they should have an exhibitor map to help you narrow down your tour. Most will post them online so start there first. Most of the shows we have been to the dealers tend to bring 1 or 2 of each "type" of RV they sell, a couple of 5ers, some tow behinds, pop ups or motorhomes. We usually bypassed the week end type rigs and headed straight for the ones we thought we would be interested in, this saved us time but unfortunately not a lot of walking since the dealers were spread over a wide area.
Maybe a little research of the dealers on line will help you narrow down your search and shorten your walking a little. Give the dealer a call and see which models they will be bringing and also ask them if a factory rep will be there. Get to know the factory rep, if there is one there, of the make you are serious about. Never hurts to have that connection if you buy their brand.

Happy shopping,

Phil

It will be pretty easy, step 1 Get the map.....Step 2 Get your bearings.....step 3 visit the exhibitors that you are interested in.....now that being said, leave yourself a little time to visit exhibitors that catch your eye...but where not on your list...Have fun.

We went last year, and are looking forward to going this year again. Are we there yet? You will receive a map that will help tremendously. I *think* it showed areas for the different manufacturers. We were able to see everything we wanted to see in one day, and we also have quite a drive to get there. However, we only got to see the RVs and never made it to the camping supply vendor area in case you are interested in doing that. Having said that, we mostly wandered around to take in all the different types of RVs, as we were still unsure as to the type of RV we wanted. Now we pretty much have a short list, so things will go much faster.  

If you haven't been there before, I suggest bringing your own food and drinks. That's what we are doing this time. We were shocked at how expensive the food (and water was $3 a bottle) was, both inside and outside. If you have a bottle with you, you will be able to go inside for refills at the water fountains.

Don't forget to go to the web site and print off a $1 coupon. http://largestrvshow.com/PRVCAHome/AmericasLargestRVShowPublicInfo/tabid/59/Default.aspx

Also on the website under the Exhibitor Information link is a list of all manufacturers that will be there, which includes their block number. Taking note of which blocks you want to navigate to ahead of time will save you some time.

Have fun!

-- Edited by Bobbi on Monday 19th of August 2013 06:28:30 AM

Edit by moderator: Activated link.  Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Monday 19th of August 2013 07:10:08 AM

cherylbrv wrote:

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Thanks, all, for the replies. The Exhibitor Info on the website will hopefully be the most helpful, although right now it doesn't look like we'll be going as DH doesn't really want to make the drive and we're not ready to buy yet anyway. Mostly, I still continue to do my research and found a few new floorplans I like, so the purpose was really just to take a better look up close & personal, especially if DRV and Holiday Rambler will be there.

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 I still recommend going even if you are not ready to buy. We were not ready to buy last year when we went either. The reason I recommend still going is that there are things you only realize when you are inside the RV. In fact, every time we have gone to look at RVs, we realize something we hadn't realized beforehand. That has been extremely helpful to us, and some of the campers on our list were promptly removed once we had a chance to be inside. There is only so much research you can do online, but the experience of being inside the RVs of your interest - and even ones that you were not considering before - cannot be duplicated online and can actually help you make your list much faster. Being inside, you get a better feel for just how small a shower really is, for example, (my fiance is 6' 2", and we've learned that a standard corner shower is really small for him), or how under-insulated a unit is when even with the a/c on, it's still uncomfortable, if the kitchen is actually much "tighter" than it appeared in pictures, that a dark-colored RV is only going to make cooling the RV that much harder in the dead of summer, or that you really do or do not prefer an island kitchen.

 

The RV show is a chance to see so many RVs in one place, which saves you from driving all over to see what you are interested in also, and you could see something that you were not considering before that is even better than what you were considering. The latter actually happened to us. 

cherylbrv wrote:

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I absolutely agree with you Bobbi! I have been to quite a few RV shows already (at the Hershey show in 2011 when RV Dreams had their rally near there), and every year in Edison NJ (comparatively small show) and in Atlantic City. The big ones are definitely better. I will continue to work on my husband to make the trip!

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 I see. Well, give him a good "workover" and remind him of all the benefits, which he has apparently forgotten....lol! :>)

 

We weren't able to attend any really big shows, but we did attend the one in Springfield several times. Each time we were a little farther along in our research and were therefore able to ask more focused questions. Since there are only so many ways one can arrange the interior of a box to make a living space it really doesn't matter whether you are looking at a 34' cheapie or a 34' full-timer's dream when it comes to deciding what floor plans will (and will not) work for you.

One other advantage a larger show will have is that you can more easily compare the different classes of coaches. Although people can, and do, full-time in all sorts of vehicles, we decided that we were going to limit ourselves to 5'ers, travel trailers, and motor homes. We could, therefore, walk past most of the other types of vehicles, although there were a few teardrops that were just so neat that we had to spend at least a couple of minutes looking at them.

Finally, you may meet some dealers that sound like people you can do business with. You may also meet some that you never want to hear from again. Both bits of information will help you. Unless you decide on a coach that is only sold factory-direct you will be able to find another dealer to work with if you don't happen to like the one at the show. Also, unless you are already full-timers, you are probably better off buying a coach from a local dealer. There are many threads on that topic. If you are a full-timer who is buying new it probably doesn't matter where you buy from. The dealer probably won't be handy when something goes wrong and you will just have to deal with it at that time.

Enjoy the show. Some day we will be able to attend it, too.

Good luck, Judy! I have gone to the Edison show a few times, but as you say, it's really just a time passer; nothing really significant to see and you can get through the whole place in a few hours. Hershey and Atlantic City are much larger and better represented!

Where in NJ are you? I'm in the central area - Union County near Scotch Plains.

Linda,

Love your blog! We too were from NJ and are now happy residents of SD.

Les and Sue