Want to know what’s more exciting than buying a home? A new motorhome! According to an article published by Business Insider in 2018 Americans bought nearly half a million RVs and the good news doesn't stop there. Since then, the interest in traveling with RVs for convenience and a vacation on wheels has soared. Destinations like national parks, campgrounds, RV resorts and outdoor festivals have welcomed waves of RVers and anticipate many more. This resurgence of interest in camping has made other American families consider buying an RV to be able to travel and relax on their own terms. If you’re amongst those eager to get into an RV, then you’ll want to read about the 15th Annual Austin RV Expo.
Event information
The Austin RV Expo is set to kick off February 17-20, 2022, at the Austin Convention Center. The expo takes place in the heart of downtown Austin at 500 East Cesar Chavez. The show is focused on attracting Americans who are passionate about the outdoors lifestyle. The event will feature seven of Austin’s best dealers showcasing great offers on fifth wheels, toy haulers, travel trailers, teardrop trailers, truck campers and motorhomes. One of the great things about the Austin RV Expo is that you don’t have to feel pressured into buying an RV on the spot. Dealers won’t just have some of the latest models on display, but they’ll also have a salesperson available to answer your questions, take orders and tell you about their special deals and offers.
As seen in CBS Austin by Stephanie Becerra (Photo courtesy: Austin RV Expo)
How to get to the expo
Getting to the Austin Convention Center is fairly easy. It's located in central downtown from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, I-35 or Loop 1 by car or public transportation. For parking options, the center offers a total of 1,685 spaces in two parking garages. Valet parking on Trinity Street will also be an option for those attending the expo. For street closures, a public off street parking map, parking spot availability and more read here.
Transportation
Car rentals and hotel rooms can end up being costly, oftentimes overbooked. A good way to make it a hassle-free trip is to have all of the necessary amenities and accommodations in one place like an RV. The best part about traveling with an RV is you’ll only need to stop to refuel. The convenience of having a clean restroom, kitchen to enjoy a meal and a comfy resting area right at your feet is unbeatable when it comes to long distance travel. Rent an RV with your family or friends to make attending the Austin RV Expo a fun experience. There’s plenty of overnight parking options including great platforms like Harvest Hosts or Boondockers Welcome.
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Tickets
Admission into the expo is fairly simple, tickets for each day are now available for purchase on Eventbrite you can also view the rates for each person below. Senior and child tickets are available in person only. Adult tickets are $10, Children ages 7-12 are $6. Seniors age 60+ are $6 and Children under 6 will be allowed to enter for free.
Event hours:
Thursday 12 Noon - 8 PM
Friday 10 AM - 8 PM
Saturday 10 AM - 8 PM
Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM
Benefits of attending the Austin RV Expo
While the RVs on display are the main attraction, you can also enjoy nice entertainment with live music from Luke LaGrange, The Paul Logan Band, The Saddle Sores and many more. The expo also offers multiple educational seminars on each day facilitated by industry leaders and the National RV Training Academy. Some of the discussions include RV Electrical Systems, Texas State Parks, Towing & Safety Basics and much more. These seminars are open to both the public and professionals in the RV industry.
Our thoughts
As experts in the RV Rental Industry, we understand that buying an RV is a big decision for many American families. Finding the right model for you and your family can be difficult when faced with so many alluring options. Looking at different deals and offers can make you dizzy when comparing the numbers. And last but not least the unexpected event of a parts shortage is some of the challenges new buyers face along the way. Because of this, we always recommend for customers to “Try Before You Buy” because renting an RV is a much safer, faster and trusted pathway to buying. New buyers love the no pressure, no commitment model we offer as it helps them take their time when making a decision to purchase. The first-hand experience of trying out a model for a longer period of time as opposed to a short test drive, and the chance to figure out individual preferences and family needs are some of the main reasons buyers opt into renting an RV before buying one.
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What buyers are looking for
Prior to visiting dealerships in person, it's important to have in mind what features and amenities you’d like inside and outside your RV. Knowing your preferences like class, model, floorplans, manufacturers, dealerships and accessories ahead of time can help you shorten your search and eliminate options that don’t work for you. Recent industry surveys tell us that buyers are looking for RV models with convenience. That means automated and remote features are in demand. Key features like push-button slides, remote controlled awnings, automated levelers and other features that make setting up at a campsite and moving around as easy and smooth as possible. Additional items on buyer's wish list include ample storage spaces, high quality entertainment systems, docking ports for electronics and other features that add to the resale value of the RV. All of these features can come in handy when they’re ready to place the RV on the market for sale or list the RV for rent to make extra money with a private rental business.
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Important things you need to know when buying an RV
As we covered earlier, buying an RV can be a big deal and choosing the best make and model requires a good amount of research and knowledge. To avoid making a bad purchase it's always a good idea to get into RVing as smart and well-informed as possible. You can get a handful of tips and advice if you join an online community, speak with other RV owners, consult a Certified RV Inspector or simply conduct your own online research about the pros and cons of purchasing a specific rig. Here's a list of important things you need to know when buying a new or used RV.
- Look on websites like rvtrader.com to get an idea of what your RV is worth.
- Analyze the condition of the tires, side walls and tread. Check for leaks and how much tread is left on the tires.
- Inspect the roof. Tree branches, sun damage and weather conditions can impact the roof overtime. Bring a ladder, if possible, to be able to access the roof easily. Tip: Hoose down the roof from outside and step inside the RV to check for leaks
- Inspect for mold. Condensation inside of cabinets, along windows or doors can create mold in RVs, be sure to check the corners of the ceiling and floors. Check the caulking around the bathroom sink, shower and tiles.
- Check the quality of the floor and ensure there is no water damage. Tip: Go to key areas in the RV such as the kitchen or bathroom and jump on the floor. If the wood doesn't feel sturdy or strong it could be an indication that water has leaked under the floor lining and there could be rotting.
- Check the storage bay compartments, push on the walls and ceiling to check for water damage.
- Test every appliance and check lights. Turn all the lights on and make sure the switches work. Turn fan on, check stove, a/c, exhaust fan in bathroom and refrigerator.
- Locate the electrical panel for the RV while running appliances, make sure none of the breakers are tripping. Make sure none of the lights next to the fuses are turning on indicating there’s an issue. Pull out the fuses to make sure none of them are blown. Tip: If you’re in an area with no power hook up, bring a generator along to power the larger appliances like the a/c and refrigerator to make sure they’re working properly.
- Locate the propane fittings to check for any propane leaks using a spray bottle with soap and water.
- Research the VIN number to find out if there were previous owners, any damage or repair history, manufacturer specifications and recalls.
- Take the RV for a test drive on the road to determine quality. Have the owner or salesperson come along with you to ask them questions about things you hear or see on the test drive. Tip: Drive on the highway first. then pull into a parking lot to listen for strange noises and anything odd happening during tight turns or when backing up.
- Get an insurance quote before purchasing an RV to get a good idea of how much everything is going to cost throughout the year.
For more information on the Austin RV Expo please visit their website or contact the event organizers here.
