HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA
September 13-17, 2023
Giant Center

Ticket on Sale in June
Industry Attendees

America’s Largest RV Show® Reports Strong Attendance for the 53rd Annual Show

Sep 27, 2022 | News, Press Releases

America's Largest RV Show crowd

More than 51,000 people attended September 14-18

Hershey, Pennsylvania – America’s Largest RV Show®, September 14-18 at the Giant℠ Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania reports a strong turn-out. A total of 51,266 people attended the 53rd  Annual America’s Largest RV Show®, presented by the Pennsylvania Recreation Vehicle and Camping Association (PRVCA).

Family entering RV“While attendance is down from last year’s 2nd highest ever, manufacturers and vendors reported strong sales,” says Heather Leach, PRVCA executive director. “Interest in RVing remains high and with a tough economy, many consumers still attended to shop for their next RV. This show is always a great place for consumers to check out the newest products, floor plans and designs.”

Forty manufacturers showcased more than 1,500 RVs during the five-day public event with dealer and manufacturer representatives on hand to answer consumers’ questions and help them secure a great deal.

Sales were also good for the show’s more than 175 vendors with everything from cleaning products and personal care items to camping accessories, RV parts and services, insurance and financial products.

America’s Largest RV Show® offered seminars to help consumers learn about buying an RV, maintenance, safety, where to travel and retirement options. Husband and wife duo David “Hutch” Hutchison and Shari Galiardi, known as Freedom in a Can, shared their 10 years of full-time RVing experience in two seminars – Living on the Open Road and Tips and Tricks for Exploring America’s National Parks. Dan and Patti Hunt of the YouTube Channel “Exploring Through our Lens”, representing RVLife, discussed traveling Pennsylvania and shared their experience as full-time RVers. Mike Sokol, RV Electricity, also brought in many consumers to learn about electricity and safety, while Chris Dougherty, Dougherty RV Consulting, LLC, presented seminars on buying an RV, renewable energy and sewage essentials. Other presentations included retirement tips and RV living, engine and generator maintenance, Truma AquaGo, Micro-Air thermostats, fire safety, matching trucks to 5th wheels and trailers, RV insurance, and seals and weatherstripping.RV Life booth

The RV giveaway was back for the first time in three years. Liberty RV of Gettysburg and Flagstaff gave away a 2023 Flagstaff 176 LTD tent camper worth more than $15,000. Lori Murrell of Masury, Ohio is the winner.

The show also hosted its first-ever scavenger hunt. BookOutdoors and Roadpass Pro sponsored the hunt, which required participants to use the America’s Largest RV Show®  app to scan QR codes located at the platinum sponsor displays. All participants, who finished the hunt, received a chocolate bar and entered into daily prize drawings, including a Ninja Woodfire™ Outdoor Grill, a $250 Visa gift card and a Roadpass Pro swag bag.

PRVCA thanks the 2022 Hershey America’s Largest RV Show® sponsors Alliance, American Coach, Beckley’s RVs, Campspot, Fleetwood RV, Grech RV, Holiday Rambler, Keystone RV Company, Progressive, Luxury Motorhomes | Tiffin Motorhomes and Vanleigh RV, platinum sponsors. General RV Center, Heartland, Jayco, Newmar and Thetford/Norcold, Gold Sponsors. Camping Tools and Ember RV, silver sponsors and Camp Fimfo, Escapees RV Club, Northern Lite, Roadtrek and Wilkins RV, bronze sponsors. Grand Design and Meyer’s RV Superstores sponsored the bags.

Mark your calendar for the 54th Annual America’s Largest RV Show®, which is set for September 13-17, 2023 at the Giant℠ Center in Hershey, Pa. Visit largestRVshow.com and the show Facebook and Instagram channels for the most up-to-date information about the show.

 

Tobin Agency

The Tobin Agency has specialized in Recreational Vehicle Insurance since 1975. They are a family owned agency with strong ties to the RV lifestyle.

When you call the Tobin Agency for a quote or to service your existing policy you will speak to a "live" licensed insurance producer with an understanding of RV Insurance. Call Tobin Agency to experience the "Tobin Touch"!

Matt 'RV' Misener Sales Manager, Steele Rubber Products

With an extensive background in sales and customer service, 'RV Matt' has cultivated a reputation of finding solutions for your sealing needs. Despite his title, he enjoys helping in the design and innovation of new products. A father of four daughters, he enjoys family time, outdoor sports and helping his community.

Fantasy RV Tours

FANTASY RV TOURS is among the world’s most distinctive RV tour companies, providing sought-after RV vacations to exceptional destinations. With more than 20 years in the RV industry, Fantasy is one of the global leaders in RV caravan travel.  The company joined with CREATIVE WORLD TRAVEL in 2005, which has shown RVers new ways to vacation since 1970.

Up Close RV

When Colonel Michael Lockwood was serving in the military he lived in an RV and often found it difficult to find nearby, long-term campground space. As he commuted more than an hour to work, he saw abundant space in homeowners' driveways and thought it would be great to be able to rent space to park his RV. After a more than 40 years in the Army, Lockwood retired and decided to help fill the need for more RV space by starting Up Close RV. MIchael and his team are experienced RVers who know all about the great experiences and the obstacles RVers can face. They can help new RVers prepare for life on the road.

Chris DoughertyTechnical Director, RV Enthusiast magazine

Think about your favorite teacher in high school–that’s Chris. He’s friendly, even tempered, and very, very knowledgeable. A Recreational Vehicle Dealer Association (RVDA) and RVIA certified RV technician, Chris was a student of, and mentored by, his friend Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor. He wrote for a number of RV sources before spending the past few years as the Technical Editor for Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines. A lifelong RVer, including 10 years as a full-timer, Chris has owned or worked on every type of RV from pop-up to bus conversion. Chris and his wife, Karen, currently travel with a fifth wheel or truck camper.

Gardens RV Village

James “Tim” T. Wilson is the principal broker for Gardens RV Village, an RV retirement community located in Crossville, Tennessee.

For RV enthusiasts who live in The Gardens motorcoach retirement community, traveling and exploring this incredibly beautiful, diverse and bountiful country is a prominent focus in lives. There’s also a lot of fun to be had at home in their Tennessee haven. Gardens homeowners find their days surprisingly full as they cram in everything from pot luck dinners, games and bridge tournaments to RV campouts.

Life in The Gardens has been compared to when you’re in grade school and you finally get out for summer recess: It’s more than just a retirement community on top of a mountain. It’s the closest-knit group of the most caring and loving people you’d ever want to meet.

Greg DewaltPRVCA Education Director

Greg Dewalt is education director at the Pennsylvania RV and Camping Association, where he leads the education program for the association's members. He operated his own consulting and training business for 20 years, assisting RV dealers with training programs, customer care and increased profitability. 

As a high school student, Dewalt performed pre-delivery inspections (PDI) and worked on trailer hitches at his family’s RV dealership. After eight years of service in the U.S. Army, he returned to the family dealership. Overall, he has more than 37 years of experience working in the RV industry on both the dealer and manufacturer side of the business.

Dewalt earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy and continued his education in sales, management, parts, service and as a Master Certified RV Technician.

RV Safety and Education Foundation

Not often does an entity come along that positively impacts all segments of a given industry equally. The RV Safety & Education Foundation, RVSEF, does that within the RV Industry. Thanks to the RVSEF, headquartered in Merritt Island, FL, today’s coaches are much safer.

The brainchild of John Anderson, A ‘Weigh We Go now RVSEF, first appeared in 1993 when John discovered that many RVs leaving the factory were decidedly overweight; many even before the owner loaded it. With product and personal safety at risk, John pushed on and began weighing RVs of all types in order to record and analyze the extent of the issue. Weighing is still one of the main tenets of RVSEF activities to this day and it still gathers data at many RV shows, conventions and rallies across the country. 

Today, RVSEF works closely with the RV Industry Association (RVIA) and the RV Dealer’s Association (RVDA) in coordinating safety programs. Not to be construed as a consumer advocate, RVSEF is decidedly and purposely, a “safety advocate” and a champion for all involved in the RV lifestyle. Its efforts and dedication have improved the products created by RV builders as more manufacturers became aware of weight limitations and most now design their coaches with weight distribution and cargo carrying capacities in mind. 

Steven RayePhoenix Fire and RV Training

Steven Raye has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 40 years and has worked his way thru the ranks to Chief Officer and trustee of his fire company.  Presently, he is on the board of directors for The Sussex County NJ Fire Training Academy. 

In 1973, Raye took over the management of the service department for the RV dealership his father had started in 1960.  Through his years at the dealership, he served on the Board of Directors and was a Trustee for the education fund for North Hampton Community College Bethlehem, PA and Board of Advisors RV training North Hampton Community College, and the National Recreational Vehicle Training Institute at Northampton Community College, for the Pennsylvania Recreation Vehicle and Campground Association (PRVCA)

He owns and operates Regins RV Service, an on your site service company, and Phoenix Fire and RV Training. He maintains his Master RV Service certification through continuous training and education, just as he has done since the first issuance in 1998 and is a member of the Society of Certified RV Professionals. 

Tom RomeroNational Accounts and Training Manager for REESE (Horizon Global)

Tom Romero has 40 years of experience in the RV, marine and automotive aftermarkets. He joined REESE (Horizon Global) in 2001 and has been with the company for 20 years, providing sales and technical training on REESE towing products.

His passion is to provide RV towing education to everyone from the dealers to the consumers so they can enjoy the best RVing experience.

The Flipping NomadCortni Armstrong

In her mid twenties, Cortni Armstrong was desperately trying to save her Dad's businesses after he suffered a stroke. Meanwhile, her lease was coming up for renewal and she found out that all of her roommates had made plans that didn't involve her. With no salary to back her up, a family friend helped Cortni move into an RV.  At first she was embarrassed and felt like it was her rock bottom.

A year later, Cortni had embraced the lifestyle and grew to love living tiny. The only problem was she didn't love the interiors offered in stock RVs.  Cortni took matters into her own hands and renovated a basic RV into her tiny dream home on wheels.  That experience made her think that maybe other people don't like the stock interiors either, and that there might be an opportunity there.  Thus, The Flipping Nomad was born.

Freedom in a CanShari Galiardi and David Hutchison

As engaging professional speakers and life-long educators, David Hutchison and Shari Galiardi bring stories from their mid-life adventure to large industry travel shows, intimate college campuses, open "tiny houses" in REI parking lots, and a growing online audience. Travelling with their vintage camper for more than nine years and 150K miles to 49 states, 8 Canadian provinces, more than 100 National Parks & Monuments, and countless other public lands, they have pursued what it means to live the good life and sustain it. As presenters, they “are consummate story-tellers, skillfully weaving practical know-how, sustainability tips, stories and images… guaranteed to change the way you think about your everyday way of being in the world," B. Beaulieu. The couple writes about all things camping and off-grid living for The Dyrt’s online magazine, Renogy Solar, and Northwest RVing. 

Randy SobelRV Electricity

Mike Sokol has been a live-sound, recording, and design engineer for over 38 years as well as a musician for 50 years who has run sound for thousands of Worship, Music, and Political events. In addition to teaching audio production at all levels, he’s been a contributing editor for magazines such as Church Productions, EQ, Electronic Musician, and Mix, as well as a technical consultant to Apple Computer and Microsoft. During the past ten years he’s presented over 600 seminars and Hands-On Workshops across North America at Churches, recording schools, universities, and professional audio organizations such as the Audio Engineering Society, the Society of Broadcast Engineers and NARAS (Grammy Awards Group).

Randy SobelPresident, Sobel University

Randy Sobel is president of Sobel University, which has developed RV sales and management training that currently reaches 500 Dealerships in the U.S and Canada. In more than 28 years, Sobel has presented numerous times at the RVDA, RVIA, 20 Groups, State and Provence Associations meetings as well as most Factory Dealer meetings. His training material has changed drastically over the years to stay current and relevant. Sobel still trains in two RV Dealerships most weeks as well as holding University courses in Tacoma and Atlanta.