RV and Camper Show Buying Guide

• Some dealers are literally bringing their “leftovers” to the different show environments to hope the change of scenery unloads the product. Keep in mind that some inventory from dealerships can be 9-18 months old! The RV model year starts early, so 2026 models will start to hit lots around July of 2025. Know how to look for the manufacture date sticker on a camper, which sometimes can be located on the passenger rear. These “older” campers sometimes look like great deals with deep discounts, but when campers have been sitting outside for months things tend to go wrong. 

Pro Tip: If you fall in love with a layout, ask the dealer how close they can get to that price on something current model year as it is worth paying a little more. Also the residual value on one a year newer will of course be better. If you attend a show this year, be very cautious about a 2024 model year.

• Avoid shows and “open houses” that are held at a dealership. One of the key tenets to an expo is competition! When at a neutral site, dealers paid money to enter their products into the show. It also took them a great deal of time and effort to get this large inventory from point A to point B. Having a “show” at a dealership only ensures you could get the exact same experience and pricing any other day (outside of perhaps some free hot chocolate). 

Pro Tip: Find a show or expo that features at least three to four dealerships carrying similar travel-trailers, motorhomes and fifth-wheels. Otherwise it’s not worth paying a ten to twenty dollar entry.

• Avoid dealers that are more than an hour (50 miles or so) from your home. If you find the right product, see if there’s an authorized distributor closer to your house. This is crucial when it comes to the important manufacturer’s warranty. Unlike an automobile, towable and motorhome warranties are tied as much to that dealership as they are the brand name. A dealer in your hometown does not have to service the same brand you bought from someone else! At the very best, that dealer is going to prioritize customers that did purchase from them before getting to your camper. Now every time something breaks, you have the painful choice of letting it sit at the local dealer for months or using costly time and fuel to take it back to the out of town dealership.

Pro tip: It’s worth paying a thousand more to utilize a dealer in your backyard. Most camper manufacturers make the same layout and most manufacturers are located in the same area of Indiana. If you love a layout, even consider if a different brand makes an equitable set-up. Dealers located in areas far from a city have trouble finding skilled employees, which leads us to our next item.

• Dealers at shows often need salespeople from other states and locations, and that is totally OK. Most dealerships are open during the shows and expos, so at a time of increased interest in your products how do you staff the show and the home base simultaneously? It’s a good idea from the dealer perspective to bring in some friends and “hired guns” to help educate customers and sell products. However, from the customer service perspective who will your point of contact be after the sale is complete?

Pro tip: It’s absolutely fine to purchase from a salesperson from another state or location. Ask your sales consultant or advisor where they are from, and if they are not local or a permanent employee simply ask to be introduced to someone who works at that location for an after sale point of contact. Many dealerships will even bring along a service or parts employee or manager, so grab their phone number and email as well. 

• Avoid the brochure trap. Getting a free goody-bag is awesome, but dealers and customers alike have leaned on the brochure crutch for far too long. Remember, the brochures can be as old as the oldest vehicles on a dealer’s lot. They have illustrations of layouts and products that may not even be in production today. Additionally, if a manufacturer offers a travel-trailer in fifteen floor-plans the dealer will only order the best five to ten. Of those they will pick a few to show-off at the expo. 

Pro tip: If you find something in a brochure that isn’t at the show, ask a salesperson if that layout or floor-plan is something they stock. If not, ask them why! Remember that many factory and manufacturer representatives help dealers at shows and expos. Ask to meet them. While they will all tell you their brand is superior, ask within that brand what sells well and what is going to be discontinued. 

As a bonus note, many consumers have taken to measuring percentage discounts as a way to test how good a deal may be, especially at a show. You will read many articles and can scan countless forums on “how much are you getting off MSRP”. Consumers who do that are actually already a few years behind. Manufacturers have responded by artificially increasing “list price” or “manufacturer’s suggested”, and dealers have found many ways to use things like freight and transportation charges as well as pre-installed options to make that number even larger. A recreational vehicle that does 80% of what you need at 50% off is the wrong camper. Throw the MSRP out the window, and select based on whether you feel the product is worth what they are asking. Most importantly, have fun! These environments can have a bit of a buzz many times since both you and the dealer have committed time and money to be there. Don’t let that buzz translate into pressure, grab some unhealthy but tasty food and enjoy the show!

Here at Toppers Plus we offer service, accessories and even roof repair and Rhino roof replacements for your camper or RV! Give us a call at 316-942-2864, and say hello to us at the 2025 Greater Kansas RV show!