The show, featuring 206 RVs on display, is at the Suburban Financial Showplace (Beck Road exit off I-96) in Novi. It's open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There's plenty of good things to see at this year's show. I've been there a total of six hours so far, and I could spend the entire day there today and still discover a bunch of new RVs, accessories, campgrounds and other things that would make yet another trip entirely worth the while.
Some of my handy-dandy tips to help you enjoy this and future RV shows:
- Don't be afraid to chat up the sales people. Most are happy to pass the time engaging in harmless conversation with us regular folks. Sure, they're hoping we might buy a camper from them. But the truth is they're just regular people, too, and enjoy a pleasant conversation as much as anyone. Who knows? You may learn something about RVs, or a new campground destination, that you never knew before!
- Don't let your kids climb all over the campers. I was inside a Class C and while the manufacturer's representative was showing me the motorized bed-over-the-cab feature, a family entered the camper. The kids saw the bed and the parents did nothing while their kids climbed into the still-moving bed. Treat the campers as if you don't own them, which, of course, you don't.
- Do like I do, and I suspect you do, and gather as many brochures as you possibly can. Even if you're not in the market for a $200,000 front-engine diesel Monaco Vesta motor home, the slick brochures make for some excellent reading while we plow through another Michigan winter.
- Be sure to stop by the vendor booths. This year there's several new campgrounds represented, including Heartland Woods Family R.V. in Stockbridge. There's also an aerial photography business, Aerial Graphics, that specializes in lake pictures, and also a lovely couple whose business, Soles of Michigan, sells a lightweight, wear-everywhere shoe. The shoes, called Zeko Travelers, are lightweight, comfortable and feature a vented sole for air circulation. They seem perfect for wearing around a campsite, plus they're machine-washable.
Here's the official show information from the show sponsor, the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC):
All types of new recreation vehicles—over 200 units and 50 brands displayed; folding campers, motorhomes, travel trailers, truck campers, and fifth wheel travel trailers, ranging in price from $4,999 to more than $400,000.
Booths featuring parts and accessories, campground information, on site RV financing and RV rentals make this the complete RV show experience. Consumers can pick up the 2011 RV & Campsite guide to camping and RV dealers in Michigan that contains money-saving coupons.
Special discounts
Folding campers from $4,999; trailers from $8,999; motorhomes from $49,999. 2011 model closeouts and discounts on new 2012 models. Plus, manufacturer rebates on select RVs.
Admission
Adult admission (ages 13 and up) is $8, senior admission is $7, and children 12 and under get in free! RV show ticket will also get you into the Fall Remodeling & Design Expo, Thursday through Sunday.
my family and I went Saturday, we were probably the ones with the kid that climb on the bed, it wasn't that I wasn't doing anything about it, he's 5 and he's excited, and I had no sitter. While us parents try to respect and teach our kids to respect it's hard on the little guys. Secondly, I'd like to know what all the fuss is about. I was NOT impressed. Most of the dealers did not have the time of day to acknowledge my presence let alone have a conversation. It was no better than the Flint show, I was expecting there to be parts dealers and of course the only ones there were the RUDE folks from General RV! I will not be going to another MARVAC RV Show again, a complete waste of my $16 dollars to get in, not to mention the $5 parking fee, that no one advertised....
ReplyDeleteAmy, I'm sorry you had a bad experience at the show. For what it's worth, the kids jumping on the bed couldn't have been you, it happened while I was there on Thursday. For that matter, I was there on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and maybe that's why the sales people had time to talk. I'm assuming the weekends were busier with more people attending.
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