CTV News has reported that much like many U.S. dealerships, dealers in Canadian provinces are experiencing shortages that may drag on into the summer.
As Albertans prepare for another summer in the midst of a pandemic, many are looking for ways to vacation close to home.
“We have a lake lot already where we have a permanent trailer out there that’s bigger. We don’t like to haul it around a lot so we just want something small that’s more portable,” said Michelle Findlay, a long-time RV owner.
While others are looking to upgrade from a tent to something a little more comfortable.
“I guess we’re at the stage of life where it’s worth spending the money on something that we’re going to use for the next 10 years,” said Curtis Thompson, while shopping at this weekend’s Spring Indoor RV Sale.
“For us I think it has less to do with COVID and just to do with the age of our kids,” he said.
Officials in the industry said the pandemic has resulted in a spike in trailer and RV sales.
“In May, June last year is where we started to notice it picking up a little bit and it was fine then,” said David Friedenberg, general sales manager at Arrkann Trailer & RV.
But he said the industry hasn’t been able to catch up with the demand since.
“The bigger issue is there’s a lot of shortages. RV manufacturers are having shortages on air conditioners, fridges, furniture, which is really slowing down their production. So you have an increase in demand and a shortage at the same time,” said Friedenberg.
“Normally we would have hundreds and hundreds of trailers in stock and we just have a handful right now,” he said.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” said Jackie Romain, who was browsing at the RV sale.
“RV-ing is a way to spend quality time with the family and to travel that way as well.“
Her family has had their RV for nearly 20 years and are trying to decide if it’s time to repair or replace it.
“We can’t really see our family so we’re spending more time in the trailer and we notice more things about our trailer,” said Breanna Romain.
Read the full report here.
News outlets are reporting similar responses from other dealerships in Alberta and British Columbia.
