January 29, 2008 3:02PM

The Ultimate Tailgating Machine

By Cheryl Casone

One industry that has shown five consecutive years of growth is the RV business. With the dollar in the toilet, it makes sense that Americans would want to travel in their own backyard.  But in 2007, there was a slight sales decline, just as we’ve seen in the housing market. Richard Coon, RVIA’s chief spokesman joined us today on the show, and he brought along a 43-foot long RV from Newmar, a Class A motor-home.

It’s a 14 billion dollar industry that showed record revenues in 2006. Go to their website, www.gorving.com for more industry specs.  I really want to thank Tim Gearhart from Newmar Corporation, who drove this monster into New York from Indiana.  Our booker Marissa and Elaine (who did such a great job on this segment) said they could barely breathe while the RVIA team tried to park it on 48th street next to FBN.  You can guess how New York drivers feel about a street being blocked! Oy.

This thing has three beds, two bathrooms, two full kitchens, an ice machine, and a full size grill.  It is gigantic! Here’s another pic of myself and Tim Gearhart….

To the right the video is posted of the full segment.  Tom gets onboard for the second half.

Some interesting side notes: 

It is projected that by the year 2010, 8.5 million U.S. households will own an RV.  You are curious about the cost to fill this thing up right?  We were curious this morning at the meeting as well! A PKF study found that fuel prices would have to more than triple over current levels to make RVing more expensive for a family of four than other forms of travel. RV sales should continue to grow as aging baby-boomers continue to enter the demographic where RV ownership is at its highest, age 50 to 74.

Happy trails!

CC