As the coronavirus outbreak spreads, recreational-vehicle companies — those that rent or sell RVs, camper vans and motor coaches — are adapting to a veritable wartime economy. Operators said they’ve seen much of their business dry up, aside from travelers seeking to avoid airports. But some have turned to a secondary area, serving government and other large clients. In many cases they are providing RVs for key workers, such as medical personnel, who require lodging that keeps them away from home, where they could pick up COVID-19 or spread it to others.
“We’ve had a number of counties, cities, states and government entities reach out to us and say, ‘We have a need for social distancing accommodations, can you help us do this?’” said Gordon Hewston, senior vice president at Tourism Holdings Ltd., the New Zealand-based parent of El Monte RV, one of the biggest RV sales and leasing companies in the...