RV Shipments Decline in 2026, but Demand for Trailer Upgrades Remains Strong

Two RV market signals are moving in different directions

RV Industry Association data shows that manufacturers shipped 22,900 RVs in May 2026, an 18.7% decline from May 2025. Towable RVs fell more sharply, with 19,679 units shipped, down 21.3%. Earlier in March, towable shipments had already fallen 16.2% year over year.

At the same time, the association’s Spring Travel Intention Survey reported that 34.6 million Americans planned to take an RV trip during spring 2026, representing a 23% increase from the previous spring. The survey also reported that 74 million Americans intended to go RVing within the following year.

These indicators measure different parts of the market. Wholesale shipments show how many new RVs manufacturers send to dealers. Travel intentions show how many consumers expect to use an RV. One can weaken while the other remains strong.

What the May shipment breakdown tells us

The May figures show that weakness was concentrated in towable categories. Conventional travel trailers recorded 15,480 shipments, down 15.8% from a year earlier. Fifth-wheel shipments fell to 3,588 units, a 38.1% decline. By contrast, total motorhome shipments increased 2.2% to 3,221 units.

For trailer-component manufacturers, the most important point is that towable shipment declines are not automatically equivalent to a decline in the towable installed base. Travel trailers, fifth wheels, pop-up campers and older caravans already in use still require hitching, lifting, leveling and stabilization equipment.

Why strong RV travel intention changes the interpretation

Consumers may postpone purchasing a new RV while still taking the vacation they planned. They can travel in an RV they already own, rent one, borrow a family unit or purchase a used trailer instead of a new model.

The spring survey also highlighted national parks, beaches, coastal destinations and private campgrounds as major destinations. Hiking, biking and other outdoor activities remained important trip motivations, while interest in longer regional drives was recovering.

More planned trips mean more hitching cycles, campsite setup, exposure to rain and road salt, movement over gravel and uneven ground, and repeated extension and retraction of support components. These operating cycles create wear even when the number of newly manufactured trailers falls.

The market may be shifting from new purchases to installed-fleet spending

The current data does not prove that every aftermarket product category is already growing. However, the combination of lower new-RV shipments and stronger travel intentions is consistent with a market in which more value moves toward maintenance, repair and practical upgrades.

Five trailer product opportunities linked to the installed RV fleet

What typically triggers a trailer jack replacement?

RV owners do not usually replace a jack because of industry shipment statistics. They replace it because a specific problem has made the existing unit inconvenient, unreliable or unsafe.

• The screw mechanism is difficult to turn or has seized after long-term exposure.
• The outer tube, mounting plate or bracket is bent or visibly deformed.
• The footplate sinks into soft ground or no longer provides stable contact.
• A jockey wheel is cracked, worn flat, loose on its axle or too small for the campsite surface.
• The jack lacks enough travel to align the coupler with the tow vehicle.
• The rated capacity is too close to the actual tongue load.
• Manual operation has become too slow or physically demanding for the owner.
• Corrosion, water entry or damaged wiring has reduced confidence in the unit.

These replacement triggers become more relevant as RVs stay in service longer and change owners through the used market. A component that was acceptable for the first owner’s occasional use may not suit the next owner’s route, storage location or towing frequency.

How distributors should position replacement and upgrade products

1. Sell by application, not only by rated capacity. Separate products for travel trailers, caravans, fifth wheels, boat trailers and equipment trailers so buyers can identify the relevant design quickly.
2. Explain tongue load and lift requirements. Capacity, retracted height, extended height and travel distance should be shown together rather than as isolated specifications.
3. Make mounting compatibility visible. Buyers need clear information on A-frame mounting, pipe mounts, bolt patterns, weld-on brackets, clamps and tube diameters.
4. Offer repair parts alongside complete jacks. Some customers need a full replacement; others only need a clamp, bracket, handle, foot or wheel assembly.
5. Present manual and electric options as different use cases. Manual jacks emphasize simplicity and independence from power. Electric tongue jacks emphasize convenience, repeated operation and reduced physical effort.
6. Address outdoor durability. Zinc plating, powder coating, sealed electrical components and corrosion-resistant hardware matter for long-term RV use.

What the 2026 data means for B2B buyers

OEM demand may remain sensitive to production schedules and dealer inventory. Aftermarket demand operates differently. It is tied to the number of trailers already in service, their age, usage frequency, exposure conditions and the willingness of owners to repair rather than replace the entire RV.

For importers, distributors and private-label suppliers, this favors a product mix that covers both complete replacements and lower-cost service parts. It also favors clear packaging, cross-reference information and models that fit common A-frame, round-tube and clamp-mounted applications.

A balanced 2026 product strategy may therefore include:

• high-volume manual replacement jacks for standard travel trailers;
• electric tongue jack upgrade options for heavier recreational trailers;
• galvanized jockey wheels for caravans and compact campers;
• higher-capacity support jacks for stability and campsite setup;
• replacement clamps, brackets and mounting accessories;
• retail-ready and private-label packaging for the aftermarket channel.

The RV market is not defined by new shipments alone

The 2026 U.S. RV market presents a mixed picture. Manufacturers shipped fewer units, especially in towable categories, while millions more Americans expressed an intention to travel by RV during spring.

That combination suggests a shift in where some consumers may spend: away from immediately purchasing a new RV and toward using, repairing or upgrading the one already available to them.

For trailer parts suppliers, replacement tongue jacks, electric upgrades, caravan jockey wheels, stabilizer jacks and mounting accessories remain relevant because every active trip places demands on the existing equipment. The opportunity is not to describe the market as simply rising or falling, but to supply the components that keep the installed RV fleet usable, stable and easier to operate.