336. Inside the RV Industry Open House
In this episode, Jason and Abby dive into the emerging trends in the RV industry for the 2025 model year. Fresh from the annual dealer open house in Elkhart, Indiana, Jason shares his experiences, insights into what 'open house' really means, and the significant new models that will soon hit the dealer lots. They explore the dynamics between manufacturers and dealers, with a focus on how customer feedback influences RV designs and features. The episode covers the rise of destination trailers, the mechanics of the open house event, RV innovations, and some ground-level perspectives on the RV manufacturing process. IMPORTANT LINKS: Become an RV Miles Mile Marker member at https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers Sign up for our weekly Road Signs newsletter: https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist Tickets for HOMECOMING are now on sale! Save $25 a ticket by becoming a Mile Marker today! Tickets are available at https://rvmiles.com/homecoming/ Find more about RV Destinations Magazine here: https://rvdestinationsmagazine.com/ Learn about checking the date on your tires here: https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/learn/tire-basics/tire-date-code.html Support our Sponsors: *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Liquified RV Toilet Treatment: https://liquifiedrv.com * Harvest Hosts: Save 15% on a Harvest Hosts membership with MILES at https://harvesthosts.com * RVPostings.com - Your go-to platform for buying and selling RVs. 00:00 Introduction 03:11 Exploring the Elkhart Open House 03:51 Understanding the Dealer Open House 04:36 The Role of Dealers in the RV Industry 07:59 The Open House Experience 23:47 Destination Trailers: The New Trend 29:38 Rising Costs and Frustrations with Campgrounds 30:08 The Appeal of Destination Trailers 31:01 Alliance's Surprising Move into Destination Trailers 33:14 Content Creators and Open House Involvement 37:05 Transparency and Industry Relations 40:45 Upcoming RV Innovations and Trends 46:58 Fresh and Black Tank Highlights 57:10 Closing Remarks and Listener Engagement