Coming off a successful 2011, Pete’s RV Center kicked off the new year as exhibitors at the 2012 Chicago Boat, Sports and RV Show held January 12th -16th.  As first timers to this popular event at the mammoth McCormick Place convention center, it took a boatload (no pun intended) of planning and a sizable staff to work the five-day show.

“Consumer shows always involve intense preparation, but the Chicago RV Show was unique because it required us to combine personnel and resources from our Indiana and Vermont dealerships,” said Vice President of Sales Todd McGinnis.  “It’s a large show in an even larger metropolitan area, goes on for five days, and has long hours.  Therefore, it’s critical that we have plenty of new RVs on display and enough staff to represent them.”

Pete’s RV had fifteen recreation vehicles in their display manned by a dozen or so staff members.  Overall, McGinnis felt the show kicked off the year on a positive note.

“Even though the show is boat-heavy and only about thirty-five percent of the displays are RV dealers, the foot traffic was solid enough to keep us busy throughout the five days.  It provided excellent exposure for our dealership in nearby Schererville, Indiana, we sold some units, and met some great folks.”

Among all of positive feedback on new campers from Keystone RV Company, Pete’s RV Lifestyle Consultant Joe Vartuli pointed out a few of the attention-getters:  “People really liked the Montana High Country 343RL’s rear-living room, the Passport 3220BH’s bunkhouse and outdoor kitchen, and ultra-light Passport 190EXP expandable trailer.  We received lots of good feedback on the new Montana 3402RL fifth wheel floorplan, and especially the Airstream-like Vantage travel trailer line that was just launched by Keystone RV.”

Pictures and comments can be found on the Pete’s RV 2012 Chicago Boat, Sports and RV Show Facebook Photo Album.

While the RVIA National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky is the official unveiling of what’s new and exciting for 2012, Pete’s RV actually works months in advance preparing for the new calendar year.  Louisville serves as a final tune-up in preparation for rolling out our 2012 inventory.

We huddle with the Keystone RV Company sales team to go over final details on recent floorplans, features, and to get a good look at what Pete’s RV Center dealerships will be showcasing to RV consumers in 2012.

Pete’s RV VP of Sales Todd McGinnis is pictured above at the 2011 RVIA National RV Trade Show with Outback RV District Sales Manager Nick Kaiser.

Cougar X-Lite 29REV V-Nose Bedroom	Mountaineer 375FLF Front Living Room	Cougar High Country Rear Kitchen

As highlighted in an earlier Pete’s RV Info Blog story about our attendance at RV Manufacturers Open House in Greater Elkhart, Indiana,  RV buyers can look forward to several new refinements.  Some changes are subtle such as Passport’s updated exterior graphics and all-white skirt, and Bullet Premier’s attractive Teak interior option. Others are more dramatic:  Springdale’s interior facelift centers around impressive dark wood cabinetry, and Sydney fifth wheels stepped up their game in a big way by finally capturing the popular appeal of their counterpart, Outback travel trailers.

Joining Keystone RV’s existing lines, Vantage offers RV buyers a refreshingly different and contemporary-looking travel trailer that is sure to raise eyebrows on roadways and campgrounds.  With it’s curved sidewalls, arched roof and Euro-style decor, Pete’s RV is excited to add Vantage to their already vast selection of Keystone RV Company products.

More pictures of our visit to Keystone RV Company’s display in Louisville can be viewed on the Pete’s RV Facebook page.

Regular updates and buyer information on new Cougar, Montana, Outback Sprinter, Passport, Springdale, Raptor, and Vantage RVs to follow.  In the meantime, our inventory of 2012 fifth wheels and travel trailers is primed and ready for North American RV buyers!

After an incredible 2010, Pete’s RV Center is optimistic that 2011 is going to be another great year for RV sales.  Their confidence was bolstered after previewing Keystone RV Company’s 2011 offerings at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, KY.

An exclusive Keystone RV dealer, Sales Manager Todd McGinnis spoke highly of the new changes, floorplans and innovations across all brands:  “What continues to impress me about Keystone RV is they take great care when launching a new floorplan, or making changes to an existing model.  I never get the feeling they are just hastily doing something to keep up with the competition.”

To prepare for 2011, McGinnis orders inventory based on previous year’s popular sellers as well as new floorplans he feels will do well with consumers.  With so many new and exciting functional floorplans being launched this year, Pete’s RV is going to have an expanded inventory in 2011.  McGinnis confirmed, “Across the board, I saw several new floorplans that are going to be a hit with families and couples alike.  Therefore, it is a no brainer for Pete’s RV to make them available to our customers in 2011.”

Here’s some brief notes on what was showcased for 2011 by Keystone RV Company in Louisville:

Montana

New Fifth Wheel Floorplans: 3100RL, 3700RL, 313RE High Country, 290RLT Mountaineer

Notes: Crowned roof trusses and vaulted ceilings in Big Sky and Montana, new graphics on Mountaineer, Beauflor vinyl flooring in all coaches, and many subtle, but nicely done aesthetic changes.

Cougar

New Fifth Wheel Floorplans: 297RKS, 323MKS, 328QBS, 246RLS High Country, 29RES X-Lite

New Travel Trailer Floorplans: 321RES High Country, 302RLS High Country, 298BHS High Country, 28FLV X-Lite, 29RBK X-Lite, 32SAB X-Lite

Notes: Big changes and refined line up for Cougar, Cougar High Country and X-Lite. All will include fifth wheels and travel trailers. The most obvious innovations are the dyed cap and graphics on Cougar and very slick front caps on the travel trailers. Interior cabinetry and decor never looked better and some new floorplans to boot.

Outback

New Travel Trailer Floorplans: 298RE, 277RL, 279RB

New Sydney Fifth Wheel Floorplans: 322FRL

Notes: For starters, fifth wheels will now be distinguished solely with the Sydney name. We like this…much cleaner. That said, Sydney fifth wheels have a new graphics package. Outback’s biggest splash is the new front cap. Very nice! Both Outback and Sydney are offering 10th Anniversary feature and graphics packages. Oh yeah…be sure to check out the new vaulted ceilings on the Outbacks. Creates additional headroom and overall added good looks to an already stellar interior!

Sprinter

New Travel Trailer Floorplans: 255RKS, 271FL, 277RLS, 308BHS, 323BHS

Notes: Sprinter is manufacturing several new innovative floorplans for their travel trailers and Copper Canyon fifth wheels. These intelligent designs create spaciousness without compromise. Feature upgrades include Corian kitchen countertops, rich, dark cabinetry, Beauflor vinyl flooring, floor lighting and new graphics. To keep the brand straightforward, the Sprinter Select extension is discontinued–which make perfect sense to us.

Passport

New Travel Trailer Floorplans: 238ML

Notes: Most obvious change for Passport in 2011 is the graphics package. It has a nice pop to it and sure to impress in the campground or behind the tow vehicle. For early 2011, there is a Limited Edition package on Passport Ultra Light models (not Express). In addition to a very sporty graphics package, Limited Edition Passport includes an impressive list of standard features.

Springdale

New Travel Trailer Floorplans: 247FWRL, 292RL, 293RK, 295R, 299FK

Notes: Be it storage, countertop or room to move, Springdale’s emphasis is adding more space in their trailers.  Their new floorplans also offer more creature comforts including larger televisons, u-shaped dinettes and extra deep slideout rooms.

Raptor

New Toy Hauler Floorplans: 297SE, 4014LEV, 410LEV

Notes: The barn door porch system is an ingenious way to utilize otherwise little used real estate on a toy hauler ramp. What a tremendous space for outdoor entertainment! Other upgrades to note is further emphasis on making Raptor–and especially Raptor Velocity–the most luxurious toy haulers on the planet!



Clicking on any of the brand images above takes you to a photo album on Pete’s RV Facebook Page.   For further details on new floorplan models contact Pete’s RV via email or phone
1.888.738.3778

Pete’s RV Center sent an entourage of sales and service staff down to Louisville, KY for the 48th Annual National RV Show at the Kentucky Exposition Center.  Held November 30th through December 2nd, “huge” may be an understatement when describing the size of this show.  With 750,000 square feet of exhibit space, “colossal” is probably a better choice!

The RV trade show’s tagline, “MOR 4 U 2C” was spot on!  In addition to the hundreds upon hundreds of RVs on display, industry suppliers also made their presence felt with exhibits covering the floor of Freedom Hall Arena and nearly every square inch of corridors leading to the two main manufacturer halls.

With the RV Industry back on track in 2010, it is no surprise the show’s atmosphere was highly energized.  A positive aura shone over the exposition center with manufacturers and dealers alike gearing up for another successful year.

There was definitely no lack of exciting features, floorplans and other new innovations (plus football legend Terry Bradshaw!).  Here’s the visual short list of what caught our team’s attention:

The pictures above just scratch the surface for what we snapped at the tradeshow.  For additional pictures and commentary, check out our 2010 National RV Trade Show photo album on the Pete’s RV Facebook page!

A separate report on Keystone RV Company to follow shortly.  All of their lines are looking fantastic for 2011!

On March 19-21, Pete’s RV split up two teams to exhibit at separate RV and camping shows.  General Manager Terry Shepard and RV Lifestyle Consultant Rick Campbell packed up and headed across the lake (literally!) for the 18th Annual Champlain Valley RV show in Plattsburgh, New York.

Although a cold and blustery couple of days, attendance was solid.  There was noted interest in used Class A motorhomes, and in trend with other shows so far this year, bunkhouses like the X-Lite 31SQB and Sprinter Select 311BH.

Sales manager Todd McGinnis and veteran RV Lifestyle Consultant Joe Vartuli took the longer road trip down to Massachusetts for the Worcester RV and Boat Show.

Even with it being the first beautiful post-winter weekend with temps in the 60’s, a robust crowd converged on the DCU Center in anticipation of the 2010 camping season.

Sounding like a broken record from previous show follow-up posts, the big draw was for the X-Lite 31SQB and Montana 3750FL.  They’ve been a clear favorite so far this year and both models are going to be enjoyed by several new owners via the Worcester show.

Our on location sales teams thanks everybody for coming out to the shows and thinking Pete’s RV!

The Worcester show winner of the Pete’s RV Store $100 Gift Card was James B. from Northborough, MA.

Pulling out all the stops, it was hard for Pete’s RV not leave an impression at the 11th Annual Vermont RV and Camping Show 2/26 - 2/28 held at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction.

Pete’s exhibited RVs in four separate display areas including the main hall, a room with Coleman Pop-Ups, another packed with mostly travel trailers and a few fifth wheels, and still another hall for private viewing of four premium units.

It was all hands on deck at Pete’s RV with everybody working hard to transport the 36 units to the event venue and prep them for the thousands of people passing through the turnstiles during the weekend show.  The gargantuan task was completed with great success (including post-show, when everything needed to be broken down and transported back to the dealership!).

The heavy foot traffic through the weekend was a positive sign that RVing will be alive and well for the 2010 camping season.  With families leading the way on this movement, there was no surprise bunkhouse units received tons of attention.

Top honors for the weekend go to the Outback 250RS and X-Lite 31SQB.  Attendees looking for non-bunk units raved about the Sprinter 318FLS, Outback 295RE, and the always popular Montana 3750FL.

Honorable mention goes to Passport Ultra-Light travel trailers.  They offer those with limited towing capacity a lighter, yet nicely equipped option and several floorplans to choose from.

One more honorable mention goes to the Coleman Niagara pop-up trailer.  Very sharp and about as close as you’ll get to a hard-walled travel trailer!

Pete’s RV greatly appreciates all of the folks that came by to visit us from all over New England, Northern New York and Quebec.  Further thanks and congrats to all of our new RV owners.  Happy camping!

The winner of the $100.00 Pete’s RV Gift Store goes to Karoline F. from Enosburg Falls, VT.

To view additional photos from the VT RV Show, check out the Pete’s RV Center Facebook Page and Add Us as a Friend!

For details and news about Pete’s RV Center, sign up for our e-newsletter.

Pete’s RV Lifestyle Consultant Rick Campbell recently visited the 48th Annual Camping and RV Show at the Eastern Sports Exposition in West Springfield, MA 2/12 - 2/15.

There were more than 200 exhibitors and according to Rick the floor was buzzing all four days.  This is continued great news for the RV and camping industry which is showing very positive sales activity thus far in 2010.

Rick further reported that attendee interest was, “Bunkhouses, bunkhouses, and bunkhouses!”  Keystone RV products such as the Springdale 298BH and Cougar 298BHS received lots of inquiries.