Mark and Donna McClain just got back from a six-week trip in Oregon with their camper.
Traveling with their fifth-wheel is how the couple from Troy live nine months out of the year. This summer that included visits to nine national parks, including three in Colorado − Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Great Sand Dunes.
“It’s just nice to be out in nature,” said Mark McClain, 61. He and his wife rediscovered camping, something they did when their kids were little, about five years ago after he sold his metal processing business.
Donna McClain, 58, noted that although you might be “five-starring it inside” a camper at places like Great Sand Dunes, you still have to do some cleaning when there’s so much sand.
On Wednesday, Sept. 30, they
were checking out the latest offerings − about 365 campers, motorhomes and travel trailers – from the 12 dealerships and 15 exhibitors at the 37th Fall Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds Show Detroit at Novi’s Vibe Credit Union Showplace. It runs through Sunday, Oct. 4. Tickets to the show are $12 for adults, $11 for those 55 and older and free for children 12 and younger. Parking is $10.
The couple, who were looking over smaller camper options in case their kids might be interested, had been impressed with the layout of a 2027 Forest River RV Rockwood Ultra Lite 2711RK, a 33-foot-long, 7,738-pound camper that sleeps three, with a front bath and rear kitchen, and a show price of $54,900 (the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, according to the dealer, Bish’s RV of Coldwater, was $77,833).
Prices run the gamut at the show. That includes motorhomes topping $454,000 but also smaller offerings, such as the $10,499 (MSRP $18,956) Zinger Lite Mini, which has a bathroom with shower, kitchen and sleeping area, including bunks for kids, that Justin O’Bryan of National RV Detroit in the Belleville area said “pretty much can be towed with anything with a hitch on it.”
If you find you enjoy camping, it’s “very easy to get out of it and into your next one,” he said.
Then there’s the higher end. The 2027 Alliance Benchmark 44LFT, an almost 45-foot second home for $95,999 at the show ($132,976 MSRP) with two bedroom lofts in addition to the main bedroom, two baths, kitchen, dual fireplaces, four smart TVs and, well, more.
“I just can’t imagine having something this big. You have to have the right spot for it, that’s for sure,” said Lori Cole, 64, of Grand Rapids, at the show for the first time but not in the market for something quite this size.
Her speed is “hike and tent, so that’s a little far up from that,” she said, motioning with a laugh.
David Jackson, a salesman from General RV Center in Wixom, described it as Alliance’s destination trailer, “really a residential space you can just move around,” although he noted that it’s a good option for families with property where they might not want to actually build a structure.
For Kimberly Willis, 52, of Inkster, the visit to the show was a shopping trip for herself, although she’d need to discuss things with her husband later. She was looking over an $89,000 2027 Keystone Avalanche 390DS when I spoke with her.
It was her first time at the show, which she described as awesome. She said she “was looking for something for me and my grandkids.” Willis and her sister, Shone Tillman, 56, of Redford Township, who was there with her, always go camping with their father.
Finding the right camper can depend a lot on which stage a person is in his or her life, according to Becky Lash, a salesperson at Vicars Trailer Sales in Taylor.
She said that if you’re married with kids, always look for a “bunk house.” If you’re closer to or in retirement, look for something that has a bed, a dinette, some theater seats and no bunks, because kids can always sleep on the dinette if they come over.
“Otherwise, it’s for you for retirement. Go see the national parks, if you are a national parks person. Look for something 30-feet and under” because not all parks allow larger vehicles on site, forcing some with larger vehicles to find a camp site elsewhere, she said.
Lash described this fall show as a “couples show.” The MARVAC show that takes place in January tends to bring out a lot of families thinking of the season ahead.
The fall, however, is a “great time for clearance sales,” she said.
Eric D. Lawrence is the senior car culture reporter at the Detroit Free Press, and he also writes about recreational vehicles, boats and bikes. Send your tips and suggestions to elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Campers galore at fall MARVAC RV show in Novi
