As I was looking at my calendar, I realized how many RV shows there are. In fact, our local community near Albuquerque is having a show that I plan to attend this weekend at the local shopping mall. This made me realize that a lot of people, including those who read RVtravel.com, are going to be shopping for RVs.
And, like with so many shiny objects, some people are going to surprise themselves by coming home with a contract for a new rig. Perhaps you already did—congratulations… I hope?
I was sitting here thinking about the weekend’s RV show and wondering what it would be like to be a normal person attending one. What can I arm myself with to make a better decision?
So that gave me the inspiration to write this: 10 things you need to know before attending an RV show.
Oh, and something else to be aware of: If you find a floor plan that you really, really like, know that any popular floor plan is going to be duplicated by other RV builders. The nuances between one and the next can make a difference in your overall experience. A bigger cabinet here or more space there can affect your long-term happiness with a floor plan, so look at the competition before you make a final decision.
What you’ll want to have with you
One of the most obvious things you’ll want to have with you is a way to take notes and jog your memory. Since we’re all different, I won’t tell you how to do this, but have a way of capturing features, floor plans, or brands that you like.
What works for me is if I find a floor plan I really like, the first photo I take is of the floor plan illustration or maybe the model number on the outside. Then all the subsequent photos are going to be of that floor plan. Don’t forget the data plate, especially if you’re towing. That way, you’ll know if your Ford Maverick can actually tow that fifth wheel (it can’t).
Shop your dealership first
One of the most important things that I try to share with people is that your RV dealership is going to make a huge difference in your overall RV experience. Almost invariably, you will need service over time, including the likelihood that you’ll need warranty service.
A question I would ask of someone is how many service bays the dealership has versus how many RVs they sell in a month. There’s not a hard and fast number, but if your BS detector goes off when you hear the answer, perhaps it’s time to move to the next display.
One of the hard factors that you can ask someone trying to sell you an RV is what their Repair Event Cycle Time (RECT) is. This is a well-known industry reference and essentially describes how long they average between someone bringing in their RV and then when they get that RV back.
How well is the RV prepped?
Also, ask to see what their pre-delivery process is for an RV. Many of them will have a checklist or worksheet that they go by, and that’s what I’d look at. Then, also ask if they have a fee for the pre-delivery inspection and how much that is, or if it’s included in the price. I’ve heard some larger chains charge more than $1,000 for this, and some up to $3,000. That’s nuts, to me.
Ask what their fees and charges are. I’ve talked about delivery of RVs in the past, and it’s a legitimate cost that RV dealers actually pay, but that doesn’t mean they’re not padding it.
Let’s be honest. Many of the RVs at RV shows will have some loose or damaged items because some attendees are not nice. But if you see clear signs that nobody was paying attention before that RV got put on display, this is a bad sign to me. This should be the dealership putting its best foot forward.
What comes with the purchase?
I have already talked fees, but what are you getting with the RV? If it’s a towable (travel trailer, fifth wheel), the dealership is likely going to include a battery. But, typically, these are the lousiest lead-acid batteries they can get.
Also, are you getting hoses or anything else with the purchase? Will the dealership help match your hitch to your trailer if it’s a towable?
Of course, some RVs, particularly motorized rigs, come with batteries from the factories. However, almost no towables do, except those that are equipped with better power packages. But if you’re getting a modern towable RV, make sure the dealership is installing a lithium battery already. Those lead acid anchors that they’re still using are mostly worthless, especially with a modern 12-volt fridge.
Yes, I do think it’s fair that they charge an upcharge for a lithium battery as long as it’s a reasonable upcharge. You can now get decent lithium RV batteries for under $300, unless you’re buying a brand like Battle Born. But I think they’ve sabotaged their reputation at this point, and I don’t see the point of buying that brand any longer.
Know what you can tow
Don’t believe anything that almost any dealership employee will tell you about towing. They usually don’t know, and there’s really no industry source to learn this information. Some friends and I put together a really good towing calculator and towing resource, so any trailer you buy should go through that first.
Heck, there are fifth wheels that are called “Half Ton” and “HT,” and you couldn’t pay me to tow a fifth wheel with a half ton truck (except the Casita). So, even the RV industry doesn’t really know what they’re talking about.
How much do you love your money?
There is so much more I could share with you all, including knowing your credit score and, potentially, already having a great relationship with a local credit union that does RV loans. The dealership may have a great financing program, but it’s good to know where you stand before the signatures start flying. In fact, I have an interview with an RV finance specialist that is worth a listen.
Start underneath (You knew I’d write this!)
If you’ve read any of the RV reviews I’ve written here, at StressLess Camping, on RV Trader, or in Girl Camper Magazine, you probably know that I’m going to advocate starting at the road and working your way up.
Check out the brand of tire the rig has, what kind of suspension there is (most towables use cheap leaf springs), whether there is a tire pressure monitoring system, how many dump connections there are, and whether you can get to them with relative ease.
If you camp in colder climates, is the underbelly heated or just enclosed? Are there heating pads on the tanks?
Honestly, I would spend time shopping underneath the rigs before I ever went inside because we all can be swayed by beautiful-looking interiors.
Where is the RV going to live?
If you don’t already have an RV, do you know where this new one is going to reside when you’re not using it? I know more than a few people are surprised when their HOA tells them they can’t park their RV at their house, and they now have to budget in a bunch of additional monthly money for a storage facility. So, this is something I’d be aware of before going in.
Who’s camping with you?
One of the things I heard a lot when I was selling RVs was people wanting a bunk house because their children or grandchildren were going to go camping with them. I would ask how old the children were and if they had been camping before.
Oftentimes, these offspring might go once, but that’s about all they could tolerate. While I’d give anything to spend more time with my grandparents or parents today, when I was a tween and teen, they were the last people I’d want to be with. That’s just evolution.
So, be very honest when considering who’s going camping with you.
This is one of the reasons I love Ember’s flexible bunk system. You don’t have to trade the whole RV in if you realize that the bunks don’t work in your situation after all.
Pretend you’re camping
But, also, would you be happy just spending time around a campfire, and do you like playing games? Think about what you like to do and who you like to share that with when considering a floor plan.
Also, if you like to cook, will this kitchen work for you? If you don’t like to cook, is there too much priority given to the kitchen?
If you have hair (mine departed decades ago), can you wash your hair in the shower? Is there enough space to accomplish whatever tasks you have intended while visiting the bathroom, including the paperwork?
Final thoughts
The more you know and the more you’ve read here on RVtravel.com, the better situation you will likely be in. I would recommend going with your fellow decision maker only and leaving the people behind who aren’t going to be making the payments with you, at least at first.
Perhaps if you’ve narrowed down your search, you can go back later that day or the next day and revisit those choices.
As for whether you’re going to get a better deal at a show, that’s a big maybe. Sometimes RV companies will help subsidize some of the costs associated with the shows and may even have incentives they bring to help sweeten the deal, but this isn’t always the case. So some of the deals that are “show only” may, indeed, be show only, and some are just pressure tactics.
Overall, don your comfortable shoes, make sure your camera/phone is charged, and be prepared for battle. I love going to RV shows and wish there were more of them. But if you’re going to go to one, share your experience in the comments below. And happy shopping!
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RVT1253
Check and see if the bathroom/shower is the correct size for you.
Check and see if you can access the interior space with the slide in.
On a twin, see if the beds are long enough for the planned occupant.
These are all great tips Tony. I fret less on the dealer since my rig rarely breaks down near them. Nope, my problems happen hundreds of miles from them.
Warranty? Warranty is great when your issues can be deferred until you can put it in a service bay and wait months but the best warranty is to just fix it yourself.
Which gets me to my point – Looking over your “Dream RV”, think about how much of it can you fix in the wild. If it has tons of bells and whistles but you lack mechanical aptitude, you’re in for some serious regrets and maybe Liz Amazing. Conversely, if you know your plumbing, electrical, appliances and slides, look it over for how much it’ll bring you to task….
It’s so unfortunate, to me, that this is such a wise comment only in that those of us who own RVs (not first-timers) know that you’re going to be spending some of your time doing your own repairs and this is just common knowledge and widely accepted.
Good article Tony! After a couple experiences, I avoid RV shows. I’m not being arrogant but factual when I say I know more about a rig with just a walk-through than almost any sales person I am likely to meet. If I ask any question more complex than “Does it come in different colors?”, they run to their manager. The manager has several sales people showing their ignorance and often gives the sales person the answer to a question I didn’t (and didn’t need to) ask. I really love the response “they don’t make that” when I saw one or more in an online RV parts catalog not 24 hours earlier.
Yesterday at the RV show I attended they had several factory reps there – the guy from Keystone literally couldn’t have been less interested in whatever wasn’t on his phone. The other reps were really good about answering questions and such. Even a friend I went with said that that Keystone rep couldn’t have been more rude. But at least the Alliance and Outdoors RV reps were knowledgeable and friendly – I like when factory reps are there.
Well, except for the disinterested guy from Keystone.
Good article, and applies to RV shopping in general. Dedicate a notebook and make notes on each rig you walk through, take pics as he suggests. And I would add, don’t take a checkbook to an RV show, you may be able to find a used version of any floor plans or brands you like during coming weeks, with much less cost and fewer repairs from things bungled at the factory.
I regret I missed the Dallas Super Show. You have to pay to get in to see the same RV on every row, but with minor changes. If you are looking for innovation or someone who can actually answer a question it is a hard search. If you worked at Home Depot or Lowes, and the custom cabinets look like something in your store, leave.
When we looked at one like ours at a show, the factory rep was there and spent a couple of hours patiently showing us everything about it – even after we told him we weren’t buying that day. We were totally impressed. Then we met the owner of the dealership, actually a large chain of dealerships, and was very impressed with him also. We called him back two weeks later and said we were ready and he gave us the same good discounted price he quoted at the show. All unlike the salesman at CW that told me, “Just get an F-150 and you call pull anything on this lot.”
Thank you for your experienced insights, Tony. Last month, I was told by one of the sales staff at the New Hampshire RV Show that there is a “pot” of money (from manufacturers?) that allows dealers to offer show prices, but that as the show progresses and sales diminish the “pot” diminishes. Thus, the earlier in the show that one purchases, the better the discount one receives. Is this consistent with what you know from your years of working at RV dealers? Have a great day and safe travels!