OctoberTowable Report

Retail sales of towable RVs rose 8.6% in October over October 2009, Statistical Surveys Inc. (SSI), Grand Rapids, Mich., has reported.

Sales gains were recorded in the travel trailer and fifth-wheel segments, with slight sales declines in folding camping trailers and park models.

The October performance put the 10-month sales total for all towables up 7.2% over a year ago.

By product segment compared to October 2009, the results were:

• Travel trailers, up, 7.2%.
• Fifth-wheels, up 16.6%.
• Folding camping trailers, down 9%.
• Park models, off 1.3%.

Thor Industries Inc. remained the overall market leader with a 40.4% share in October. Forest River Inc. ranked second with a 19.1% share.

Thor led in travel trailer sales with a 33.8% share, in fifth-wheels with a 55% share and in park models with a 28.1% share. Forest River led in folding camping trailer sales with a 27.9% share.

Year-to-date, Thor leads in overall towable sales with a 37.2% share, followed by  Forest River with a 20.6% share and Jayco Inc. with an 11.6% share.

By segment, year-to-date, Thor leads in travel trailers (34.9%), fifth-wheels (53.6%) and park models (24.2%). Forest River is the folding camping trailer leader with a 30.9% share.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).