Abbotsford Tradex RV Show

Laura and I left Madigan to guard the house as we drove out to Abbotsford in my F350.  The parking lot was packed and there was a long line up for those without tickets. Others who bought on line were streaming in. Our line moved really quickly as well.  Camping is becoming ever more popular with campgrounds booked a year in advance.  

I was there to look at the 30 foot buses, especially the Tiffin’s.  The choices were incredible and costs very reasonable. All manner of 25 foot light weight towable were present in the $40,000 range with luxury campers in the $70,000 range.

There were 2 increfible luxury buses one for $700,000 and another for $400,000. The latter was the Tiffin 33 Integra and we truly loved it.  All the bells and whistles.  Another at $250,000 was smaller and more manageable with lighter interior ,  Finally there were several $150,000 buses which really were impressive too.  The cost of house most everywhere Vancouverties were selling multi million dollar properties and moving on.  Hundreds of thousand have left the unaffordable city known the world over for money launderering, casinos, gang crime and DTES drug abuse and overdose.  Citizens don’t feel safe and the taxation on property is escalating while criminals around the world see Vancouver as a safe place to base their crime sindicates given the soft on crime stance of the present government.

Laura and I talked about people looking for affordable housing given the rising homelessness and middle class using food banks.  

“Probably that’s true I said but I really think the majority are here looking for camping alternatives form their families.”  “No doubt some were there for a place under the bridge. They’d certainly not be buying new for that purpose.”

We we’re actually looking at new units with a thought that if I did get a bus I’d get second hand with low mileable. I wanted to see lay outs and think of trading in my 40 foot fifth wheel toyhauler for a bus if I just want to travel.  The thing is my camper seems the ticket for that type of road trip. The big buses like my RV are really more a base camp. I’m considering using my RV for snowbirding mostly.  It’s great for summer here but it would just take three or four days travelling south and I’d miss the winter here in the north.  

Laura and I had a burger and fries as a break from looking about units. Traveland had the best selection.  I had bought a small unit from them years ago and had only good experience. They are a local family owned business who are really customer oriented. I am sorry I bought one unit from Frazerland because they lied and it really was one of those nightmare experiences people don’ t want to encounter when one is trying to get something to get away from stress,  O’Connor’s was there with their excellent selection . We’ve often bought at their RV supply store and loved service there.  The Tiffin buses were at Traveland along with the Forest River.  Nice Dutchman units there and Rockwood. 

We talked to Atilla who has euro driver training and I’m going to be taking a few mornings of lessons pulling my fifth wheel so I can have confidence with hauling as an option. Not seeing anything in buses better than what I have I decided that I had to just bite the bullet take time off and learn to haul and back up and parking.  I really love my unit but fell afraid of hauling it as it’s 40 feet,. Like my sail boat.  All the anxiety of that will be changed with lessons I’m hoping.  

We loved the day and came home to a dog happy to see us.  I think he knows that this has to do with camping and like us he loves camping.