Welcome to another edition of our weekly RV and camping news roundup. As usual, we have plenty to cover, so let’s take a look at what went down this past week:
Photo Credit: Leisure Travel Vans
- Leisure Travel Vans Debuts Desert Shadow Edition: We’re big fans of Leisure Travel Vans here at RV.com, and the latest version of these luxury Class B models may be the best yet. Last week, the company introduced the Desert Shadow Edition, which features a new interior decor that is now available on all Unity floor plans. This option uses “warm, earthy neutral” colors, along with white oak cabinets, dune-shaded upholstery and fabrics, and other distinct features to give the camper vans a bright, modern, and approachable appearance. Find out more here.
Photo Credit: Tune Outdoors
- Tune Outdoors Expands its Lineup with M1Lite Truck Camper: Tune Outdoors has announced the addition of the Tune M1L to its catalog. The new pop-up truck camper is lighter and has a smaller footprint compared to the flagship Tune M1 model, and comes in a lower price, too. Available in standard and extended sizes, the unit weighs just 322 lbs. and includes both a sleeping and living area, the latter of which offers 6′ 4″ of headroom. The camper has a starting price of $8,999, with deliveries starting in February 2026. Find out more here.
Photo Credit: Coachmen
- GM Cancels BrightDrop Electric Vans, Casting Doubt on Coachmen RVEX: There was big news from the automotive industry this week, as General Motors announced that it is cancelling its BrightDrop electric van project. According to reports, the vehicles weren’t selling well, preventing GM from breaking into the cargo van space. This impacts the RV industry, as Coachmen recently announced the RVEX e-RV, which is built on the BrightDrop chassis. Similarly, Grounded RV also builds electric camper vans on the same platform. The announcement casts doubts on the future of e-RVs from both companies. For more information, read our in-depth article here.
Photo Credit: EarthRoamer
- EarthRoamer Debuts New LTx and SX 2.0 Models: EarthRoamer—the Colorado-based manufacturer of luxury overlanding and adventure vehicles—has taken the wraps off a pair of new rigs. This week, the company introduced the all-new LTx and SX 2.0 models, both of which come with 24V electrical systems, bigger lithium battery banks, more solar capacity, larger inverters, and much more. Other highlights include wider entry doors, bigger refrigerators, L-shaped dinettes, and other quality-of-life improvements. Check out the EarthRoamer website for all of the details.
Photo Credit: EarthCruiser
- EarthCruiser is Back in Action: While we’re on the subject of top-notch expedition vehicles, EarthCruiser (not to be confused with EarthRoamer) has returned from the dead. Last year, the company announced that it was shutting down its production facility in Bend, OR. But rather than completely close its doors, the company took some time to reconsider its business model and approach to building vehicles. Now, it is up and running again with a different focus. The brand will now deliver composite expedition shells, like its MOD slide-in camper and Terranova models, to a network of professional upfitters. In other words, they aren’t making the rugged off-road vehicles themselves but are supplying some key components for others. Check out the full story at RV Pro.
Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
- US National Parks Losing $1 Million Per Day During Government Shutdown: If you want a stat that sums up the impact of the US government shutdown, look no further than the National Parks Service. It was widely reported this week that the national parks are losing upwards of $1 million per day due to lost revenue for entry fees. That is having—and will continue to have—an impact on the parks moving forward, as Outside magazine notes 80% of that revenue remains in a park’s budget, helping to cover the costs of employees, maintenance, expansion, and more. Even worse, visitors continue to pour into many of the parks, which remain open but largely unsupervised. That is creating clean-up and maintenance issues on its own, which the Park Service will have to deal with for weeks to come after the shutdown is over. Read more here.
Photo Credit: Sushaaa/Getty
- GO RVing and All Gear Digital Team Up: To help meet its stated goal of promoting RV travel and the RV lifestyle, Go RVing is joining forces with AllGear Digital to launch the “Detours Welcome” campaign. The two organizations are working together to produce a series of videos that show travelers taking spontaneous and unexpected detours to discover new adventures and attractions that are a little off the beaten path. All Gear Digital is the parent company for a number of online outlets, including GearJunkie, Switchback Travel, ExplorersWeb, and more. Those sites tap into the young adult target market, which has embraced RVing in the past few years. Examples of this cooperative effort can be found here and here.
That’s a wrap for this week’s RV news recap. Join us again next Friday for more updates and insights from this fast changing industry.
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