The Federal Reserve's relentless interest rate increases have made RV ownership a luxury only the wealthy can afford, leaving working families scrambling to figure out summer vacation plans.
FED'S RATE HIKES CRUSH WORKING FOLKS' DREAM OF FAMILY CAMPING TRIPS
According to the National Association of RV Dealers, financing costs have hit their highest levels in ten years, with monthly payments on a basic travel trailer now running $200-300 more than they did just two years ago.
RV dealers across the country are reporting sales drops of 40% as families who saved up for years to buy their first camper are being priced out by loan rates that can top 12% for buyers with decent credit. That means a $35,000 travel trailer that would have cost a family $420 a month in 2024 now runs closer to $650 monthly – and that's before insurance, registration, and storage costs.
The ripple effects go beyond disappointed families. RV manufacturers like REV Group are laying off workers, and dealerships that employ mechanics, salespeople, and parts specialists are cutting hours or closing entirely. Campgrounds that depend on RV tourists are bracing for their worst season since the pandemic, which means fewer jobs for maintenance workers, camp hosts, and seasonal help.
This isn't just about recreational vehicles – it's about the Fed's monetary policy crushing one of the last affordable ways for working families to take real vacations. While airline tickets and hotel rooms have priced out most blue-collar families, camping offered a way to see the country without breaking the bank. Now even that's out of reach for many.
✍ My Take: The Fed claims they're fighting inflation, but they're really fighting working people's ability to enjoy life. RV camping was one of the few vacations left that didn't require taking out a second mortgage. Now bureaucrats in Washington have decided that families making $60,000 a year don't deserve to take their kids to see Yellowstone or spend weekends at the lake. Meanwhile, the wealthy who buy RVs with cash aren't affected at all. This is class warfare disguised as monetary policy, and it stinks.
📎 National Association of RV Dealers
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