Winnebago Shuts Two Plants: The RV Industry Is Deep in the Woods

RV PODCAST NEWS EDITION
Monday, August 17, 2026

OPEN

Hello, everyone. I am Mike Wendland, and this is the Monday RV Podcast News Edition.

This is one of two RV Podcast episodes we do every week.

This one publishes at 6 a.m. every Monday with the biggest news stories affecting the RV lifestyle.

Then, on Wednesday, Jennifer joins me for our Stories from the Road edition, where we have interviews, share RV lifestyle tips and travel ideas, and answer your questions.

Jennifer and I came up in the news business, and old habits die hard. We source our stories, we check the numbers, and we try to separate what actually happened from what the press releases want you to believe happened.

You will find links to every story we report at the very end of the transcript for this episode at RVPodcast.com.

Before we get started, let me invite you to sign up for our free RV Lifestyle newsletter.

We publish it every day, and it is filled with RV news, travel inspiration, campground information, practical tips and the stories that matter to people who love this lifestyle.

It is free, and you can sign up at RVLifestyle.com/Newsletter.

Again, that is RVLifestyle.com/Newsletter.

Now, here is the RV news of the week.

STORY 1: WINNEBAGO CLOSES TWO RV MANUFACTURING PLANTS

Winnebago Industries has announced what it calls a "strategic manufacturing alignment."

That is corporate language.

Here is what is actually happening:

Winnebago is closing two RV manufacturing facilities, consolidating production elsewhere and putting both properties up for sale.

One of the plants being shut down is the Winnebago Towables campus in Middlebury, Indiana. Production from that plant will be moved to the nearby Grand Design RV campus, which Winnebago says has available manufacturing capacity.

Grand Design, which is owned by Winnebago Industries, will also consolidate some of its own production lines.

The second plant being closed is Winnebago's motorhome facility in Lake Mills, Iowa. Production of Winnebago's Class B vans will be moved to the company's main manufacturing complex in Forest City, Iowa.

Winnebago says no product lines are being discontinued. It also says Winnebago Towables and Grand Design will remain separate brands, with their own management, dealers, sales organizations and product portfolios.

The company says production, warranties, customer service and dealer relationships should continue without disruption.

Winnebago President and CEO Michael Happe says the changes will make the company, in his words, "stronger and more agile."

But let us tell this like it is.

Two plants are shutting down. They are going to be sold. Production is being moved into other factories that already have enough unused capacity to absorb it.

That is not expansion. It is contraction.

And this is not happening in isolation.

New-RV shipments have been falling. Dealer inventories remain bloated in many parts of the country. Manufacturers have cut production. Dealers are discounting unsold RVs, including leftover 2025 and 2026 models, as the industry prepares to unveil its 2027 products.

Interest rates remain high, RV prices remain difficult for many buyers to justify, and consumer confidence has weakened.

The industry can spin factory closures as efficiency, optimization or strategic alignment. Those may all be valid business reasons for making the moves. Consolidating production could save Winnebago money and make its remaining plants more efficient.

But companies do not close factories and put them up for sale when demand is booming.

They do it when they have more manufacturing space than they need.

There is another part of this story that should concern the industry.

Winnebago Towables production is being moved to Grand Design's campus because that campus has available capacity. Grand Design has been one of the stronger and faster-growing brands in the RV business. Yet even there, Winnebago says some production lines will be consolidated.

That tells us the slowdown is not limited to one troubled brand or one type of RV.

Winnebago is one of the largest and most recognizable names in the business. Its portfolio includes Winnebago, Grand Design and Newmar RVs, along with Chris-Craft and Barletta boats.

When a company of that size closes two RV plants, it is an industry story.

The RV industry is deep in the woods. These closures are the latest evidence.

That does not mean RV travel is dying. Millions of people still love camping, and the demand for good used RVs remains surprisingly strong, as we will explain in our next story.

But the business of building and selling expensive new RVs is under severe pressure. The industry needs to stop pretending this is merely a minor adjustment and start dealing honestly with prices, quality, dealer inventories and what today's buyers can actually afford.

Winnebago says the transition will take place over the next several months. The company did not say in its announcement how many employees will be affected.

We will continue following that part of the story.

STORY 2: USED RV VALUES ARE UP 11 PERCENT

The new and used RV markets appear to be moving in very different directions.

We have reported extensively on weakening new-RV shipments, crowded dealer lots and the aggressive discounts being offered on leftover inventory.

But the latest report from National Powersport Auctions says average wholesale values for used RVs and campers are now 11 percent higher than they were a year ago.

That follows a July report showing used values up 12 percent year over year and 6 percent over the previous three months.

The auction company attributes the increase to continued consumer demand for well-maintained used RVs.

Inventory remains plentiful across motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels and campers, but buyers seem to be favoring lower-priced used units over expensive new models.

There is an important qualification here.

These are wholesale auction values. They are not necessarily what an individual owner will receive in a trade-in or private sale. Age, mileage, condition, maintenance records, floor plan and location can make the value of an individual RV vary widely.

But the larger trend is significant.

High interest rates, expensive new-RV prices and economic uncertainty are pushing more buyers toward the used market. That demand is helping support used values even while the market for new RVs struggles.

For sellers, it suggests a clean, well-maintained RV may be worth more than they assumed.

For buyers, it means some of the biggest bargains may actually be found among heavily discounted new RVs, while especially desirable used models continue to command strong prices.

And I took my own advice.

Remember the series we did this past spring on small motorhomes?

We looked at a lot of them. We compared the features, floor plans and prices, and eventually found the model we wanted.

But we could not afford the price of a new one.

Then we found the perfect used one.

Now, let me be clear. This is a second RV for us.

We are keeping our Brinkley fifth wheel. That is the RV we use for our long trips. It gives us the space, comfort and storage we want when we are going to be on the road for an extended period.

The motorhome will be for shorter, quicker trips and more boondocking. It will let us get away with less preparation, travel more spontaneously and fit into places where we would not want to take the fifth wheel.

I am not going to tell you more about it right now, but we will share the full story later this week.

MIDROLL: RV PACKING LIST APP

Let me take a brief break to tell you about something that can make getting ready for your next RV trip much easier.

It is our RV Lifestyle Packing List App.

Forgetting one small item can create a big inconvenience once you are several hours from home. Our Packing List App helps you organize everything you need before you leave.

You can track clothing, food, kitchen supplies, campground gear, pet supplies, tools, medications and all those little items that are so easy to overlook.

Instead of keeping scraps of paper or trying to remember what you forgot on the last trip, you can keep your packing list organized and available whenever you need it.

You can learn more at RVLifestyle.com/PackingListApp.

That is RVLifestyle.com/PackingListApp.

I found the exact prices, and Bradenton is correct.

The Motorcoach Store is located at 5821 24th Street East, Bradenton, Florida. Its website lists these fractional packages:

●      2023 Millennium Double Slide: $449,999 for 25 percent

●      2026 LOKI Double Slide Bunk: $539,999 for 25 percent

●      2027 LOKI Double Slide: $579,999 for 25 percent

●      2027 Millennium Triple Slide: $679,999 for 25 percent

Each share provides 10 guaranteed weeks annually. There is also an estimated $1,500 monthly management fee, or another $18,000 a year. Insurance, storage, maintenance, repairs and preparation are included.

The company uses about $1.8 million as its median price for complete ownership, but the 2027 Millennium offered through this program implies a total valuation of roughly $2.72 million. Its $679,999 share is almost exactly one-quarter of that.

Here is the corrected section:

STORY 3: EVEN THE ULTRA-RICH NEED A BREAK

Here is a sign that even the ultra-rich may be feeling the pinch.

The Motorcoach Store, located in Bradenton, Florida, has launched what it says is the luxury motorcoach industry's first fractional ownership program.

And now we know what it costs.

The least expensive share is $449,999 for 25 percent ownership of a used 2023 Millennium Double Slide motorcoach.

For a new 2027 Millennium Triple Slide, a 25 percent share starts at $679,999.

That works out to a total value of about $2.72 million for the motorhome.

And remember, $679,999 does not buy the entire motorhome. It buys one-fourth of it and guarantees you 10 weeks of use each year. Hmmm. I wonder if they have an option for a chauffeur to drive you to the campground?

There is also an estimated management fee of $1,500 a month, or another $18,000 a year. But that’s chicken feed to someone who can afford a $2.72 million motorhome.

Other fractional choices include a 2026 LOKI Double Slide Bunk at $539,999 for a 25 percent share and a 2027 LOKI Double Slide at $579,999.

The Motorcoach Store says the average complete luxury motorcoach in this program costs about $1.8 million, although that new Millennium is obviously worth considerably more.

The company is borrowing a concept already popular with private airplanes and yachts. Instead of buying the entire vehicle, several people purchase shares and divide the available time.

The company says its customers who use fractional private-aviation services such as NetJets and Flexjet have been asking for a similar arrangement involving luxury motorcoaches.

So now there is one.

These are not exactly stripped-down campers.

The coaches can include private suites, spa-inspired bathrooms, gourmet kitchens, large living areas, high-speed connectivity and cinema-quality entertainment systems.

The $1,500 monthly management fee covers services that include secure storage, insurance, maintenance, repairs and professional preparation before a trip. Owners also receive concierge support and trip coordination.

In other words, you do not have to dump the tanks, wash the rig or spend a Saturday afternoon trying to figure out why the leveling system is beeping.

But let us do a little more math.

A $679,999 ownership share plus $18,000 a year in management fees gives you 10 weeks of annual use.

That is quite a deal, assuming your idea of a deal is spending nearly $700,000 to share a motorhome with three other people.

There are also some interesting practical questions.

Who gets the coach during Christmas, Thanksgiving or the weeks surrounding a major sporting event? What happens if another owner damages it? What if the person using it before you returns it with something broken?

Those details presumably are covered in the ownership agreement.

This is certainly not a solution for the average RVer struggling with rising campground rates, insurance costs or a monthly payment.

But it is an interesting look at the very top end of the RV market.

Even the ultra-rich want a break.

They just call it fractional ownership.

STORY 4: WHO IS DOING THE MATH AT THE FCC?

The Federal Communications Commission says Starlink has more than 7 million subscribers in the United States.

There is just one problem.

The number does not appear to add up.

PCMag spotted the figure in the FCC's latest Section 706 report, which examines broadband availability across the country.

According to the FCC report, Starlink had more than 7 million U.S. subscribers as of December 2024.

That would be an astonishing number.

It would also be very difficult to reconcile with numbers supplied by SpaceX itself.

In September 2025, SpaceX reportedly told the FCC that Starlink was serving more than 2 million customers in the United States.

So the FCC's report appears to suggest Starlink had more than 7 million U.S. subscribers in December 2024, nine months before SpaceX said it had just over 2 million.

Then there is another number.

In early August, SpaceX asked the FCC for permission to increase the authorized number of Starlink user terminals in the United States to 5 million.

Why would Starlink need permission to increase its number of terminals to 5 million if it already had more than 7 million American subscribers?

Maybe the FCC used a different definition. Maybe it counted people served rather than customer accounts. Maybe one household somehow represented several subscribers. Or maybe somebody put the wrong number in the report.

But those are guesses.

What we know is that the publicly reported figures do not line up.

This is exactly why we are skeptical of numbers in corporate announcements, government reports and press releases.

A big number gets copied into a report. The report gets quoted by the media. Then that media coverage gets repeated across websites and social media until the number becomes accepted as fact.

But sometimes all it takes is one reporter asking a very basic question:

Does this make sense?

We use Starlink. It has revolutionized Internet connectivity for RVers and people who live in rural areas. There is no question that it has grown rapidly.

Worldwide, Starlink has reported more than 10 million active customers. It may very well have millions of U.S. users.

But 7 million U.S. subscribers in December 2024 does not match the other numbers supplied by the company or the FCC.

PCMag says it contacted both the FCC and SpaceX seeking clarification.

Until somebody explains the discrepancy, that 7 million figure should be treated with a very large grain of salt.

This is not about being anti-Starlink.

It is about doing the math.

STORY 5: STOP BUILDING ROCK PILES

We end this week at Acadia National Park in Maine, where trail stewards have a message for visitors:

Please stop piling up the rocks.

This happens to be a pet peeve of mine.

People visit a beautiful natural place, see a pile of rocks and apparently decide what the scenery really needs is another pile of rocks.

At Acadia, tourists have been building so many unofficial rock stacks that park stewards cannot dismantle them fast enough.

On one recent Sunday, Friends of Acadia trail stewards took apart between 100 and 150 rock stacks above the high-tide line on Bar Island.

While a steward was taking them down, other visitors, including families and children, were building more.

Last year, Friends of Acadia stewards dismantled 867 misleading rock stacks and repaired 822 legitimate cairns used to mark safe hiking routes.

And that is the important distinction.

Some cairns have an actual purpose. Acadia is known for its historic Bates cairns, which are carefully designed trail markers. They help hikers follow the correct route across exposed granite and other places where a trail may not be obvious.

The random stacks built by visitors can confuse hikers, contribute to erosion and disturb fragile natural areas.

The Park Service calls the unauthorized stacks "rock graffiti."

That is exactly what they are.

Moving rocks may disturb insects, plants and other small organisms living beneath them. In coastal areas, the rocks may also help protect the ground from erosion.

And beyond the environmental damage, there is the visual clutter.

People go to a national park to see nature, not somebody else's attempt at outdoor sculpture.

The worst example I have ever seen is Mackinac Island in Michigan. There are stretches along the shoreline where visitors have built one ridiculous rock pile after another.

They are everywhere.

You are supposed to leave natural places the way you found them. Do not carve your initials into a tree. Do not paint your name on a rock. Do not take artifacts home. And do not redesign the shoreline because you think it needs your personal artistic contribution.

Take a picture. Enjoy the scenery. Then leave the rocks alone.

And if you find one of those unnecessary little rock towers where it clearly is not marking an official trail?

Knock it down.

CLOSE

That is our RV news for this week.

We will be back with another episode Wednesday, when Jennifer joins me for our Stories from the Road edition.

We have interviews, share RV lifestyle tips and travel ideas, and answer your questions.

And we may have more details on that new-to-us used RV we just bought.

If you have not already done so, please sign up for our free RV Lifestyle newsletter.

We publish it every day with RV news, travel ideas, campground information, helpful tips and reports from the road.

You can sign up for free at RVLifestyle.com/Newsletter.

And if you enjoy this podcast, would you please leave us a rating and a review?

It only takes a moment, but it helps other RVers discover the program. We read those reviews, and we sincerely appreciate every one of them.

I am Mike Wendland.

Thanks for listening, and Happy Trails!

SOURCES

Story 1: Winnebago closes two manufacturing plants

RVBusiness:
https://rvbusiness.com/winnebago-ind-enacts-strategic-manufacturing-alignment/

Winnebago Industries:
https://winnebago.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/winnebago-industries-announces-strategic-manufacturing-alignment

Story 2: Used RV values rise 11 percent

National Powersport Auctions:
https://www.npauctions.com/cp/npa-rv-preowned-report

Story 3: Luxury motorcoach fractional ownership

RVBusiness:
https://rvbusiness.com/the-motorcoach-store-debuts-fractional-ownership-program/

Story 4: Questions about Starlink's reported subscriber count

PCMag:
https://www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-says-starlink-has-over-7-million-us-subscribers-wait-what

Story 5: Acadia tourists building unauthorized rock cairns

Bangor Daily News:
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/08/15/hancock/hancock-culture/acadia-tourists-building-rock-cairns-joam40zk0w/