The RV industry is shifting fast — new technology, manufacturer shakeups, changing roof construction claims, AI-driven misinformation and dealership expansion. This RV industry update breaks down what’s real, what’s exaggerated, and how it affects current and future RV buyers.
Every week we’re hit with new breaking news, new industry red flags, and new sky-is-falling thumbnails designed to scare you into clicking. Some is half-true, at best. And a lot of it now is straight-up AI-generated fear–mongering.
We’re stepping back and taking a factual and logic based look at what’s actually happening across the RV community — the good, the bad, and the eyebrow-raising, so you can feel good as you navigate the next RV season!
Table of Contents
Norcold Bankruptcy – What It Means for RV Refrigeration
One-Piece Fiberglass Roof Claims (Exposed)
AI RV Garbage & Clickbait Flooding the Internet
Grand Design Omega Frame Rollout
Factory Rebates — Real or Hype?
Interest Rate Uncertainty Ahead
EV Slowdown & BrightDrop Cancellation
GE Moves Production to U.S. + New RV Dishwasher
Bish’s RV Expansion — New Locations Announced
Norcold Files Chapter 11 — What It Means for Real RVers
Norcold, the most recognizable name in gas/electric RV refrigerator history, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reporting roughly $300 million in debt. Dave Carter & Associates is stepping in with financing and asset acquisition, but the long-term direction is still foggy.
Why this matters:
- Gas/electric absorption fridges were already fading from production
- With Norcold restructuring, availability may continue to shrink
- Fewer U.S.-built units and rising import cost = higher price tags ahead
If you love propane-powered refrigeration for long boondocking stretches, this is a trend worth watching closely. We may be headed toward a market that’s nearly 100% electric in new RV builds, with solar + lithium filling the gap instead of propane.
“One-Piece Fiberglass Roof” — The Shifty Marketing Phrase You Need to Decode
You’re going to hear more sales pitches claiming: This RV has a one-piece fiberglass roof.
Sounds premium. Sounds motorhome-grade. Sounds like a rigid molded shell, right?
Well… not always. Increasingly, RVs marketed this way actually feature:
Fiberglass-reinforced membrane roofing
— not a true hard-shell fiberglass cap.
It’s:
| Term | What It Really Means | What Buyers Often Think It Means |
|---|---|---|
| One-Piece Fiberglass Roof (Membrane) | Flexible sheet w/ fiberglass strands | Rigid molded solid roof |
| Hard-Shell Fiberglass Roof (Actual Motorhome Style) | Molded, structural exterior shell | Exactly what it is |
The membrane isn’t bad, it’s often better than rubber, but marketing wording intentionally blurs the line between the two.
If roof construction matters to you, ask:
“Is it hard-shell or membrane?”
“Can I see documentation or the material sample?”
Clarity protects your wallet.
AI RV Garbage: The Clickbait Flood Has Arrived
This one deserves a spotlight. Platforms now allow fully AI-generated videos, there’s no human involvement needed.
The RV niche is suddenly flooded with fear-mongering uploads that:
- Contain outdated or wrong information
- Dramatic rumors with zero context
- Care only about monetization clicks, not your understanding
We understand that it can be difficult to be able to decipher between what is real and what is AI generated! It’s important to remember that real RV voices provide valuable and correct information, while AI generated titles like: RV Industry Collapse or Never Buy an RV Again, are designed to create outrage and confusion.
At Bish’s, we encourage RVers to gather their information from real RV voices in within the RV industry that offer valuable knowledge and a human track record.
Grand Design Releases the New Omega Frame Platform
There’s been a lot of noise around “frame flex” in the fifth wheel world, and Grand Design has been right in the middle of that conversation. Instead of pretending nothing happened, they’ve spent the last few years quietly reworking their fifth wheel chassis – especially in the heavier widebody lines like Momentum, Solitude, and Influence.
Sparked from targeted engineering reviews between Grand Design, Lippert & a third-party testing partner, the Omega Frame is a chassis redesign meant to reinforce known stress areas.
Whether you believe this is reactive to frame-flex concerns or simply smart innovation, the truth is:
- Structural upgrades are happening
- Transparency matters now more than ever
- Buyers deserve to see what manufacturers are changing
If you’re shopping in the large fifth-wheel space, keep this update bookmarked.
Factory Rebates Are Real (Not Dealer-Magic Math)
Two current rebate programs stand out because they’re factory-issued, not sales-floor gimmicks:
Grand Design Rebate Event
Valid with qualifying purchases submitted before the rebate deadline.
Grand Design Fifth Wheels
- $2,000 Rebate → Influence & Momentum G-Class
- $2,500 Rebate → Solitude & Momentum M-Class
Grand Design Motorized Models (Recently Announced)
Alliance RV Factory Rebates
Valid on eligible units purchased November 5th – December 31st
Fifth Wheels & Toy Haulers
- $2,025 Rebate → Paradigm, Valor, or Benchmark
- $1,025 Rebate → Avenue (FW or TT)
- $525 Rebate → Delta Series
Interest Rates May or May Not Drop
Earlier projections suggested rate cuts were likely, now Federal Reserve direction looks 50/50.
Translation:
- Rates might drop… or stay flat… or surprise everyone
- Smart buyers should watch trends, not assumptions
- If rates fall, great — if not, at least you weren’t banking on it
Unfortunately it’s impossible to predict the future so if you are in the market for an RV, stay on top of any new information and plan accordingly!
GE Brings Production to the U.S. & Debuts a Countertop Dishwasher
Big domestic win:
- $490M investment into U.S. manufacturing
- 800+ domestic jobs created
- $150M in supplier activity inside the U.S.
Their new profile countertop dishwasher is perfectly suited for RVs, vans, tiny-homes, or any small kitchen where space is at a premium. Whether you’re a part-timer, full-timer, or a long-trip weekend warrior, this is a dishwasher win, especially if you dislike plastic plates or hand-wash-only kitchens!
Bish’s RV Expansion Announcement
Two New Locations — More Inventory, More Service, Same People-First Culture
Bish’s growth continues — steady, intentional, and focused on partnering with great existing dealerships, not replacing them.
Now Serving RVers in Kentucky
Adventure Camper Sales – Clarksville & Murray, KY are now officially Bish’s RV locations.
Inventory is expanding. Service capacity is rising. And local ownership values aren’t being erased — they’re being uplifted.
Alabama Expansion Just Got Bigger
In Calera, Bish’s opened a new store, and shortly after:
Burton Campers joined the Bish’s RV Family.
Instead of running two stores separately, Calera operations will merge into the Burton facility, combining offerings like:
- Brinkley
- Wayfinder RV
- Winnebago
- Jayco & more
Same staff, bigger selection, more nationwide coverage for warranty & service support!
The RV Industry Isn’t Dying. It’s Evolving.
While there are shifts in the market, there’s also a lot of misinformation, and unfortunately you have to read between the paraphrasing.
We want to be super clear… RVing is alive, expanding, innovating, and continually adapting!
To stay ahead:
Ask questions about roofing materials — especially fiberglass
Be skeptical of fear-driven content
Follow real humans with real accountability
Watch chassis developments, rebates, EV updates, & interest rates
Know which dealers are growing (and how they’re growing)
Support brands and clubs that support RVers back
The future of RVing isn’t bleak. It’s simply changing, and you’re now one of the RVers who understands how to navigate that change!
Written By: Brooke Erickson
Some say I am a writer, I like to say I am a storyteller