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Temperatures are below freezing, which means it’s the perfect time to visit the Progressive RV & Boat Show and dream of summer.
This year’s show in Louisville had 200 RVs and 300 boats on display, and dealers were primed to make you a good deal. Prices for RVs ranged from under $10,000 for a Pop-Up Tent Trailer to over $300,000 for a luxury Class A diesel pusher. The most popular units are the in-between price range – towables (travel trailers and fifth-wheels) and Class B and C motorhomes.
I saw many clever features and some very cool RVs at the show. But before I get to the Beautiful, let’s start with…
The Ugly
Brown décor is wholly overused. It seems to be an industry standard lately, and makes the units look dingy and cramped. Memo to RV manufacturers: There’s lots of other colors in the spectrum, you don’t need to fixate on shopping bag brown anymore. Hire a good interior designer!
Cool & Clever
There were quite a few features that caught my attention: garbage can access through the counter, space-saving pull out bathroom sink in a van conversion, residential-style stove hood in a giant fifth-wheel, miniature dishwasher at the end-run of a cabinet, 3-way access bin storage, and the pop-up A-Liner with a toy hauler carrier built into the trailer.
Want That!
Of course if we’re just dreaming, I’d want the built-in washer and dryer, electric fireplace, giant couches, and a real tub to soak in after a long day of hiking.
The Beautiful
This RV show tends toward the middle-of-the-road buyer, focusing on affordable trailers and motorhomes. So the highlight was the American Revolution Class A with it’s over the top amenities (two bathrooms), luxury appointments (walk-in cedar closet), and first-class furnishings (yummy!). All at a hefty price, of course.
I had a great time at the RV Show, and plan to return again this weekend. Who knows, maybe I’ll even look at the boats!
January 24, 2023
