Real RVers talk about their RV worries for 2023

Let's face it: These are challenging times. And after a week at the recent Hershey RV Show in Pennsylvania, where we talked with hundreds of real RVers, there are some real RV worries for 2023 clouding the future for many.

Not that any are willing to toss in the towel. To a person, everyone we talked to planned to do their best and Keep Calm and Camp ON - as the silly T-shirt says.

But unlike many so-called RV industry leaders, who always spin a rosy future, real RVers are realistic and candid about all the challenges they see ahead over the next 12 years in this post-COVID world, where a variety of issues are complicating their RV travel and camping plans.

You can meet many of these we met in this week's Episode 414 of the RV Podcast. You can watch our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel video version below.

If you prefer an audio-only version, the RV Podcast is available on your favorite podcast app or can be through the player below.

Keep reading for a list of the to five major RV worries for 2023 that we heard about the most:

RV Worries #1: Inflation is impacting the RV Lifestyle

Everyone cited inflation as the most worrisome challenge on the horizon. Those who have retired and are on fixed incomes were affected the most but price hikes over the past year in food, health care, taxes, RV and other insurances, maintenance, utilities, campground fees and even entertainment have many saying "ENOUGH."

Jim, with his wife Pam are both teachers. "We travel all summer long in our RV," said Jim. "This summer cost us about 40% more. We were not living more extravagantly. We boondocked as must as we could and, if anything, we cut back a bit compared to last year. But 40% is way out of control. We're worried about what 2023 will bring."

Sue, who just retired from her job as a nurse to begin a year of solo travel, traveling in her new 21-foot travel trailer, decided to hold off selling her house and going fulltime. "I'm worried now whether I can afford to travel as much as I hoped and I'm going to hold o to my house just in case it doesn't work out."

Leonard, a longtime RVer, said it best. "Ever since the COVID lockdowns, everything seems to have doubled in price."

RV Worries #2: High Fuel Prices are a Major Challenge for RVers

While everything is expensive, the inflation that is most impacting RV travel these days is seen at the pump.

Though prices seem to have slowed or actually have come down a bit, RVers told us their fuel prices will keep them staying longer in campgrounds and not traveling as far as they had hoped in 2023.

"We have to get a handle on fuel costs," said Terry, who has a Class A Allegro Red diesel pusher. "My last fillup was over $6 a gallon. I have a 90 gallon tank. Do the math. But darn right we're going to cut back on the miles we drive."

(We did: That's $540!!!!)

RV Worries #3: Long RV service waits and parts shortages

The industry still can't seem to get a handle on long service waits for RVs. And although I hear the industry executives claiming the parts shortages are much better right now, that message doesn't seem to have tricked down to real RVers.

Over and over we heard complaints about this issue.

RVers said parts shortages were being blamed by the dealers for delays in service.