From Business Insider: Thor Industries now has $14 billion in backlogged orders and is 'pretty much sold out for the next year'And now, this boost in sales has grown into an over $14 billion order backlog, which is an almost 550% increase compared to the same time in 2020. Taking a closer look, Thor's backlog for towables and motorized RVs by the end of April in North America increased 766% and 548%, respectively, compared to the same time in 2020...."Since a significant number of units in our backlog have already been retail sold, we currently believe the restocking cycle will extend well into calendar 2022," Martin said in the earnings report.

Will be interesting to see in a year or so if the covid newbies go back to the cruise lines, hotel resorts and airlines. I'm looking for an Rv upgrade in the near future, hope to have some decent new or used inventoryMike

Pre covid quality standards were hot garbage. What happens when you speed up production?

ZINGERLITE wrote:Pre covid quality standards were hot garbage. What happens when you speed up production?I didn't think Thor had a stellar reputation before the pandemic. It will be interesting to see the quality of the backlog.

gbopp wrote:ZINGERLITE wrote:Pre covid quality standards were hot garbage. What happens when you speed up production?I didn't think Thor had a stellar reputation before the pandemic. It will be interesting to see the quality of the backlog.Agreed. Of all the manufacturers, they're the one I'd trust least in the first place (but they sell tons of units because they're typically the cheapest). Ramping up production is bound to have an impact on quality.

Expand production? I see a looming shortage of "Amish Craftsmen". :)

Thor Industries now has $14 billion in backlogged orders

valhalla360
Navigator
Jun 10, 2021
We picked up a new trailer last October. They had plenty on the lot and got 1/3 off the MSRP.

Then we took an 8000mile loop of the USA and never saw an RV sales lot without lots of units.

I would think if they can't get enough units to sell, they would be selling for close to MSRP.
Tal_IL
Explorer
Jun 10, 2021
A large RV dealership near me currently lists 122 New RVs on their website. I count 31 of them that are on-site now, and the rest say "coming soon".
Sagebrush
Explorer
Jun 10, 2021
RV lots around my area of Alabama has plenty towables for sale. My local Gander RV is well stocked, from tiny tear drops to monster toy haulers.

Lots of Grand Design units for sale in Gadsden. I'm surprised people think those are good quality durable units on the web reviews, to me they are built like ultra light models. Very thin counter tops, very light duty cabinets and the floors flex as I walk around. I own an old light weight 5th wheel toy hauler, my cabinets and cheapo laminate counter tops feel more solid! Build quality hasn't gotten any better over the years.

I bet people will be selling many units because the RV sites are hard to come by where you want to go. A spontaneous trip better be a dry camping spot away from the popular areas.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 10, 2021
Appears from the posts here, and my recent searching, that the further east you go, the more RVs are available for sale and the cheaper the prices.
Everywhere around here from Seattle to Spokane is very thin on inventory.
Dealers fill the front rows that face the highways and empty lots behind them, or carefully spaced out and staged parking of the inventory they do have.

Considering I never understood how seemingly so few customers at a RV place at any given time can buy enough new RVs to support the huge inventories you generally see, presumably if the lots are less than full, supply aint keeping up with demand.
valhalla360
Navigator
Jun 11, 2021
Grit dog wrote:
Appears from the posts here, and my recent searching, that the further east you go, the more RVs are available for sale and the cheaper the prices.

We headed west from Michigan. Bought in Omaha (long story not related to RV inventories) and saw plenty of RVs on lots out thru Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California, so I don't think it's how far east you are.
mdcamping
Explorer
Jun 11, 2021
valhalla360 wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
Appears from the posts here, and my recent searching, that the further east you go, the more RVs are available for sale and the cheaper the prices.

We headed west from Michigan. Bought in Omaha (long story not related to RV inventories) and saw plenty of RVs on lots out thru Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California, so I don't think it's how far east you are.

This early spring we were searching for the 6yr 30' range MH's. At the time we were only intrested in Winnebago,Tiffin, Newmar..nothing in the NE area... with the exception of 1 newmar that was trashed on the inside that was sitting on the lot since last summer. Only a few over 35'

Mike
TurnThePage
Explorer
Jun 11, 2021
valhalla360 wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
Appears from the posts here, and my recent searching, that the further east you go, the more RVs are available for sale and the cheaper the prices.

We headed west from Michigan. Bought in Omaha (long story not related to RV inventories) and saw plenty of RVs on lots out thru Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California, so I don't think it's how far east you are.
I've observed similar to Grid Dog. Maybe it's just the northwest. We have RV lots galore, but there's much less inventory than there used to be. I've actually noticed an uptick recently though.
Thermoguy
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2021
I was doing some work in Oregon a couple weeks ago. There was a lot near where we were, every trailer had a sold sign on the trailer. I was shocked, I did't see one on the lot without a sold sign.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 11, 2021
TurnThePage wrote:
valhalla360 wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
Appears from the posts here, and my recent searching, that the further east you go, the more RVs are available for sale and the cheaper the prices.

We headed west from Michigan. Bought in Omaha (long story not related to RV inventories) and saw plenty of RVs on lots out thru Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California, so I don't think it's how far east you are.
I've observed similar to Grid Dog. Maybe it's just the northwest. We have RV lots galore, but there's much less inventory than there used to be. I've actually noticed an uptick recently though.

The PNW is unique I think, in the number of outdoor recreationalists, not excluding other popular areas though. One would expect inventory to start coming back, as the "buying season" in northern states tapers off as the camping season goes on.
dedmiston
Moderator
Jun 11, 2021
Grit dog wrote:
The PNW is unique I think, in the number of outdoor recreationalists, not excluding other popular areas though. One would expect inventory to start coming back, as the "buying season" in northern states tapers off as the camping season goes on.

The Buying season is followed by the Warranty season, which usually lasts about a year.