Best RV Shows 2024

Chicago RV and Camper Show 2017

The Top Ten Biggest & Best RV Shows for 2024 in US and Canada Two of the biggest RV Shows for 2024 occur early in the year: the Florida RV Super Show occurring JANUARY 17-21 2024 in Tampa, Florida and the Quartzsite RV, Sports & Vacation Show occurring JANUARY 20st-28th, 2024 in Quartzsite, Arizona. (See … Read more

Chicago RV and Camping Show

chicago rv show

See our calendar of Best 2023 RV Shows this winter. See other show and RV links at the bottom of this page.

ChicagoLand RV Show

The 2023 Chicagoland RV and Camping Show  will be held February 16 -February 19, 2023 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. (see links lower down this page)

Here’s an idea of what to expect from our attendance at previous shows. I particularly enjoyed touring a number of Retro Campers and Travel Trailers (pictures below).

Airstream Bambi Sport
The AirStream Sport 16 is the pinnacle of compact luxury RV Traveling

The Chicago RV-Camper Show is about 10 times larger than the Madison RV Show we attended a few years ago. Hundreds of pull-behind campers, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, and motor homes from Class B to mammoth luxury coaches.

We scored some discount coupons online which saved us “seniors” $4 off the regular $12 show price. But we got clipped real good at the nearby parking – $15 and still had to walk almost two blocks to the Convention Center. A better deal for parking and only about a block more of walking is the CTA Blue Line Depot at 5801 N. River Road (2.5 blocks north of the Convention Center).

While the Donald E Stephens Convention Center is a large facility the exhibit space was quite odd-shaped so it was really easy to get turned around and lose your sense of direction. If I went again I’d want to bring a compass to help navigate. Many times we stood around trying to figure out if we’d been down this aisle or that one.

Some of the highlights for us. Getting a chance to tour some of these luxury Motor Coaches. We see them often during our travels but never have been in one before. Another unit we’ve admired from afar but have never seen up close and on the inside are the famous Airstream Travel Trailers. One dealer had several sizes from a compact 16 footer to the larger, more luxury models. We spent some time admiring the new Winnebago Fuse, built on a Ford Transit chassis. I think this one is going to be a winner for Winnebago. We also liked the Winnebago View 24J, a very classy and well-appointed compact Class C motorhome built on a Mercedes chassis.

TearDrop and Pod Trailers

We did some Pod & Teardrop Trailer profiles a few years ago in an earlier RV Show article. We saw a few new models at this show and some we were familiar with but now tricked out with more accessories and distinctive styling.

Pod or teardrop trailers like this Tab are offering stylish and compact camping alternatives to tents.
Pod or teardrop trailers like this Tab are offering stylish and compact camping alternatives to tents.

Vintage & Retro Travel Trailers & Pods.

Our favorite camping units at the show were the Retro & Vintage travel trailers that have become more popular recently. Love the shape and the moon hubcaps. One both Jo and Eileen thought was really neat was one made by Amish craftsmen, the SunRay Travel Trailers in Shipshewana, IN.

Sunray Campers
We loved this Sunray Retro Camper made by Amish Craftsmen

The “most” Retro of the show was Riverside Whitewater RV’s Retro available in a variety of sizes and styles.

Moon hubcaps, whitewall tires, fire engine red, classic looks from the 50s
Moon hubcaps, whitewall tires, fire engine red, classic looks from the 50s
Sunray Amish Craftsmenship
Real wood interiors in Cherry or Oak, decent quality finishing touches on appointments
The Red & White theme carried through in the interior on the naugahyde benches. Check out the formica table and checkerbox tiles on the floor!
The Red & White theme carried through in the interior on the naugahyde benches. Check out the formica table and checkerbox tiles on the floor!
Retro bedroom
The Whitewater Retro features warm wood interiors and more red and white in the bedroom area.

Gulf Stream’s Vintage is their entry in Retro Travel Trailer category.

Gulf Stream Vintage
The shape, moon hubcaps, hammered stainless rock guard, and red and white exterior mark Gulf Stream’s entry in the retro line.
stylish kitchen of the Airstream Bambi
This is the polished “art deco” interior of the Airstream Bambi trailer pictured at the top of the page.
Art Deco interior of Gulf Stream Vintage
I liked the rounded art deco look and the intimate bedroom layout of the Gulf Stream Vintage.

Links to more Retro and Vintage RVs

winnie-brave retro motor home
Winnebago’s Brave recalls vintage Winnies from many years ago, but with modern conveniences.
VW bus style travel trailer
The Dub-Box recalls the classic VW bus in its travel trailer design
The Scotty is a classic
The classic Serro Scotty comes in 3 different models
shasta-airflyte
CH Camper re-creates the look of the 1961 Shasta Airflyte Travel Trailer
happycamper
The HCI Happier Camper marries modern engineering with a retro look.
Bowles Road-Chief Travel Trailer
The Bowles Road Chief re-creates an innovative design from the 1930s with luxurious interiors and features.

Really loved the Bowless Road Chief but I’d have to sell the farm to afford it!

RV Show and Information Links

Ross

Madison RV & Camper Show

teardrop trailer

Touring the Madison, Wisconsin RV & Camping Trailer Show

The 2023 Madison RV Show will be held on Feb 3, 4 and 5, 2023

Pods, Tear Drop and Ultra Lite Campers were popular items at the Madison RV Show. (For more on these new trends in travel trailers, scroll down for photos, descriptions, and info links lower down this page)

Held at Madison’s Alliance Center, the Madison RV Show features hundreds of trailers and fifth wheel “homes”, many of them more suitable for parking at a campground for several months than weekend traveling or traveling around the country. Jo and I had hoped to see some motor homes but there were only a handful in attendance.

class b motorhome reviews
See our reviews of Best Van Motorhomes
winnebago motorhomes 2019

Best RV Shows for 2023 Winter-Spring (go here)

More RV Show & Review links near bottom of the page

RVing & Outdoor Lounging

We are seeing more and more of these fancy outdoor kitchens as a popular feature in the larger travel trailers and fifth wheel homes. Another accessory is an outside plug-in and a mount for a flat screen TV and a set of outdoor entertainment center speakers. All these features seem oriented to the camper who spends as much lounging outside of their rig as they do inside. Keeping with this theme, another relatively new feature we noticed were units that were equipped with an the additional outside entrance to the RV that led directly to the bathroom. So when you are outside and need to go “potty” you can go directly there instead having to walk through the main living room of the RV. Would also be handy for the younger generation who may be tenting or in a pop-up camper next to the grandparents bigger RV.

In addition to the regular kitchen, this model offers an outdoor kitchen complete with sink, stove, microwave, fridge, and the usual outdoor bbq grill
This one had, in addition to the outdoor kitchen and bbq grill, a second outside entrance to the bathroom convenient for outdoor living

Pod Trailers and Tear-Drop Campers

A popular style travel trailer that seems to get a lot of attention are these retro tear-drop shaped models that are aero-dynamic and light enough (under 2000 pounds) to be trailered by a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle (i.e. SUV not needed). These units are a nice graduation from tent camping because they can fit on smaller camp sites, are easy to tow, easy to store at home, and yet offer a clear improvement in comfort and protection from the weather over tent camping. Two of the more popular of this type of unit are the T@b (aka Tab) and the R-Pod. They come in a variety of floor plans, including slide-outs, expandablesome of which include the outdoor kitchen to give more room inside for other amenities.


The largest and most completely outfitted of the compact pod trailers are those offered by Forest Rivers R-Pods
Compact, but the unit even includes a separate bedroom
The convertible dinette and kitchen sink (stove is to the left out of view)
Even some of the smaller units offered an outdoor kitchen
The dinette (converts to a bed) inside the Tab. The cabinets also serve as a pass-thru from the outside kitchen


See our article on
 “Extreme Travel Trailers” – Camping Trailers for Back Country Camping


Pictures & Links to some Ultra-Light & Pod Travel Trailers

Forest River R-Pod

Forest River’s Pod Campers offer the most conveniences but are heavier than most in this class, yet they still would be classified as light.
forestriverinc.com/rpod/

The T@b or Tab Camper Trailer

The T@b also offers a number of extra features or conveniences but in a compact package.

So-Cal compact trailer

The So-Cal Teardrop trailers are light and compact but offer a few ingenious comfort and convenience options.

socalteardrops.com

Little Guy Mini-Pod Travel Trailer

The Little Guy is the T@b’s little brother for the ultra-lite travler whose primary interests are a good warm dry bed ready to go in minutes if not seconds.

golittleguy.com

Camp-Inn tiny camper

Camp-Inn offers 3 pod models offering size and convenience choices.

tinycamper.com

ProLite Travel Trailers

ProLite offers eleven models of teardrop campers from ultra-lite, minimalist to well equipped but still very compact travel trailers.

ProLite Travel Trailers


Best Full Featured Compact Travel Trailers

Airstream Bambi FB20
The Airstream Bambi 20FB Travel Trailer

See the Airstream Bambi and Top Picks of Compact Towable RVs – Small full-featured travel trailers suitable for extended stays and maybe even full-time RVing.


Nearby Madison 2023 RV Show Links

The Wisconsin RV Super Show

Chicago RV & Camping Show – See our Review and Info on attending

Madison RV and Camper Show


Calendar of Best RV Shows for 2023

See our RV Resources Page for links to helpful resources on finding campgrounds and RV parks.

Happy Traveling,

Roscoe

Adventure Travel Trailers

Back-Country & Off-the-Grid Camping Trailers

A recent trend in travel trailers is the ultra-mod, compact, high-tech camper aimed at a younger, active life style demographic. These are campers who like off-the-beaten-path remote camping, go mountain biking or kayaking, like to pack light and leave a small foot print, but do like certain creature comforts and have support for their mobile technology. (manufacturer website links are at the bottom of this page)



Airstream BaseCamp

airstream base camp

Even the luxury travel trailer icon Airstream is going after this Extreme Demographic. The BaseCamp comes with several standard luxuries like 2 way refrigerator, sink, cooktop, bath/shower, pre-wired for solar, LED lighting, USB Ports, blue-tooth speakers, hot water and cabin heating systems, and many more. While almost every amenity is standard equipment, options include solar panels plus an AGM battery upgrade and two different tent-ad-ons that can expand your living space an additional 120 square feet.

What I particularly love about the BaseCamp is the wrap-around windows allowing lots of light in the interior and panoramic views of outside. It makes the small space seem much bigger. I like the kitchen area with more cooking and meal prep counter space than units 2 or 3 times its size. Airstream’s engineering and attention-to-detail in its design allows its small footprint to contain lots of quality comfort and convenience features. Everywhere you look in the unit you find ingenious touches.

Airstream BaseCamp
Lots of counter space for a compact camper and gobs of natural light.
Airstream BaseCamp
One of the 2 styles of optional vestibule tents attaches here.

What particularly “makes” the BaseCamp for the extreme camper is its rear hatch door and open center aisle more than 10 feet long that will allow indoor storage of kayaks, bikes and other toys. Larger wheels & tires plus protective underbody and skirts allow it to be towed over gravel and rougher roads. Its’ light weight, compact aerodynamic design, and balance make it easily towable by mid-size SUVs.

Retail Cost is $36K to 40K fully loaded – 2021 price



Cricket Camper Travel Trailer

Cricket Camper Travel Trailer

Rugged, tank-like in appearance. The Cricket is a better engineered option to the traditional pop-up camper. Its kitchen has a large counter with covered sink and 6 large cubbies for prepping, cooking, and storage and supported by a 15 gallon plumbing system with heated hot water and a gray water storage tank. There is an outdoor shower with hot and cold running water, but no indoor bathroom however. But most other amenities are there either as standard or optional. It is wired for both 110 and 12 volt systems, has LED lighting, and is pre-wired for the solar panel option. You can get optional furnace, air-conditioning, and a 12 volt refrigerator.

Cricket Camper Travel Trailer
Kitchen area. The 12 volt refrigerator is in the lower left hand corner of the picture.
Cricket Camper Travel Trailer
Lots of room to load gear in from the rear hatch.

Rugged exterior, 15 inch all-terrain tires with 12″ of ground clearance allow you to travel down gravel and single track woods roads. “The Cricket camper has sleeping room for two adults and up to two children, along with Taxa’s NASA inspired design and integrated plumbing and electrical systems, you’re good to go days off-the-grid with this camper.” Weighs less than 1500 lbs so practically any 4 cylinder or above vehicle could tow it.

It has a roof rack system for hauling bikes, kayaks or extra gear. It also has a large rear hatch that allows you to transport bikes inside. Awning and privacy cabana.

$27,868 USD – MSRP 2021 price


T@b Outback

T@b Outback

While most of the Tab Travel Trailers have the neat pop-top outdoor kitchen that opens up in the back, extreme campers who might encounter extreme weather conditions, want their kitchen and dining inside the RV where it is more protected from the elements. The Outback and its new cousin the Tab 400 provide that luxury plus an indoor bathroom/shower combination. These models include just about all the other amenities found in larger camper trailers: TV, air conditioner, furnace, stove, refrigerator, LED lighting, dinette area separate from the sleeping bed (tab 400) and other features. All of this still in a compact, easily towable package under 3000 lbs.

T@b Outback
Tab Outback has a dinette, bed, living room combination. Tab 400 has separate dinette area.
T@b Outback
Outback kitchen. Entrance to the bath/shower in background. Lots of features in a small space.

The Outback package offers a Yakima Roof Rack, heavy duty off-road style tires, diamond plated stone guards, cargo netting, and other durability options.

Approximate Price: $28,000 2021 price


Sylan Sport Go Camper

Sylan Sport Camping Trailer

An ingenious package that serves as a rugged towable carrier for bikes, kayaks, canoes, or surf boards and also is a novel soft-sided compact pop-up tent camper with some unique features.

The tent is stored in the pop-top and when the top is raised the tent drops down for easy assembly. The entire tent system can be set up by one person in less than 15 minutes. Inside there is a fold down table that can accommodate up to 4 people for dining and can also be converted to allow sleeping space for up to 4 adults.

Lightweight, weighing in at only 840 lbs the Go Camper is easily towed by smaller cars or SUVs (like a Subaru) but can carry a huge amount of cargo or personal sport vehicles.

Also works as a utility trailer. With the pop-up tent top completely removed, the Go Camper converts into a utility trailer that will allow hauling of large items like a refrigerator , laundry appliances or a riding mower. For day trip adventures it can carry several kayaks or bikes. The deck will handle up to 800 lbs and the upper rack will handle an additional 160 lbs.

The dining table in a different configuration is the platform for a full width bed.
Folded up in travel position with extra space for lots of gear or bikes.

The Go Camper is a quality, well-engineered piece of equipment designed for years of use and to stand up to transport in back-woods roads. Watching the video on setting up the unit you’ll see how ingenious is the engineering.

Made in America in Brevard, North Carolina.

MSRP $9,995 2021 price


Motorhome Website Links:

AirStream BaseCamp

Cricket Camper Travel Trailer

T@b Outback

Sylan Sport Go Camper

Setting up the Go Camper

Chicagoland RV Show

Chicago RV and Camper Show 2017

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