We decided to take a weekend off for a couple of reasons. First, it was Deandra’s first full weekend off in a year. Second, it was the date of the Dallas RV Show. We would never have imagined a year ago, when we attended the Dallas RV show for the first time, that we would be attending the show to look for remodeling ideas and ‘hopefully’ to score some vendor resources for things we are having trouble finding. In fact, we had fully expected to be coming into this RV show with a handful of cash and eager to make a deal on a shiny new trailer. Oh how life has its funny way of playing tricks on us.

The truth is we really did not gain any value from attending this year’s RV show. The seminars offered primarily focus on new RV buyers, providing tips for how to use the systems that come in most new fifth wheels or travel trailers. Cooking tips, how to flush your tanks, what is the best fifth-wheel hitch, etc. Worse still is the sad fact that the majority of vendors renting booths at the show are selling stuff that has nothing to do with RVs (gutter systems for your house, bathroom remodeling, windows for your house, etc) or trying to sell gadgets (TENs machines, and the vendor was a jerk to boot). We concluded after a mere 45 minutes of walking through the show that there was nothing here for us. We did collect some info on RV parks, RV traveling groups, and a couple of other vendors that might come in useful once we complete our project.

A future consideration will be to take the accumulated knowledge we are gaining from our renovation project and possibly go back as a vendor to future RV shows and present options for vintage trailer restoration as a business venture. This will include all of our ongoing research on RV Solar (including all system components and sourcing), electrical system integration (12vDC, 110vAC, Solar), aluminum sourcing and rework ideas, and so on. It may also include custom cabinetry, trailer component repair and replacement, WINDOWS!!! Sorry… I got a little overzealous there… Windows are my current source of heartburn. Still to be resolved.

This all will depend on the success or failure of our current project and all that we learn in the process. Believe me when I say there is a ton to learn and we are only scratching the surface at present.

With the abbreviated visit to the Dallas RV show, my lovely bride decided it would be a great opportunity to visit IKEA... "since we are already on this side of town and it is just up the road..." I think I was suckered, but I am not entirely sure. While I contemplated a dental visit to pull perfectly good teeth, or maybe a colonoscopy, in the end (pun intended) we went to IKEA and it proved to be relatively productive as we found the couch set up that we like with storage (a necessity) and it was actually comfortable. No pain meds required...

We will be back in the trenches next week and moving forward as quickly as we can.