It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I happened to mention to my DH that the largest RV show in the U.S. was happening in Tampa, FL.
It was the Sunday before the show’s Wednesday opening, and DH said those two glorious words beloved by RVers near and far: “Let’s go!”
(Note: Hershey, PA, also claims the “largest in the U.S.” title. Everyone wants to be the biggest, it appears.)
The trip
We made the 1,042-mile trip in two days—just in time for the opening of the show. And what an opening it was! So. Many. People. (I should mention that my DH is scheduled for knee replacement in two weeks. He was not in tip-top condition but braved the crowds and the large show footprint without complaint.)
The 2026 Florida RV SuperShow promoters boasted more than 1,300 individual RVs onsite. We saw at least half of them. I was most interested in the debut of new models and floor plans, so we worked off my RV list first.
I love to observe RVers and potential RVers at these shows. Here’s a glimpse of what I saw and heard as we toured the RV show in Tampa. I’m hopeful that my observations provide some insights that may help you at the next RV show you visit.
So big!
A young child was accompanied by what looked to be his grandparents. He ran from RV to RV at a brisk pace. His grandparents scurried to keep up. At one RV, the little guy exclaimed, “Wow! This is the biggest one we’ve seen!”
Yes, some RVs are big—really big! But before you let the rig’s gigantic size mesmerize you, consider:
- Will I feel comfortable driving it?
- How will I park it?
- Is it a match for the number of people I’ll most often travel with?
- How will I pay for it?
Newbies
We were “resting” DH’s knee inside a Class C motorhome when a young couple entered. The man said, “Now this is what I’m talking about!”
His wife didn’t seem convinced. “Hey, I don’t even know if I’ll like RVing. I’m not willing to go into debt for one.”
My husband and I exchanged a glance that said, “Hope he listens to her.”
If you’ve never RVed before, I suggest you camp with a friend who has an RV. A couple of days on the road will help you know if RVing suits you. As an alternative, rent different classes of RVs to see which class best matches how you like to travel and live on the road.
Money isn’t everything
Money isn’t the only consideration when purchasing an RV. Even if you can afford to buy the most expensive model, that class and its features might not be the best fit for you. Ask yourself these questions:
- How do we most like to travel? (Enjoy visiting a particular location for a day, then move on? Or spend several days/weeks in one place?)
- What locations do we plan to visit? (Many national parks, state parks, COE parks, and others have restrictions in place as to what size RV their campsites will accommodate. Keep this in mind!)
- How will we store our RV when we’re not traveling? (Your backyard may be spacious enough to park a travel trailer, but not a large 5th wheel or motorhome.) What costs are involved with storing an RV at a storage facility?
- If looking at a travel trailer or fifth wheel RV, can our current truck safely tow this rig, or will we need to upgrade our truck? (That’s a huge additional expense!)
Put on blinders
Try to look past the glitz and glam and concentrate your attention on the functionality of the RV.
Don’t be shy! Actually stand in the shower to see if you fit comfortably. Sit on the commode. Try getting in and out of the bed. Is there a dedicated spot for your CPAP machine? Count the charging ports throughout the rig. Are they easy to access? Open and close doors, drawers, and cabinet doors. How are they constructed? Do they operate smoothly?
You get the point. Try to imagine living life in each RV model you tour. Go through the motions even if other folks are inside the RV with you. (They should be doing what you’re doing, too.)
Facts, not emotions
It’s important to guard your emotions as you move from RV to RV. Take notes about the floor plan and photograph the features you’ve prioritized.
Is a dedicated office space on your list of “must-haves”?
That full-size refrigerator is impressive. However, it’s not practical if you mostly plan to boondock.
The heavy fifth wheel RV has lots of space, but will you feel comfortable driving it in the mountains?
Note the positive and negative features you discover in each RV. Plan to review your notes, but remember: There is no perfect RV. Your goal is to find the one that has the most features you want with the least negatives that you can (hopefully) overlook.
Your emotions should not determine an RV purchase (or any large purchase). You need facts and time to think clearly. Remember that many RV dealerships hold over their “show prices” for at least a week after the RV show. (Ask about this.) Take advantage of that time to make the decision that’s best for you.
No pressure
A salesperson I talked with said his team hoped to sell at least 50 RVs over the course of the Tampa show. That averages out to ten RV sales for each of the five days. That’s a hefty sales goal! I shivered to think about the pressure tactics that the sales team would use to reach their ambitious goal. And they’re not alone.
The pressure to purchase an RV can feel overwhelming at an RV show. You can always get up and walk away. A good salesperson knows that, and should understand your need to carefully consider all your options.
Have you attended any RV shows? What are your likes and dislikes? Tell us using the comments below.
RELATED
- A list of “must-haves” can help you buy your perfect RV
- 2026 RV trends spotted at the Florida RV SuperShow
- The best and most unique 2026 RVs displayed at the Florida RV SuperShow
- RV Shows in the U.S. and Canada in 2026
RVT1246
Interesting observations. We have participated at the Tampa RV Show over the past 7 years. The vendors and manufacturers at this year’s show appeared to be doing better. Attendance was definitely impacted by the cold weather, but did not deter buyers.
We just do Perry FRVA Rally. It’s enough for us.
We could have enjoyed the show a lot more if the maps in the program had included physical landmarks, like the lake. It may be me, but I found the online parking ticketing to be confusing. I inadvertently bought parking for the fair in February. Although it says no refunds online, I did get the refund after sending an email admitting my error. Food vendors are not shy either. I guess I don’t eat out enough to get accustomed to that.
It was my 1st time attending a big show. We brought lunch the second day we attended and we enjoyed people watching and the Rockwood 301FKT!
Gail–we are thinking of upgrading from a TT to a 5th wheel, and would be interested in the Florida show end of this year. Since you seemed to leave late towards the show, where did you park to still be able to get to the show?
Tampa’s Super RV show is in January. They have another, smaller one later in the year. They offer camping at the show. I recently read that Lazydays RV store has overnight camping. They are close to the show fairground.
Not sure about the LazyDays. They used to have a campground, but closed it down when their financial problems began. And now I think the whole company was bought out. Internet search says they were acquired by Campers Inn. I think Asset Transfer is still in progress. But I did find one article that said the Tampa Location (Seffner) will retain the LazyDays name.
I have my Class B at Lazy Days in Seffner right now. It is now “Lazy Days powered by Campers Inn”. I don’t know if it is because of the change over of ownership or not, but my Class B has been there for about 5 weeks now and I am told it will be another 5 weeks or so for them to get the right part ordered, for Onan generator. I am a bit disappointed. Guess I will now travel further to Lakeland RV World for service. They did close the really nice campgrounds.
Wow, that’s bad. You might try to see if you can get the part directly from Onan, faster. Sometimes these repair companies only use certain sourcers and if you can work outside their box, it might be done quicker.
Not using the RV right now so I am being overly patient, I guess. Story is that it is an older generator (2013) and Onan is looking for parts. Sounds a bit fishy to me. I have asked for the old part so I can rebuild it. I don’t care what kind of machine it is, service is just not a priority any more.
I think they sold it.
We bought both of our RV’s at shows. Show prices were good and usually they have lenders on site too, makes it easier. And we already knew what we were looking for, so we focused on those models.
We attended a show in Cleveland last month and looking at a trailer that had a posted “show price” but when I went online to see more about it that same dealer had a lower prIce listed on their website. After that the sales person at the show wouldn’t even talk to me again. Makes me think the show prices are lies. Definitely not buying from them!
Sounds like the show price is higher, because they believe people will “think” the show price is a deal.
DW and I like to listen to comments people make in RVs at shows. One couple in their early 40’s, I would guess, was looking at a 42′ toy hauler 5th wheel we were wandering through. He said “I wonder if we can tow this with our half ton?” To which she replied, “I don’t see why not!” 😵💫
At least he was asking, I guess, but it shows how unprepared many individuals are when buying an RV.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen “show special” pricing that cannot be beat, or at the least matched, after a show. Maybe in rare events like the pandemic, but buyers should not rush a decision just to close a deal at an RV show. Shop and you can do better.
Agree. Unless you have a very good reason for doing a deal right then, right there, leave the checkbook at home and don’t get hustled into a deal. Go home and review the facts in the cold light of day, go over what features you really do and don’t need, go over the towing capacity of your truck/suv, or towability of your proposed ‘toad’, etc. See what similar used units are really selling for and look at a few, maybe on the route home from the show. If you really liked what some salesman was offering at the show, take his/her card, they will still be available to work with when you are really ready.
We thought of going. But why should a couple have to spend $65 to go look at RV’s for one day ($25 tickets and $15 parking). I can go to RV Sales lots for free. This show should not cost anything to go to. Could you imagine if an RV Dealer said you had to pay to look at RV’s on their lot?
Since this is an RV Newsletter, I assume that over 99% of the subscribers are already RV enthusiasts of some type. Gail missed the mark in reporting on the Tampa show. We don’t need the dos and don’ts of RV buying. What would’ve made a good article is what’s new, if anything, in the industry. What RV brand caught her and DH eye with innovation? How about reporting if the industry is addressing the quality and workmanship issues that seasoned RV’ers complain about? What RV accessories caught their eye?
Watch the upcoming newsletters to see what RVs and innovations impressed or surprised me. This article is intended to give readers the overall “feel” of the show.
Thanks for chiming in, Lonewolf. Safe and happy travels!
LOL…Gail, you stumped me with the “DH” acronym (apparently I’m a bit slow-witted today). It seemed a new one to me, so I googled it, but I didn’t quickly see a translation that made sense to me. Looking at some internet search possibilities, I was sure that you weren’t referring to your “Dental Hygenist” or “Designated Hitter”. Finally my brain woke up and I realized that you meant “Dear Husband” (at least I hope the “D” meant “Dear”!). At AcronymFinder I found 91 interesting (and amusing, unexpected, forgotten, etc) translations for “DH” that can be seen here: https://www.acronymfinder.com/DH.html .
Yes, I meant Dear Husband. I first saw the acronym here on RV Travel, as well.
Safe travels!
I thought Gail’s article was an excellent guide for anyone buying their first RV or their fourth like us. Definitely made some mental notes for the next time we go shopping.
One more tip especially if you’re financing is look at examples of 2-4yr resales. If you decide you have to get out of it can you absorb the hit?