🇫🇮 Finland — vanlife news

Spain tightened inspections for camper vans — meanwhile in Torrox, 50 motorhomes occupied a riverbed. Italians 3D-printed a motorhome from plastic in four days, Hyundai unveiled an 800-volt electric camper, and 34 million Americans are hitting the road. Demolitions in Turkey, bans in Scotland, and a woman who drove along the Baltic in an electric Smart — all in this issue.

The small workshop Vanaconda Customs has unveiled a caravan based on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. Autonomous systems include solar panels up to 600W, a power station, and water tanks. The interior converts from a seating area to a full-size bed and features a separate shower.

A towed caravan overturned on the Ysitie highway in Tampere, blocking traffic. The incident occurred on March 16 around 17:30 near the Karkunvuori tunnel, causing hour-and-a-half-long traffic jams. Two people were in the towing SUV, with no injuries reported.

Warendorf introduced paid motorhome parking — and lost its tourists. Japan quietly reached 607 RV parks while Nagoya showed a camper on a rocket launcher chassis. The Turkish coastal ban, a Polish trailer with a side shower, and Korean rentals straight from the train — in this issue.

New motorhome registrations in Finland increased by over 50% in February 2026 compared to February 2025. Meanwhile, caravan registrations fell by approximately 30%, which the industry association attributes to consumer caution. Total registrations for the entire sector (motorhomes and caravans) in the first two months of the year grew by nearly 10%.

Two years on the road with a cat named Zhuzu — and not a single day of wanting to go back. We break down life in a camper van: where to find water, how heating works, what to do about electricity, and where to look for overnight spots. 7 countries, hundreds of places, and an honest account — from the mountain roads of Turkey to the coastline of Montenegro.

72-year-old Lauri Snellman restored a 60-year-old caravan and drove it 3200 kilometers from Kemijärvi to Italy to watch the Olympic cross-country skiing events. The journey took several weeks, and the towing vehicle was purchased at an auction.

Comprehensive review of all RV and camper toilet types: cassette, portable, gravity, vacuum, macerating, dry flush, sealing, incinerating, composting and separating. Comparison of models, consumables, installation and annual costs.

Complete guide to the best apps for finding motorhome parking spots and campsites in 2026. Free and paid options for Russia, Europe, and worldwide.

The OpenVan.camp editorial team analyzed 3,581 news stories from 56 countries in early 2026. Declining sales in Germany and the USA, Hyundai electric campers, budget Wuling motorhomes, KAMAZes with saunas in Russia, parking bans in Turkey — a comprehensive overview of motorhome industry trends by world region.

A motorhome caught fire in Pyhtää on Saturday evening around five o'clock. The person inside evacuated the vehicle independently, with no casualties reported. The fire was extinguished by six o'clock, and the vehicle was completely destroyed.

Esa Pykälä from Lahti has developed a motorhome concept with built-in accessibility for people with limited mobility. The concept originated from a personal need to travel with his wheelchair-using wife and is now being offered to others. The project posits that accessibility should be a core feature of the vehicle, not an afterthought.

A couple sold their detached house and now lives full-time in a motorhome at a campsite in Helsinki. They find this lifestyle easier and cheaper, despite initially planning it as a temporary solution.

A 50-year-old man is fulfilling a long-term dream by living all winter in a caravan at the Papinniemi campsite. He left working life several years ago and made the decision last November. A tarpaulin has been installed on the roof to facilitate snow removal in preparation for winter.

A family from Turku leased a motorhome worth approximately €100,000 through a private leasing agreement for €700 per month. Over the year, they spent over 50 nights in it during trips across Europe, but decided not to renew the contract as the vehicle was idle most of the time.

A Finnish couple paid 100 euros for a pre-booking of the Karoo caravan, which has not yet been delivered to any customer in the country. The compact trailer, measuring 4.25 meters in length, starts at 39,000 euros, has a queue of 700 people, and the first deliveries are scheduled to begin in late summer.

Statistics show that approximately 75% of European motorhomes use the Fiat Ducato chassis. In the German market, with one million registered recreational vehicles, the Ducato holds a 42.7% share. The model's popularity stems from its original design for motorhome manufacturers' needs, including a low rear section and a wide range of base versions.

Entrepreneur Aleksi Etholén is demanding termination of a motorhome leasing contract with Best-Caravan due to breached terms. Best-Caravan is undergoing corporate restructuring, does not respond to complaints, and its online booking service is down. The entrepreneur estimates damages at 20-30 thousand euros.

The compact motorhomes Weinsberg X-Cursion 500 LT and 500 MQ were presented at the Caravan 2026 exhibition in Helsinki. The 5.88-meter-long models are built on a Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 chassis with a 150 hp diesel engine and have a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tons. The motorhomes offer basic amenities, including a kitchen, toilet, and sleeping berths, in a compact format.

The heating device in the couple's motorhome broke down during frosts of up to -40°C in Utsjoki, Finland. Local entrepreneurs helped move the vehicle to a warm hangar before repairs in Rovaniemi. The couple has lived in the motorhome for several years despite the challenges.

A caravan caught fire on Friday evening in Orimattila, Finland, threatening to cause more extensive damage due to the presence of gas cylinders. The Päijät-Häme rescue service received the call around 20:00 on Heinämaantie, close to the city center.

In 2025, Finland recorded 1,814 first-time registrations of motorhomes and caravans, an 11% decrease from 2024. This included 1,021 motorhomes and 550 caravans. The most popular motorhome brands were Sunlight, Adria, and Carado, while the top caravan brands were Adria, Hobby, and Kabe.

A caravan caught fire in the center of Orimattila on Friday evening. According to the fire department, the flames risked spreading to nearby residential buildings and vehicles, but the spread was contained. The incident resulted in no casualties.

Finnish motorhome retailer Best-Caravan Oy was filed for bankruptcy on January 2. The company simultaneously applied for corporate restructuring to stabilize its finances. The company's turnover has exceeded 70 million euros for the past two years, but it reported a loss of 1.8 million euros in 2023.

As of January 1, 2026, the power tax for diesel motorhomes in Finland increased from 0.9 cents to 5.5 cents per day for every 100 kg of curb weight. For a typical 3.5-ton motorhome, this results in an additional annual payment of about 590 euros, with the maximum annual tax potentially reaching 1505 euros.

A foreign family in a motorhome was awakened on Christmas night by the sound of windows breaking at a parking area in Vaattunkikönkää. Police report three windows were damaged, with a pellet from an air rifle found in one; the incident is being investigated as criminal damage.

A German family sleeping in a motorhome in Rovaniemi was awakened by shots from an air rifle on Christmas night. Three windows were shattered, with five damages found, including a bullet in a window and a hole in the roof. Police are investigating the incident as endangerment and damage to property, with no suspects apprehended.

Police are investigating a shooting incident involving a motorhome in Rovaniemi. Preliminary information indicates the shots were fired on the night of April 10, with no injuries reported.

The Ounaskoski Camping in Rovaniemi is operating for the first time in winter, offering caravan sites and cabin rentals. The owners report high demand for winter spots from foreign tourists, who choose this option as a cheaper alternative to hotels.

A couple moved into a motorhome after receiving notice that their house would be demolished. They live in approximately seven square meters and have spent an estimated 8,000 euros on repairs, including replacing the heating system. The main challenge is finding a legal overnight parking spot with electricity access without paying full campsite fees.