RV Show Reports

**Tweety** · 02-07-2009, 01:29 PM

We went to the Valley Forge RV Show today to scratch that camping itch. What a dissapointment

It was alot smaller than several years ago when we attended. I expected to see some new innovative things (like the Outback Loft) and there was nothing. Forest River has a new cute teardrop called the R pod, but that was the only real new thing I saw. And Lee had already shown us that one day when we were at Stoltzfus buying incidentals! We did like the Titanium and the Cameo fifth wheels. The Winnebago View is cute. The Platinum Coach House is lovely. But absolutely nothing tempting that would be comparable to the Sunline. Not that we're looking to trade, but looking is fun. Conclusion....Keeping the Tweety for a long time

Anyone else attend any shows? See anything interesting?

tnblder48 · 02-07-2009, 05:46 PM

Today we went to Todd's RV just outside of Asheville NC. They were having a large RV and Boat Show, with many of the manufacturers reps coming down from Indiana to help promote their products and answer customer questions.
As far as travel trailers go, there doesn't seem to be much out there that would compare with the Sunline. However, if anyone is in the market for a fifth wheel, there are some quite impressive units to look at, and while the top of the line makes, such as Cameo, Landmark, are excellent, you certainly pay for the priveledge of owning one.
Which brings me to the Gulfstream " Mako " fifth wheel series. They had a few on the lot, and from our observations they are a quality built unit, with solid wood cabinets, top of the line appliances, and furniture, as well as lots of nice thoughtful features throughout. We were impressed.
One thing is clear regardless of manufacturer, sales are down bigtime, and there are deals to be had for anyone in the market.The unit we liked 35FSBT, listed for around $52,000, we were offered it for $39,000, and you know you could buy it for several thousand below that price if you wanted to deal.
Like Pam and Steve, we are not in the market right now, but it's fun to look at what's out there, and to make note of a quality unit for the future.

Denis & Anne

rich2500 · 02-08-2009, 08:02 AM

This is the first year in many that we have not gone to the Valley Forge show,we decided to keep our sunline so no need to go to the show,but it sounds like we did not miss much,Tweety how did the turn out seem to be, that show was usually pretty full.We might venture up to the Reading show coming up just for something to do.

**Tweety** · 02-08-2009, 09:48 AM

It was pretty crowded by the time we left the show at 1:00. It's hard to say if people were buying or just looking. I didn't see alot of sold signs or customers sitting at tables writing up deals, but then we left fairly early. We may go to the Reading show thursday evening when it's buy one ticket get one free. Alot of the dealers that were at VF are the same ones coming to Reading.

kanyonkitty · 02-08-2009, 09:56 AM

Pam,

When is the Reading show ? I haven't went to an RV show in years, might be something I could do, besides makeing greyhounds coats

Kitty

rich2500 · 02-08-2009, 02:29 PM

http://www.readingrvshow.com/

**Tweety** · 02-09-2009, 06:15 AM

Hi Kitty,
Rich beat me to it... Iwas logging on to give you the link. The last time we went to Reading it was a nice little show. But based on the Valley Forge show it may not be worth the drive! Hershey is still the BIG one. But...PM me if you do decide to come

**Tweety** · 02-13-2009, 05:35 AM

The Reading RV Show was pretty decent. We went last night and it was deserted! They had a nice variety of large and small units, and prices were good. I actually saw one couple sitting down working on a deal. We thought the Viewfinder by CruiserRV was kinda cool.

HappyCampers · 02-13-2009, 06:07 PM

The Campers World RV Show in York, PA is on March 6-8. We usually go to this show every year to browse. They generally have a decent selection of trailers, pop-ups, and fifth wheels, with a few MHs sprinkled in.
The address is www.yorkrvshow.net.

**Sunline Fan** · 02-13-2009, 07:51 PM

Just got back from Part 1 of MARVAC's Novi, MI show. I went late (about 7:00), so I didn't get that far into it. Certainly had a lot of small trailers, a large amount of FW's, and a good number of gas Class A's. One of the FW's I was in was pretty sad, the floor was really soft and seemed cheap all together. I'm going back tomorrow to hopefully see the rest.

Another thing that annoyed me was the steps into a lot of the units. I was tripping on quite a few on the last step before being all the way inside. It's like they make that step taller than the rest, and it's really annoying.

Saw one small hi-lo type teardrop, and IMO it was a piece of junk. They didn't have any trim on the outside corners and used a rubber strip with a two-sided adhesive tape as a seam. It caught my eye because one part of it was already coming up, so I walked over to it and picked up the edge to reveal a raw corner. I hate to see the water damage it'll have in less than a year.

Jon

HappyCampers · 03-07-2009, 02:01 PM

Well we just got home from the rv show in York, kinda dissapointed. A lot smaller than in the past, lots of local dealers did not attend. Mostly left out were the higher dollar fifth wheels and MHs. Lots of deep discounts to help stimulate the industry. A good time to buy if you are so inclined.
The high point was talking to a salesman from Stoltzfus that noticed my Sunline hat while I was touring a NuWa Hitch Hiker. We talked for about 20 minutes about Sunline and his severe dissapointment in their demise, and the lack of a suitable replacement for the line. We also talked about my fiver, and the general flop that they were for Sunline. He told me that most of the people who bought them loved them, but that Sunline only built approx 25 of them total.

Weight was the biggest issue, followed by the price tag. I told him that I loved mine, and planned on loving it for some years to come. I was then introduced to Steve ?, a 32 year employee from Sunline. I also told him about my coach and how much I loved it. The salesman and Steve then told me that at the time of the closing of the company that they were working on an aluminum constructed fiver to combat the weight issue of the older fivers. Too bad they couldn't have held on for a while longer, I would loved to have seen that.
As far as ball towed coaches I saw nothing that held a candle to a Sunline. The trailers on the market today seem to be built cheaper and cheaper with every passing year, with a fancy TV thrown in to make it look good. Creaking/thin floors, loose/sloppy molding, silicon everywhere, stapled sawdust wood cabinet doors, and electric lines/wires/and gas lines run everywhere.
We did look at a two fifth wheels that I would buy. The Titanium, and the Prarie Schooner. The Titanium was by far the most impressive coach that I saw, and it should be with the $70k price tag it carried. Discounted to $55k for the show, still a little steep for my checkbook. DW liked the fireplace and the side by side fridge. I liked the quality of craftmanship, and the great use of space.

Sunline1 · 03-08-2009, 10:55 AM

March 26-29, RV show at the Bloomsburg, Pa. fair grounds, A few local dealers, bring in some campers, not a very big show.

I usually go, do some window shopping, never seam to be able to find the "New" model year "Sunline" campers latley though ???? HA HA HA