Anyone want a camper? It's a buyer's market for RVs as pandemic-era sales fizzle

Like a lot of Canadians, Alan Hong and his wife bought a trailer in 2020. Air travel was out of the question because of pandemic restrictions, and it made sense to spend time and money exploring the great outdoors. 

But now, they're looking to get off life on the open road and get back in the air.

"We thought we would use the proceeds of the sale to do more international travelling," said Hong, 37, who lives in Calgary. 

RVs — along with boats, ATVs and other outdoor vehicles — sold like hotcakes during the pandemic, as people poured their vacation funds into goods that could be enjoyed closer to home. 

But like Pelotons and semiconductors, the sector is now going through a market correction, with household spending on "major durable goods for outdoor recreation" down 11 per cent last year, according to Eric Desjardins, an economist at Statistics Canada.

Tourism spending is up, the agency reported, with air transport and accommodations leading the growth in the fourth quarter. However, pre-trip expenses — which includes RVs and camping equipment — was the only product category to decrease last year, falling nine per cent.

Amid inflation and high interest rates, sales of new RVs in particular dipped by around 20 per cent last year, and are now below pre-pandemic levels, according to the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada.

"People have a little bit less discretionary income," said Eleonore Hamm, the association's president, who noted that RV rentals are still fairly strong. 

The dip varied by province. In Alberta, the country's RV hotspot, sales only fell about seven per cent, while sales in B.C. declined closer to 30 per cent, she said. 

People aren't just putting off buying a new RV. Some are getting rid of the one they have altogether. 

"There's quite a bit of pre-owned inventory on dealership lots at the moment," said Hamm.

Listings of used RVs on RVDealers.ca more than doubled this quarter compared to the same period last year, said the website's owner, Chris Perera.

He attributes the trend to two factors. Some people bought whatever RV they could get their hands on during the peak of the pandemic, and are now trying to trade in for a better model. Others have realized the lifestyle isn't for them and are getting out of the market.