This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
In addition to the traditional baby boomers, this hobby now appeals to sports and outdoor enthusiasts, young families and even nomadic adventurers. All that’s left now is to equip yourself well to conquer the great outdoors!
According to Sylvain Gauthier, spokesperson for the Salon du RV, which takes place this weekend at the Palais des congrès Montréal, caravanning has never been so popular. As proof, the attendance record for the Quebec City show last November, which exceeded the expected number of visitors by 20,000 people. Never seen before! “We expect to break another record this spring in Montreal,” added Mr. Gauthier. According to him, the pandemic has only accentuated the popularity of this hobby with several clienteles, including young families. “People have developed a taste for sleeping in their facilities. Young families have started to rent or buy trailers and have taken a liking to this hobby. »
Sylvain Gauthier, also co-owner of Roulottes Chaudière with his spouse, adds that this clientele is looking for small trailers that can be attached to smaller vehicles. “They’re lighter, cheaper than big fifth wheels and don’t need a big SUV to tow them. »
The increasingly popular off-road segment
If the motorized giants, Class A recreational vehicles, are still as popular among baby boomersfor a clientele of snowbirds in particular, the clientele interested in recreational vehicles has thus expanded and today includes people of all ages and from all walks of life. In addition to young families, sports enthusiasts and adventurers are now part of the big family of caravanning enthusiasts. “Outdoor enthusiasts are increasingly interested in RVs. The segment off road has become very popular and practiced year-round by enthusiasts, illustrates Mr. Gauthier. These include sport fishing enthusiasts, skiers, snowboarders, mountain bikers, who have to ride in hazardous places for a standard RV. Fortunately, the industry has followed these new needs and has been able to respond to them. Redesigned suspension systems and tires adapted to different surfaces are a few examples offered on certain production RVs. »
According to Josée Bédard, president of RVDA Canada and administrator of the Liberté en VR association, another emerging trend is the demand for compact vehicles that are well equipped for comfort. “More and more, we want portable accommodation for keeping warm, sleeping, washing, etc., but we don’t want something bulky to carry around. People want to get from place to place quickly, park easily and, of course, have as much autonomy as possible. This explains the new enthusiasm for Class B motorized vehicles, which are smaller and more versatile than those of Class A, and for the mounted boxes that are fixed on 1500 series pickups.
At Nomad Van, it is precisely the Class B vehicle that is targeted to reach an emerging clientele of all ages, mainly active people, outdoor enthusiasts, who are looking for an RV that is as autonomous as possible to go on an adventure. . Olivier Bilodeau, president of the company, specializes in the custom development of campers in this category. “I wanted to offer vehicles that promote trips in complete autonomy, and that allow us to focus on the pleasure and spontaneity attributed to a nomadic life, without requiring a reservation in a campsite with services. He explains that his clientele often prefers the boondocking (caravanning in a place that does not have electricity, water and sewer services) to sites equipped with all amenities, often less attractive than wild camps.
More autonomy
To remedy this, the vehicles must be designed with more autonomy and have alternatives for the expulsion of waste water, among others. The industry has had to adapt to the way of life of the vanlife, increasingly popular. Many class B vehicles now come with a stand-alone generator with lithium batteries and 12v/120v solar panels and inverters. The battery charges when you’re driving, and when you’re stationary, the energy from the solar panels takes over. Diesel, gasoline and prestone are used to heat the cabin and the water.
“The cassette toilet is an element that comes with this type of vehicle. This allows black water to be evacuated in a gas station toilet, for example, when you go to fill up. We encourage our customers to use ecological and biodegradable products. Thus, the gray water from the shower or the dishes can be emptied on the lawn, almost anywhere. »
So, conquered? If this is the case or if you are still hesitating, a quick trip to the Salon du VR seems the right thing to do!
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.