RV Show Season

bubbalowe · 01-05-2023, 10:21 AM

Upcoming Pittsburgh RV Show has got the camping bug aroused again. Last years show seemed smaller but to be fair it was post Covid and maybe explains reduced vendors. With mega dealers like Camping World taking over the sale industry wonder if RV shows could be fading?

SniperDroid · 01-06-2023, 08:04 AM

Going to the Cleveland RV Show today... their first after covid in the International Exposition Center. We'll see how it compares to previous years pre covid.

KMP44 · 01-06-2023, 08:12 AM

I don't think the shows are fading away - we went to Hershey in Sept. of 2021 and it was huge and super crowded. First Syracuse show after covid last March was as big as ever, but at least the day we went didn't seem as busy as usual.

But I bet this year with dealer lots full and the market slowing down they will be pulling out the stops to get people out there to buy.

5picker · 01-06-2023, 08:36 AM

We're headed to the Tampa Super Show in a couple weeks. It's always busy.
Hershey was busy last fall.

Pittsburgh has been hit or miss through the years. I think I've been to around 10 of them.
3 years prior to Covid it was packed and there was a good selection of dealers and inventory. The year before Covid, not so much and little to look at so it seemed to be going down hill then. I've not been back since as we now winter in FL.

SniperDroid · 01-07-2023, 07:02 AM

Went to the Cleveland RV Show yesterday. Was pretty good, but we were looking for Class C models and there just weren't enough choices to look at. Plenty of trailers and 5ers though. Vendors area was very disappointing.

dblr · 01-07-2023, 07:07 AM

We will head to the Tampa show also, have been to Hershey many times and even helped FROG manning their booth there, will be interesting to compare it to Hershey.

RV_Lee · 01-08-2023, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperDroid

Went to the Cleveland RV Show yesterday. Was pretty good, but we were looking for Class C models and there just weren't enough choices to look at. Plenty of trailers and 5ers though. Vendors area was very disappointing.

From my experience unless the manufacturers are involved (like Hershey and Tampa) all the show units will be is dealer inventory from around the area.

bubbalowe · 01-11-2023, 08:29 AM

Visited Pittsburgh RV Show last evening, was a good time. Large selection of all types represented with great show deals, if ever in a position to by new would definitely hold out for a show. Doesn't take long to see who the motivated dealers are LOL.

Nick Danger · 01-11-2023, 08:38 AM

Boston RV show coming up this weekend. Springfield show next month.

Going to both.

sherman12 · 01-17-2023, 06:14 PM

Buffalo, NY area only has dealer-supported shows, the biggest beginning next weekend. Regardless, my DW and I like to go just to putz around, there isn't really anything there that would tempt us to waste more money on! It's still fun to check out the many TT there and see what's new and get a sense of trends. There will also be some campground vendors there that perhaps we'll find a new place to travel to.

Theb2b · 01-17-2023, 10:58 PM

The DW and I enjoy going to RV shows, it's freezing outside and it's an excuse to get out and walk around plus looking at campers is kind of like camping as camping is frozen out for now.

Being a tech geek by trade I enjoy watching the slow progression of the integration of tech in the RV business. I know it's not everybody is crazy about it but then you have me.

Cabinfever97 · 01-18-2023, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherman12

Buffalo, NY area only has dealer-supported shows, the biggest beginning next weekend. Regardless, my DW and I like to go just to putz around, there isn't really anything there that would tempt us to waste more money on! It's still fun to check out the many TT there and see what's new and get a sense of trends. There will also be some campground vendors there that perhaps we'll find a new place to travel to.

The greatest thing about the WNY RV Show at the Hamburg Fairgrounds Event Center is free admission. The show goes From Jan 20th to the 29th. We go every year just to see what is new. Our RV show here in Erie PA is fairly small. Anotjher perk for going to Hamburg, only 15 minutes from a Paulas Donuts! LOL

5picker · 01-19-2023, 07:57 PM

Was at the Tampa show today.
There were thousands of R/Vs and even more thousands of people.
Forest River was well represented.
There is no lack of interest in R/V land if attendance is any indication.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Forest River Forums mobile app

dblr · 01-20-2023, 06:19 AM

I agree the crowds were at the show for sure, we felt Thursday was a lot more crowded than Wednesday, I am glad we are not there over the weekend!!!! Got to see some FROG friends and even FROG Bob and Momma FROG and had a chance to go out for dinner with them FORD's Garage yummmm

aceinspp · 01-20-2023, 08:03 AM

Atlanta show on now. Later RJD

sherman12 · 01-21-2023, 10:33 AM

Last evening my wife and I spent several hours walking around the dealer's show in Buffalo, NY as my prior post mentioned.

The indoor exhibition hall (Hamburg Raceway and Fair Grounds) was packed front to back with a beautiful 39' Allegro DP to the small multi-use off-road campers you can pull with your Jeep.

The popular color schemes seem to favor lighter colors in tans or beige or champagne to the very cool Retro or Vintage rigs done up in '50's colors and knotty pine. Improvements to cooktops were evident in almost all rigs and we saw one Outback 34' TT that had two side-by-side identical GE residential fridges! Great floor plan in that rig also, similar to some larger 5th wheels you'll see.

To us, the best looking and best visual quality line of TTs we saw was the Flagstaff line of TTs, an FR line. However, a lot of the other FR product lines particularly the Salem line of TTs looked cheaply made. The furnishing's vinyl coverings were so thin to touch you wonder if they would last more than a couple of years. The bed mattresses were about as cheap as you could imagine, I was able to squeeze them together with my hand, I can't even think how anyone could sleep on them.

We did look at a couple of different campgrounds there and even "signed up" for the raffle of a Blackstone Griddle knowing we'll get hounded by their sales staff to join a membership.

All in all, it was a fun evening just walking and talking camping again, can't wait for the season to begin!

bubbalowe · 01-25-2023, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherman12

Last evening my wife and I spent several hours walking around the dealer's show in Buffalo, NY as my prior post mentioned.

The indoor exhibition hall (Hamburg Raceway and Fair Grounds) was packed front to back with a beautiful 39' Allegro DP to the small multi-use off-road campers you can pull with your Jeep.

The popular color schemes seem to favor lighter colors in tans or beige or champagne to the very cool Retro or Vintage rigs done up in '50's colors and knotty pine. Improvements to cooktops were evident in almost all rigs and we saw one Outback 34' TT that had two side-by-side identical GE residential fridges! Great floor plan in that rig also, similar to some larger 5th wheels you'll see.

To us, the best looking and best visual quality line of TTs we saw was the Flagstaff line of TTs, an FR line. However, a lot of the other FR product lines particularly the Salem line of TTs looked cheaply made. The furnishing's vinyl coverings were so thin to touch you wonder if they would last more than a couple of years. The bed mattresses were about as cheap as you could imagine, I was able to squeeze them together with my hand, I can't even think how anyone could sleep on them.

We did look at a couple of different campgrounds there and even "signed up" for the raffle of a Blackstone Griddle knowing we'll get hounded by their sales staff to join a membership.

All in all, it was a fun evening just walking and talking camping again, can't wait for the season to begin!

Agree almost all interior colors are white with white stained wood trim, first couple were ok but by end of evening was getting old. The higher floor levels has created the need for a new folding handrail which seems all the manufactures are using. They're available as a retrofit and not expensive, going to instal one once the cover comes off.

Ejs4029 · 01-25-2023, 02:44 PM

Charlotte, NC RV Show starts tomorrow for anyone interested.

TacomaJoe · 01-26-2023, 12:21 PM

The Seattle RV show and the Northwest Flower & Garden shows are running at the same time in February. I guess we'll have to split our time between them.

Nick Danger · 02-20-2023, 08:32 AM

Went to the Springfield, MA. RV show on Saturday at the "Big E" fairgrounds. $5 Parking and $8 admission charges where a lot cheaper than Boston.

3 full buildings with campers galore to walk thru and speak with dealers. Spent about an hour in each building. Noticed a significant increase in the "side vendors" over the Boston show. Walked out with bags full of stuff. Huge crowds in all the buildings and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Did notice an odd thing (odd for me) - Many of the individual campgrounds that had a booth got a bit offended when I asked them where they were located when I didn't recognize the Town associated with them. I don't know every little town or wide spot in the road in New England so when I asked them for larger towns for reference so I could locate them on the map, they weren't real receptive in doing so. Just seemed weird?

Happy Camping.

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