The Valley RV and Camping Show is being held at the Century Center through Sunday, January 11, 2009. (WSBT photo)
Story Created:
Jan 10, 2009 at 4:01 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jan 14, 2009 at 4:17 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND — A South Bend RV show is weathering two storms this weekend — from the weather and the economy.
The Valley RV and Camping Show is under way at the Century Center through Sunday evening.
The event is smaller this year, but some RV sellers say they are seeing signs of a recovery.
Pam Spark and her husband drove from Starke County to shop for an RV.
“This is the one we've been looking at, and it's got plenty of room for the grandkids — and we've got four grandkids — and they've got plenty of room to run around in, and it's the right size for us,” Spark told WSBT News.
Spark said the time is right to buy a new RV to replace her old one. She may even get one at this weekend's show.
"We just go here and the one we looked at is in our price range, money-wise and payment-wise, and they're dealing with us pretty good on it,” she said.
RV dealers are cutting prices and making deals to move the inventory of models. It is part of their efforts to kick-start a recovery in the industry.
And Spark wants to do her part. She said she wants to buy an RV that is made locally.
“To help the economy, plus the workers,” she explained. “[It’s] very important [to me].”
It is shoppers like Spark that give RV companies and dealers some encouragement for 2009 and beyond.
“I just have a feeling we're going to come out of this,” said Charlie Merkel, who works for RV maker Jayco of Middlebury. “The question is how fast?”
Merkel says the tight credit conditions late last year prevented buyers from getting loans to buy RVs. Unlike the weather outside, Merkel says there are signs that the credit freeze may be thawing.
“I’ve got to tell you by mid-December things have loosened up some, and a couple of other things the dealers over the country have said that retail traffic has been decent,” Merkel continued. “I'm not saying a ton of sales have been made, but there have been some sales. And again the credit thing is huge, and if those purse strings open up enough I think that there is plenty of room for optimism."
RV sellers and shoppers are looking forward to a vacation from the tough economic news.
