The Tampa Bay Fall RV Show takes place next week, Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 11- 14, at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Organizers says not only will attendees enjoy a variety of RVs, from pop-up campers to motor homes, but they will also see the evolution of RV technology.
“Just 15 years ago, the RV industry was building product to cater to the baby boomers as they were entering retirement, but not anymore,” said Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA) Show Coordinator Patty Flanagan. “Today, the Millennial generation is powering the new wave of upgrades to recreational vehicles … and there’s no better place to see it on display than an RV show where you have multiple dealers and manufacturers represented.”
RV manufacturers are keeping pace with the expectations of their new, younger buyers with new, innovative floorplans and technologies.
“Twenty years ago, smaller RVs expanded as slide-outs were introduced to floorplans, and manufacturers focused on lighter construction materials so travel trailers and toy haulers could be pulled by smaller trucks and sedans,” said FRVTA Region 3 President Deanna Pearce. “Today, those pull-outs are commonplace and wireless components are all the rage.”
New technology has made a bag of remote controls “a thing of the past,” Pearce notes.
“Remotes are disappearing in these new RVs coming off the assembly line and are being replaced with wireless components – whether its Bluetooth or voice-activated controls using either a single remote or a tablet,” Pearce said.
In the newest RVs, owners can operate nearly any component from a mobile device – including awnings, door locks, slide-outs, leveling devices and more. They can also monitor all tank levels and turn on the lights with a single app.
All this new technology will be on display in hundreds of 2021 and the newest 2022 models of RVs showcased at the four-day event. Participating dealers include General RV, Gerzeny’s RV World, Lazydays and Tampa RV.
Dealers are also upbeat about having more space to display their products at the Florida State Fairgrounds conveniently located just east of Tampa. The show starts at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11. Thursday is also Senior Day, where guests 65 years or older save $1 on the regular $5 admission charge. Thursday is also Veteran’s Day with retired and active military getting free admission. Military service personnel and first-responders will receive a $1 discount each day of the show, with children 15 and under admitted free throughout the event.
Show hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET except Sunday, when they are 9 – 4 p.m.