SASKATOON – According to RV enthusiasts in Saskatoon, spring, and therefore RV season, is just around the corner.
“We plan every year to come in around the end of February when people start to get spring fever,” said Scott Engele, co-owner of Oakes Centre RV Mall.
Engele says sales in Saskatchewan are maintaining a good level, especially compared to Alberta.
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“Sales in Alberta have been down a bit, but they’ve had shows where the market hasn’t been as terrible as they thought. But it is definitely down. In Saskatchewan, we’ve been maintaining a good level,” Engele said .
The low dollar hasn’t had a negative effect on everything. RVing becomes a more popular option when people are looking to vacation locally.
“Right now the Canadian dollar is low so you may not go to the U.S., you may not travel that much. So instead it only costs $60 or $70 to fill up your truck with gas, and then, ‘Hey, let’s go to the lake, let’s take an RV,’” Engele said.
Brenda Stanek and her husband were at the Spring RV Show at Prairieland Park Saturday looking for a small RV to explore northern Canada in their retirement.
“We plan to stay in Canada. Not going to the U.S. this year, that’s for sure.”
Co-owner Tom Oakes says low fuel prices have also increased the draw to RVing.
“Gas prices right now are a factor. If it continues the way it is, people are already talking about maybe taking those longer trips, more maritime planning that type of thing,” says Oakes.
The economy has, however, had a slight affect on local buying patterns.
“One thing that we’ve found to be a significant difference from other years is that we are actually going through used inventory more quickly,” says Oakes.
Taking all this into consideration, this summer may just be the perfect time to explore Canada’s backyard.
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