AI Summary
5 min readThe RV industry’s fall show season is about to get more interesting than it has been in years. On this episode of RV Miles, Jason and Abby explain why the upcoming Hershey RV Show—historically a place for clearance sales and closeout deals—is suddenly hosting genuine new-model debuts from major manufacturers. They also preview the return of the See America podcast, deliver a sobering update on diesel prices, and share details about their new “Road Tested” video series, which puts boutique RVs through real-world camping trips.
Hershey’s shift from clearance to innovation
For several years, the Hershey RV Show had become a place where dealers unloaded previous model-year inventory rather than introducing new products. The real debuts happened a week later at Open House in Elkhart, Indiana, a dealer-only event where manufacturers could show new designs without competitors watching. That dynamic is changing in 2024. Jason reports that multiple major brands are now using Hershey as a launchpad for 2027 model-year products. Forest River is debuting the Telios, an all-electric travel trailer that borrows design cues from West Coast startups—European windows, no rooftop air conditioner, large battery banks. “This is really the first major RV manufacturer that’s dipping its toes in those waters,” Jason says. Newmar is showing a smaller Haven model. Tiffin will unveil the productio
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:04) **Episode Kickoff & Host Update** - Jason and Abby explain why they took a week off and share their current theater involvement.
- 2 (06:19) **Hershey RV Show Preview: Why This Year Feels Different** - Jason explains the shift in the Hershey show's significance and previews major new RV debuts.
- 3 (15:45) **Why the Hosts Are Skipping Hershey: Road Tested is Back** - Jason and Abby announce their new "Road Tested" series and explain why they are missing the Hershey show.
- 4 (25:29) **Interview: Brooks Smothers on the Return of "See America"** - Brooks joins to discuss the new season of his podcast, which drops all episodes at once.
- 5 (46:18) **Post-Interview Reflection on "See America"** - Jason praises Brooks' curation and sound design for the new season.
- 6 (48:50) **Black Tank: Record High Diesel Prices** - Jason delivers a deep dive into the current fuel crisis, focusing on diesel.
- 7 (58:37) **Fresh Tank: Overland Expo Mountain West Insights** - Jason shares his experience at the Overland Expo and contrasts it with the mainstream RV industry.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
The Hershey RV Show is looking a LOT more interesting this year. After several years when the show felt heavier on closeouts than big reveals, manufacturers are bringing a surprising number of new RVs and major debuts—including the Forest River Teleos, Tiffin Cornerstone, Brinkley Model R, Winnebago motorhomes, and plenty more.
We break down what’s coming to Hershey, why manufacturers may finally be showing more of their newest products there, and why this year's show could change how we cover RV show season in the future.
Then Brooks Smothers joins us for the return of the See America podcast! The entire new season is available now, featuring the fascinating stories behind destinations and road trips across the country. We preview the Alaska Highway, the massive and mysterious “City” art installation hidden in the Nevada desert, the Spruce Goose, Route 66 as it celebrates its 100th anniversary, and more.
Plus, we share what’s next for RV Miles Road Tested—including Bowlus, Pebble and Pinnacles National Park—Jason has some takeaways from Overland Expo Mountain West, and later in the show we dig into the painful rise in diesel prices and what it could mean for RV travel.
Find SEE AMERICA here: https://seeamerica.podbean.com/
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Get links and more in the show notes at https://RVMiles.com/423
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Track SSTK_MUSIC_ID 437726 – Monetization ID MONETIZATION_ID AMXDXB4BX5FLHUYE
00:00 Welcome to RV Miles 423
06:00 What’s Different About the Hershey RV Show This Year?
28:00 Brooks Smothers + See America Returns
30:00 The Alaska Highway
34:00 The Mysterious “City” in the Nevada Desert
40:00 Route 66 Turns 100
44:00 RV Out West
48:00 Black Tank: Record-High Diesel Prices
59:00 Fresh Tank: What Jason Learned at Overland Expo
1:04:00 Abby’s Fresh Tank: Widow’s Bay
1:07:00 RV Miles Homecoming + Wrap-Up
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