This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • Wandering through 300,000 square feet of convention center space dedicated to such things as recreation vehicles, camping supplies and outdoor vacation destinations certainly makes for an enjoyable mid-February afternoon.
Some attending the annual Utah Sportsmen's, Vacation and RV Show that runs through Sunday at the South Towne Expo Center might actually be serious about spending as much as $800,000 on a luxury motor home. Others, no doubt, might be looking for a simple teardrop trailer, a new generator or some ideas on where to camp during the summer. And many may partake of Dutch oven and gourmet cooking displays, dog training or fly-tying demonstrations.
And one or two might even try to search out 10 interesting things to buy at the show.
Take, for example, this random list of products:
1 • A complete solar conversion kit that would turn a motor home or fifth-wheeler into a self-sustaining home on wheels that could park just about anywhere with no need for generators or electrical hookups. Birdie's Power Equipment of Springville is demonstrating such a system for between $699 and $14,000. Another company, Inergy — Power to Go, was bundling portable solar generators starting at $499.
2 • Those who receive solar power might also enjoy a portable ice maker, which plugs in to provide plenty of ice for summer camping parties, at a show price of $249.99 for a large one and $199.99 for a smaller model.
3 • Sometimes surviving means roughing it to the extreme, which is where Emergency Essentials' $5.99 Tote-able Toilet seat, designed to fit on and seal any standard 12-inch plastic bucket, can come in handy.
4 • Just to make the bucket feel a bit more homey, show visitors might want to also purchase a $37.85 standing toilet paper holder being offered in duck, parrot, Labrador, gator or deer shapes. Companion paper towel holders are available for $39.38 from State Trailer and RV Supply.
5 • Those who might not be able to afford a fancy trailer or motor home might enjoy the basic White Water Retro trailer, which looks like something out of the 1950s and contains the basics a couple needs, all for $14,999.
6 • The point of being outdoors means, well, being outdoors instead of inside. So a Tesla by Evergreen Fifth-Wheeler offered by C & R Trailer Sales for a show special of $74,000 might be just the thing. Its rear drops down to become a raised outdoor patio complete with canopy that can be folded back inside if the weather turns bad or it's bedtime.
7 • It's also important to look stylish when camping, riding a snowmobile or ATV or going four-wheeling. That's why Off-Road Vixens' line of "Girls Get Dirty Too" T-shirts, hoodies, hats and bumper stickers might be a hit. They come in infant, toddler and youth sizes as well.
8 • Sierra RV's Gateway 40-foot fifth-wheeler, which sells at a show price special of $53,900, features an outdoor entertainment system that consists of a kitchen, flat-screen television and fridge, with a nozzle to add a Camp Chef cooking system. So the kids can enjoy watching The Simpsons instead of roasting s'mores around the campfire.
9 • Aging campers don't like to rough it entirely, so investing $60 to purchase two of the "Most Comfortable Pillows" might make sleeping away from home or even at home much easier. The bamboo pillows with three kinds of memory foam are guaranteed to hold their shape for 10 years, even when machine washed.
10 • The 2014 Little Guy, a teardrop-style trailer from Parris RV that is selling for $17,995, holds some impressive features for a small, easy-to-store trailer that can be pulled by most cars. The inside has a bathroom and shower in addition to beds, while there is an outside full kitchen, complete with flat-screen television.
wharton@sltrib.comTwitter: @tribtomwharton —
Where • South Towne Exposition Center, Sandy
Hours • Saturday, 11 a.m. To 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. To 6 p.m.
Admission • $9 for adults, $8 for seniors or military with ID, free for children 12 and under when accompanied by a paying adult. Discount tickets available online at http://www.utahrvshow.com.
Featuring • Western America's largest selection of recreational vehicles including luxury motor homes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, tent trailers, toy haulers, popups, campers, trucks, destination resorts and accessories.
Website • http://www.utahrvshow.com