OPINION: Dont buy an RV until you have been to an RV SHOW

[ltnunes]

My top tip is what we did with our purchase - took a seasoned RVer with us when we shopped. My sister and brother in law. They asked all of the important questions (warranty, towing, weight, holding tanks, ease of use for first timers) and made us sit in the trailer for a long time to see how we felt if we had to spend a rainy day inside. To name a few.
We had checked out a show, visited Airstream, checked out online, and chose a dealer with a huge lot at a couple of brands.
We’re now looking for our next RV and have decided that we’ll rent for a couple of years and try things out. I’m a travel advisor so it pays me to use a couple of the large rental companies.

[Crabman]

My experience with RV and boat shows is the salesman are after that impulse or emotional purchaser and the deals aren't really anything special compared to everyday pricing. It does give you a chance to view several brands, unit types, and some food for thought. But I've never bought anything at a show.

[JayLo]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

I love RV “shows” too, but that’s how I treat them, their a “show”, I won’t say I would never buy at a show, but when I start getting the “business “ it’s a real turn off! Especially when the salesperson doesn’t know what the heck their talking about, which I find happens way too much!

You know the saying, “if you can’t dazzle them with brilliance baffle them with BS”!

Yeah, if you are a first time buyer, buying at a show is not a good idea, but it is where you will get mass exposure to start narrowing what you like and don't like. For me, I knew what a good deal was and I shopped the F out of the dealers there to the point of emotional abuse until I got to the trade and price I wanted.

And SERIOUSLY, yes, what is up with these guys not knowing anything about RVs?! It’s ridiculous for sure.

[JayLo]

Originally Posted by ltnunes

My top tip is what we did with our purchase - took a seasoned RVer with us when we shopped. My sister and brother in law. They asked all of the important questions (warranty, towing, weight, holding tanks, ease of use for first timers) and made us sit in the trailer for a long time to see how we felt if we had to spend a rainy day inside. To name a few.
We had checked out a show, visited Airstream, checked out online, and chose a dealer with a huge lot at a couple of brands.
We’re now looking for our next RV and have decided that we’ll rent for a couple of years and try things out. I’m a travel advisor so it pays me to use a couple of the large rental companies.

I love this.

[JayLo]

Originally Posted by gotoworkfromanywhere

Bought my greyhawk 31ds at a dealer after extensive online shopping. Found what I wanted 30 miles from my home.

Went to an RV show a year later, and boy, did I pick the right rig. The ones at the show were laid out so poorly. Sofa beside the dinette instead of across. TV in a spot where nobody can sit comfortably to watch. Curtain divider for bedroom. Shower over toilet. Ick.

Here's mine https://www.jayco.com/rvs/class-c-mo...greyhawk/31ds/

Awesome pick, that layout is All Time.

[Murff]

Follow up on salesmen:

First off, we have had travel trailers since 1983, so I am not new to this. When we went to buy our White Hawk 7.5 years ago, we stopped at every dealer in the area just to be sure there wasn't a better floor plan than what we had in mind. At that time, my TV was a 2009 Exploder Sprt Trac with a V8 engine and full tow package, We knew how much trailer it would pull without maxing it out.

That said, we stopped at the local Crapping World and a salesman found us checking out a few units that there was no way on God's Green Earth my Sport Trac could pull, comfortably. This saleman, who was a geezer, claimed he only sold as he needed something to do and not needing the money but he had been selling RVs for 20 years.

To find out how trustworthy this elderly gent was, I showed him my TV and then proceeded to ask him if it was capable of pulling a 28 foot, 7500 pound trailer. He asked what the sport Trac was rated at and I told him 8200 lbs. So, he said it would pull it fine. I told SWMBO that it was time to go.

Mr. Salesman asked why the rush. I was blunt and said, "sir, you are either misinformed or a liar or both!"

He became (understandably) indignant and asked what I meant? I told him there is no way that my Sport Trac could pull that trailer safely down the road because of the payload and the short wheelbase and because of that, anything else that came out of his mouth would also be unbelievable by me. He huffed and stomped away.

We went and bought the Jayco you see in my signature line and still chat with salesman that sold it to us when we are in the area.

Murff