2020 Camping season.....over before it starts?

[GsRAM]

Looking good guys! Glad to see your getting out some.

I also agree this pandemic has made the already crowded campgrounds situation even worse now. The "everyone is a camper these days" is so spot on. That's another negative of this pandemic.

No way I'm buying a new camper this year. Prices are up 4-5k on models I was looking at over last year because they are selling like hotcakes. This pandemic has been a dream come true for the RV industry.

I just wonder how many of these new campers will be long term campers once they find out how much work is involved in camping in general. Set up, tear down, maintenance in general, winterizing, etc.

There may be a bunch of Rvs for sale in a few years when all of this is over and life is back to normal. Some will like it and stick with it, but I'd bet a lot won't. We'll see!

 

[Loudram]

We thought about trading in our trailer for a smaller one with a larger bath but when we went to look they low balled our trade. I guess they are selling so well to first time buyers that they didn't need our business or want to deal with a trade.

So far we went out once this year but that's about to change. We head out in two weeks then I'm going to Carlisle with the trailer the week after that and then camping again the week after that. We're getting all the camping in we can. Thankfully our favorite campground doesn't seem that much more crowded than usual.

But your right Gs I have a feeling that we'll be seeing a lot of used trailers for sale very soon. Unfortunately that doesn't bode well for us trading in ours in the near future.

 

[Murdock188]

We thought about trading in our trailer for a smaller one with a larger bath but when we went to look they low balled our trade. I guess they are selling so well to first time buyers that they didn't need our business or want to deal with a trade.

So far we went out once this year but that's about to change. We head out in two weeks then I'm going to Carlisle with the trailer the week after that and then camping again the week after that. We're getting all the camping in we can. Thankfully our favorite campground doesn't seem that much more crowded than usual.

But your right Gs I have a feeling that we'll be seeing a lot of used trailers for sale very soon. Unfortunately that doesn't bode well for us trading in ours in the near future.

My local dealer has like 40 left on their lot total. even if I did want to trade mine it would be difficult to find one that better suits my needs. I know people who have had 3 different ones in the last year and a half lol. Glad I bought mine last year and didn't wait, just got too good a deal on it to pass up.

 

[GsRAM]

We thought about trading in our trailer for a smaller one with a larger bath but when we went to look they low balled our trade. I guess they are selling so well to first time buyers that they didn't need our business or want to deal with a trade.

So far we went out once this year but that's about to change. We head out in two weeks then I'm going to Carlisle with the trailer the week after that and then camping again the week after that. We're getting all the camping in we can. Thankfully our favorite campground doesn't seem that much more crowded than usual.

But your right Gs I have a feeling that we'll be seeing a lot of used trailers for sale very soon. Unfortunately that doesn't bode well for us trading in ours in the near future.

No doubt man. Like I said, dont get me wrong, many may like camping and stick with it, but unfortunately many of the newbies won't or will not be aware of all the maintenance that is required. Many of those nice new rigs will be leaking in a few years when roof caulk joints are not maintained and many will be full of rot.

We all know unfortunately out of the factory the caulk work done is bare minimum and those caulk joints need to be checked and maintained at least twice per year.

Hopefully I'm wrong. Camping is great but it's almost too popular these days.

 

[PAChad]

This is our 4th trip of the season but the furthest distance from home.

We came up through the north east mountains in Pennsylvania and the 6.4 did great! We are in Rome PA close to the NY state line. I couldn’t be happier with this 2015 2500.

 

[GsRAM]

This is our 4th trip of the season but the furthest distance from home.

We came up through the north east mountains in Pennsylvania and the 6.4 did great! We are in Rome PA close to the NY state line. I couldn’t be happier with this 2015 2500.

That's great to hear! Your truck and TT look great. Yes, no question, I love my 2500/6.4. It tows very well and even fully loaded with my family of 4 with me I still have tons of power in reserve. I'm sure the new 8 speed trucks are great, but my truck, even with 3.73s, tows very well. Funny, I just said to my wife last night, even if we didnt have a camper, I'd still want my HD truck. I really like it.


I think were in full blown vacation mode for many right now. I was traveling to my mom's Saturday afternoon and I couldn't believe how packed the highways were. Last Sunday we traveled to my brothers in the afternoon and saw a ton of TTs, 5vers, As and Cs on the road. Be careful y'all!

 

[HDGoose]

No doubt man. Like I said, dont get me wrong, many may like camping and stick with it, but unfortunately many of the newbies won't or will not be aware of all the maintenance that is required. Many of those nice new rigs will be leaking in a few years when roof caulk joints are not maintained and many will be full of rot.

We all know unfortunately out of the factory the caulk work done is bare minimum and those caulk joints need to be checked and maintained at least twice per year.

Hopefully I'm wrong. Camping is great but it's almost too popular these days.

Maintenance is one issue. I am also wonder how many will put it the effort to have items fixed under warranty, and if the dealerships will have the capacity for the warranty work. I also wonder how the new builds will be as the factories restart.


I am thinking extensive PDI will become necessary. Especially when looking at used 2020 builds in the next 2-3 years. I wonder how many seller realize how long that will take, and if they will allow it.

I started calling my 5th wheel toyhauler as my mobile apartment. It is not 'camping' to me.

 

[BubbaJo]

We thought about trading in our trailer for a smaller one with a larger bath but when we went to look they low balled our trade. I guess they are selling so well to first time buyers that they didn't need our business or want to deal with a trade.

So far we went out once this year but that's about to change. We head out in two weeks then I'm going to Carlisle with the trailer the week after that and then camping again the week after that. We're getting all the camping in we can. Thankfully our favorite campground doesn't seem that much more crowded than usual.

But your right Gs I have a feeling that we'll be seeing a lot of used trailers for sale very soon. Unfortunately that doesn't bode well for us trading in ours in the near future.

yeah right before the 'rona we had an trade in offer of $10k on our camper.. last week (at a different dealership) we had an offer of $5500. so in a period of like 3 months the trade in value of our camper was almost cut in half. Make sure you look up the NADA value of your camper before you do anything. if a dealership isn't going to offer you what your trade is worth, walk. Doesn't matter how the market is right now, if they are obviously willing to slap you in the face like that, then they aren't worth doing business with

 

[Loudram]

yeah right before the 'rona we had an trade in offer of $10k on our camper.. last week (at a different dealership) we had an offer of $5500. so in a period of like 3 months the trade in value of our camper was almost cut in half. Make sure you look up the NADA value of your camper before you do anything. if a dealership isn't going to offer you what your trade is worth, walk. Doesn't matter how the market is right now, if they are obviously willing to slap you in the face like that, then they aren't worth doing business with

I did look up NADA. They had our trailer in the range of 16k to 19k. They offered us 12k

 

[392DevilDog]

Got a tree for shade. A lake and a river and a fairly large site. And a dolphin.

It is a joy to tow when you have a truck towing a trailer, not a trailer pushing a truck.



2 nights here 4 more to go.

 

[Gero]

I'd love a 2500 hemi 8spd but they're too tall for parking at work. The 1500 barely fits with antenna scrappage every time and that's without a lift or any leveling.

Trying to get my wdh dialed in correctly and I think I'm on the right track. Going to add washers and get more tilt from the hitch head. I dont think I can keep the gvwr within spec when fully loaded. It's just not possible and our trailer isnt big by any means. Only 21ft, 4000lb dry/6000lb gvwr.

 

[GsRAM]

I'd love a 2500 hemi 8spd but they're too tall for parking at work. The 1500 barely fits with antenna scrappage every time and that's without a lift or any leveling.

Trying to get my wdh dialed in correctly and I think I'm on the right track. Going to add washers and get more tilt from the hitch head. I dont think I can keep the gvwr within spec when fully loaded. It's just not possible and our trailer isnt big by any means. Only 21ft, 4000lb dry/6000lb gvwr.


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That's a great looking site! I get it, a 2500 series truck is not for everyone. 1500s can tow just fine. Just make sure you stay below your GRAWR and you should be ok.

 

[BubbaJo]

I'd love a 2500 hemi 8spd but they're too tall for parking at work. The 1500 barely fits with antenna scrappage every time and that's without a lift or any leveling.

Trying to get my wdh dialed in correctly and I think I'm on the right track. Going to add washers and get more tilt from the hitch head. I dont think I can keep the gvwr within spec when fully loaded. It's just not possible and our trailer isnt big by any means. Only 21ft, 4000lb dry/6000lb gvwr.


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you aren't sleeping on the ground, you are dry, warm (or cool during the heat), and you are making memories.. that is what camping is all about! or should i say Glamping

i've done the roughing it camping (tents, freeze dried food, filtering your drinking water, no electricity or running motors for miles, and pooping in a hole in the woods while watching for bears and/or wolves), and i've done the camper. If it wasn't for the wife, and kiddos, the dog and i would be in a enclosed cargo trailer with a cot and ac unit powered by a generator lol.

 

[BubbaJo]

I did look up NADA. They had our trailer in the range of 16k to 19k. They offered us 12k

12k trade offer for something that sells for 16k-19k is about the normal.. they gotta make some cheddar on it, however always remember you can negotiate the trade in value as well if you are upgrading However it doesn't sound like you guys are roughing it too much with that rig you got there

like others have stated, this coming fall, if not next spring, you'll see a lot of campers sold 'after the rona' pop up for sale because people don't want that extra payment, or the payment for storage, and have found out they have ZERO clue how to do anything camping (like the ones you like to watch park their camper 700 times before they say 'f it' and park it) lol

 

[NorZeman]

(like the ones you like to watch park their camper 700 times before they say 'f it' and park it) lol

That has been extra enjoyable this year. I've been trying to get to the campgrounds early for our trips, just to make sure I see most of the fun

 

[BubbaJo]

That has been extra enjoyable this year. I've been trying to get to the campgrounds early for our trips, just to make sure I see most of the fun

my stepdad and I both have our CDL-A licenses, and this is our favorite past time while camping. We will setup our chairs and grab a beverage and sit back and watch.. My current camper only being 20'2" overall length makes it SUPER easy to place anywhere i want on a lot. Stepdad tried pulling the 'sit and watch' on me our first time with our camper. He wasn't watching long and yelled out 'you take all the fun out of this game' lol

 

[Razzman]

So yeah everybody and their brother seems to be buying RV's of one sort or another right now. Dealers can't keep them on their lots

 

[NorZeman]

my stepdad and I both have our CDL-A licenses, and this is our favorite past time while camping. We will setup our chairs and grab a beverage and sit back and watch.. My current camper only being 20'2" overall length makes it SUPER easy to place anywhere i want on a lot. Stepdad tried pulling the 'sit and watch' on me our first time with our camper. He wasn't watching long and yelled out 'you take all the fun out of this game' lol

The best one I have seen came our first trip out this year.. some little crossover SUV pulling an older pop-up (found out later it was borrowed from his future in-laws), guy tried to back it in to their site 24 times. Mind you this site was 65 ft long with a 12ft wide pad, plus nearly 0 obstructions outside of the little plastic site post.. Mr. Meathead finally said eff it, unhooked the camper in the road and physically pushed it back into his site. Meanwhile, the Mrs. and I are damn near dying one site over from trying to hold it together.

 

[392DevilDog]

I towed our old pop up a few weeks ago. I hated everything about it. Not enough tongue weight. It just bounced around behimd the truck. Got to the house to park it and quickly remembered that it takes no steering input to turn. So glad we dont use it anymore.

I hauled a uhaul car transporter the other week. A bit better than the pop up, but still not nearly as controlled as the camper.

I love our camper. It is old but it is the perfect size for our style of camping and is a dream to tow with the 392 HEMI CCLB

 

[GsRAM]

So yeah everybody and their brother seems to be buying RV's of one sort or another right now. Dealers can't keep them on their lots which prompted us to make a move right now as well after spending a week at the beach a few weeks ago. I'm retiring in a couple years and our plans are to travel a month or two at a time. We couldn't see our 2005 Nash doing that anymore, just too long in the tooth. So the search started for a replacement, finally found what we wanted in Spokane WA. Called, cut a hell of a deal and locked it in. Driving up on Saturday to pick it up. Btw, I sold the old trailer in three days for pretty much what it was worth. Had so many responses it was crazy.

So out with the old ...

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And in with the new, 2020 Nash 23D (actual). 4 season, offroad chassis ...

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Beautiful new Nash! Very nice, congrats! They are high quality, but expensive. I'm sure you'll love it. I'm suprised you got a good deal with how they are selling, so that's great!