The RV industry is heading toward a smaller shipment year in 2026, with a steadier market expected in 2027. The Fall 2026 RV RoadSigns forecast, prepared by ITR Economics for the RV Industry Association, puts wholesale shipments at about 290,000 units this year and 285,000 next year.

For RVers and campground operators, the distinction matters: this is an outlook for new RVs moving through the wholesale market, not a forecast of campground stays or workamping jobs.

The forecast at a glance

  • 2026: Approximately 290,000 wholesale shipments, with a projected range of 284,600–295,400. That would be 15.3% below the 342,220 units shipped in 2025.
  • 2027: Approximately 285,000 shipments, within a range of 274,700–295,300. The midpoint is about 1.7% below the 2026 projection.
  • Timing: Shipment declines are expected to ease in the first half of 2027, with year-over-year quarterly growth returning in the second half.

That last point helps explain the headline: a return to growth later in 2027 can coexist with a slightly lower full-year total.

What is holding the market back?

RVIA President and CEO Craig Kirby attributed softer demand to inflation, high borrowing costs, more expensive fuel, and economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Those pressures affect consumers considering major purchases and have prompted dealers to order cautiously.

The association also highlighted a stabilizing factor: retail registrations exceeded wholesale shipments over the preceding 12 months, helping keep inventories disciplined. Better inventory alignment could give the industry a firmer footing as demand improves.

What this means for RVers and workampers

HitchPath perspective: Treat the forecast as context for planning, rather than a prediction about your next campsite or seasonal job. A reduction in new RV shipments does not directly tell us how often existing owners will travel, which destinations they will choose, or how many employees a particular park will need.

For a workamper considering a 2027 assignment, the useful questions remain local and specific: What are the start and end dates? How many hours are expected? What compensation and RV-site arrangements are included? Has the employer confirmed the position?

For campground operators, their own reservation patterns and staffing requirements are more direct planning inputs than national wholesale totals alone.

The next signal to watch is whether the projected slowdown in declines actually appears in early 2027, followed by the anticipated improvement later in the year. These figures are forecasts, not completed shipment counts.