So months of research completed, we planned and set out for Hershey this past weekend.
Leaving at 4:30am on our 4hr trip from our home on Long Island, through NYC w/o traffic (thank god) and after a quick dash on RT78 we made it.
We have like one RV dealer here on L.I. and they only sell Jayco.
I wanted to see many brands, so Hershey was planned for months. Before we went, for days I looked up online every manufacturer who would be at the show. Since we had a specific TT requirement in length, weight and kid bunks, I was able to eliminate probably two dozen manufacturer's who didn't sell TTs or were too small. It saved us a ton of time.
We arrived at 9:15 on Saturday morning. Traffic attendants were stopping cars on Hershey Park Drive to allow the HOARDS of people cross the road from the field parking across from the Giants Center.
We parked in the field and the line waiting to cross the road was hundreds of people deep and probably a dozen or so wide. After waiting twenty minutes and moving up slowly, they would stop cars and let a hundred or so people cross the road. Waited again on the other side to get tickets and go through metal detectors. Prob a good 45min just to get in.
From there we were off! No browsing. No window shopping. We beelined to the closest dealer who was on my list. We didn't pussyfoot around. Marched up to the eager salesman and blurted out "Under 6000lbs, less than 30ft, slide, outdoor kitchen, bunks, and bedroom with a wall!" He blinked, smiled and said, "Uh ok" and started walking to what he had.
DW looked at me and was like 'yeah that was a bit rough'. She said the only thing I didn't say was "NOW DAMNIT". I chuckled and realized I had to tone it down a notch, so I did. Just too ready and excited I guess.
So we looked for hours and hours at TT that met or were close to our needs. It was sunny, 85 degs and crazy full of people.
The show had zero places to sit while walking around. Seniors sitting on the curb just to rest. No place to sit and eat. When we were hungry about 1 pm we saw the food truck lines were probably 50 people deep, each. We didn't wait the 45 mins it was going to take to get a gyro. We just went hungry until we left.
Went into Giants Center and it was worse than Disney World on a Saturday in August. Wall to wall people. A slow-moving sea of walking bodies crammed into the hallway circumventing the arena. Crazy!
So after six hours of looking at 20 TTs or so, we took all the brochures and left to eat and crash at our hotel. Narrowed down our decision to three and went back on Sunday.
Sunday had a fraction of the people Saturday had! No line to get in at 9:30. We went right to the 4 TTs were were interested in. Looked them all over. Eliminated two. Went back and fourth again between the two that were left. Then looked up prices online.
Sat down on some grass for a bit and talked it out. Finally, we decided the one we wanted. So we went back and pulled the trigger!
Our first travel trailer! Woo Hoo! So long tent camping - you gave us many fun years but we were soooo done with you!
The TT is on order. Pick up in 10-12 weeks because we wanted upgrades to the one that was at the show. However, we got free storage until April 1st. We may or may not get it before then.
We are happy with our choice - and the size fits us, and our home parking/storage, just right.
...oh yeah, we went with a 29' 5300lb 2018 KZ Connect C241BKH
2018 KZ Connect 241BHK.
