Propelled by its best-ever single month for production, the RV industry already has set a new record for annual output — and that’s with two more months to go.

The RV Industry Association reported last week that manufacturers produced 57,971 units in October, a 22.5% increase compared to the same month a year ago and an 18% jump compared to the previous October record set in 2017.

“Despite the challenges we have faced with supply chain and workforce, what is really remarkable is the way the RV industry has found ways to overcome the issues and deliver 12-straight months of record shipments,” Craig Kirby, president & CEO of the trade association, said in a release.

The industry started surging during the COVID-19 pandemic when consumers started looking for ways to enjoy themselves when so many other forms of recreation were eliminated. RV manufacturers have managed to boost production even while dealing with labor shortages, supply-chain issues and pandemic protocols, but it still isn’t enough to keep up with surging demand.

Booming demand: RV shipments surge in Elkhart but struggle to keep up with demand

Thor Industries, for example, reported it had a $16.86 billion backlog of orders as of July 31, a 190% increase compared to the same date a year ago, and Winnebago Industries also reported a backlog of $4 billion.

“Everyone seems to have strong backlogs, even after 12 consecutive months of month-over-month production records,” said Monika Geraci, a spokeswoman for the trade group. “Every dealer will tell you that they could sell more if they had more.”

Fueled by the pandemic: Elkhart's RV industry continues to surge, with demand for outdoor activities during pandemic

Indeed, much of the inventory at RV dealerships has either been traded in or has been held back to give customers something to look at for the purposes of placing an order, which can take months to fulfill.

According to the RV Industry Association, towable shipments reached 52,856 units, a 23.3% gain compared to October 2020. Motorhomes shipments reached 5,115 units, a 14.4% gain compared to October 2020.

The RV industry is the largest employer in the region, generating the equivalent of 32,954 full-time jobs at manufacturers and suppliers in just Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, according to a 2019 study by the RV trade group.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Propelled by best month of production, RV shipments set annual record