As COVID-19 continues to take its toll, businesses across the world continue to take a hit. Professional sports leagues have shut down entirely and the unemployment rate has reached over 6 million in the United States. Essential businesses are doing their best to stay open while prioritizing their employee’s safety during this pandemic. As the coronavirus outbreak spreads, recreational-vehicle companies — those that rent or sell RVs, camper vans and motor coaches — are adapting to a veritable wartime economy.
Local RV Dealers
Local RV dealers said they’ve seen a lot of their business dry up. This accounts for all foot traffic and customers coming in for service. Across the country, governments are reaching out to RV dealers to help provide vehicles for social distancing accommodations. They are providing RVs for key workers, such as medical personnel. They require lodging that keeps them away from home where they could pick up COVID-19, or spread it to others. RV dealers have been given an opportunity to serve the community, help Americans during this pandemic, and keep people in jobs.
RV Rentals
Even in a time of travel restrictions, national RV companies are also still receiving traditional bookings — mostly from people with urgent travel needs and people trying to avoid airports. RVs remain uniquely appealing for long-haul trips. Unlike most camper vans and many other modes of transportation, they are typically equipped with restrooms. This makes it easier to use RV’s to self-isolate and practice social distancing. As a result, El Monte RV and another national company, Cruise America, are seeing an increase in rentals. Rental companies are also seeing one-way trips for those who don’t want to fly but need to travel, and include people returning home from college or a period of working remotely.
In the sports world, Anaheim Ducks forward, Nicolas Deslauriers, needed to get his family back home to Montreal after the season was postponed. As planes and airports possessed a higher risk for contamination, he decided renting a recreational vehicle would be his next best option. With his three young children, two dogs and pregnant wife, they packed up and made the 3,000 mile drive home. “There were flights and at good prices too but we just couldn’t take risk,” Nicolas said. “I probably wouldn’t do it again though,” he told The Sports Network.
RV Manufacturers
On the manufacturing side, RV juggernaut Thor Industries halted production across North America and parts of Europe due to COVID-19. Consumer demand is essentially non-existent at the moment and the rise of unemployment and travel restrictions are negatively impacting the industry. Though the company remains optimistic, this is just another sign of the trying times we are in.
Tips for RV’ers
If you’re a full time RV’er currently on the road, we recommend you practice social distancing as best as possible, whether it is in the gas stations, convenience stores or the camp you stay at overnight. Don’t forget to make sure your tires are properly inflated as well. This would be a terrible time to be stranded with a flat tire. VIAIR is doing our part to practice the best safety standards. We hope you’re doing yours well. We can’t wait to see you all on the road again. Until then, stay safe and healthy!
For more information:
- Call us at 949-585-0011 from 8AM-5PM PT, Monday-Friday
- Chat us with our website’s Live Chat feature from 8AM-5PM PT, Monday-Friday
- To reach us after-hours email us at Customer Service, and we will reply to you the following business day.
