Higher fuel costs have tapped the brakes on the post-COVID-19 boom in recreational vehicles.The RV Industry Association predicts a 1.5% dip from 2021’s record-breaking shipments to dealers.But traffic has not slowed for either new or rental RVs at Leach Camper Sales in Lincoln according to sales manager Tyler Seite.”Demand for rentals has been really good,” Seite said. “We did actually have a couple cancellations over the Fourth of July, and they rebooked immediately so actually all of our main rental fleet is out right now,” Seite said.He said he has noticed people have curbed how far they travel.”I would say that people are going places and staying longer, maybe not traveling quite as much. You know, going to one place and staying a week or 10 days instead of bouncing around for a week or 10 days,” Seite said.That’s exactly what we heard from campers at Mahoney state park.”Oh definitely. You know you don’t buy these for gas mileage,” said Jon Emmons of Omaha.He said this year it’s maybe spending the Fourth of July at Mahoney and then one more trip in September to celebrate his and his wife’s anniversary.”Half a tank is about $150. And you’re only going to get about eight to 10 miles a gallon. Depending on the wind,” Emmons said.Even hauling a trailer digs into the pocketbook.”We’re going to go to we’re going to go camping and take that alone,” Keelee Saunders said jokingly.The mother of two from Omaha said it’s actually cheaper for them to travel when you consider airfare and hotel accommodations.”It’s easier to travel all together in a camper and stay close by home rather than have to pay for a dog sitter. pay for everything else. As far as kids you pay for it all anyway going to a hotel. So you might as well just load everything up at a camper and have it all with you,” Saunders said.”It’s fun. It’s memories that make it we’ve had all week out here so wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Saunders said.Mahoney Park superintendent Jake Ridoek said they haven’t seen RV numbers drop.”We’re seeing similar numbers as the years past,” Ridoek said.Ridoek said due to staffing shortages they had to shut down some attractions during the weekdays such as the popular aquatic center on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, everything is open on weekends. But I have an extremely dedicated team,” Ridoek said. “All industries we’ve seen challenges in staffing issues.”State park fees have not increased.”To try and keep everything affordable for families to come out and enjoy the great outdoors,” Ridoek said.Cathy and Gary Jones traveled from Florida.”The gas prices were a big thing because we’re pulling a trailer so it’s twice as much gas to get up here,” Cathy said. She said that nothing was going to keep them from seeing their grandson and a new granddaughter.”We question whether or we could do it or not but we wanted to be with the family so we’re just spending it and wish it would go down,” Cathy said.
Higher fuel costs have tapped the brakes on the post-COVID-19 boom in recreational vehicles.
The RV Industry Association predicts a 1.5% dip from 2021’s record-breaking shipments to dealers.
But traffic has not slowed for either new or rental RVs at Leach Camper Sales in Lincoln according to sales manager Tyler Seite.
“Demand for rentals has been really good,” Seite said.
“We did actually have a couple cancellations over the Fourth of July, and they rebooked immediately so actually all of our main rental fleet is out right now,” Seite said.
He said he has noticed people have curbed how far they travel.
“I would say that people are going places and staying longer, maybe not traveling quite as much. You know, going to one place and staying a week or 10 days instead of bouncing around for a week or 10 days,” Seite said.
That’s exactly what we heard from campers at Mahoney state park.
“Oh definitely. You know you don’t buy these for gas mileage,” said Jon Emmons of Omaha.
He said this year it’s maybe spending the Fourth of July at Mahoney and then one more trip in September to celebrate his and his wife’s anniversary.
“Half a tank is about $150. And you’re only going to get about eight to 10 miles a gallon. Depending on the wind,” Emmons said.
Even hauling a trailer digs into the pocketbook.
“We’re going to go to we’re going to go camping and take that alone,” Keelee Saunders said jokingly.
The mother of two from Omaha said it’s actually cheaper for them to travel when you consider airfare and hotel accommodations.
“It’s easier to travel all together in a camper and stay close by home rather than have to pay for a dog sitter. pay for everything else. As far as kids you pay for it all anyway going to a hotel. So you might as well just load everything up at a camper and have it all with you,” Saunders said.
“It’s fun. It’s memories that make it we’ve had all week out here so wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Saunders said.
Mahoney Park superintendent Jake Ridoek said they haven’t seen RV numbers drop.
“We’re seeing similar numbers as the years past,” Ridoek said.
Ridoek said due to staffing shortages they had to shut down some attractions during the weekdays such as the popular aquatic center on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
However, everything is open on weekends. But I have an extremely dedicated team,” Ridoek said. “All industries we’ve seen challenges in staffing issues.”
State park fees have not increased.
“To try and keep everything affordable for families to come out and enjoy the great outdoors,” Ridoek said.
Cathy and Gary Jones traveled from Florida.
“The gas prices were a big thing because we’re pulling a trailer so it’s twice as much gas to get up here,” Cathy said.
She said that nothing was going to keep them from seeing their grandson and a new granddaughter.
“We question whether or we could do it or not but we wanted to be with the family so we’re just spending it and wish it would go down,” Cathy said.
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