RVers Galore

Friday, we visited the Good Sam Rally, being held at Phoenix International Raceway. There were RVers and RVs everywhere.

We spent most of our time moseying through the vendor tent with our friends Barbara and Ron. They did make a couple of small purchases. We didn't buy anything. There was lots to look at, from braking systems to toilet paper to travel option and info on RV resorts.

There were long lines at the Camping World check-out registers. They moved quickly, however.

Ron picked up a cup of coffee and shared a bag of these excellent mini donuts with us.

For lunch, we visited the chicken vendor. Unfortunately, there was no place at the tables to sit, so John and I stood to eat.  Barbara and Ron chose to sit on the ground.  We were so glad they were able to get up and continue shipping with us!

A large number of RVs were on display and for sale. This one was the most interesting.

The rally ambulance was interesting. Glad none of us needed it.

Shopping in a hot, crowded tent is hard work. We decided to ride the tram back to the parking lot.

The ride took us through the area where many of the rally participants parked their RVs. Lots and lots of RVs.

Obviously, there was room for even more RVs to park. This is a huge rally and even larger rally space.

Many of the RVs had electrical hookups, but no water or sewer. Here is a truck delivering fresh water. There was also a "honey wagon" that would pump out waste-water holding tanks.

This is the second time we have attended a Good Sam rally. The first was in Albuquerque in 2009. That year we stayed on the Balloon Fiesta grounds with other attendees. We don't know if we will try to attend any more rallies. We didn't find any new and exciting products and we may never buy another RV. But it was good to spend time with friends and be with so many people who enjoy the same things in life we do.

Shipshewana

We enjoyed our time in Shipshewana. But it was time to leave. We had to get away from all the good food--many, many kinds of cheese, lots of different sausages, specialty breads, kettle corn and fried pies. We will need to diet for a month to make up for our time in northern Indiana.

As we walked around the Shipshewana South Campground, we enjoyed horses in the fields on both sides of the campground.





There was a Crossroads RV Rally in the campground over the weekend. They seemed to have a good time and they had several presentations that sounded really interesting. If we had tried, we could have heard the presentations because the covered picnic area was right next door. We had already been to an RV rally this summer, however, so we weren't interested in eavesdropping.

We saw horses in the campground twice. A local Amish caterer served breakfast and dinner  to the rally participants yesterday.



Yes, that is our truck we are looking across to see the horses and buggies. You can see the pavilion on the right side of the photo. We really didn't mind having the rally events so close to our site. Even when they used a microphone, it wasn't very loud. And each evening we overlooked the community fire pit, but the gatherings were quiet and broke up by about 10 pm.

We did have one issue with the group, however. Those RV owners were incredibly rude and lazy and unaware of campground etiquette. Some walked through our site several times. If you look at the above photo, you will see a motor home right across the street. The majority of the Crossroads owners walked through that campsite to get to the gatherings, even when neighboring site was empty. Doesn't anyone have the energy or consideration to walk down one road, around the corner and back up the next road?

On Balance, a Good Decision

Looking back, we made a good decision to come to the DRV rally. We have been looking for the opportunity to have our RV weighed wheel by wheel, so we would know not only if it was an appropriate weight for our truck but also if it was balanced side to side.

Sunday, Howard and Lynda from RVSEF weighed our truck and trailer together. Friday, the truck had been weighed separately. They have scales that are placed under each wheel set. That way, we learn the weight each side of each axle is carrying.





We were delighted to learn we were quite light. In fact, they said we were the lightest Mobile Suites they had weighed. Of course, we also own the shortest model they make. Our trailer is rated at a maximum of 19,000 pounds. Ours came in at 16,700. The truck has a gross combined weight of truck and trailer of 30,500 pounds. Our GCWR is 25,350 pounds. We work very hard at carrying as little weight as we can and we were very glad to see how successful we have been.

At the Friday evening final dinner for the rally, there were numerous door prizes awarded. In fact, everyone there won something. We were among the last people to receive a gift. Others had received a 60 inch TV, chairs, a table lamp and other items we didn't need or want. But we are delighted with our prize--a $100 gift certificate to Home Depot!

After being weighed Sunday, we moved to a different site in the same RV park. Our new neighbors have a 2012 Montana, the make of our two earlier RVs. We talked to them a while and they asked if they could see our Mobile Suites. They were considering replacing their current RV. Since they liked ours, we recommended they check out RVs for Less in nearby Knowville, one of the rally sponsors. They did and they ordered a new DRV suites trailer and told the dealer we had referred them. DRV has a new rewards program for such referrals and we will receive a $200 check because of that purchase!

We also were able to buy discounted Coach Net roadside assistance and tire and wheel insurance through RVs for Less. All in all, coming to the rally was a good deal financially and we found we are not carrying too much weight in our trailer.

Rally Time

Our reason for coming to Tennessee this month was to attend a rally at River Plantation RV Park in Sevierville. At first glance, you might think it is a rally of big butt dually trucks.







Take a close look at the above photo. That is an RV hauler like we've never seen before.

But we aren't here for a truck rally. It is a DRV Suites rally. Last October we bought a Mobile Suites 5th wheel trailer and this is an opportunity to learn more about it from the representatives of companies that provide components of the RV, from representatives from the DRV factory, and from Butch and others of RVs for Less, a Knoxville, TN, DRV dealer. And we have learned a lot. However, meetings and speakers don't provide much fodder for my blog.

There are 122 RVs registered, meaning nearly 250 people. The catered meals for the rally have been delicious. And we have a nice large facility to meet in.



There are lots of DRV suites RVs here.





And new ones for sale. And no, we didn't see anything we liked better than the one we have. They are all just too darn big!




Yesterday, the men and women were divided. One group visited the Bush's Baked Bean Museum in nearby Chestnut Hill. The other group met with representatives from the factory to discuss ideas and problems. The museum was interesting and the meeting with the factory reps was really helpful.



You probably recognize Jay Bush and Duke from television ads.



A. J. Bush first opened a general store, then began canning tomatoes in 1904. The family home is located across the street from the museum. Over the years, the company added other vegetables to the items they canned. Such table-ready products became really popular by the 1920s.



In 1969, they began producing baked beans, based on a family recipe. As they say, the rest is history.

This is the Chestnut Hill cannery.



And this is the cool old truck you can see in the above photo.



Baby birds have been hatching here in the RV park. This nest is right outside one of the laundry rooms.



And I spotted this baby robin in front of the RV next to ours.