Category: Trends

RV News: Cortes Campers Launches Lightweight Towable, Genesis Reveals Luxury Overlanding Vehicle, and More
There is plenty of RV industry news to get to this week, including new towable from Cortes Campers, RV accessories and tech to get excited about, and much more. So, on that note, lets jump right in to see what’s been happening. Here are the stories to have on your radar:
Photo Credit: Cortes Campers
- Cortes Campers Debuts “World’s Lightest 18-Foot Camper”: If you’re looking for a lightweight towable to pull behind your midsize SUV, Cortes Campers may have covered it. The company has launched its new Cortes 18 Super Light, which it says is the lightest 18′ trailer on the market. The rig comes with a suite of great features, including a Furrion A/C unit, a 12V mini-fridge, Bluetooth speaker sound system, and either a double bed or a king-size mattress depending on the floor plan. The camper comes in several colors and utilizes a custom steel chassis with composite materials to maintain durability, while remaining lightweight. Check it out here.
- The Genesis X Gran Equator Concept Merges Luxury and Overlanding: The New York International Auto Show is taking place this week, with dozens of car manufacturers on hand to show off their latest models. One of those brands is luxury upstart Genesis, which revealed a splashy new concept vehicle meant to merge overlanding with posh handling and amenities. Dubbed the X Gran Equator, the SUV looks slick and features what designers call “athletic elegance,” although it seems to be lacking in actual overlanding features. The interior is spartan but functional, with upscale materials and design elements. Whether or not the concept actually becomes a production model remains to be seen, but it sure is pretty to look at.
Photo Credit: Goal Zero
- BioLite Gobbles Up Goal Zero: The portable power market has gotten crowded and competitive over the past few years, and this week we saw some consolidation. A few days back, BioLite—which is best known for its camping stoves, fire pits, and camp lighting solutions—purchased Goal Zero, the company that started the power station craze more than 15 years ago. The acquisition bolsters BioLite’s own efforts in this space, instantly giving them more visibility and a broader range of products. What it means for both brands’ collective portfolios remains to be seen.
- GearJunkie Reviews Dometic CFX 55IM Powered Cooler: Dometic is one of the biggest players in the powered cooler market, continually pushing the technology and designs of these devices forward. One of its newest models is the CFX 55IM, which not only promises to keep your drinks cold and your food fresh, but also to make ice cubes on the go. The GearJunkie team reviewed the electric cooler this week, giving it high marks for its performance and efficiency, although at $1,199 it is a pricey investment. Read the full review here.
Photo Credit: The Dyrt
- The Dyrt Adds New Feature to Instantly Find Available Campgrounds: Online campground discovery platform The Dyrt has added a new feature to help members find nearby campgrounds. This week, the company launched “Drive Time,” which gives PRO members the ability to search for campsite availability with a specified driving distance from their current location. Naturally, users can filter the results based on interests and book the site they want to stay at in seconds. The feature is live and available now.
- Pandemic RV Buyers Continue to Use Their Vehicles: It’s no secret that the Covid era was a boom time for RV manufacturers, with tens of thousands of people purchasing campers so they could enjoy being anywhere but home. But now that the dust has settled for those buyers, how are they enjoying those pricey pandemic purchases? According to a new study from Go RVing, 67% of them are still using their rigs to go camping, while 50% also say they’re using them for cooking and swimming. Better still, 68% of Covid buyers say they’re planning on purchasing a new RV, with 45% indicating they would do so in the next two years. For further insights, like age, income, and family demographics, read the full report here.
Photo Credit: Battle Born
- Battle Born Launches App for Android Users: iPhone owners have been able to use the Battle Born Mobile App for some time, but now it is finally available for Android users, too. This week, the company launched the software on the Google Play Store, bringing feature parity with the iOS version. The app allows RVers who use Battle Born batteries with Dragonfly Intelligence to monitor their systems remotely and receive alerts when issues occur. Download the app here.
- Gen-Y Hitch Intros New Torsion-Flex Model: In the market for a hitch that can smooth out your ride when towing? You’re in luck, as this week, Gen-Y Hitch introduced an all-new torsion-flex model called the Voyager. According to the brand, this latest addition to its lineup should provide better stability, too, thanks to reduced movement between the cargo carrier and the hitch receiver. Find out more here.
That’s a wrap for another week of RV news. Come back next Friday for the latest updates, insights, and trends.
The post RV News: Cortes Campers Launches Lightweight Towable, Genesis Reveals Luxury Overlanding Vehicle, and More appeared first on RV.com.
2025-04-18
RV News: Tariffs Come and Go, New Towbles and Truck Campers, and Electric RVs Hit Milestones
It has been another very busy week in the RV industry, and beyond. With so much to cover, we’re going to dive right into this week’s news. Here are a few items that may have flown under your radar.
- Tariffs are On Again, Off Again: Last week, we noted that President Trump had announced broad and sweeping tariffs on nearly every country on the planet, with tax levies on imports ranging from 10% to as high as 84% depending on the country. This week, the administration made an abrupt change of direction, announcing on Wednesday that most of those tariffs are now paused for 90 days, with China being the lone exception. That country will now face 125% tariffs as the trade war between it and the US continues to escalate. Why are we reporting on tariffs in our weekly news round-up? Because these fluctuating taxes are leading to increased prices, which will likely be seen in the cost of new RVs, but also parts used in repairs, add-on accessories, fuel, and more. We have a continuously updated article on this very topic, which you can find here.
Photo Credit: Escapod
- Escapod Launches New Teardrop Built for Mountain Bikers: Teardrop trailer manufacturer Escapod revealed a new variation of its popular TOPO2 model this week, with a very specific target audience in mind. The TOPO2 MTB is built specifically with mountain bikers, with special features for that crowd. Those features include a custom hitch that pivots the built-in Küat bike rack out of the way to access the galley kitchen The rig even comes with a bike repair kit conveniently integrated in that galley. Check out our full coverage of the new trailer here.
- GearJunkie Provides First Look at the AT Overland Aterra Truck Camper: Sometimes we get so caught up in Class A motorhomes, camper vans, and travel trailers that we forget how popular and versatile a good truck camper can be. That isn’t the case over at GearJunkie, where this week the team published a first look the new AT Overland Aterra. The slide-in model gets high marks for its lightweight and durable construction, not to mention its customizable interior. And with an MSRP of about $30,000, it has an attractive price, too. Read the full article here.
Photo Credit: THOR/Harbinger
- Harbinger Builds 100th Electric Truck Chassis: Harbinger Motors—a company that builds electric chassis for the RV and shipping industries—announced that it had hit a major milestone this week. The brand has now produced 100 EV chassis, some of which have been shipped to THOR Industries for testing and possible inclusion in an upcoming electric RV model. Up until now, Harbinger hadn’t even announced that it had begun production on the vehicle platform, but now the company believes it has positive momentum on its side as it continues to ramp up its production capacity. More details can be found here.
- All-Electric Pebble Flow Travel Trailer Now in Production: Speaking of milestones, another electric RV went into full production this week. Pebble, the company behind the Pebble Flow travel trailer, announced that it has also commenced production of its high-tech towable. The first models will begin shipping to customers later this spring, delivering an all-electric camping experience unlike any other. Read our full coverage here.
Photo Credit: Winnebago
- Robb Report Picks the 16 Best Camper Vans: This week, luxury lifestyle website Robb Report shared its picks for the best camper vans for road tripping. The list includes several of the usual suspects, including the Airstream Atlas and Winnebago Solis. But it had a few fun surprises, too, like the inclusion of the VW ID. Buzz upfit from Peace Vans and Stoyteller Overland’s Beast MODE. Check out the full list—which includes some models not readily available in the US—here.
- Camping World’s Coleman Travel Trailers are the Best Selling Towables for 2025: RV dealer and accessories retailer Camping World is touting the sales of its popular Coleman travel trailer line through the first few months of the year. The company says that these models are best-selling towables by unit volume through the end of February, with brisk sales in both new and used models. The lightweight and affordable campers mark a success for Camping World, which partners directly with manufacturing partners on the production of these RVs.
Photo Credit: nüCamp
- NüCamp Celebrates 20 Years of Adventure: Lightweight towables and truck camper manufacturer NüCamp is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. As part of that celebration, the brand will be sharing exclusive content on its website throughout the year, helping current owners and future NüCamp fans to learn more about the company’s heritage and values. The site currently tells us to “stay tuned for more,” with updates soon to follow. While we wait for further news, we want to wish the entire team at NüCamp congratulations on its continued success.
- KOA Report Shows RV Industry Getting Stronger and More Resilient: The Kampgrounds of America 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report is out, and it has some good news for the RV industry. The report shows that interest in RVing—both buying and renting—continues to grow, even as distinct generational preferences reveal themselves. During the pandemic, the number of RV households in the US rose to a record 15 million. Last year, that number settled back to 10 million, which is where it was headed pre-pandemic. For 2025, RV ownership is expected to see a modest increase, with 1 in 5 non-RVers saying they’re considering buying a rig of their own. Rentals are also expected to increase by a similar margin, with Millennials and Gen Xers most likely to rent a vehicle. Also of note, 22% of current RV owners expect to upgrade to a new model in the near future. To read more of the report, click here.
Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
- Outdoor Industry Unites to Prevent Sale of Public Lands: The Trump Administration, along with Republicans in the House and Senate, is looking to make tax cuts from the President’s first term permanent, while also adding more tax cuts moving forward. The problem is, those cuts will create a shortfall in federal funds. One of the solutions that they’ve come up with to cover that shortfall is to potentially sell some public lands to the private sector. Unsurprisingly, that hasn’t gone over well with the outdoor industry, which views access to public lands as vital to Americans. This week, The Conservation Alliance announced Brands for Public Lands, which is made up of more than 60 companies that have come together to oppose the sale. You can read more about those efforts here.
That’s all for now. Join us again next Friday for another review of the latest news from the RV and camping industry.
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2025-04-11
RV News: Sweeping New Tariffs, Outside Magazine’s Favorite Rigs, and Winnebago is Giving Away an RV
Another week has come and gone, which means we have a lot of news from the RV and camping industries to go over before heading into the weekend. Here are a few things that happened over the past few days that you might like to know about:
- Trump Administration Announces Sweeping New Tariffs on Most Countries: The biggest headline of the week—both in and out of the RV industry—is the Trump administration’s sweeping new tariffs. One Wednesday, the President announced a baseline of a 10% tax on all goods imported into the US, with much larger levies against some of the country’s biggest trading partners. This move is likely to have a long-term impact on the RV industry and the economy as a whole, with prices set to go up on cars, computers, clothing, fresh produce, and more. To read more about these new tariffs, click here. And check out our ongoing coverage of how these import duties might impact the RV space here.
Photo Credit: Airstream
- Outside Names Best Trailers, Truck Campers, and Van Conversions of 2025: The fine folks over at Outside magazine have made their selections of the best RVs of 2025. Well, the best travel trailers, truck campers, and van conversions, anyway. The list curiously leaves off Class A and C models. But if you’re interested in learning what the mag’s picks are for best van conversion, minimalist camper, off-road trailer, and luxury rig, you can read the results here. We won’t spoil the winners, but will say the Airstream Trade Wind did take the luxury category.
- French Manufacturer Debuts Hybrid Camper Van Models: A French RV manufacturer called Challenger Motorhomes has launched a line of hybrid camper vans that look to be game changers in terms of driving range. The X line of rigs includes the X150 and X250, both of which sleep up to four people and come with a wet bath, innovative onboard storage, and a well-equipped kitchenette. But most importantly, the rigs have hybrid gas/electric motors that give them a 559-mile range. That’s pretty impressive for any RV, let alone ones that look as comfortable as these do. No word if these Class B models will come stateside, but Autoevolution has a profile of them here.
Photo Credit: Winnebago
- Winnebago Teams Up with Minnesota Twins to Give Away an RV: Winnebago—in conjunction with the Minnesota Twins baseball team—has come up with a unique way to give away a boat or RV. Earlier this week, the company launched the “Hit it to Win it” sweepstakes, by parking an RV on the far side of the fence in right field at Target Field. If a Twins player manages to hit that vehicle with a home run ball, some lucky person will get to choose the RV or boat of their choice from the Winnebago catalog with a value of up to $200,000. You can sign up to win by attending a Twins home game visiting Gate 34 or online here.
Photo Credit: Amazon/Project Kuiper
- Amazon Set to Launch Starlink Competitor Next Week: It has been a long time coming, but Project Kuiper is finally ready to get off the ground. The Amazon-owned company will deploy 27 satellites next week, with the entire batch getting launched into orbit on April 9 aboard an Atlas V rocket. Those satellites are the first step towards building a true competitor to Starlink, bringing another option for internet access while camping. Eventually, Project Kuiper hopes to build a network of 3,200 satellites to blanket the globe, offering up to 100 Mbps downloads. That’s slower than Starlink’s theoretical top speed, but in practice, both services should operate similarly. Expect more information in the future, including pricing. Engadget has information on the initial launch here.
- The Dyrt Says Solo Camping Continues to Grow in Popularity: We’re up to the point in our weekly news round-up when we share an interesting stat of the week from The Dyrt. This week, the online campground discovery platform continued to share insights from its 2025 Camping Report, this time with an emphasis on solo camping. The annual rundown of the latest trends from the camping industry indicates that for the third year in a row, solo camping has grown in popularity. According to the survey, 30.6% of respondents said they camped alone for at least one night in 2024. That’s up from 29.8% the year before, and 18.8% in 2001 when The Dyrt first started tracking these numbers. What draws these individuals to solo camping? According to the report, 69% say they enjoy the solitude, while not having friends and family available (50.6%), and camping just being part of a longer solo trip (25.9%) were also cited. Also, almost half of those solo campers say they did bring their dogs with them. Find out more here.
Photo Credit: Coleman
- Coleman Launches New “Pro” Line of Coolers to Take on Yeti: The Coleman cooler was once a staple at every campsite, but in recent years, this trusty brand seems to have been supplanted by the likes of Yeti and other premium cooler manufacturers. Now, the company is striking back, launching the new Coleman Pro line of coolers that are lighter than the competition, while still performing at the same high level. In fact, these new models are said to be even more durable than Yeti. The lineup includes both hard- and soft-side options in a variety of sizes. Best of all, they have more consumer-friendly prices, too. Check out the entire Coleman Pro collection here.
- Young RVers are More Adventurous and Diverse: Go RVing continues to share insights from its 2025 RV Owners Demographic Profile, this time taking a look at Millennial and Gen Z RVers. This year’s report showed that those two groups tend to be the most diverse at the campsite, with 42% of respondents identifying as being from a minority group such as Hispanic-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and LGBTQ+ members. The report also noted that young RVers also tend to gravitate towards boondocking, seeking new travel experiences, and taking part in exciting activities. RV News has further insights here.
That’s it for this week. See you next Friday for another edition of our weekly RV news round-up.
The post RV News: Sweeping New Tariffs, Outside Magazine’s Favorite Rigs, and Winnebago is Giving Away an RV appeared first on RV.com.
2025-04-04
RV News: Coachmen’s Brookstone Adds a Lux Patio, Newmar Reveals Compact Class C Model, and More
Happy Friday and welcome back to another edition of our weekly round-up of all the biggest news from across the RV industry. Here are a few interesting and important stories from the past week:
Photo Credit: Coachmen
- Coachmen Launches New Brookstone Floor Plan with Unique Rear Patio: Outdoor patios aren’t a new thing on RVs, but in the past they were usually found only on toy haulers. But now, a number of manufacturers are finding unique and fun ways to integrate a deck or porch on other models, too. This week, Coachmen took the RV patio to new levels by introducing the Brookstone 318RLL floor plan. This model uses marine-grade furnishings—like a large L-shaped couch and a boat-inspired table—to create a comfy-looking outdoor space. Add in a mini-fridge and you truly have a place you’ll want to hang out in. Find out more here.
- Newmar Reveals 2026 Lineup with New Compact Class C Model: We’re not even to the end of March, but Newmar is already showing off its line of RVs for the 2026 model year. This week, the luxury brand held its annual dealer meeting in Colorado Springs, CO, where it showed off a host of new vehicles, including updated versions of the Super Star and Supreme Aire Super C models, along with the King Aire and an all-new model called the Summit Aire. But perhaps most exciting was the introduction of the Freedom Aire, the brand’s first Class C model. The coach is built on the Mercedes 4500 chassis and includes a spacious dinette and a king-size Murphy bed. The new motorhome will be available in six floor plans that promise plenty of flexibility and versatility. Stay tuned for further updates as more info is revealed in the coming weeks.
Image Courtesy of welcomia/Getty
- Go RVing Study Finds Young Families Tend to Purchase Another RV: The Go RVing 2025 RV Demographics Profile continues to reveal all kinds of interesting information. This week, the organization revealed that young families—defined here as the 18-34 and 35-44 age groups—with kids under 18 living at home enjoy the bonding experiences and flexibility/freedom that come with RV travel. Those groups are also highly likely to purchase another RV in the future, with 84% of survey respondents indicating such. These young RVers are also very brand loyal, with 90% saying they would stick with the manufacturer of their current vehicle in the future. For further insights, check out this article from RV News.
Photo Credit: Dometic
- GearJunkie Reviews Dometic TRT 140 Air Inflatable Rooftop Tent: As rooftop tents continue to gain in popularity, we see a lot of innovation taking place within that market space. One of the most intriguing is the Dometic TRT 140 Air, which is a lightweight, inflatable model that sets up in minutes. This week, the team at GearJunkie took a look at this unique offering, giving it high marks for its weight, easy installation, and host of features. Cons include a lack of space for bedding when not in use, the tent being rather noisy when in transit, and the risk of puncturing the inflatable frame. Read the full review here.
Photo Credit: Entegra Coach
- RV Pro Looks at the Latest Trends in RV Kitchens: The kitchens in our RVs are arguably the most important space in the entire rig. Sure, you want a comfortable bed and a fun place to hang out when relaxing, but a full-featured kitchen allows us to make our favorite meals and snacks anywhere we wander. Over the past few years, we’ve seen some significant leaps in kitchen technology, which has made life on the road even better. But what are the current trends in RV kitchens? According to a report this week, those include multifunctional appliances, energy efficiency, and residential-style designs and performance. Our friends at RV Pro have taken a deeper look into where things are headed. Read it here.
- Rivian Spins Off New Micromobility Brand for E-Bikes and Scooters: Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian announced a new spin-off company this week dubbed Also, Inc. The subsidiary brand will leverage the parent company’s expertise in battery and electric motor tech to build a line of e-bikes and scooters. The goal is to build a range of consumer options for sustainable travel, with options at a variety of price points. No word yet on when these new products will be available, but they’ll face serious challenges in the increasingly crowded e-bike market. Read more here.
That’s a wrap for this week. Join us again next Friday for another update on everything happening in the RV space.
The post RV News: Coachmen’s Brookstone Adds a Lux Patio, Newmar Reveals Compact Class C Model, and More appeared first on RV.com.
2025-03-28
RV News: Arkto Camper Reveals New Off-Road Towable, the Top Camping and Glamping Sites of 2025, and More
The calendar says it’s Friday, which means it’s time for another quick round-up of everything happening in the RV and camping industry this week. Before heading off into the weekend, here are a few stories you may want to know about:
Photo Credit: Arkto
- Arkto Campers Unveils Smaller, Lighter Off-Road Camper: If you’re in the market for an off-road, off-grid overlanding towable, there is a new option to consider. This week, Arkto Campers revealed an all-new model, dubbed the C10. Lighter and more nimble than the brand’s G12 trailer, this rig is built to take on tough terrain. The pop-up model has an interior height of 6’11”, sleeps up to three adults, and weighs just 2,750 lbs. It also comes with a Truma furnace, 15-amp shore power, a queen-size bed, LED lighting, plenty of onboard storage, and is solar-ready. Pricing starts at $64,000 CAD, which translates to about $44,500 by today’s exchange rate. To find out more, check out this story from our friends at GearJunkie.
- Thor Moves Heartland Brand Under Jayco Management: There is no question that Thor Industries is one of the biggest players in the RV space, with multiple sub-brands falling under its corporate umbrella. This week, the company made a strategic move by placing its Heartland subsidiary under direct control of Jayco. The reason for this strategic realignment? Like much of the industry, Heartland has faced challenges over the past few years, and the shift will provide more optimized and efficient manufacturing, operations, and customer service. No word on whether or not DRV Luxury Suites and Cruiser RV—which previously operated under Heartland—will also make the move.
Photo Credit: Noovo
- Noovo Camper Vans to Hold Open House April 5-6: Las Vegas-based Noovo, which manufactures a line of camper vans, will hold its first-ever open house. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6, at the company’s new headquarters located at 4495 Copper Sage St. The gathering will showcase Noovo’s van builds and will include guest speakers, factory tours, live music, food and drinks, and much more. For more information—and to reserve your free ticket—click here.
- Yosemite to Open Campsite Reservations on March 24: After delaying the start of campsite reservations for summer 2025, Yosemite National Park is almost ready to start letting you book your stay. The park will begin taking reservations on Monday, March 25, for anyone planning a visit for June 15-July 14. Those wanting a campsite from July 15-August 14 can make a booking starting on Monday, March 31. Both reservation windows will allow campers to claim a spot at the Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Wawona, and Hodgdon Meadows campgrounds. As usual, you’ll want to book as early as possible. Good luck!
Photo Credit: Caltrans District 10
- Rockslide Closes Road to Yosemite: While we’re on the topic of the country’s second national park, a rockslide on California Highway 140 between Midpines and El Portal has closed off access to Yosemite for the foreseeable future. That’s the route that runs to the main entrance, meaning it is very difficult to get into the park at all right now. Access is still available along Highways 41 and 120, although tire chains are required on those routes at the moment. As of press time, there is no estimate as to how long the road will be closed.
- The Dyrt Announces 2025 Glampy Award Winners: Online campsite discovery platform The Dyrt has announced the winners of the 2025 Glampy Awards, given out annually to the best places to go camping. This year’s top ten list includes a wide variety of destinations in Utah, Idaho, Georgia, and West Virginia. We won’t give away the top spot, but a few of the winners include Cozy Heron Glamping in North Carolina and Twin Falls Glamping Tents in Texas. Check out the full list here.
Photo Credit: welcomia/Getty
- 2025 Campspot Awards Revealed, Too!: It must be award season in the camping space, as this week Campspot also revealed its 2025 award winners, handing out accolades for the top places to go camping in the US and Canada, while also highlighting a host of subcategories. Some of those included the Top Campgrounds for RVs, the Top Campgrounds for Glamping, Top Unique Campgrounds, and Campspot’s picks for the Top Hidden Gems. Discover the full list of winners here.
- Roadsurfer Adds Colorado Camper Van and RV Rental Outlet: RV rental company Roadsurfer has launched its operations in Denver, Colorado. The company announced that it is now offering camper van and Class C rentals from that location, with pricing starting as low as $99/night. With the addition of this new outlet, the German-owned company now offers rentals in seven locations in the US—including Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Seattle—as well as Calgary and Vancouver, Canada.
Photo Credit: Ember RV
- Overland Expo SoCal Makes Very Successful Debut: If you’re active in the overlanding space, you know that Overland Expo is the place to be if you want to pick up new tips, scout out the latest gear, and meet others who share your passion. This combination of activities has let OXE become so popular that it has grown to include five different events across the country, including the latest edition—Overland Expo SoCal. The inaugural SoCal meet-up took place on March 15-16 and by all accounts was a major hit. In fact, organizers say it was the most successful debut of any of the shows ever, drawing 19,000 attendees for 303 exhibitors and 84 seminars. RV Business has the lowdown here.
- RVs Move America Week Registration Now Open: The RV Industry Association’s annual RVs Move America Week is scheduled for June 1-5 this year, with the event taking place in Washington DC. The conference is mainly aimed at movers and shakers from within the industry, who gather to talk strategy, plan collaborations, and lobby senators and representatives. Registration opened this week for those who will be attending. For a full schedule of events, click here.
That’s a wrap for this week. See you next Friday with more RV industry news briefs.
The post RV News: Arkto Camper Reveals New Off-Road Towable, the Top Camping and Glamping Sites of 2025, and More appeared first on RV.com.
2025-03-21
RV News: Saber and RV Miles Collab on New Fifth-Wheel, the Sierra Club Sues Elon Musk, and More
Friday has arrived at long last, which means it’s time for our weekly round-up of the latest news and RV industry trends. As usual, it has been another busy week, so here are the stories you may have missed:
Photo Credit: Sabre
- Sabre Introduces Floor Plan Designed in Collaboration with Popular YouTube Channel: We first mentioned this news item way back in January, when Sabre first announced its collaboration with the popular RV Miles website/podcast/YouTube channel. But now, the all-new 37RVMiles floor plan has made its official debut at long last, bringing some interesting features along with it. The 43′ fifth-wheel trailer comes with a spacious primary bedroom with a king bed, an L-shaped sectional sofa, a rear bonus room with additional beds, and a side patio deck. Check it out here.
- New Trekker Adventure Truck Coming Soon From 27 North: While we’re on the topic of adventure trucks, 27 North made news this week by announcing a new model coming to its lineup in April. Dubbed the Trekker, the new vehicle is built for consumers looking for a light-duty off-road expedition rig. While not a lot is known just yet, company founder and CEO Pavel Bosovik tells RV News the truck will be 25 feet in length and 20%-50% lighter than the competition. As is typical with the company’s other vehicles—including a line of Class B vans—the Trekker will blend off-road capabilities with a luxurious interior.
Photo Credit: Rossmönster
- Rossmönster Debuts ‘Most Capable’ Sprinter Van on the Market: If you’re looking for a rugged and adventurous camper van, Rossmönster’s new Class B model may be a fit. The brand is best known for its bespoke adventure trucks, but this week it announced the Skye camper van, its first repeat-production model ever. That means customers can expect better availability and faster delivery times, on a vehicle that includes a fold-away queen-size bed, a 12-foot counter, and an off-grid power system. Read our coverage of the announcement here.
- More Than 4,000 California Campsites Could Be Closed This Summer: We all know that the budget cuts and staff layoffs currently underway in Washington DC are going to have a profound impact on how the country operates. This week, the consequences of those actions hit home in a very concrete way when we found out that more than 4,000 campgrounds on national forest lands could be closed for some or all of the summer. The new leak came via a US Forest Service memo that was shared internally back in February, hinting at the challenges ahead. Of course, California isn’t likely to be the only state impacted, as the cuts will hit every state on some level.
Photo Credit: National Park Service
- Sierra Club Joins Coalition Suing DOGE Over National Park Layoffs: A coalition of unlikely partners—including The Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates and Japanese American Citizens League—have joined forces to take on Elon Musk ant the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The newly-formed government agency has sent shock waves throughout the country with its efforts to reduce government spending by laying off tens of thousands of workers, including those at the National Park Service, US Forest Department, and the Bureau of Land Management. Now, DOGE is facing push back from the above organizations, who are suing to prevent those staff reductions, which could have long-term detrimental effects on public lands. Find out more here.
- Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Go Into Effect: In other news out of Washington, the tariffs on all steel and aluminum imported into the US promised by President Trump a few weeks back have officially gone into effect. Moving forward, those imports will be subject to a 25% tax increase, with countries like Canada, Mexico, and Brazil most impacted by the new levies. This could have a lasting impact on the RV industry, of course, which is why we’re tracking all of the important tariff news here.
Photo Credit: welcomia/Getty
- Booking Campsites Remains a Big Challenge: This week we learned that reserving your favorite campsite is still a challenge, thanks to so many campgrounds being full. According to the 2025 Camping Report from The Dyrt, 56.1% of people surveyed say that they ran into difficulty booking a site in 2024. That’s up from 45.5% in 2023, and close to the all-time high of 58.4% from 2022. In other words, if you want to go camping this year and know your travel dates, book those campsites as early as possible.
- Go RVing Shares Insights on RVers Working on the Road: Remote work options have become more common in recent years, and some RVers are taking advantage of those opportunities to work while on the road. According to Go RVing’s 2025 Owner Demographic, 22% of those surveyed said their current job allows them to work from anywhere, with 54% indicating they’d worked from their RV. Curiously, more motorhome owners take advantage of this situation, with 65% of them working from their rig, compared to 50% of towable owners.
Photo Credit: Cruise America
- RV Rental Site Shares Stats Current Market Trends: We’ll keep the RV/camping stats rolling with yet another report on industry trends. Go RV Rentals, an online resource for discovering and renting a recreational vehicle, shared its 2025 RV Rental Price Index Report, which showed some interesting trends, including the average nightly rental cost of various RV models. Unsurprisingly, Class A motorhomes had the highest average rate at $313, with Class B camper vans next at $228, followed by Class C models at $214. The report also showed that the top three most expensive rental markets were Houston, Austin, and San Francisco, while Tampa, San Diego, and Phoenix were the most affordable. Read the full report here.
- 28 Million Americans Will Go RVing This Spring: Not to be outdone by all the other industry studies being released, the RV Industry Association has one of its own to share. The RVIA Spring Travel Intentions Survey indicates that 28 million Americans will hit the road in an RV over the next few months, with most staying within 7 to 15 hours from home. Beaches and coastal areas are the top spring destinations, with the Florida Keys coming in at the number one spot. The report is filled with all kinds of other stats—like 72 million Americans going RVing in the next 12 months—and most respondents say they’re traveling for better weather or to escape their busy lives. Check it out here.
That’s a wrap for this week. Join us again next Friday for another wrap-up of everything going on in the very busy RV industry.
The post RV News: Saber and RV Miles Collab on New Fifth-Wheel, the Sierra Club Sues Elon Musk, and More appeared first on RV.com.
2025-03-14
RV News: New Models from East to West RV, Camping on Farms Grows in Popularity, and Much More
It’s Friday, which means it’s also time to review all the big news and stories from the RV and camping industry this week. Here are the stories you should be know about heading into the weekend:
- East to West Debuts New Della Terra Travel Trailer Model: Earlier this week, Forest River subsidiary East to West RV showed off a new travel trailer that first made an appearance last fall at the annual Elkhart Extravaganza RV event. The 32′ Della Terra 263RK tips the scales at 7,243 lbs. and ships with solar prep, a 30-amp charge controller, and a 20′ awning. Inside, you’ll find a massive 60″ window in the kitchen, which is also equipped with a dinette or optional free-standing table. Other standout features include a king-size bed, washer/dryer prep, an entertainment center with a smart TV and a fireplace, and 6′ 9″ ceilings. Visit the East to West website for more information.
Photo Credit: East to West RV
- East to West has New Ahara Fifth-Wheel Floor Plans, Too: The new Della Terra wasn’t the only thing East to West showed off tis week. The brand also revealed two additions to its Ahara line of fifth-wheel trailers. The new models include an updated version of the existing 390DS and the 395FB, which makes its debut in 2025. The 390DS is a swanky, spacious model with two bedrooms and 1.5 baths, while the 395FB includes a breakfast bar, a walk-in closet, and built-in office space for working on the go.
Photo Credit: Airstream
- Airstream Launches Electric Basecamp 20Xe: Iconic RV brand Airstream is getting into the electric travel trailer space. Last weekend, the brand revealed the new Basecamp 20Xe, an upgraded version of the existing Basecamp 20 model that includes 600W of solar panels, a 10.3kWh house battery, and a 3000W inverter. The rig also comes with off-road tires, making it easier to reach that remote campsite. To learn more, check out our full coverage of the towable. here.
- Rossmönster Adventure Trucks Coming to Happy Daze RV: Legendary overland vehicle manufacturer Rossmönster has struck a deal with Happy Daze RV to bring its amazing off-roaders to a broader audience. This week, the two brands announced that the dealership would be the official distributor of Rossmönster adventure trucks and vans. This should make it easier for anyone who has been interested in these RVs to actually see one in person and get a sense of what it has to offer before buying.
Photo Credit: Harvest Hosts
- Camping on Farms Continues to Grow in Popularity: According to online campsite discovery platform The Dyrt, an increasing number of people want to camp on a farm. According to the company’s 2025 Camping Report, roughly one in seven people surveyed indicated they stayed on a farm in 2024. That’s 14.1% if you’re keeping track at home. Even more interesting, that number has gone up each year since 2019, starting at just 4.2% at the time. By the way, the brand even surveyed farmers on the topic, with 51.4% saying they prefer RVers over other types of campers.
- Progressive and Harvest Host Release 2025 RV Travel Trends Report: The Dyrt isn’t the only outlet to have insights into how RVers are traveling these days. This week, Progressive Insurance and Harvest Hosts revealed their 2025 RV Travel Trends Report, with some interesting insights to offer as well. For instance, did you know that 45% of RVers book their travel plans two months or less in advance. Gen Zers are especially spontaneous, with 38% saying the book just two to three weeks out. Other interesting notes include 52% of respondents say they don’t travel without their pets, while 59% say their biggest worry is overcrowded campgrounds. Read more here.
Photo Credit: Larry Crain/Getty
- More Tariffs Go into Effect: This week, the Trump administration enacted more tariffs against Canada, China, and Mexico, although our southern neighbors did end up getting a one-month reprieve from the import taxes. Curious as to how all of this may impact the RV industry? We’ve been keeping a close eye on the topsy-turvy turn of events and have a continually updated article on RV.com covering the constantly evolving situation. To stay up to date, check out that story here.
That’s all for this week. Join us again next Friday for another rundown of the latest RV industry news.
The post RV News: New Models from East to West RV, Camping on Farms Grows in Popularity, and Much More appeared first on RV.com.
2025-03-07
How Tariffs Could Impact the RV Industry
President Trump’s decision to implement tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China has dominated the news cycle in recent days, bringing a lot of fear, uncertainty, and doubt along with it. Some of that concern comes from a fundamental lack of understanding of what tariffs are and the impact they can have on the economy, especially should a broader trade war break out between the US and its allies and adversaries alike. So what do these tariffs mean for the country as a whole and the RV industry more specifically? Read on to find out.
Photo Credit: welcomia/Getty
What is a Tariff?
In the simplest of terms, a tariff is a tax placed on goods being imported into a country. Often, they are implemented as a means to raise funds for the government of the nation levying the tax or as a way to protect domestic manufacturers and merchants from foreign competitors. And contrary to popular belief, the exporting country does not end up paying the increased price. Typically, a tariff results in the cost of goods going up, with the increase usually getting passed along to consumers.
In other words, if a 25% tax is levied on a product that costs $10, the price of that product increases by $2.50. More often than not, that means those goods will now sell for $12.50, although some manufacturers may find creative ways to keep costs down to try to minimize the impact on customers. The government collecting the tariff may also elect to exempt some goods from the taxes, allowing them to continue being sold at their original price.
In case you dozed off during your history classes back in junior high and high school, tariffs are not new. They’ve been around for centuries and have always been a way to generate revenue and/or punish other nations for trade inequalities between countries. Imposing tariffs almost always results in reciprocal taxes being levied by the other country, often leading to an increasingly escalating trade war that pushes prices up, weakens the economy, and results in unemployment, inflation, and scarcity of goods.
Low-level tariffs are a fact of life, with almost every country in the world imposing minor fees on imported goods. But in an age when global economies are more interdependent than ever before, high import taxes have largely fallen out of favor. That’s because implementing them usually results in as much harm at home as it does abroad. To the point that most modern politicians don’t usually consider using them as an actual tactic to achieve their economic policy goals.
Photo Credit: Camping World/Keystone
Why is President Trump Implementing Tariffs?
If high tariffs are generally bad for the economy, why is President Trump implementing them? That’s a good question, because most economists agree that they are a bad idea. But the president sees tariffs as a way to pressure Canada, Mexico, and China into complying with his policy goals. For instance, Trump is using these import taxes as economic leverage to get Canada and Mexico to beef up security along their shared borders with the US. The hope is to cut down on illegal migrants crossing into the country, while also minimizing the inflow of illicit drugs and the outflow of illegal guns.
President Trump also hopes to use tariffs as a way to force some companies to bring manufacturing back to the US, including automakers, computer chip manufacturers, industrial goods, and more. That process can take years to accomplish, if it is even possible at all. With major manufacturing having moved largely abroad across a number of major industries, rebuilding factories and retraining labor is a challenging and expensive prospect. Even if the tariffs do convince some companies to resume manufacturing domestically, it’ll likely take years before that becomes a reality.
Photo Credit: Lucy Hewett
How Will Tariffs Impact the RV Industry?
America’s RV industry remains a vibrant and important part of the economy, with most of the manufacturing taking place right here in the US. That should help protect it against these tariffs to a degree, but not completely. Remember above when we mentioned an increasingly interdependent international economy? That extends to RV manufacturers, too. And while most of them do build their rigs in the country, they also import parts that are made in other parts of the world—most notably Canada, Mexico, and China. If those parts are hit with tariffs, it could cause prices to go up, resulting in higher sticker prices for RVs, too. Remember, these increased costs almost always get passed on to consumers.
Keep in mind, there are some RV manufacturers—like Northern Lite, Pleasure Way, and Leisure Travel Vans—who are based in Canada. Pricing for those models being shipped to the US could go up dramatically based on the imposed tariffs. The same could happen for US manufacturers shipping their vehicles to Canada and Mexico, should those nations implement retaliatory tariffs of their own. Increased import taxes could result in a 10%-25% increase in prices depending on how the situation plays out in the coming weeks.
As noted above, high tariffs can have a dramatic impact on the economy resulting in higher prices, stagnating growth, layoffs, and other issues. Those challenges could definitely leak into the RV industry, which often faces headwinds when the overall economy slows down. That could lead to a loss of jobs, temporary plant closures, reduced manufacturing, reduced inventories, and other difficulties. Considering the industry is just now getting back on its feet post-COVID, most manufacturers and dealerships would prefer to not have more barriers to their success put into place.
RVing In The Mountains In Class C Motorhome Landscape At Sunset in Jasper, AB, Canada
Tariffs Delayed
After announcing new tariffs for Mexico, Canada, and China going into effect on February 1, 2025, it does appear that some of those new regulations have been temporarily averted. President Trump had phone conversations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that resulted in those leaders coming to an understanding on shared goals. This led to the tariffs on both countries—as well as their reciprocating tariffs—being postponed for 30 days. This has helped reduce tensions between the nations and has had a stabilizing effect on world markets that were in disarray over fears of a prolonged global trade war.
The downside is, the threat of tariffs still looms. President Trump continues to use them as a weapon against neighboring countries and allies—he says he’ll impose them on the European Union, too—as a way to force them to comply with his policies. But what happens if they can no longer appease those demands? There is a real possibility that the tariffs will still go into place, disrupting trade and sending ripples across the world’s economy. This is especially true in regards to returning manufacturing to the US and closing trade gaps between the countries. Those are issues that won’t easily be solved in the near term, if at all.
It should also be noted that the new 10% tariffs against China continue to be in effect and have resulted in a 10%-15% increase in taxes on US crude oil, liquid natural gas, coal, cars, and other goods. Those are likely to have an impact on the US economy in the weeks ahead, unless they can be renegotiated in a timely fashion, as well. And with the potential for more tariffs against other countries looming on the horizon, there will still be some challenging days on the horizon.
Photo Credit: Cavan Images/Getty
Cautiously Optimistic
For now, it is safe to say the RV industry is taking a cautiously optimistic stance on the impact of tariffs. The 30-day delay provides hope that trade disputes can be managed and overcome, keeping the flow of goods between the US, Canada, and Mexico moving. It is in everyone’s best interest that the three nations cooperate with one another, and hopefully that will continue to be the case in March when the tariff discussion will likely resume.
This is a hot-button issue at the moment, with the situation changing quickly. We’ll continue to update this story with further developments as things are warranted. Stay tuned.
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2025-02-05