Three Companies to Watch in the RV Industry

US demand for RVs is forecast to reach $16.6 billion in 2021. Rising disposable personal income levels will support gains. In addition, sales stand to benefit from population growth among the age cohorts most likely to buy RVs.

While the US RV industry features low barriers to entry, it is dominated by several large manufacturers. Market leaders benefit from the high-value nature of large, well-equipped RVs and are able to capitalize on their well-known brand names.

Here are the three leading companies to watch in the RV industry:

Thor Industries

Thor is the leading supplier of RVs to the US market. The company’s sales met over a third of US demand in 2016. Thor’s products include conventional travel trailers; fifth wheels; truck and folding campers; and Class A, B, and C motorhomes. The company owns many well-known RV brands, including Airstream, CrossRoads, Cruiser RV, Dutchmen, Jayco, Starcraft, and Thor Motor Coach. In June 2016, Thor acquired Jayco, which included the Jayco, Starcraft, Highland Ridge, and Entegra Coach brands.

Forest River

Forest River, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, manufactures RVs as well as utility cargo trailers, buses, and pontoon boats. The company ranked as the second leading RV supplier to the US market in 2016. Brands owned by Forest River include Coachmen, Dynamax, Forest River, Palomino, Prime Time, and Shasta.

Winnebago Industries

In 2016, Winnebago stood as the third largest supplier of RVs to the US market. The company's RV products include Class A, B, and C motorhomes; travel trailers; fifth wheels; folding camper trailers; and truck campers. These products are primarily marketed under the Winnebago brand name. In October 2016, Winnebago announced it would be acquiring Grand Design RV, a manufacturer of towable RVs.

Learn More

For more insights into the US RV market, see Recreational Vehicles: United States, a report recently released by the Freedoina Focus Reports division of The Freedonia Group. This report forecasts US RV demand and shipments in US dollars at the manufacturers’ level to 2021. Total demand is segmented by product in terms of:

• travel trailers
• class A motorhomes
• other motorhomes
• campers and camping trailers.

Related Freedonia Focus Reports include Lodging Services: United States, Medium- & Heavy-Duty Trucks & Buses: United States, Motor Vehicles: United States, and Recreation: United States.

About the Author

Luke Hickman is a Market Research Analyst for Freedonia Focus Reports. He holds a degree in economics, and his experience as an analyst covers multiple industries.