RV industry hopes for a comeback 2024 with help of new technologies at RV "World's Largest Dealer Show"

ELKHART, Ind. - The Largest RV Dealer Show in the world brought thousands of dealers, suppliers, and manufacturers and suppliers from around the world to Elkhart County the RV Capital of the World who is responsible for 80% of all RVs built.

The RV/MH Hall of fame hosted a suppliers show, that had more than 162 suppliers and over 200 booths, a greater turnout than last year, as they gear up for 2024.

Darryl Searer, the President of the RV/ MH hall of fame in Elkhart is excited for what's to come in 2024 for the industry.

“I think everyone is overall excited about the industry, a lot of it come to light during the pandemic so like I said they couldn’t fly on an airplane let’s see USA and the in the best way to do that in an RV," he said.

They are all hoping for a comeback year of sales comparable to pre-pandemic sales after experiencing a 45% decrease on shipments this year, according to the RV Industry Association.

“Covid was a big spike, a big boom for the area. It was a struggle keeping up with the rapid growth, but you know we survived it and we’re on that rebound side. It's kind of like an elastic band where you stretch it too far and it snaps back further than you need it to," said Bobby Rattz with Elkhart Based WFCO technologies.

The technologies on display, in addition to the increased turn out from dealers, and booths from last year left folks optimistic for the first time since the record setting sales boom during the coronavirus pandemic.

Middlebury based Grand Design RVs is eager for what they are hoping will be a successful 2024, stabilizing back to pre-pandemic sales, with the help of their new models on display.

“It adds a lot of energy to our company anytime we can get in front of our customers and our dealers are very optimistic about our product and we’re writing orders that’s a good thing," said Don Clark Cofounder of Grand Design RVs.

Phil Ingrassia, president of the RV Dealers Association says dealers are also looking forward to what's in store and leaving inventory issues in the past.

"It's been a softer year for sure, but we are optimistic for the year coming up. We think that dealers really went through some access inventory over the past year both in Canada and the USA and are going to have to reorder. So, the prognostication is improved outlook for manufacturing and the supplier community here in Elkhart County, " he said.

The RV suppliers show closed Wednesday afternoon, but the Dealership show will run through Thursday.