2021: A Year for the Record Books

RV PRO Staff

3 years ago

While many industries will happily slam the door on what was an uncertain year at best, the RV industry in 2021 had a year unlike anything it has ever seen before. And, most of the good news is expected to continue well into 2022.

But before diving headlong into the new year, let’s take a moment and look back on some of the major news stories of 2021.

1 – Record RV Shipments

As the year drew to a close, RV production was continuing at a pace never seen before in the industry’s history.

https://rv-pro.com/news/november-shipment-numbers-add-to-highest-ever-yearly-total/

And the Winter 2021 issue of RV RoadSigns predicts that wholesale shipments will top 600K this year and next.

https://rv-pro.com/news/report-rv-shipments-to-top-600k-this-year-and-next/

2 – Record Profits for RV Manufacturers and Suppliers

Along with the record shipments came record profits for RV manufacturers and suppliers. Here’s a look at four of the biggies.

https://rv-pro.com/news/thor-industries-reports-record-q1-net-earnings/

https://rv-pro.com/news/winnebago-posts-record-revenues-rv-market-gains-in-fiscal-2022-q1/

https://rv-pro.com/news/lippert-sales-top-1b-for-quarter-up-across-the-board/

https://rv-pro.com/news/patrick-industries-q3-revenues-spike-across-all-markets/

3 – Record Dealership M&A Activity

M&A activity among RV dealerships in 2021 was as high as it has ever been, according to long-time observers. Kevin Nill of Haig Partners spoke with RV PRO’s Brad Worrell about it way back in April, and the activity never slowed down throughout the remaining eight months of the year.

https://rv-pro.com/news/rv-dealer-ma-activity-increasingly-mirroring-automotive-market/

By far, the most prolific purchaser was RV Retailer:

https://rv-pro.com/news/rv-retailer-wraps-up-year-with-52-acquisitions/ ;

Camping World’s latest:

https://rv-pro.com/news/camping-world-continues-expansion-with-michigan-acquisition-and-new-build-in-missouri/

And Campers Inn was active this fall:

https://rv-pro.com/news/campers-inn-to-acquire-new-jerseys-scott-motor-coach/

4 – Open House Week Cancelled

Once again in 2021, COVID-19 forced the cancellation of Open House Week in Elkhart, Ind. This year, the uncertainty and on-again, off-again spread of the virus meant the decision wasn’t made until the first week in September, less than a month away from the actual show. Here’s to better days in 2022.

https://rv-pro.com/news/open-house-cancelled/

5 – THOR Buys Airxcel

THOR Industries in September announced it had acquired the parent company of Airxcel, which itself is comprised of multiple individual brands serving the RV industry.

https://rv-pro.com/news/thor-acquires-airxcel/

In December, Airxcel made acquisition news of its own when it announced that it was buying Elkhart Composites.

https://rv-pro.com/news/airxcel-acquires-elkhart-composites/

Also in December, Airxcel CEO joined the In Tow with RV PRO podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including the sale of the company to THOR.

https://rv-pro.com/media/podcast/ep-27-jeff-rutherford-diversity-is-key/

6 – Lippert Buys Furrion

Formerly business partners, that relationship grew closer over the summer when Lippert announced that it was buying Furrion.

https://rv-pro.com/news/lippert-acquiring-furrion/

7 – Dometic Spent the Year in a Buying Mode

RV products supplier Dometic was in acquisition mode in 2021, buying nine companies in all. None, however, drew the amount of attention it attracted with the purchase of Igloo, the iconic American cooler company founded in 1947.

https://rv-pro.com/news/dometic-buys-igloo-for-677-million/

8 – Ember RV Begins Production

A new RV manufacturer entered the picture in 2021 when Ember RV opened its facility in Elkhart. The company was founded by the granddaughter of the founders of Jayco and intends to make inroads in the lightweight travel trailer market, at least to start with.

https://rv-pro.com/news/exclusive-no-time-like-the-present/

9 – ‘40 Under 40’ Celebrates Rising Stars of the Industry

RV PRO once again took nominations from its readership and selected its fifth class of “40 Under 40” honorees – the magazine’s tribute to the rising stars of the RV industry as nominated by their peers. In 2021, however, for the first time, there was a public celebration honoring this year’s class; it took place in Las Vegas in November during the same week of the RVDA Convention/Expo. The magazine plans for the gathering to become a yearly event.

https://rv-pro.com/features/rv-pro-celebrates-40-under-40-award-winners-in-vegas/

10 – In Memoriam

In 2021, the RV and outdoor recreation industries saw their share of losses, and RV PRO would like to note the passing of the following:

David Berg, long-time camping community veteran

https://rv-pro.com/news/obit-david-berg-was-a-legend-in-the-camping-community/

Former RVDA Chairman Wayne Peay

https://rv-pro.com/news/obit-former-rvda-president-wayne-peay-dies-at-93/

Robert Funderburk, veteran of Holiday Rambler and Shasta RVs, among others

https://rv-pro.com/news/obit-robert-funderburk-dies-at-73/

Bill Ledgerwood, educator and RV businessman

https://rv-pro.com/news/obit-bill-ledgerwood-of-augusta-kansas/

Dick Iosso, founder of Iosso Products