limited time at RTR

[nancymunoz]

I'm a hopeful van dweller, planning to attend my first RTR in a rental minivan.  Most of the time I work from home, so being a digital nomad is not an issue for me.  However Jan 14-17 I can't be in AZ.  I'd kind of like to see the Big Tent since I'm still deciding between a build your own or a small RV.  I don't need to look for a job.  On the other hand, I want to get the most learning and social time with the group.  Would you 
a) go earlier and skip the Big Tent
b) arrive on the 17 and catch the end of RTR and a few days of Big Tent (this is what I have booked so far, but having 2nd thoughts)

 

[highdesertranger]

First off, Welcome Nancy to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you. if you want to look at RV's and RV accessories then for sure go to the big tent. but if you want to look at a bunch of different rigs that won't be at he RV show and to connect with the RTR crowd, skip the big tent and go next year. big question do you want to attend any of the seminars? highdesertranger

 

[rvwandering]

As an RV owner (fairly nontraditional as we do not stay in RV parks or belong to the big organizations) I have never found anything of interest at the Big Tent RV show. It's mostly junk or geared towards class A owners who want the latest gadgets. There will be dealers set up all around Quartzsite so you can look at RVs at any time. I'd go early to catch the seminars and spend time looking at what everyone has done to their vans and RVs.

 

[Almost There]

^^^This!

The RV show is a bunch of RV dealers showing off the newest edition of the RVs (no used RVs there) and inside the tent, other than the booths that are hiring for next summer, it's all accessories and your typical kitchen appliance vendors like you'd see at a state fair in the food building. The food vendors are overpriced and the aisles are beyond crowded.

You'll learn far more by wandering around the RTR and talking to people, looking at any rigs that are of interest to you and attending seminars.

 

[travelaround]

Hi Nancy, welcome to the forum. I've never been to RTR (yet) so I have no idea what is the best time for you. The big tent sounds like a good place if you're looking for a work camping job (I'm not, this year ... ) I will probably go to WRTR and then start the RTR (maybe) ... a lot is up in the air with my situation right now. I'll be in a car with a tent and I can't even imagine being able to get through this. But, I will probably give it a try.

 

[nancymunoz]

Thanks for the recommendations. I’m much more interested in seminars a getting to know the community. I hope to see you there.

 

[tx2sturgis]

The Big Tent is more of a Big Top Circus....lot's of snake-oil salesmen hocking their wares. By the time you drive thru miles of stalled traffic, find a place to park, walk 3/4 of a mile and thread your way thru the crowds, and sure.... there are some neat gadgets and cool stuff to look at...but it's mostly heated massaging captains chairs and whizbang smoothie blenders and bluetooth conected dog leashes and the latest microfiber polishing cloths for your chrome birdbath and LED light strips for your heated leather commode and brightly colored mobility chairs that can go up stairs and remote control fly-swatters with a free beer coozie and fold-up hydrogen-powered saunas and heated kitchen floor mats and...ok...you get the idea....

I did like the fold-up solar ovens and the mystery-meat beefy-cheese nachos.

I think you can see most of this stuff by watching the many youtube videos about the Big Tent...and get much more out of the RTR by making personal connections, meeting new friends, and attending the seminars. Plus, many of the outdoor vendors at Tyson Wells are there from November until April, and they have lots of stuff you might actually want to buy!

As far as the RVs, most of those that are parked around the Big Tent start at $100,000 and go up from there...a bit pricey for me. 

You can find better deals I think, by visiting the many other dealers around Quartzsite...they are there to sell...and will have time to actually talk to you!

Just my 2 cents....