By The Transwest Team
As 2022 came to a close, Transwest took an exciting look back over the course of the year and noticed the trends taking place in the RV industry. From advances in technology to new RV designs, 2022 has held some key trends that are a direct result of the wishes of RVers.
Do you want to be able to work out of your RV anywhere on earth? Are you looking to take your RVing experience to new frontiers offroad? The 2022 trends are in, and top RV and travel trailer manufacturers have heard your voices. Let’s take a look at the top trends in the RV industry and see how they are responding to consumer wishes.
RV TREND: DIGITAL NOMADING
As the dust has started settling around the pandemic, we are seeing that remote work is here to stay. This creates opportunities for travelers to move out of the cities and hit the open road. As a result, there has been an increasing demand from the RV manufacturing community to offer new floor plans to make their RVs the “anywhere office.”
The Airstream Flying Cloud 30FB made waves this January when it was rolled out at Florida’s RV trade show. The unique floor plan offers an integrated power-standing desk, a matching chair, and additional connectivity options.
This has led other manufacturers, such as Alliance and Forest River, to introduce their Paradigm 390MP and Riverstone 42FSKG fifth wheels, both offering dedicated office space options.
If you’re pursuing the life of a digital nomad, you can count on a plethora of dedicated RV apps that help you along the way, which we collected in this article.
creates opportunities for travelers to move out of the cities and hit the open road. As a result, there has been an increasing demand from the RV manufacturing community to offer new floor plans to make their RVs the “anywhere office.”
The Airstream Flying Cloud 30FB made waves this January when it was rolled out at Florida’s RV trade show. The unique floor plan offers an integrated power-standing desk, a matching chair, and additional connectivity options.
This has led other manufacturers, such as Alliance and Forest River, to introduce their Paradigm 390MP and Riverstone 42FSKG fifth wheels, both offering dedicated office space options.
If you’re pursuing the life of a digital nomad, you can count on a plethora of dedicated RV apps that help you along the way, which we collected in this article.
Count on a connection that can serve you, wherever your RV takes you.
RV TREND: CONNECTIVITY UPGRADES
A fantastic new trend in the RV industry is the introduction of “always on” connectivity. Anyone who has been on the road long enough knows that getting internet in your RV is quite the process, and you are certain to lose signal from time to time, especially when traveling in remote locations.
As a result, Starlink has introduced their internet satellite dish for RVs this year, which offers around 90 MBPS speeds. This connectivity can support the ability to stream movies, check emails, and do anything else you can do with your home internet. For those interested in this service, Starlink currently costs $135/mo, as well as a startup cost of $599 for the hardware.
It is worth noting that you can’t use the service while driving; however, that could be changing soon. In June of this year, the parent company, SpaceX, received approval from the FCC to allow people to connect to the service while traveling. With this approval, most believe that the feature will roll out soon.
RV TREND: RENTING YOUR RV
A large group of RVers is starting to look at their RV in a new light — a green light. With new RV-focused ride-sharing platforms, such as RVshare.com and Outdoorsy.com, RV owners are renting out their RVs as a secondary income stream.
These platforms allow owners to control the rental process, including adding blackout dates and restrictions. The platforms also provide a guarantee of deposits, a background check of the renters, and offer insurance coverage in case of an accident.
This has allowed many RVers to afford the purchase of a new RV without increasing the cost to themselves. Not only that, but many love the idea of sharing their passion for RVing with someone else, allowing more people to tap into the joys of RV travel.
RV TREND: IMPROVED OFF-GRID CAPABILITIES
Similar to the changing market demands that led to the introduction of office spaces in RVs, manufacturers are listening to the voices of consumers asking them to include off-grid options. “Boondocking”—or camping in an area without connections—has become a popular trend recently with campers wishing to spend extended periods off-grid.
As a result, consumers are looking for RVs with lithium battery banks, solar panels, solar generators, and increased-size propane and water tanks.
For some people that are pushing away from traditional campsites and going further into nature, they need rigs that will get them there. Smaller rigs, such as the Winnebago Revel, are being designed to offer better ground clearance, four-wheel drive on demand, and enhanced traction control options.
These highly advanced rigs offer the luxury of a high-end RV with the capabilities of a large four-wheel drive SUV.
RV TREND: BETTER GAS MILEAGE
With the US average gas prices hitting almost $5.00 this summer, we are seeing RV manufacturers take notice. Many of the top RV manufacturers now offer fuel-sipping options, such as the Winnebago Travato or the Roadtrek Sprinter RS Adventurous, which gets an incredible 20 mpg.
Industry leaders Thor and Winnebago, shocked the industry in January when they released their concepts for full electric E-RVs. Both RVs are attempting to provide emission-free vehicles that would take less than 45 minutes to charge at an EV station.
There have been some concerns about the distance between recharging, but the heads of both companies are looking at the future of battery technology to solve these problems. Both concepts focus on weight saving while maintaining the luxury of modern RVs, saving customers the pinch at the pump.
COUNT ON TRANSWEST FOR THE LATEST IN RVS
With new technology shaking up the industry this year, we are excited to see how the industry is changing with it. Manufacturers are listening to their customers, and we will continue to see the evolution of the RV based on that feedback.
If you want to see any of the incredible advancements in RV comfort and style, come visit us at any of our Transwest locations. We will be happy to show you what the future of RVs looks like. Feel free to call ahead with any inventory-specific questions as well.
