To the RV Expo!

[bjarvis]

We spent the early part of the afternoon in Dulles, VA, attending the annual RV expo. We aren't shopping for a new trailer or motor home --in this economy? who can afford one?-- but we were interested in supplies, accessories and general ideas for our existing trailer.

Sadly, supplies and accessories were utterly non-existent. Outside of the vehicles themselves, the only other vendors were campgrounds, storage facilities and one insurance company. Bummer.

I'm fascinated by the way different companies exploit available space inside trailers, maximizing space and functionality while keeping weight and costs under control. Some succeed while others... well, what were they thinking?

For example...

Most trailers have an externally-attachable two-burner stove. It clips into provided side rails and attaches to the trailer's internal natural gas lines. It allows one to grill outdoors to enjoy good weather and scenic venues; as an added bonus, it also doesn't contribute to heating the interior of the vehicle in the worst of a hot summer day. Out trailer has such an external stove but we've never used it: we have a much larger barbecue on our deck since we're cooking for a small crowd and since our deck is flush with the trailer's floor level, the attached stove would be at knee level, hardly convenient.

At least three models we looked at took this to an extreme. The photo below is not only of an outside grill, but an outside faucet & sink, fridge, microwave oven, shelves & storage, counter space and a spice rack. Yes, it's a trailer with two full kitchens. WTF?!


I have never seen so many trailers of such a height before. Eight foot ceilings and higher were on offer, including several deluxe models with ceiling fans and electric fireplaces. Admittedly, those top-of-the-line models were clearly made for childless couples as they sacrificed all sleeping spaces except the master bed (king-sized, naturally), using the space for large shared living areas. Two models had kitchen islands.

This one (below) came with its own clothes washer & dryer, all for the low price of $350,000 USD. I don't want to own one, I'd just like to afford to buy one. I only wish I was less in awe of the shear excess of it all to inquire about the gas mileage although I'm sure they'd say something akin to if you have to ask you can't afford it.


Several of the deluxe motor homes have extended rear cabins in which one may house an extra vehicle. Yup, a garage inside your mobile home, suitable for a golf cart, motor cycles, all terrain vehicles or scooters. I suppose it might be attractive for those who use motorized wheelchairs although I'd have to wonder how one gets into & out of the motor home itself if one has severe mobility issues. Naturally, there were ATV, golf cart and ATV sales on site as well. We picked out this model for kent4str:

Comments

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

That's definitely NOT the end of the RV price range we'd be shopping for!

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

and the pink camo mini-ATV is just to die for. Or to die on!

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

I saw one on TV last year, that had granite and real wood finishes throughout - like a luxury hotel. But the frosting on that particular cake was a side-ways storage area - for your sports car! It slide out of the base. Amazing piece of mechanics. I think you had to supply your own roadster though.

[trawnapanda.livejournal.com]

You were worried about financial implications of cuyahogarvr and kent4str purchasing comestibles in Wegmans, but you went shopping here among the $350k+ RVs??

Eight foot ceilings and higher were on offer, including several deluxe models with ceiling fans
I'd be worried about decapitation (or at least, scalping) issues for kent4str with a ceiling fan

Admittedly, those top-of-the-line models were clearly made for childless couples
whazzaproblem here? you don't have any chillens living at home do you?

I suppose it might be attractive for those who use motorized wheelchairs [or golf carts] although I'd have to wonder how one gets into & out of the motor home itself if one has severe mobility issues
most of the people using golf carts for their nominal purposes don't have real mobility issues, they're just indolent, lazy toads busy managerial types for whom time is money.

I'd pay good money to seek kent4str tooling around on a pink camoflage ATV, I must allow. A perfect complement to the PowerPrincessMobile

[bootedintexas.livejournal.com]

is it wrong when i see the title to this entry i envision you pressing a button and three men running to poles that appear from an opening in the library. and then the "da nah nah nah" music as a LJ Icon flashes through the screen.

[trawnapanda.livejournal.com]

coming in a week late here, but the BBC has an article today on the US love affair with the RV/motorhome

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8476354.stm

featuring what is essentially a glassed-in living room on the back of a Model A, formerly owned by Mae West.