RV show blues

[drwwicks]

So a few months ago we made plans to attend the FL RV show in Tampa which is going this week. We brought the motorhome down to Brooksville FL which is about 45 minutes north of the Tampa area. All in all this has been a miserable experience that will NOT be repeated. First we are not looking for an RV but wanted to view a few things and check out vendors for interesting products and ideas. Wednesday morning left Brooksville around 9am and finally made it into the gate at the fairgrounds around 12:30. Horrid traffic with poor road layout. Worse than Atlanta during rush hour. In line to park, in line to get in. Only place I didn't stand in line was to Pee.

The RV show is one big commercial and it's insulting to have to pay to park, pay to get in so I can pay again if I want something. Price gouging for food costs.

Seems the most prolific vendor was the RV resort/time share/buy a spot. As far as parts and ideas, a typical Camping World or equivalent RV store had most of what was there.

Bottom line a big disappointment and something I will not repeat. Funny thing is the entrance fee was good for 2 days so I have 2 free tickets for someone willing to spend hours stuck in traffic.

[Passin_Thru]

I went to Hershey last year (2016s) and got in for $2. It wasn't bad and i just wanted to look at the Overpriced Airstreams and new MH designs. i was very disappointed in most of the MH quality. A Friend told me once, jump up and down in the kitchen and if the salesmans asks you not to do that, get out. Seems like they are trying to appease the blind with huge overbearing TVs and big rooms but teeny bathrooms. In one my wife said, "Its like my Dad's house in Italy, You have to come out of the bathroom and turn around then back into use the shower."

[tropical36]

lj2654 wrote:
Well. We can go to Lazy Days in Tampa and look at all kinds of RV's. From popups to Class B, Class, C, DP, Gas, fifth wheels, Buses, travel trailers and spend all day long. No traffic, no over rated food costs, and no lines. Everyday, weekends and most Holidays for free.....dont even have to argue with the salespeople, unless you find that part interesting!

You beat me to that one and just so happens that we were at Lazydays for a rally, a few days prior. We do frequent that place a good bit anyways, so yes, must agree, if you can't find it there today, it'll be there next week. Not that you have to buy there, but they are open for viewing and with no one there to hound you.
The best part for us is, that they have a good used inventory, as well.
We seem to always do better with buying from individuals or with a consignment sale, like our last one and then sale what you have, outright.

[Mike_Hohnstein]

Florida is grossly over populated, just FYI.

[matski]

I believe the OP was talking about the November Tampa RV show which is much smaller than the January show that was this past weekend. I went to the November show two times in the past and will never go again. The January show is much larger and has more vendors.

[Bill_Satellite]

FMCA and Good Sam Rallies are NOT where you want to go to find a new RV. Even the "seminars" are likely to be nothing more than a sale pitch for a product that the "expert" is selling. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but very few.
I found the RV that I wanted at the Hershey RV show back in 1994 but since then the "shows" have become very dark shadows of their former selves. Go, look, ask, and then start over again somewhere else.

[bullydogs1]

The rallies we went to in Georgia were much more pleasant to deal with and in/out of..Also Hershey has plenty of room and if you go the Wed/Thurs of that week, plenty too....Fortunately, I'm out of the market for awhile....I have basically what I wanted...if you are lucky enough to get into the Hershey campground, they even have a shuttle bus...they even have a shuttle bus from the dry camping area too...

[cwdavis]

We've been to both RV shows and to FMCA rallies. The rallies are far more informative, IMHO, and there are always a good vendor areas.

[-Gramps-]

We had a good time at the show. We felt there were enough vendors to make it worth the trip yesterday. No line to get in, but I wasn't crazy about having to buy two day tickets when we only wanted to visit one day. Should have figured out how to sell today's tickets. I learned some things I wanted to learn about chairs, floors, and paint shops. We bought a huge patio umbrella for our lot up North, which will be shipped to us in the spring. We also picked up quite a few free nights at various RV resorts down here. As I said worth the trip from Tarpon Springs to the show.

[Sonny54]

We just returned from our 175 mile trip to the Chattanooga RV show. What a disappointment, unless you're in the market for a fifth wheel or TT. We're in the market for a Class A, and they had, if memory serves, about 5 total, three of them being the junk Thors.

Complete bust.

[FireEater]

Steeljag wrote:
Do they also have pre-owned class As at the show?

Not that I saw, but with the local dealers doing most of the showing, they will ask you to come to their lot, then the fun begins....

Of course Camping World, Lazy Days, and North Trail come to mind of ones I saw there. North Trail is in Ft. Myers, and is the farthest away, but represented numerous new ones there.

[JoeH]

I've lived in the Tampa area for 35 years and the traffic gets worse every year with the constant influx of new residents which is exacerbated by the presence of snowbirds for about 1/2 the year. The road infrastructure isn't being upgraded properly to handle the additional traffic. So, traffic stinks, whether or not there is an RV show going on. Yeah, I don't like to pay to park or pay to see RV's and accessories, but I do. Sure is nice to be able to compare multiple brands and models in one place without having to get int eh car and drive who knows how far to different dealers.

[Steeljag]

Do they also have pre-owned class As at the show?

[Mooshaker]

We went Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Got to the show a few minutes before 9 each day. Waited in line about 5 minutes on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday drove up to the gate with no traffic.

The exhibit halls are crowded. That is just part of a show. The show is full of campgrounds wanting you to visit them. I just walk on by.

I think the price is reasonable for entry at $10.00 for 2 days.

I ended up buying a Motorhome from my local dealer (1100 miles from Tampa). Used the show to see what I wanted and for pricing.

[lryrob9301]

If you want to go to the largest, best run RV show in the country, go to Hershey PA. It's held in early September and EVERY RV Manufacturer brings one of every model they make to the show. Traffic is well coordinated and parking is plentiful. The cost is reasonable and the vendors are plentiful in the Hershey Coliseum. Many Class A manufacturers have ride and drive areas around the grounds. Like I said it's the largest and best run RV show I have ever been to.