COMMUNITY
7 Reasons Why RV Owners Love RV Rallies—and You Should Too!
If you’ve just bought your first RV, you may have heard word of RV rallies...and even if you're a pro you might not yet have been to one. We'd like to change that...but first
If you’re envisioning Sturgis but with RVs, fear not. We can dial back the expectation a little. For sure, there are few beards, but less leather, and very few Harleys.
Instead, RV rallies are organized events where RV enthusiasts can get together to share tips, food, stories, and drinks.
Manufacturers, like Grand Design RV (GDRV), provide support to host and attend these events, so you can see the latest models, technology, and innovations in the RV market.
Rallies are part of what makes RV ownership such an incredible experience.
You can find out if there is a rally local to you here.
And of course a simple internet search can help you find other rallies all over the country, there’s a good chance that there is an RV rally near you. Or, if you feel like taking your RV somewhere new, you can find one in a destination location.
If you haven’t attended an RV rally before, there are some things you should expect. We’ve outlined 7 of them below.
The Grand Design National Rally
A celebration of the Grand Design lifestyle. Education, Community & Family.
Located in Elkhart County, the RV Capital of the World, you can find 1,200+ Grand Design family members all gathering at home base for four days of learning, sharing, and celebrating. The event, held annually the week before Labor Day, is owner-planned and driven. Registration typically opens for the event the first week of April and sells out quickly.
Check it out here
Seminars, tours, food, crafts, camp GDRV - kids club, vendors, and more, will all be there to make the week an unforgettable one. Along with the endless activities and opportunities, our National Owners Rally is the only rally where our Grand Design Service Techs will be on-site allowing service requests to be completed.
In addition to the National Rally Grand Design owners host over 30 plus regional rallies all over North America a year.
Each of these events are a unique variation of the National Rally all planned by volunteer owners called Wagonmasters who plan an organize these events with one purpose, the Grand Design lifestyle. You can find these individual events by checking out the Official Rally Calendar.
Load up your home, come and park it where strangers become family as you can see from the picture below and let the adventures begin!
7 Reasons Owners Love Rallies
1. Rallies Are A Great Chance To Learn Things About Your RV
One of the top reasons RV owners attend these rallies is to gather information. There’s a lot to learn when you first get into RVing, so it is helpful to have the opportunity to speak to manufacturers and experienced RV owners about how to operate and maintain your home away from home.
There are numerous people available at these events to help you answer questions like how to best set up or tear down your RV, or the best methods for leveling your RV at your campsite. You can speak to representatives from the manufacturers or other owners, so that by the time you take your RV to its first campsite, you have all the information you need.
The most popular rally each year is the Grand Design National Rally held at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds every August. The National Rally has its own website and you can subscribe to email updates and get the full low down on events here.
You'll have direct access to GDRV employees each year we feature a fireside chat with Grand Design founder, Don Clark (pictured below.)
2. Discounts From Vendors
A visit to a Rally might even pay for itself. One of the most popular reasons to attend an RV rally is to get discounts from vendors. These discounts range from applying to local campsites, to RV parts and accessories. You’ll often find great deals on campsites at these events, so it’s smart to attend one to save on your next adventure.
There are also activities that may entitle you to other discounts. For example, there are often safe driving courses organized by insurance companies that, when completed, make you eligible for a discount on your RV or auto insurance—in addition to making you safer on the road.
When you arrive at your first rally, explore the vendors and participate in the activities. You never know what kind of discounts you might find or useful information you might gather.
3. Onsite Service
Attending a rally is a fun and convenient way to get your RV checked out to see if there is a recall of any sort, or if you have an emergency service need.
Manufacturers and service providers come to these events to perform qualifying emergency services.
At the Grand Design National Rally, full-service requests are accepted. Our service technicians are very helpful and excited to participate in these large events.
So, if you are planning your next trip, attending the National Rally in Elkhart, IN is a great way to kill two birds with one stone - take a trip and have your RV serviced at the same time. You can also lean on the manufacturers and service providers for more information about your RV.
4. Free Swag From Manufacturers
Who doesn't love all of the free swag you can get from RV manufacturers and other brands at rallies?
Generally manufacturers try to pick swag that’s going to be useful or helpful for the RV lifestyle.
For example, if you registered to attend the most recent Grand Design National RV Owners Rally, your swag bag would have a quality beach bag, two pens and notebook, Grand Blend coffee roasted locally in Goshen, Indiana, metal camping mugs, ponchos, chocolate, and a bamboo USA Grand Design cutting board.
Swag bags will vary from rally to rally, and manufacturer to manufacturer but you’ll almost always walk away with some useful freebies
5. Meeting Like-Minded People
One of the main reasons people from all over the country attend RV rallies is to meet like-minded people, and become part of the RV-ing community. Rallies are a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and chat about RVs, camping, adventures, and best practices—all while enjoying great food and cold drinks. The RV community is a key part of the RV lifestyle.
There’s a comforting sense of camaraderie at these events. Everyone is friendly and eager to meet the other attendees, share RV tips, and ultimately have a good time. It’s also fun to see other people’s RV configurations. After all, everyone camps differently.
If you just bought an RV and want to discuss it with people who share your interests, look no further than an RV rally.
6. It’s A Great Chance To Raise Money For Charity
RV rally organizers often have a charitable cause in mind while planning their events. While there are a lot of reasons for hosting an RV rally, organizers often use the opportunity to raise significant funds for their cause.
While it’s nice to get swag and discounts, many people in the RV community prefer that their participation in the event serve a greater purpose than simple pleasures. It just goes to show that RV owners are passionate about their communities. They are truly some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
7. To Have Fun
Last but not least, people attend RV rallies because, quite frankly, they are fun. It’s not just vendors, manufacturers, service providers, and other RV owners that make these events enjoyable. They also have entertainment and activities.
Small and large rallies alike will almost always have entertainment planned for the evenings so guests can have a good time. This entertainment is included with your admission price.
When you buy a Grand Design RV, we encourage you to attend one of our regional rallies so you can take advantage of the full Grand Design experience. Whether you’re after good deals, good food, or good company, there is something for everyone.
We hope to see you at a Grand Design RV rally soon. Click here to find a GDRV rally near you.
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