Chicago RV and Camper Show 2017

Chicagoland RV Show

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ChicagoLand RV Show
The 2017 Chicagoland RV and Camping Show  was held Feb 16 – 19th  at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The Donald E Stephens Convention Center is a large facility but the exhibit space is quite odd-shaped so it was really easy to get turned around and lose your sense of direction. At last year’s Chicago RV Show I told myself if I went again I’d want to bring a compass to help navigate. Well I forgot the compass and got turned around several times – again!

We were very impressed with the Thor Vegas, an affordable coach-style motor home.

We again scored some discount coupons online which saved us “seniors” $4 off the regular $12 show price. We also saved some money by parking at the CTA Blue Line Depot at 5801 N. River Road (2.5 blocks north of the Convention Center.

In addition to checking out “what’s new” across the spectrum of RV Motorhomes and Travel Trailers,  our personal goals for this year’s show was to look closely at Class B and smaller Class C motor homes and also lightweight and retro or vintage-style travel trailers. We might be in the market for either of these two kinds of RVs.

Retro Travel Trailers

In last year’s post on the 2016 Chicago Show we showed several pictures and manufacturer links to Retro or Vintage Travel Trailers, an increasingly popular style. One of  the originators of this new “back to the 50s and 60s style of travel trailers” is Riverside RV who makes the Whitewater Retro trailer. This year they have expanded their line of Retro style trailers with Retro Toy Haulers.

The couches in the living room of this Retro Toy Hauler fold up to provide room to haul your 4 wheeler or snowmobile.

The retro theme continues in the kitchen and back bedroom of the toy hauler.
My favorite retro-style travel trailer is Gulf Stream’s Vintage Cruiser.  As they say in their promo the Fun of the 50’s married to the Technology of the 21st Century. The Vintage Cruiser comes in a variety of lengths and floor plan configurations. My favorite is the 17rwd as it weighs less than 3000 lbs, is a compact 20 feet long, yet feels roomy in the interior.

For 2017-18 Gulf Stream has carried over the wood-grain look from the interior to the exterior.

I like the cozyness, yet room for four, of the dining area of this 17 foot model.
Sort of semi-retro looking is Forest River’s R-Pods. The RP-179 has a slide-out dinette area and was Jo’s favorite. Like the Vintage it is a compact 20′ long and weighs less than 3000 lbs.

Comfortable dinette, full closet with storage drawers, and queen bed had Jo thinking “pretty nice.”

Lots of kitchen counter space, convenient layout, nice view from the kitchen window.

Links to other RV articles on ScenicPathways.com

Article and photos on our Favorite Class C Motor Homes

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