buying at an rv show

[MartinaB]

We are looking to buy our first tt, we have been looking for the past month and are getting a good idea of what we want and have narrowed it down to 3 (as of now). We are going to the Nashville rv show and was wondering if that is a good place to buy a tt. Due to size limitations we plan to get a small 7foot wide tt with a queen bed and bunk house. thank you for your time!

[RavensFan24]

I'll also note that both models we received were NOT ones that were at the actual shows being walked through. I would not want that and would pay 'used prices' for any RV I got that was actually used at a show.

[Wild_Card]

I went to a show this weekend. Every RV had a stream of people in and out, opening and closing, slamming doors you name it. After an RV sees a show or 2 it most likely has the equivalent of 5yrs of use. Nahh not worth it to me

[hawkeye-08]

If you have done your research and know what you want and what price you are willing to pay, sure. If not, use the show to do more research and get a feel for prices. We figured out what we wanted doing research and talking to folks, including at the RV shows. We bought used and got just what we wanted. Our only disappointment is the fading of the front cap and it turns out our mfg along with a few others had a problem for a year or two. Factory declined to do anything on ours (still had some warranty left when we got it), others have had a nice paint job done..

Weights, floorplans, etc all play into decision. Please don't get sucked into "sure your truck will pull this" pitch by the salesman. Check it yourself, especially your available payload and hitch limitations.

[danimal53]

the dealers by me often have "show pricing" at the dealer at least a month or 2 after the show. If they don't you can easily ask "can we get the show price" or negotiate from that price. We went to a show to get a better idea of what we wanted, layout etc. Met the dealer, he talked us into going to their lot and looking at more models. We ended up buying the same model we saw at the show. The kicker- they gave us NEXT years model at the show price, while the show had the current year. Not much different in the 2 models, but sort of a mini-upgrade.

[RavensFan24]

We bought both our trailers from shows. Both times we were closing our deal on the last day at the end of the show and got great deals. It actually took the first dealer so long to agree to my price point and add ons that they sold the last 2007 model and had to upgrade us to the 2008 at no extra charge. If it wasn't for it being the end of the show, I don't think they would've agreed to the price, year and extras.

[DE88ROX]

SusanDallas wrote:
I would not buy from a show. I just purchased my travel trailer after looking for a year. You need the time to consider the options and features you need without making a rush decision. Like you, I wanted a set of bunks and a double bed. One trailer I liked at the show and later went to the dealership for a second look. I then realized it had no closets and the only place for your clothes was under the double bed. At the shows, you tend to miss the little things. I just purchased a KZ Sportsmen Classic 180bh. I opted for the larger refrigerator, roof a/c and the hot rod for the water heater so it can use electricity. It can be an nerve wracking experience dealing with some of the sales people. Some salesmen are great and really helpful and others just want to make a deal. Good Luck and have fun!

I really wanted a bunkhouse for future grandchildren. But we never found one that had a closet. deal breaker.

[DE88ROX]

Cant speak for others, but I got a very good deal at our RV show back in 2012.
Its held every year at the convention center downtown (grand rapids mi.)

Paid 11k for a 2012 travel trailer that at the time, had a suggested list price of just over 18k.

So yeah, if you look around you can get a deal. The trailer I bought was one of the last ones I looked at.

[SoundGuy]

SusanDallas wrote:
I opted for the larger refrigerator, roof a/c and the hot rod for the water heater so it can use electricity.

Just a heads up but if by "hot rod for the water heater" you mean an aftermarket Hott Rod Water Heater Conversion Kit be aware that you may void the warranty on the water heater itself by installing that Hott Rod. :E You haven't mentioned whether this is a Suburban or Atwood water heater but it would be worth checking into IMO.

[HappyCampers3]

Saw our model at an RV show didn't buy but got same if not better deal when we ordered a month later. So it can be a crapshot as to what is best. Story from a friend who sells RVs. A salesman wasn't getting any interest on a unit raised price crossed it out put original price as " show price" and sold eight in one day. So be careful.

[Andy_F]

We bought our old previous hybrid Rockwood Roo at the Mpls RV show. Got a good deal and it seemed like the Rockwood corporate rep that was present helped get the local dealer to offer us a good price to make the sale. I remember the dealer saying we had to take the unit he had on display at the show, the one that everyone was walking through, for the price we got which seemed to be about $500 to $700 better than what we would have got outside of the RV show. I suppose they benefitted from being able to put up a "sold" sign on the unit for the remainder of the show. Of course, they had the unit nice and clean and ready to go when we took delivery a week later at the dealership. All in all, it was a fun experience to do once with our kids.

[SusanDallas]

I would not buy from a show. I just purchased my travel trailer after looking for a year. You need the time to consider the options and features you need without making a rush decision. Like you, I wanted a set of bunks and a double bed. One trailer I liked at the show and later went to the dealership for a second look. I then realized it had no closets and the only place for your clothes was under the double bed. At the shows, you tend to miss the little things. I just purchased a KZ Sportsmen Classic 180bh. I opted for the larger refrigerator, roof a/c and the hot rod for the water heater so it can use electricity. It can be an nerve wracking experience dealing with some of the sales people. Some salesmen are great and really helpful and others just want to make a deal. Good Luck and have fun!

[APT]

Show prices are never lower than the so-called Wholesale RV dealers. Call up Holman, RV Wholesalers, RV Direct, Lakeshore RV, etc and ask for quotes to establish a baseline to compare to the local shows. I also prefer a fresh/custom built vs. something at the show or dealer lots that many people have been in.

[Bears_Den]

I saw my TT at a RV show and bought it about 3 months later from the same dealer at the show price. I just went to the Tampa RV show yesterday, as stated above the show prices didn't seem that great but I did see a few with sold signs on them. I guess if you have the money and a blank check any price is good. The ones that were sold were still open for folks to look at, if it were my recent purchase I wouldn't want it open for folks to parade through, but that's just me.

[Hannibal]

If it can be sold for X amount of dollars at a show including transportation and costs to display at the show, it can be sold for less off the lot or negotiated on an ordered unit with no lot time. We just went to the big show in Tampa. Lots of beautiful RV's there. Prices didn't seem that great. Salesmen sure talk a lot of BS too. But I enjoyed it enough that I might go back today.