Campervan, RV & Vanlife News

Dog owners are increasingly taking their pets on camping holidays, but campsite rules and facilities vary widely. Leash requirements, swimming areas and dog fees differ from site to site. Heat at the pitch and the site's equipment also affect the animal's wellbeing. Checking campsite rules before departure helps avoid conflicts.

The operating committee of Herzebrock-Clarholz approved a parking fee for motorhomes at the Herzebrock lido at its meeting on Tuesday. The site, currently free for tourists, will cost 5 euros per day. The municipal council is due to take the final decision at its meeting on 16 December.

Turkish manufacturer ANKARAVAN Karavan A.Ş. builds the Eco 350 caravan, which measures 3.50 m in body length (5.00 m with drawbar) and sleeps four. Berlin-based dealer ANKER Caravan sells it in Germany for €16,000 including VAT in the Voll Paket trim. The MIRO is 880 kg and the MTPLM is 1,000 kg, leaving a calculated payload of 120 kg. Options include a cassette toilet at €579 net, a diesel heater at €299 net and solar packages from €785 to €1,346 net.

IMTEST tested five camper vans between 5.40 and 6 metres long over several days at the Land campsite in Stove, northern Germany. The assessment covered base equipment and connectivity, driving behaviour and safety, and the living and sleeping areas. The models were the Forster Livin' Up V 599 VBL, Hymer Free 600, Sunlight Cliff 540 RT Adventure Edition, Volkswagen Grand California 600 and Weinsberg CaraTour 600 ME. Manufacturers have to fit a shower, toilet, kitchen and sleeping space for up to four people into a smaller footprint. Prices for new camper vans start at around 45,000 euros, and well-equipped models such as the VW California 6.1 can reach 100,000 euros.

Monika and Wolfgang Hotfilter from Osnabrück own an Orion motorhome that is around 50 years old and have driven it about 400,000 kilometres over four decades. The vehicle originally had a Hanomag chassis, was later converted to Mercedes, while the body from a Detmold plant remained unchanged. In 1993 the owner almost doubled the original 54 hp and added wooden interior fittings. The motorhome's total mileage stands at 500,000 kilometres. In winter 2019 the couple drove it to the North Cape in temperatures down to minus 35 degrees.

A motorhome owner who parked overnight at a beach car park in the Algarve said he was fully self-sufficient and did not need an official stopover. He ignored a sign banning motorhomes and caravans from the access road. The next day the vehicle was found with a GNR wheel clamp and a fine of €300. The clamp could only be removed after paying the fine at the municipality and notifying the police on the next working day.

The article offers preparation advice for overlanding in a camper based on six years of travel experience. The authors lived in a camper and travelled mainly eastwards through the Baltics and the Balkans to Asia, reaching the Kazakhstan-China border, the Oman-Yemen border and an altitude of 4,655 m on the Pamir Highway. The hottest period was in Iraq at over 45 °C. It notes that such trips require different preparation from classic camping.

Benchmark Vehicles of Portland, Oregon, has built the 143, a camper based on a four-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 XD. The 2026 model-year vehicle has a 4.32-metre wheelbase and is fitted with Owl Vans Talon wheels and BFGoodrich KO3 all-terrain tyres, an Agile Offroad suspension upgrade with Fox dampers and Bilstein struts, and a 151-litre S&B fuel tank. The rear holds a king-size bed above a garage with a heavy-duty pull-out tray. Electrical equipment includes a 3,000 W inverter and a battery bank of almost 1,000 Ah, while an Espar diesel heater warms air, water and the floor. Fresh water is stored in a 132-litre tank with heating mats, and two waste tanks are also heated.

Mario John (39) and Emanuel Rusu (52) from Weinstadt advise owners of caravans and motorhomes on DIY conversions. They warn that unchecked information from YouTube can be dangerous. Before a trip, they recommend checking the vehicle's technical condition. The consultations take place at the motorhome stopover near the Cabrio site.

Hannes Camper is expanding its rental fleet with semi-integrated motorhomes from Sunlight. The Hannes Basic XL, built on a Citroën Jumper chassis with a 140 hp 2.3-litre diesel and an eight-speed automatic, offers four berths and more living space than a camper van. From 2027 the model will be available at selected rental stations, though not all 21. Low-season hire from November to March costs €100 per day, mid-season €130 and the remaining months €170, plus a one-off €200 service fee.

ADAC Hessen-Thüringen has published guidance for motorhome users planning winter trips in Hesse. It recommends carrying 11 kg of gas for two to three days as a guideline, and winter tyres with a tread depth of at least 4 mm. Drivers should also carry snow chains, antifreeze windscreen washer fluid, an ice scraper and a shovel. Boards under the levelling jacks are advised when parking on snow. Willingen has the state's largest ski area, the Wasserkuppe in the Rhön offers snowkiting and paragliding, and the Odenwald has cross-country ski trails.

In Hohenwarthe, Saxony-Anhalt, a working group is to resolve the dispute over motorhome parking at the Trogbrücke bridge. The local committee discussed the issue on Thursday evening. The Hohenwarthe parish council has filed a motion to ban overnight stays in motorhomes at the site. The conflict, which has lasted for months, centres on rubbish and human waste.

German publication Promobil has listed ten motorhome stopovers in Germany where an overnight stay costs no more than ten euros. The sites are located in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Capacity ranges from eight to 70 pitches, and overnight fees range from five to ten euros. At some stopovers electricity, fresh water and grey water disposal are included in the price, while at others these services are charged separately.

French converter Antilope Van has introduced the Flex 5 Confort, an all-inclusive camper van based on the Renault Trafic. The fully equipped version costs €65,900, well below the price of similarly configured VW California or Mercedes V-Class models. The cheapest variant starts at €52,900. A test review notes both strengths and weaknesses at this price point.

Ember RV has unveiled the Touring Edition 2850DBL caravan, featuring a rear section that converts between sleeping, office and cargo space. The EmberTrack E-track rail system carries two stacked double beds that can be repositioned or removed to free space for e-bikes, dog crates or a hammock. The two-axle caravan has two entry doors (main into the living area, second into a separate bedroom), a slide-out bay and a 6.1-metre electric awning with an outdoor bar, TV and sockets. Equipment includes a 340-litre fridge, a kitchen with a three-burner cast-iron hob, a convection microwave with air-fryer function, a bedroom with a 152 by 203 cm queen-size bed, and a bathroom with shower and toilet. The mandatory Off-Grid Solar Package comprises 400 W of roof solar panels, a 2,000 W inverter and a Victron MPPT controller. Fresh water tank holds 208 litres, grey and black water tanks 265 and 132 litres. Dry weight is 3,354 kg, gross vehicle weight 4,307 kg, payload 953 kg.

Australian company Summit Vans from Wollongong has unveiled the King Tide, a converted Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2026 model year with four-wheel drive. The vehicle features an upgraded suspension that raises the permissible gross weight from 4,100 kg to 4,430 kg, along with adjustable Falcon shock absorbers and a 200-watt solar panel. The rear section houses a convertible Beach Mode area: a U-shaped lounge with a removable table by day and a 1.7-metre-wide bed by night, with a garage accessible from outside. Onboard systems include an 820 Ah battery bank, a 3,000-watt inverter and a 180-litre fresh water tank.

German discounters Lidl and Netto have expanded their camping equipment ranges in their online shops. Lidl offers the 28-litre Lifetime Premium cool box, the 800 W Parkside inverter generator, the GCI Comfort Pro Rocker chair with a load capacity of up to 113 kg, the Ultimate Speed lambskin seat cover and the Easy Camp picnic box. Netto sells the Kesser camping sofa, the Camry CR 1035 portable toilet with a 20-litre waste tank and a 13-litre flush tank, the Kesser rocket stove, the 3 kg Steinborg mini washing machine and the Greenyard motorhome cover. The comparison indicates that buying from the discounters instead of specialist retailers saves money on many products.

Many motorhome owners deregister their vehicles for the winter and consider cancelling insurance. This can be a costly mistake, as many motor insurance policies already include free lay-up cover. Even those planning to switch to a cheaper insurer next season should not necessarily do so at the moment the motorhome is deregistered for winter. Lay-up insurance is therefore of great value to seasonal motorhomers precisely because it is free. Several points must be observed when using it.

The town councils of Staßfurt and Hecklingen have approved the drafting of a development plan for the Löderburger See tourism centre. The plan is also intended to secure pitches for permanent caravaners. Staßfurt received council approval after the same issue of a missing development plan arose at the former Großer Schachtsee campsite in Wolmirsleben. Staßfurt can now follow the neighbouring town.

Bend Teardrop of Oregon has launched the Tall Boy caravan, which measures 5.03 metres long and 2.53 metres high while offering 1.92 metres of interior height. The model was shown as a concept in late 2023, went on sale in February 2024 and was further developed through 2026. It comes in four floor plans that can sleep up to five people and features a rear kitchen with a 9.5-litre water canister and 147 litres of storage under the worktop. Standard equipment includes a 200 W solar panel, trailer brakes and a pull-out awning. Dry weight is 905 kg, hitch weight is 68 kg and the base price is 22,950 US dollars.