Millennials hit the road in trailers, RVs
More millennials are hitting the road in trailers, RVs
Iconic symbol of middle-class success gains ground with a new audience
Whether it’s Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz traveling across the country in “The Long, Long Trailer” or Iggy Pop spending time at home with Mom and Dad, Americans love their campers. ❚ Now the iconic symbol of middleclass success is gaining ground with a new audience: millennials, who not only are traveling the country in them but renting the wheeled living quarters through Airbnb. ❚ According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, RV shipments saw their second-best year in 2018, with 483,672 units. Shipments were down only 4.1%
from 2017’s record-setting year of 504,600 units.
The surging demand also is fueling the market for classic campers.
Organizations such as the Tin Can Tourists (TCT), a nationwide group celebrating its 100th year in 2019, draw collectors looking for vintage style.
“I like the design, the shape of the unit, to the fabrics used inside, to the woodwork,” said TCT member and Hall of Famer John Truitt regarding vintage travel trailers. “I like how it reflects past eras of design and workmanship.”
Millennials move in
More than a million American households have started camping each year since 2014, with millennials making up 38% of the 75 million active camper households, according to The New York Times.
Truitt said the group is seeing more interest from younger members, with many in their late 20s and early 30s.
Lauren Albrecht of Holly, Michigan, became fascinated with vintage trailers after her family traded in their pop-up camper for her grandfather’s Avion camper.
The 26-year-old is in TCT with her parents and is “obsessed with all things vintage.”
“It’s cool to see the trailers restored,” she said. “That’s the most fun aspect of our group besides the people we camp with. Everyone is so creative, and they really care about preserving the history of these trailers.”
Edward Byrnes 38, of Commerce Township, Michigan, first became aware of TCT after a member happened to be walking by while he was working on a 1959 Fan trailer in his driveway. Byrnes and his girlfriend, Jessica Neff, ended up going to their first TCT rally in 2017.
“One of the reasons Jessica and I got together was our affinity for vintage campers,” he said. “After the rally, we were hooked, and attended as many rallies as we could. That is until we purchased an aging home that now requires much of our time for renovations.”
When the couple is able to go camping, Byrnes said he enjoys the “smell of campfire smoke in the air, making memories and enjoying the company of other TCT members.”
RV brands are taking notice in the demographic shift and are designing trailers geared toward 20- and 30-somethings.
The Airstream, which resembles a gleaming silver bullet, is perhaps the icon of all the RVs on the road.
Airstream – which saw its fifth consecutive year of growth, with sales increasing to 218% – offers a compact RV called the Nest. Weighing 3,400 pounds, the mid-size trailer offers a two-stove burner, microwave and bathroom. Users can change the colors of the interior lighting with a smartphone app. Prices start at $45,900.
Another popular choice is the TAG Teardrop Boondock by NuCamp RVs. The compact towable, which weighs 2,900 pounds, starts at $15,000.
Even car companies such as Volkswagen are jumping back into the camper game with the launch of its California Camper Van last year. In addition, VW is making sure its conventional vehicles have enough power to carry trailers. The Atlas SUV has a 5,000 pound towing capability.
Can’t afford an RV? Airbnb offers RVs to rent. Spend the weekend “glamping” or glamorous camping in Los Angeles in a 1969 Airstream Globetrotter. Campers in the San Gabriel mountains can take in the sights of L.A. such as the Hollywood sign, and the city skyline. The cost: $236 per night.
For something more rustic, Airbnb offers a vintage Airstream in Wimberley, Texas, near San Antonio and Austin. For $130 per night, the RV includes a hot tub, outdoor shower, patio grill, fire pit and a selection of Western movies.
“It’s cool to see the trailers restored . ... Everyone is so creative, and they really care about preserving the history of these trailers.”
Lauren Albrecht of Holly, Michigan