Tips for first RV show? Dallas Sep. 22-25

[Deb&RickTX]

Besides avoid salesmen? Is it worth burning a vacation day to go on a weekday when it's less crowded? Our goals are: 1) study floorplans to see how things really look versus the diagrams, 2) compare manufacturers, 3) record door label OCCCs (hard to find online), and 4) browse accessories. Is that reasonable? What else should we target?

 

[Rene T]

The main tip I will give is leave your wallet at home”

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

I like to look at the finer details of installed equipment. Standard gadgets used in clever ways, or interesting construction or installation techniques. You might get an idea of how to use something you already have in a different way, or see equipment or accessories you might like to have. You don't need to buy a $300K RV to get a light fixture or piece of furniture it might have. After looking at them a while the majority of regular features begin to blend together but the distinctive ones start to stand out. My standard convention tool is the camera in my cell phone and anything I see ends up getting saved in my "upgrade ideas" folder.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Deb&RickTX]

The main tip I will give is leave your wallet at home”

I've considered putting a cast on my right hand so I can't sign anything

but the distinctive ones start to stand out. My standard convention tool is the camera in my cell phone and anything I see ends up getting saved in my "upgrade ideas" folder.

Since we're looking to buy used, something in the new ones might be an upgrade candidate. Good thoughts!

 

[SpencerPJ]

All depends on how many vacation days you have . You will browse through many more Rvs in less time, drawback is, the vultures will more easily approach you. (easy way to tell if they are lying or bs..ing, they open their mouth ) Don't be afraid to lay on a bed, or sit on a toilet, amazing how sometimes poor placement of items poses problems. I'm a taller guy, these things matter, think about your dynamics, pets etc.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I think your approach is good. Don't try to do too much - even a small show is likely to overwhelm you with mental images. Takes lots of photos/videos, including ones that identify where the other photos take place, cause it will all be a blur by the time you get home. Get some familiarity with floor plans and features and capture those weight placards.

 

[Jayflight]

What a minute, you did not buy your forever rv the first time around? Just go and have fun and look closely at how the cabinet doors are aligned and if mouldings are dangling in areas of the run. This is a good tail tail sign of the rest of the quality of the rv. Then you can come back to your current rv and then do a complete assessment of what you own now, layout included of course. This will tell you whether you spend peanuts to upgrade your current one a little bit at a time on some fluff and puff stuff, or update your essential equipment before biting the bullet on a different one, whether new or used. I call it a time for marinating your upgrade decision for now. I have never seen a deal at any rv show. Maybe at 3 pm on the last day you get a few more dollars off, but deals, nope.

 

[darsben]

Take pictures, pictures, pictures. It is easy to get confused when you are at home the pictures will clear most things up.

 

[jymbee]

Takes lots of photos/videos, including ones that identify where the other photos take place, cause it will all be a blur by the time you get home.

Great advice. We've experienced that kind of "blur" in the past ourselves.

 

[jymbee]

Take pictures, pictures, pictures. It is easy to get confused when you are at home the pictures will clear most things up.

Absolutely-- and good idea to follow Gary's earlier advice re. a way to identity pictures later:

Takes lots of photos/videos, including ones that identify where the other photos take place, cause it will all be a blur by the time you get home.

 

[sunrisor]

Be prepared to be overwhelmed. As we walked over the pedestrian bridge, looked out over a literal sea of rooftops, I said to the wife: "we're in deep sh$%&t now" We were there for nearly 6 hours and I don't think we covered a third of the show!!
Our first visit to the Hershey RV show was a blast!, exhausting! perplexing! But mostly a huge education. We did lots of web browsing beforehand to prepare and went in thinking we really wanted a class A. We realized about halfway through the 14th isle (seriously!! it's huge!!), that A's weren't really what we wanted.
Our 2nd trip was a bit more organized since we were getting pretty serious at this point. We skipped over the model/units we weren't interested in. This allowed us to cover more ground and see more models. This gave us a good idea of floorplans we liked, and floorplans we could live with. We were then able to make a list of 'must haves' and 'it would be nice to have'.
We finally bought our TT last year (3rd show-trip). (this may be a bit excessive but) I made a spreadsheet of manufacturers that had the floorplan we liked, and models that checked off the most boxes. By the time September rolled around, we had it narrowed down to 3 manufacturers and 6 different units. Turned out, the one we liked the most was too heavy (story for another post). We ended up with one we liked even more!!
I think the biggest lesson learned from these shows, at least for us: buying a RV is all about trade-offs. To get 'this' you need to give up 'that'. That's why we had a list of must haves. The 'it would be nice to have' list actually was 'things we can live without'.
Most of all have fun!! Some of the best people we've ever met has been centered around RVs.

 

[fpaplnj]

The main tip I will give is leave your wallet at home”

Strolling through blogs and yours was bar far the best. Going to the Tampa show in two weeks to look at any new technology. I want to buy a used 2022 Winnebago ERA 70A with 24000 miles on a Mercedes that is in my area and want to check if there is any new Technolgy that I may be interested in as well as the other systems.

 

[fpaplnj]

Be prepared to be overwhelmed. As we walked over the pedestrian bridge, looked out over a literal sea of rooftops, I said to the wife: "we're in deep sh$%&t now" We were there for nearly 6 hours and I don't think we covered a third of the show!!
Our first visit to the Hershey RV show was a blast!, exhausting! perplexing! But mostly a huge education. We did lots of web browsing beforehand to prepare and went in thinking we really wanted a class A. We realized about halfway through the 14th isle (seriously!! it's huge!!), that A's weren't really what we wanted.
Our 2nd trip was a bit more organized since we were getting pretty serious at this point. We skipped over the model/units we weren't interested in. This allowed us to cover more ground and see more models. This gave us a good idea of floorplans we liked, and floorplans we could live with. We were then able to make a list of 'must haves' and 'it would be nice to have'.
We finally bought our TT last year (3rd show-trip). (this may be a bit excessive but) I made a spreadsheet of manufacturers that had the floorplan we liked, and models that checked off the most boxes. By the time September rolled around, we had it narrowed down to 3 manufacturers and 6 different units. Turned out, the one we liked the most was too heavy (story for another post). We ended up with one we liked even more!!
I think the biggest lesson learned from these shows, at least for us: buying a RV is all about trade-offs. To get 'this' you need to give up 'that'. That's why we had a list of must haves. The 'it would be nice to have' list actually was 'things we can live without'.
Most of all have fun!! Some of the best people we've ever met has been centered around RVs.

Hello! I also have been to the Hershey show and had the same experience. Heading down to Florida in 2 weeks. I have been looking analyzing, comparing, and end everything else you can think of. This year at Hershey I spent all my time at one manufacturer. What a big mistake. I know now northing is out of the question until I look at all others.

 

[fpaplnj]

I think your approach is good. Don't try to do too much - even a small show is likely to overwhelm you with mental images. Takes lots of photos/videos, including ones that identify where the other photos take place, cause it will all be a blur by the time you get home. Get some familiarity with floor plans and features and capture those weight placards.

 

[fpaplnj]

Have you even been to Hogwarts (Harry Potter) I have been looking at your posts and have found them to be informative. My first post was about 3 weeks ago. All in all, good. Going to Tampa in 2 weeks to review my findings. The unit I am interested in Winnebago ERA 70A Class B. I know what my needs are and how I plan to use it. With some minor modifications to rear end! I am pretty handy and am looking to slightly adapt the rear bedroom area to another sitting place. If my wife gets on my nerves, I can send her there. Just kidding to all the women Bloggers. (Happy wife Happy Life) However...The beds are designed to be permanently down. Want to see if I can modify cushion. So much to consider! I found a Winnebago ERA 70A Class B used with 24000 miles on it. I want to find out if any newer technology I should be looking for or possibly not in this used unit. So much to consider.
Boondocking only for 2-3 days at a time before going back on grid. Most of the time I will be using in Sept, Oct, Nov more often. Few weekends on the grid locally during summer use. Possibly in March however will be heading south. No rush to get. Feel that some people bought units during covid and are looking to sell.
Some Questions
1. I am presuming most come with a converter and am wondering if I need an inverter.
2. Do not like on-demand-water. I heard these camper vans use this system most often.
3. Trying to figure my solar needs.
4. Trying to figure my battery needs. Lithium or Deep Cycle.
5. Solar needs as well.
6. Do I need a second under hood alternator.
Probably much more to consider. Welcome any suggestion. Read you post on purchasing used unit, as well as others.
P.S. You need a wand!

 

[Isaac-1]

Technology can be great, as long as it works right, see this youtube video posted earlier today as an example where this couple could not get the lights in their trailer to turn off because the smart panel became non responsive. I don't have this problem my 20+ year old motorhome has switches for the lights, worse case I can make the lights go off by pulling a fuse, or taking a screw driver to the light switch and pulling a wire

p.s. I suggest you start your own thread asking opinions on the ERA 70A, tell people how you plan to use it, etc. Personally the tiny black tank and having a wet bath would be show stoppers for me.