North American owners of recreational vehicles, including motorcoaches and towable products, are not letting elevated fuel prices dampen their enthusiasm for travel and adventure, according to a recently conducted survey.
In fact, more than 72% of members of Coach-Net, a leading provider of RV roadside assistance as well as RV lifestyle services and benefits, recently indicated that rising fuel prices would have no effect on their plans this summer.
According to a press release, the survey of 45,000 member subscribers Coach-Net’s monthly e-newsletter was conducted from May 21–28, and has a margin of error of plus or minus approximately 4.5 percentage points, based on a sample of 473 respondents.
RV owners responding to the survey also indicated their continuing preference for longer road trips. The largest respondent group, 48.8%, said they generally travel more than 1,000 miles when taking a trip in their RV. Closer-to-home road trips of 100-499 miles ranked second, with 25.2% of respondents indicating their preference for this distance, and mid-range trips of 500-1,000 miles ranked third, at 20.5%. Only 5.5% indicated they generally take RV trips of less than 100 miles.
The survey findings align with recent survey results announced by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). The RVIA survey, released last month, indicated that 71% of RV owners intend to use their RVs more this spring and summer than they did last year.
“These survey results reflect the passion for travel and adventure that RV owners have,” said Matt Krzysiak, CEO of National Motor Club, parent company of the Coach-Net brand. “For many of our members, their RV is their home. Their enthusiasm for the RV lifestyle is certainly understandable, as it’s a great way to see the country and can be relatively affordable. RVing also delivers great convenience and flexibility, compared to other ways to travel, so it’s no wonder that more and more families are choosing to become RV owners. We are proud to provide them with outstanding services and products that meet their RV lifestyle needs.”
RV owners responding to the survey also indicated they generally travel with companions, with more than 87% taking road trips with a spouse or significant other, 12.1% bringing other family and 8.2% bringing friends. Only 6.1% indicated that they travel alone. Additionally, more than 36% travel in their RV with one or more pets.
When asked to select their favorite regional destinations for North American road trips, the respondents’ top choices were the U.S. West and Southwest, at 46.7% and 41.4%, respectively.
