EDITOR’S NOTE: The Fall 2024 issue of RV Today magazine is now available. Here’s the Publisher’s Note from Demian Ross.
Greetings from Open House in Elkhart, Indiana. If you’re unaware of or don’t know what Open House is, it is an RV dealer-only event held yearly in Elkhart County where something like 80% of all RVs are made.
I have been attending Open House since 2022. Each year we get an up-close look at the prototypes manufacturers have in the works for the coming year. Some weren’t even at the Hershey show a few weeks earlier.
Out of these events, you will see many video creators trying to give the first look at new units. However many of these prototypes will still go through a lot of changes as manufacturers get feedback from dealers in this process about what they want to sell. So keep in mind that what you’re seeing now on video or YouTube might not be the final RV you see for sale in a few months — if they ever make production runs of that unit at all.
One upside of publishing a magazine in the industry is that we are not trying to get the information on these new units out right now; we are just wanting to make sure we get it right when the manufacturers lock in what these new units and floorplans will look like.
I will say that one trend I am excited to see — and one I have been talking about since 2017 — is that manufacturers are listening to how RVers want to be outside and want their RVs to have more access to the outdoors. This year, we are seeing a lot more patios, sundecks, and sliding doors on units that are not toy haulers and it is about time!
Most RVers don’t venture out to the desert, lake, or beach to just be indoors all day, and it is nice to have a private patio area right outside your door. Along with that, I’m also liking the trend we’re seeing of more windows and larger windows so you can enjoy the view or being in the outdoors more. It makes the RV seem open and spacious — something they used to try to do with mirrors.
One trend that I wasn’t really a fan of was how large some of the TVs are getting. I swear some are 70-plus inches with only like seven feet between you and the screen. (Reminds me of showing up late to the movie and getting the dreaded front row.)
In the months to come, you will see us highlight a lot of these new trends and features that are gaining popularity throughout the industry. People want to get outdoors and experience nature and it’s nice to see that when in your RV that is becoming more possible than ever before.
Until the next issue, I hope to see you on the road…
Demian Ross
Founder/Publisher
[email protected]
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