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Sandy • While it might be nice to have air conditioning or heat with a full kitchen and bathroom inside a trailer or motor home, there are times when it's more fun to be outside.
Some of the newest trailers and recreational vehicles at the annual Utah Sportsmen's Vacation and RV Show reflect that. The show opened its four-day run Thursday at the South Towne Expo Center.
Mike Hodson of Sierra RV said there are only so many amenities that can be put inside the fancy recreation vehicles, so manufacturers are moving to the outside. One of his trailers, for example, had an outdoor and indoor entrance to a bathroom, something to keep kids from bringing dirt and mud into the trailer when they need to use the toilet.
Other RVs featured televisions, barbecue grills, kitchens, sinks and storage areas that could be accessed from the outside.
"I like the outside fridge and barbecue," said Cheryl Mitchell, of Spanish Fork, who was touring a Holiday Rambler with a discounted show price of $209,990. "You don't have to bring stuff inside and out."
Ray Brech of Dutchman Manufacturing said items such as keyless entry or automatic jacks and levelers are among the latest trends seen at the show.
The RV show took up quite a bit more space than last week's Utah Boat Show, also produced by Greenband Enterprises. The main portion of the 300,000-square-foot exhibit hall featured more than a dozen Intermountain area RV dealers selling more than 100 lines of recreation vehicles, fifth-wheelers, trailers and campers.
In fact, the accessory dealers and an unusual assortment of local tourism bureaus, dip and soup companies, campgrounds and gadget sales staff spilled out into the foyer.
"It's an important show for us," said Tina Carter of Emery County tourism, who was promoting the San Rafael Swell. "People want to know about our state parks, OHV trails and jamborees. We tell them about our four state parks and two golf courses."
A few booths down, Bryant and Jenny Sperry, of Murray, and their three young children were examiningA-Frame tent pop-up trailers and tiny teardrop trailers designed to be pulled by smaller vehicles.
"We have a young family and we are looking for something to do with the kids in the summer," said Jenny Sperry, who said she thought about buying a tent but decided to attend the show to see what other options might be available.
John Limb of Mark Miller Suburu said the $8,000 "teardrop" trailer is popular because it is hard sided so it keeps out the wind and noises found in a tent trailer and because it can be towed with a lightweight vehicle. He said the show is important because customers are specifically looking for a trailer or RV.
One of the more serious buyers was Gary Gerbich, of West Jordan, who already has an RV but was looking to upgrade to a Class A motor home. He and his wife enjoy spending time camping in California, and his grown sons enjoy the rig when they go fishing.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
On the road
P The annual Utah Sportsmen's Vacation and RV Show runs from noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for seniors. Kids under 12 are free.