I can see the attraction of shows, and always go to 2 or 3 every year.
We have been going with some good friends for the past 2 years, and it's a weekend where we lose the kids, pick up bits and bob's and and have a good old chat in the evenings putting the world to rights.
It's also the ideal place to change your van, especially if you are busy working 5-6 days a week and have kids. At the bigger shows there are hundreds of vans to view, you can strike a good deal, and get it all over with in one weekend.
It's a great place to have accessories fitted. We have had an awning, top box, and airide suspension fitted at shows, normally with a free fitting or special show price. This saves time off work , and brings the specialist's to you for a weekend.
Although it's frowned upon by the organisers, you can flog your excess motorhoming accessories, by advertising them at your pitch.
It's a great place to see what others have done to their vans, how they arrange their pitches, and what accessories make life easier. By looking through the second hand vans on offer you can pick up some good ideas for modifications and get the feeling why a certian layout of a van might work better for you.
Our van is our hobby as well as the vehicle that propels around on our travels, and it's part of the fun picking up accessories for it, like changing your old cassette trolley for a super duper one, which we did at Peterborough.
We actually save up, and make a list of things we are looking for as Peterbourough and York are approaching. Peterborough is for the things you think you need for the coming season, and York is for the things you wished you had bought earlier.
Dave