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State Fairground Rolls Out RVs

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

The Parliament Provost Coach is 45 feet long and costs $1.8 million. 10,000 man hours of labor go into putting the inside of the bus together.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

TAMPA - Hundreds of tricked out recreational vehicles clogged the Florida State Fairgrounds today, showcasing the newest technology for the well-to-do nomad.

Forty-five-foot-long tour buses costing nearly $2 million, each equipped with champagne glass cabinets, flat-screen televisions and full sound systems, sidled up to pop-up campers with canvas tops.

The Florida RV Trade Association is hosting its 23rd annual show at the fairgrounds. The show, which began this morning and lasts through Sunday, features 1,300 decked out buses, motor homes, trailers and pickup campers.

Event hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults for a two-day pass; children younger than 16 are admitted free with an adult. Parking is $5 per car or $10 per recreational vehicle or bus.

In a sluggish economy and with gasoline prices reaching $3 a gallon, the RV industry seems to be holding its own, organizers say.

"People want their toys," said Robert Suppa, who represents iCamp, a Chinese manufacturer that put a tiny camper trailer on the market last year. The trailer is light enough to be towed by an average size sport utility vehicle and comes with air conditioning. Throw in a flat-screen television, music and some other options, and the camper sells for $19,600

At the other end of the spectrum is the Parliament Coach, a high-end tour bus with a price of $1.8 million.

About a dozen buses a year are sold by the Parliament Coach dealership in Clearwater, said spokesman Rick May. "We've been as busy as we've ever been."

The dealership gets the bus as a gutted shell and completely makes over the inside to suit the buyer. "This is true custom," he said. Each bus represents 10,000 hours of labor, he said.

Shipments of recreational vehicles to dealers last year continued near the record pace set in 2006, industry analysts said. The first quarter of 2007 showed the shipment of 93,600 RVs, they say. There were 390,500 RVs shipped in 2006 the most in 30 years.

There was no shortage of shoppers milling about the fairgrounds this morning.

"This is the largest show in the country," said Walter Touchton, owner of Great Escape RV in Clearwater and Tampa. "People come here to buy."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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