This was my fourth straight RVIA trade show in Louisville this past week. According to RV Pro, overall attendance was down 3%, but an interesting stat I found was that editorial press jumped an impressive 43%. Yeah us!
Overall the amount of small trailers at the show was about the same. Forest River only brought one r-pod from what I could find. It was the RP-179 model with the rear kitchen which debuted last year. I do like the new paint scheme for 2015. I was somewhat surprised only one unit was there, considering they had a copy of a spreadsheet tacked to the side of it that listed sales figures for several trailers specifically under 20′ and how the r-pod was #1 on the list in sales.
Although not yet on their website, Riverside RVs showed up with a double axle trailer in their Whitewater Retro line. Since I don’t have any specs on it, it “may” be over 20′ (gasp!), but since it’s the 195 model, we’ll assume that it’s about 19 1/2′ long. I think this will be well received. The floorplan consists of a rear island bed, full size bathroom in the middle on the street side, kitchen in the middle on the curb size, and a spacious U-shaped dinette in the front. The black & white checkered floor and leather-esque upholstery really add to the white and turquoise exterior with the baby moon hubcaps. Keep checking the Riverside RV website for this one to show up there: http://riversidervs.net
While Shasta RV has been making news the past few months with the reissued 1961 Airflyte, they do make traditional travel trailers and 5th wheels as well. The Shasta Oasis has a new floorplan for 2015 in the 18FQ. This is a good, functional floorplan that would be excellent for a couple just getting into the RV lifestyle, or an older couple downsizing from a larger unit. Personally, it has that “just right” size for me: not too big and not too small. It has a front queen bed with a full rear bath and curbside dinette and street side kitchen. As I write this on December 7, 2014, the 18FQ is not yet on the Shasta website, but keep checking the Shasta RV website, as it should be up there in the coming weeks: http://shastarving.com
This covers a few of what I encountered in Louisville. I’ll be writing up an additional post hopefully later this coming week on some additional insights on what I saw from T@B, Winnebago, and a couple of others. But due to a load of overtime I’m facing at my day job this week, I wanted to get a partial post out there for you all . More to come!
