Syracuse.com - CNY RV show manager: "These aren't your parents' RVs"

[HuntingNY-News]

"Family camping, if you like, can become decadent,” he said. Outdoors Editor David Figura will be at the show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Toyota Exhibition Center.

Jim Kring says there’s a natural progression when it comes to camping and recreational vehicles.

“A couple starts off in a tent. It’s all lovey-dovey, the honeymoon and all,” he said. “But after awhile, they get sick of laying on the ground and graduate to a pop-up camper, particularly after the first child. More kids come and they graduate into an RV — and just keep upgrading as everyone gets older.

“Finally, when the kids are gone, they buy a motor home and go see the U.S., doing what and when they want to do it.”

Kring is show manager at the 42th annual Central New York RV and Camping Show at the state fairgrounds, which kicked off Thursday and runs through Sunday. He said the event has offerings for every part of the continuum he described. Seven local dealers are putting more than 600 units on display in the Toyota Exhibition Center and the Center of Progress and Horticulture buildings.

“There will be start-up units costing $4,000 and travel-the-U.S. motor homes costing $250,000, and everything in between,” he said. Most of the units will be new, but there will also be a selection of used ones in the Horticulture Building.

Kring noted the show also features more than 50 vendors offering parts and services, plus representatives from numerous campgrounds in the state.

He emphasized: “These are not your parents’ RVs. Family camping, if you like, can become decadent.”

Among the features:

TVs that pull out of the counters, flat screen TVs, even motor home movie theaters. “There isn’t anything you can’t get in an RV that you have in your house, with the exception of a cellar,” he said.

Portable hot tubs.

“It’s called a soft tub,” Kring said. “It’s a soft-sided roll-up thing that you set up outside your vehicle. You take it out, fill it up, hop in and sit by the lake and drink wine.”

Portable fences.

“You can put out a fence and netting, a place to contain small children or a small dog,” he said. In addition, he said, the technology exits to set up an electric fence around your vehicle to keep your dog close to home.

Toy haulers.

Some RVs now feature “toy haulers.” The tailgate comes all the way to the ground, forming a ramp and enabling you to load motorcycles, four-wheelers and snowmobiles inside. On site, the tailgate can be put in a horizontal position and it becomes a small, open-air deck.

Push-button, slide-out features.“By simply pushing a button, you can expand the size of your living room or kitchen,” Kring said.

What about rising gas prices? RV dealers are manufacturing vehicles that are lighter than ever, using more aluminum and laminated parts, he said.

Kring added that one of the big advantages of owning an RV is you can go to places like Cross Lake and Oneida Lake, get a season pass, and just leave it there the whole summer.

“That will save on your gas costs,” he said.

Kring has been involved with the RV show through its entire 42 years, either as an exhibitor or a show official.

“Every day is a bargain day at these things,” he said. “You can chat, compare, see new products. You can also get on-the-spot financing.”

This year’s show will also feature a free “kid’s camping meal” for those 16 and under.

“They’ll get a hotdog, chips and drink,” he said.

If you go

What: The Central New York RV and Camping Show

Where: The state fairgrounds (Toyota Exhibition Center, Center of Progress and Horticulture buildings)

When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $10 for ages 17 and up; ages 16 and under free. See cnyrvshow.com for a $2 discount ticket and for more information about the show.

See you there: Outdoors editor David Figura will be in the Toyota Exhibition Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Stop by and say hello.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog