
By Tony Barthel
If you’re driving around and seeing RV dealer lots empty it’s not because they’re going out of business. In fact, RV dealers and the industry as a whole are thriving. The problem is a shortage of critical parts at manufacturing plants that makes finishing many RVs impossible or presents long delays.
According to some sources, there are RVs sitting in fields waiting for just a few parts before they’re considered complete and shipped off to the dealers. And for every RV that a dealer may have on order, there may be multiple people willing to put down a deposit on that RV and buy it sight unseen.
Thor, the world’s largest RV manufacturer, stated in its first-quarter fiscal results that it has $8.9 billion in back-ordered RVs worldwide, predominantly due to parts shortages. That’s like Santa promising you a toy for Christmas and you…