Mooney
Santa Barbara, Ca
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Joined: 09/10/2002
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The local RV dealers in my area are screaming the blues. Dan Gamel, the largest Fleetwood dealer in the nation has called it quites. Any thoughts on how the camper guys are doing?
Will they all survive? Will the economy wean out the small guys? Aren't most of the camper people small anyway?
So far I haven't heard of any of them raising the white flag, however I am curious if the bow is about to break.
'08 Ford F550, Lariat, Link Air Suspension, Roll-A-Long Conversion, Twin Turbo 6.4, TorkLifts, SuperHitch, "Monster Duty Truckasaurus"
'05 Lance to-the-Max (Sold)1181.
'09 Host Everest
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Slick Lizard
High Desert Colorado
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Joined: 03/14/2008
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I dont usualy watch much TV but I have been seeing a lot of commercials for the local RV dealerships much more often then I can remember. And we do have a lot of RV dealers out here in Grand Junction.
I guess they are doing what they can to compete for the business that is still out there.
I know that the local shop I use for parts has mentioned that they are selling a lot more parts and doing repairs. I guess people are fixing them instead of trading them in.
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outdoorsman2007
In the Woods - Somewhere!
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Joined: 04/12/2007
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Fleetwood dealers are probably having some unique troubles due to what has been happening to Fleetwood.
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kcabpilot
CA
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Joined: 04/07/2008
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When we made our recent trip up to Banff and Jasper I was astonished at the size and number of RV dealerships we saw going up through the Okanagan valley and through Kelowna. I had never seen anything like it in my life. They were literally one after the other on both sides of the highway and they were all huge. So there might be a bit of overcapacity in the industry. I also have a business in general aviation (which is largely recreational) and I've been doing it for a lot of years. One thing I do know - when times start to get tough, recreational activities are one of the first things to get axed from the family budget.
I would think that dealerships in areas like the Okanagan, where there are large numbers of retired folks (you know, the kind that retired back when people still had pensions) probably will have a better chance at getting business but, like I said, there are an awful lot of them up there. I'm sure the ranks are gonna get thinned out a bit.
1994 Lance 990 on 1997 F350 PSD Dually
We also have a 'truck' that FLYS
Our 2008 trip to The Canadian Rockies
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Beddows
Abbotsford, Canada
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Not only Dealers, manufacturers like Carefree & Dometic who all deal with the RV industry are feeling the pinch as people reconsider the RV lifestyle due to high fuel prices.
As to post above, the Okanagan is home to several manufacturers, which may account for the large number of dealers as well.
2004 Chevy 3500 Duramax DRW
2008 Snow River Prestige Signature Edition. (The first, and maybe last of its kind)
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lindsay90
Fresno, Commiefornia
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Joined: 06/09/2008
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Mooney wrote:The local RV dealers in my area are screaming the blues. Dan Gamel, the largest Fleetwood dealer in the nation has called it quites. Any thoughts on how the camper guys are doing?
Will they all survive? Will the economy wean out the small guys? Aren't most of the camper people small anyway?
So far I haven't heard of any of them raising the white flag, however I am curious if the bow is about to break.
The one in Fresno (Dan Gamel) is closing it's big store and moving back to a smaller location at least that is what they told me. So I do not know if they are closing the doors for good??
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jmtandem
carson city nv
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Joined: 01/18/2006
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Fleetwood is one of the RV manufacturers that made a profit last year.
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed airbags overload springs bumpers
'00 Elkhorn 10V w/basement
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tom_kat
way upstate new york/lake george area
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I know of one dealer that has other businesses to fall back on in the hard times when things get slow,he's been at it a long time.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
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Paoli
Quesnel BC
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Joined: 10/29/2005
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I am in the market for a motorhome.
It's a buyers market right now if you want to take what they have in the lot.
But if you have your mind set on one model that they don't have in stock, you will not get it because they simply don't order it in.
I see prices on motorhomes dropping by the week.
Not sure about truck campers, but I still see a lot of those in dealer lots as well.
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Mooney
Santa Barbara, Ca
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lindsay90 wrote:Mooney wrote:The local RV dealers in my area are screaming the blues. Dan Gamel, the largest Fleetwood dealer in the nation has called it quites. Any thoughts on how the camper guys are doing?
Will they all survive? Will the economy wean out the small guys? Aren't most of the camper people small anyway?
So far I haven't heard of any of them raising the white flag, however I am curious if the bow is about to break.
The one in Fresno (Dan Gamel) is closing it's big store and moving back to a smaller location at least that is what they told me. So I do not know if they are closing the doors for good??
He's done: Forbes
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