CALGARY – It’s deepest darkest January.
The winter blahs leave us dreaming of warmer days and crimson sunsets over prairies, lakes and mountains – and enjoying the outdoors in an RV.
Except for the hardiest of campers, the rest of us have a few months to wait before hitting the roads and exploring new campsites.
But the 45th annual Calgary RV Expo & Sale offers some respite, and gives enthusiasts an opportunity to see more than 400 of the latest and greatest tent trailers, travel trailers, fifth wheels and motorhomes.
The show is on this weekend at the Calgary Stampede’s BMO Centre, and runs Friday, Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Of current trends in the RV industry, Dan Merkowsky says: “We’re seeing a ton of new floor plans. There are more double-door fridges, and centre aisle counters and sinks.”
Merkowsky is the executive vice-president of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Alberta, or the RVDA of Alberta, and they, together with 14 dealerships, host the annual show.
According to Merkowsky, floor plans are changing and kitchen and dining areas are expanding due to an increase in the number of slideout rooms – that’s how the centre aisle counters are achievable.
“Those bumpouts allow for more space and flexibility in the kitchen and dining areas,” Merkowsky says. A decade ago one slideout might have been sufficient, but new RVs are often outfitted with as many as four.
Such modifications, Merkowsky says, come at the request of buyers.
“Our industry does consumer surveys, and we do listen to what customers have to say and will make changes as they request them,” he adds.
Another trend in the industry, especially with fifth wheels, is a floor plan where the living room is in the front of the unit – in the elevated area of the trailer. Traditionally, this is where the bedrooms would have been.
“In fifth wheels, the bedrooms are moving to the back, and the living rooms are moving to the front,” Merkowsky says.
And increasingly, the living space is moving to the outside of the RV. Merkowsky says a number of RV units are being supplied with ‘outdoor’ kitchens. Forget about the campfire and the wiener roasting stick.
Outdoor kitchens are accessed when an exterior door is opened up – revealing a fridge, sink and a microwave that will then slide out from the side of the unit.
“On even bigger RV units, you can open a door and there’s a large screen TV right on the side of the trailer or motorhome,” Merkowsky says.
Those outdoor kitchens and television sets are often under custom-painted exterior panels.
“The industry is going away from decals, and moving towards custom paint jobs on many units,” Merkowsky says, and adds, “the price goes up a little bit for that, but some campers like to be unique in the RV park.”
At the Calgary show there will also be 90 small booths, each one showcasing aftermarket products such as solar panels and hitches or select destinations in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan – even some resorts in the U.S.
Prize draws at the show include a chance to win a $2,000 Safeway gift card or a one-year adult golf membership at Whispering Pines Golf and Country Club Resort at Pine Lake, Alberta. Other prizes are also available.
Show admission is $30 for a family of four (two adult and two youth), $14 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for youth (7 to 17) and free for children under 7. Discounted tickets can be purchased at any local Safeway store, $25 for a family and $10 for an adult.
