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RV sales are slumping. Winnebago is betting its new-and-improved $150,000 camper van can change this.

Brittany ChangJul 29, 2023, 16:02 IST

Winnebago's upcoming Solis Pocket 36B camper van RV will have a bathroom, galley, and dinette. It will retail for around $150,000.Winnebago

RV sales have slumped after hitting a record high during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Winnebago is betting a refresh of its popular Solis Pocket camper van will bring in new buyers.

Amid a slump in RV sales, Winnebago is betting a refresh of its popular Solis Pocket camper van will bring the legacy RV company a needed boost.

RV makers had their most recent heyday during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When people were too nervous to fly on planes or sail on cruises — seemingly a lifetime ago — more travelers turned to RVing.

And this boon was immediately felt across the industry as travelers began scrambling to buy tiny homes on wheels. Sales were so frenzied, Winnebago amassed an astounding $4.37 billion backlog in orders in 2022.

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At the time, it felt like the RV industry had accidentally struck gold.

Aaron Yoder/Getty Images

Wholesale RV shipments have dropped almost 50% from 2023 compared to 2022, according to May data from the RV Industry Association.

Workers inside the Airstream factory in Jackson Center, Ohio in 2014.Jay LaPrete/AP Photo

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Amid this dip, Winnebago is hoping a refresh of its cheapest camper van will bring back the buyers RV makers need.

Winnebago

The new Solis Pocket 36B won't look identical to a city apartment, but it will have pretty decent amenities as far as camper vans go.

Winnebago

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Multipurpose dinettes are a frequent fixture in small RVs — there isn't much room for a separate bed and dining table in a nearly 18-foot-long van, after all.

Winnebago

For those who prefer modern amenities over "going in the woods," Winnebago will include a compact bathroom in the rear.

Winnebago

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A toilet and shower aren't guaranteed in all camper vans.

Winnebago

For meals on the road, the galley will have necessities like a small refrigerator and electric stovetop.

Winnebago

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To power any onboard amenities, buyers can pay extra to upgrade the RV's power system to a more energy-efficient kit.

Winnebago

This refreshed RV will hit Winnebago's dealerships next month.

Winnebago

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