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Almost embarrassed by their success, the PRVCA employees and countless volunteers continue to improve upon the largest RV show in the Northeast. This is a show that will soon take its place among the largest shows in the country, as the State Farm Complex expands later this year with three new buildings that will provide for another quarter of a million square feet of inside exhibit space. 

This year's show, the 34th annual, occupied 453,032 gross square feet in the great outdoors and another 392,100 gross square feet inside the exposition halls and arenas of the current facility. Adding another 250,000+ sq. ft. will bring this show to over 1,000,000 sq. ft of RV's and suppliers. 

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It's amazing to see what this team can pull off each year with a minimum amount of people. This is a very strong association with dedicated members who provide a tremendous marketing opportunity for their dealer members, manufacturers, and the general public that is treated to five days of exhibits and educational seminars each year. The show is rapidly becoming a must-see destination trip for many RVers throughout the Northeast. 

Reflecting the trends in the industry, the show grew 17% this year and could easily grow another 25% next year. 

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Mike Williams, assistant to the executive director of the State Farm Complex, said, "this will be the largest agricultural complex in the United States when we are done. We have three new buildings being built as we continue to proceed with all scheduled events. Our new expo hall will have 172,000 square feet of open space with a 32. minimum clearance all around. There is only one row of support columns in the entire building. We have another arena being built, and that will have approximately 30,000 square feet. We also have an equestrian barn that will be almost twice as big as the arena. It will have removable animal stalls so that this could also be used for larger exhibits, such as the RV's we have at this show." 

The construction workers were just as interested in the new RV's as the dealers and manufacturers were." 

Some realignment of the out- side exhibit space was required to accommodate construction vehicles and safety fencing. The traditional park trailer drive was one area affected by the changes. There appeared to be less park trailers on display this year. This is an area of the industry that still has tremendous growth potential if they could attract more dealers to pick up these product lines. Stu Holloway, president of Dutch Park Homes, said, "we've had a great year and are very pleased with our product acceptance. In addition to our high- end park trailers, our new eight- foot wide models have been received very well by our dealer community. 

Silver-top Manufacturing displayed their popular Cameo room enclosure and the RV Two- Way that provides shade and shelter when in the standard awning position and folds down to protect and secure the exterior of the RV during the non- camping season. 

Around since 1947, Silver- top exhibits at many RV and campground related shows. Peter Burkert, Sr. vice president, noted, "we really don't do much business during the trade days, but really crank it up during the public days. We would like to have more RV dealers take on this type of product line because it can be an excellent revenue generator to complement their park trailer sales. We recognize that it requires a dedicated team of installers and that is why you will see many of the units being sold by independent contractors or the campgrounds themselves. If the dealer cannot get enough technicians to complete their RV work, they are not going to add installers to do room enclosures. You need to do about two a week to keep full-time installers busy, which again, is why you will see a lot of independents doing installs on nights and weekends. 

A few well-known RV industry veterans are back in the business and brought their new companies and products to Harrisburg this year. 

Dave Hoefer, who launched Dutchmen in 1988 and later sold the company to Thor in 1992, returns to the RV industry with his new company, Pilgrim International, Inc. The company is located in Middlebury, IN, in a former Shasta facility that was no longer being used by Coachmen Industries. Hoefer left Thor in 1995 and has been involved in the manufactured housing industry. Hoefer says, "we are going to come out the gate slowly and make sure we service the dealers that we have signed up. We will focus on product quality, not quantity, as we build our dealer network." Although he would not get into specifics, it is estimated that Hoefer has a stable of 50-60 dealers who have done business with him in the past and are welcoming him back into the industry by supporting this new venture. 

Hoefer noted, .we are going to build a mid-range product, with no options. Everything will be standard, and it will be priced at the upper end of the low-range products currently on the dealer lots.

"It's a good product, and we are stressing quality and service. We've done this before" 

The Pilgrim products will carry a familiar RV name, Open Road. 

Not far from the Open Road display was another industry veteran with a new logo on his shirt. It was Pete Recchio, president of Ameri-Camp. 

The former Carriage executive was showing his new line-up of Ameri-Camp travel trailers and fifth wheels that will be built in Syracuse, IN. 

Recchio said, "my first 35 years in this industry have prepared me for this role. We are going to focus on quality and everything we do is geared toward winning the RVDA Quality Service Award. 

"We are going to concentrate on the "how" of this business. How we build the company; how we treat our dealers; how we treat our suppliers and how we treat our employees." 

The new management team at Ameri-Camp consists of Walt Mason, director of sales and marketing; Scott Wenger, controller; Mel Yutzy, director of manufacturing; Carl Slabaugh, director of purchasing; Mark Dunithan, director of engineering and Jim Davis, regional sales. 

Pete noted, "everyone else had a good job at Carriage, and I was fired! This will be the debut of our products to the dealers and the public. This show will give us an opportunity to renew relationships across the country and in Canada. 

"Our products will be middle sector of the entry level market- place. Our first and only issue will be quality, the second will be PDI ability. We don't want the dealers to have to finish our product before they can deliver it to a customer. 

"We are building the units with a true 16" on center, double welded, aluminum frame construction. That's the floor, the sides, the front, the rear and the roof." 

Another product that caught our eye was the new Leisure Travel Class B that is going to be built on the Freightliner Sprinter body with a five-cylinder turbo- charged Mercedes-Benz diesel engine that will deliver 22 miles- per-gallon. 

Dealers didn't miss this attractive motorhome sitting in the middle of the Leisure Travel display area. The unit will be available to dealers in November and will also be showcased in Louisville. 

The unit has a European flair to it and has universal appeal. It will also be at home on either side of the ocean. Although it has a 30" longer wheelbase than the Class B's the company builds on the Dodge platform, it actually has a 46. turning radius versus 57. with the Dodge. 

The unit is expected to retail in the $70-75K (US) price range. For now, the unit only has three options. They are a propane generator, air conditioner and an awning. Don Klassen, team leader P.D. & E. says, "this may change in the future and they may all become standard items. I know the first production run will include all these options, which most dealers will be ordering." 

Internally, a six-footer can be right at home without having to duck their head. Klassen noted, "Leisure Travel has been one of the most innovative companies in the Class B market and we further strengthen that position with the introduction of this model. We haven't come up with a name for it yet, but we know we can't call it the Sprinter, which is the Freightliner name for this body/engine combination van. 

"The unit looks like the former Europa motorhome, and I think customers will like the styling. We know they will appreciate the Freightliner/ Mercedes-Benz combination package." 

Starcraft RV will quietly usher in its 100th anniversary in 2003. Although there have been a few challenges along the way, the company is excited about some of the new additions to the product line. 

Don Emahiser, vice-president, sales & marketing, was eager to showcase the new Antiqua expandable travel trailers and the new Aruba light- weight travel trailers. Don noted, "we had a dealer show them at a local open house and he sold ten units from the two he had on display. 

"These units are a real hit with our dealers. They are flying off the lots as soon as they arrive. The crisp, bright, con- temporary interiors and exterior graphics really set them apart on the dealer's lots." 

Holiday Rambler introduced the new Traveler motorhome that incorporates the TREK Electro-Majic. bed technology that was acquired when Monaco purchased SMC. The unit has a retail price in the $90-100K range and is available on a Ford or Workhorse chassis. 

Another interesting product was found in the Coleman folding trailer section of the Fleetwood display. The new Monterey Elite Automatic Pop-Up featured a remote control device that automates the process of raising and lowering the unit. The remote control device will activate the front bed, the rear bed, the roof, or auto- mate everything. 

Finally, if we still need proof that the RV industry is doing well, we had only to look in the Winnebago exhibit where we found a new Chieftain, built on a Workhorse platform, with a retail price around $160,000. This exceptional motorhome will make many new RV friends who will want to have a gas powered motorhome and not a diesel, and are willing to pay top dollar for one of the better built units in the industry today. 

There was something for everyone at Harrisburg, the dealers and the public. We already know next year will be bigger, and my guess is it will also be better.