, but if you do get a chance it is a lot of fun. I have seen a lot of those small campers up in the mountains they do have some cool features. I believe the young people still enjoy camping, its just finding the time to do it.

The last time I went to a RV show it was dominated by small entry level RV'S. I also took note of the demographics and it was mostly young people. As far as modern features how many of us older people would want to give up A/C, Bathrooms, Television and other features they were not available in the 50's.

colliehauler wrote:
As far as modern features how many of us older people would want to give up A/C, Bathrooms, Television and other features they were not available in the 50's.

I would gladly give up television. The other stuff, probably not.

Funny. We started out tenting with a 1968 Mini Cooper, then went to a 72 VW van I camperized myself, then a pop up, a travel trailer and a couple of fifth wheels. Picture a VW van towing a small trailer containing a bunch of camping stuff, a canoe on top, two adults two kids and a large Labrador retriever inside. A book and AM radio were all we needed. Now I am looking for sites that have satellite reception and wifi. Just changing with the times.

I think that most kids who were brought up camping and RVing will likely do it themselves if they can.

Just judging by how challenging it is to book rv sites around Alberta...I believe there is still a good chunk of humanity out camping. Not sure I want to even touch on what each generation does vs the previous one, but I do enjoy my "glamping". Our 5er has so much more than ones my folks had and truly who cares what others do when they camp. When im at a national park I hike/bike/sight see till im exhausted. Just because the million dollar rig next to me sets up and never comes outside....so be it. Were both enjoying the place so who am I to judge them based on age/wealth/etc. Its a hobby and a passion that we all partake in at our own pace so lets all enjoy.

I am a baby boomer who introduced my 4 daughters (current ages 30 to 37) to camping when they were born. One of them went camping the first time when she was 36 hours old. We camped in 45 states using tents and later in a popup. 3 of the girls still love camping and the 4th thinks that any hotel below 4 star is a dump. One of them has her own popup, one uses our spare popup, and the third uses a tent and 4 wheel drive Jeep to boondock way away from anyone.
I would not call my kids lazy or soft. They are tough individuals who happen to like their comforts when they are home. Yes, they play video games, drink wine. they also drink whisky and beer and go to the rifle range with me. By the way, my daughters ALL paid for their own college education by working summer jobs, working during the school year, and studying hard to get scholarships. They also own their own houses that they paid for themselves.

Almost every millennial I know does not want to deal with black water and gray water or anything like that. Maintenance is another problem for most of them. Not all of them; but most of them.

That's my experience with them.

When I was under 50 year old, I had no use for any kind of RV. Those were for old people.I figured when I get too old to ride, I'll own an RV...maybe. Now I'm old so I have an RV, time and viewpoints change. Of course I still have the motorcycles too though. Since I am only one person and don't speak for a whole generation, apparently about the only person that feels that way, I can only say what I felt when I was much younger.

Ya just gotta love generalizations. My friend's kids are that way so that must be how all kids are. Riiiiight. And the article is from USA Today, a widely respected periodical. Snort, snort, chuckle, chuckle.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Almost every millennial I know does not want to deal with black water and gray water or anything like that. Maintenance is another problem for most of them. Not all of them; but most of them.

That's my experience with them.

Most older people I know don't change the oil in their vehicles themselves and many would just assume pay someone else to perform minor maintenance and repair tasks around their home.

Old people, middle aged people and young people alike can all have a distaste for a common activity that others would suggest is a necessary skill. Much of it comes from your regional background. I was born and raised and still live in a very rural community. I'm in my mid-30's and feel like there's nothing I can't fix. Most people I hang around with of the same age feel the same way. Sorry and lazy people who grew up in the cities and suburbs without ever getting their hands dirty raise children with the same values.