In 2021 I went as an attendee to an Adventure Van Expo in Hood River, OR. It was exciting to see so many professional van builders and related product in one venue. I realized then, that this was a community CMV needed to be a part of as it was a great way to market and sell our products.
Like a big trade show, the AVE’s vendors set up booths to market and sell their product and connect with buyers one on one. The unique quality to a van expo is that they tend to be located in beautiful outdoor settings like Northlake Tahoe, CA and Hood River OR. At these open air sites, vendors display beautifully built-out vans, along with plenty of van related products. You can expect to see roof racks, solar panels, storage solutions, water tanks, galley cabinets, beds, window covers and much more.
The shows often have camping available for attendees that want to spend the whole weekend perusing the show. Typically, friends and local van groups, camp together with vans setup side-by-side. In addition to the professional van builders that are available to meet and talk about their van builds, most events feature live music, food trucks, demos, and DIY build contests that give the shows a festive feel and offer something for everyone.
If you are considering purchasing a campervan or updating the one you have, I highly recommend that you first attend an Adventure Van Expo. With an average of 50-70 vendors at these shows, you can experience multiple builders’ styles and van layouts that can help with the process of settling on a design and materials that are right for you.
Lasty, don’t forget your four-legged friend. Dogs are a big attraction at the shows, so be sure to bring your dog, and have a dog gone good time!