Review: Mpls Camping & RV Show (ends 2/11/07)

[AustinBoston]

We went to the Minneapolis/St. Paul RV Vacation & Camping Show on the evening of Feb 8, opening day.

I would estimate there were 25-30 RV dealers, mostly selling 5th-wheels but with a significant number of Class A's.  The only thing we did not see at all were Hi-Lo/Trailmanor types and A-Liner/Chalet types.

There were relatively few class C's this year.  Last year, we looked at almost every class C in the show, but PJay has shifted her gaze towards hybrids, and we only went into one Class-C abomination.

I found a few of the new hybrids very attractive.  The difference between base weight and gross weight on some of the larger hybrids was huge (more than 2:1), and the price difference between mid-sized hybrids and large pop-ups was actually negative (the biggest pop-ups are costing more than the budget mid-sized hybrids).

Getting PJay interested in hybrids means I might get a pickup in the not too distant future.  :#

Unlike the last few times I went to the RV show in Boston, there are still pop-ups shown here in Minneapolis.  If we were in the market for a new pop-up, some of the new high-walled units are attractive.  We both liked one of the Palomino HW units we saw.  Bigger (i.e. useful) fridges are probably the biggest thing, but having a real sink is good, too.

I would estimate that there were fewer campground/ timeshare/ cookware etc. than previous years, with a result of maybe one or two more RV exhibitors.

If you are in the area, the show is at the Minneapolis Convention Center.  Discount coupons ($1 off $10 adult admission) are available at the first link below.  The show is open now through February 11.  The Convention Center is directly accessible via the Minneapolis Skyway system.

Show Info Link (includes hours, ticket prices, directions, exhibitor list, more)

Minneapolis Convention Center (directions, parking, upcoming events, etc.)

Austin

[Old Goat]

Austin,  I have also looked at the hiwalls at dealers around here and liked them, however, their much higher prices kinda makes me wonder where the value is. Those hybrids are looking better all the time. I just wish they would make the bunks long enough so that sleeping fore and aft instead of cross ways would be possible and eliminating the need to crawl over your partner in order to answer the midnight potty call...These calls become more frequent as you grow
older.....

PS How did you get to and from the RV show? . Ice skates or snowmobile?

[AustinBoston]

Austin,  I have also looked at the hiwalls at dealers around here and liked them, however, their much higher prices kinda makes me wonder where the value is.

The only real value I could see were the larger and more numberous appliances, esp. a larger fridge.  We could see no advantage to selling our pop-up to buy a highwall, but for someone looking to buy their first new pop-up or looking for a larger pop-up anyway, it might make sense.

Those hybrids are looking better all the time. I just wish they would make the bunks long enough so that sleeping fore and aft instead of cross ways would be possible and eliminating the need to crawl over your partner in order to answer the midnight potty call...These calls become more frequent as you grow
older...

So far, I'm the only one in our house with that issue, so I sleep inboard and don't have to crawl over.  But I don't doubt she'll be crawling over me eventually (PJay would never tolerate ME climbing over HER.  :yikes: )

PS How did you get to and from the RV show? . Ice skates or snowmobile?

The ground here in the Twin Cities is almost bare - maybe 4" of snow.  And for the record, I walked to get to the show.  Minneapolis has an excellent skyway system (heck, even we don't like going out when it's 15 below) that connects most of the downtown buildings including the convention center.  It's about 5 blocks from my cube, and I didn't need my coat.  I posted a tongue-in-cheek look at the skyway system in this thread.

Austin (DS and PJay drove, and we drove home together, stopping so I could get my car from the park-and-ride)

[hpyfmlycamper]

i purchased a new rockwood hw 256 at the show i looked ate the hybrids but for the interior size we wanted they were getting to heavy. and i didn't want to upgrade tow veichles.