Show And More Recreation Units three million millon th than TOt TO more t Am families camping i va vacationing in a rec- rec s pa ln vehicle with many fn most of the comforts 1 not Dot I jf it and nd conveniences of home at ati 4 i prepared red camp site probably a hundred feet ably lust just a few from a busy highway 1 THOUGH the wilderness look down his nose may hiker biler hiker brethren loving comfort his at J wheels the fact of the on oI m matter atter is that the recreation- recreation L m vehicle industry is one of al Se nations nation's growing fastest-growing the e r enterprises rises By 1980 eight i I fn to to ten million such campers expected to be on the tare rare e from only 32 million milon mil mil- fi rJ d u up 1 lion ion on in 1 l O 0 J I Predictions of further healthy t for recreational ve- ve j growth lodes hides are supported by several several sev- sev eral Wal important trends 1 work week continues to tor The Ibe e r Decline and vacation time timeto de det decline c line 2 personal t I ito t to increase L Consumption consumption expenditures are expected to climb about r 1 SO 50 percent over the next decas dec dec- ade de as has been the case over ver the past decade and 3 the population will expand by 25 million people or 11 t percent annually over the next ten years 4 4 THE number of campers camp camp- ers risen from ten million people pie in m 1960 to 20 million 1 ta n 1969 will advance further to 60 64 million by 1980 5 more campers are using recreational vehicles 6 the number of public and private campgrounds is multiplying e y and 7 the rising costs of alternative leisure activities suggest further further fur- fur ther growth for recreational vehicles For example in connection Ii I with this last issue of rising rising ris- ris ing costs a chart prepared by jy Mobile Life Magazine shows the expense for a family of five on a 2000 mile tw two week trip using different methods of trans trans- Costs are estimated ed at 1200 for a family traveling raveling by air 25 if using using using us us- ing an auto and staying in m motels and if going by recreational vehicle which even includes amortization amortization amortization amort amort- outlays for the recreational recreational recreational rec rec- vehicle involved OF THE basic recreational vehicle types most popular is the travel trailer frailer a portable structure with wheels that is towed by a car or truck Retail prices range from to Then there is the camping trailer a folding canvas i structure mounted on wheels and also designed to be towed time First-time buyers usually usually usually us us- select this type which ranges in m price from to 2000 with the average near 1200 THE MOTOR home is a self-powered self portable dwelling dwelling dwell dwell- ing built on a truck or bus chassis This has been the industry's hottest line for th the past two years ears and will likely be so again this year Prices range from to over Truck campers and pickup covers are similar in that they are both portable structures structures structures tures made to be mounted on a pickup or truck chassis Truck campers sell for 1000 to w with t T TO JO the average average average av av- av- av pickups range from to 1100 ALTHOUGH there are makers of recreational vehicles vehicles vehicles ve ve- only a handful of the leaders are publicly held Largest is Winnebago Industries Industries Industries Indus Indus- tries accounting for some 35 to 4 40 p percent of the motor- motor home market Major motor- motor home competitors include Trav- Trav co Industries Explorer er Motor Homes Anthony Industries and Lifetime Boise Cascade One of the largest builders of travel trailers with annual annual annual an an- nual sales of 25 million is Holiday Rambler r Corporation on lom company ny with Willi annual annual annual an an- nual sales of million is tops in m the trailer camper-trailer field MANY mobile home producers producers producers pro pro- also turn out t i ion o n a 1 l vehicles-Champion vehicles Fleetwood and Skyline among others Outstanding V R-V manufacturers manufacturers manufacturers manu manu- are Beatrice Foods A Bangor Punta Sheller Globe Western Orbis Kit Manufacturing Open Road Industries Industries Industries In In- Camel Manufacturing ing and Coachman Industries Of OC the most significant companies companies companies com com- involved in this steadily steadily steadily stead stead- ily growing field the Babson staff currently considers Boise Cascade in a satisfactory position for purchase by investors seeking term longer-term appreciation |