Campervan, RV & Vanlife News

Papago Vans, based in Mesa, Arizona, has unveiled a camper van built on a 2025 AWD Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 170-inch wheelbase. Off-road equipment includes Black Rhino Arsenal wheels, all-terrain tires, a Van Compass Stage 4.3 suspension kit, an FVC front bumper with a Warn winch, a 45-gallon (170-liter) extended-range fuel tank, two 200 W solar panels, a Starlink antenna, and a 50-inch LED light bar. The interior features bright Overt Green cabinetry, a stained wood ceiling, Addington Acacia LVP flooring, and white shiplap walls, with a kitchen that has a dual-burner induction stovetop, a 700 W microwave, an Isotherm Cruise 130 fridge, a bathroom with a shower and dry-flush toilet, a U-shaped couch, and an elevator bed. Power comes from a 920 Ah Epoch lithium battery bank and a 3,000 W inverter/charger; freshwater capacity is 20 gallons (75 liters).

UK-based Taylored Campervans has introduced the Offtrail Flex, a camper van conversion built on the Volkswagen T7. The van features a pop-top roof with a 130 W solar panel, a flexible interior that seats five and sleeps four, and a lithium leisure battery with a Victron Orion charger. Pricing for the conversion starts at £20,950 including VAT; with a VW Transporter T7 2WD Commerce Pro supplied by the company, the price is £65,950.

A 2021 Ram ProMaster 2500 converted by Huntington Beach, California-based Campervans by Leo is for sale. The interior features a white tongue-and-groove ceiling, white laminated cabinetry, beige walls, and wood-imitating vinyl plank flooring. The bathroom has a shower with retractable door. The kitchen includes a two-burner induction stovetop, microwave, and deep stainless steel sink. A U-shaped couch with an electric lifting swivel table converts into a full-size bed. A smart TV, PlayStation 5, and Starlink are installed. The electrical system comprises a 560 Ah LiFePO4 battery, 3,000 W inverter, and 600 W solar array. Plumbing includes a 40-gallon (151-liter) freshwater tank, 36-gallon (136-liter) greywater tank, and Waterdrop reverse-osmosis filtration. A heater provides hot air and water. Price not disclosed.

Michelle, 73, and Patrick White, 76, sold their waterfront home in Sydney and moved into a 21-foot Jayco Starcraft caravan. Over seven years, they have travelled 153,000 km across Australia. Eight months into their trip, Michelle suffered a major stroke in Queensland, coinciding with COVID-19 border closures in 2020. A hospital stroke specialist advised that van life was the ideal environment for her recovery due to its single-level layout and private facilities. The couple supports local businesses in small towns; the sector generates $10.7 billion annually, with the majority flowing into regional communities.

Windsor police are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect after a camper trailer was stolen from a fenced compound on Rhodes Drive. The investigation began in September after the trailer was taken on September 2; the suspect used a newer-model dark Dodge Ram Rebel pickup truck. The suspect is described as a white male with a large build and a brown beard, wearing a black baseball cap, black T-shirt, black shorts, black shoes, glasses, and a black band around his left arm. Anyone with information is asked to contact Windsor police.

Australian company Goldy Caravans has launched the Coastal Cruiser, its largest travel trailer in the Traveler series. The body measures 19 feet (5.88 meters) long, with an overall length of 22.1 feet (6.75 meters) on a tandem axle. It features a DuraGal steel chassis, leaf spring suspension, molded composite fiberglass body with high-density thermal insulation, and classic 1960s-inspired panoramic windows. Two variants are available: Base with a wet bathroom and sleeping for four (optionally six), and Ensuite with a choice of bathroom configuration. Pricing starts at AUD 99,950. As of summer 2026, Goldy Caravans has secured its first U.S. dealer and ships internationally.

Ashford Price, owner and chairman of the National Showcaves Centre for Wales at Dan-yr-Ogof, has renewed his criticism of the Welsh Government's proposed tourism levy. Concerns over collecting the charge from families with babies led him to make his caravan site adults-only, with forward bookings already being taken for 2027 and 2028. The levy would allow councils to charge for overnight stays in paid accommodation: the higher rate of £1.30 per person per night applies to caravans, motorhomes, hotels and holiday cottages, while the lower rate of 75p applies to tent pitches and shared accommodation, with under-18s exempt. Price questioned the logic of including babies in caravans while exempting those in tents and asked how wardens would enforce the charge. Any decision on introducing the levy will be left to the next administration following the May 2027 elections; further consultation would be needed, with 2028 the earliest possible start date in Powys.

The Highland Caravan and Campsites Association is urging Highland Council to postpone the inclusion of campsites in its proposed visitor levy. At a meeting in Dornoch on 7 October, operators warned that the levy—£5 per night for hotels and B&Bs, £2 for campsites and hostels—would displace motorhome and campervan users to free overnight locations not subject to the charge. Highland Council's 12-week public consultation on the levy runs from 7 September to 30 November.

Robert Gaskin has been refused planning consent for the second time to increase occupancy from nine to 11 months at Avon Riverside Caravan Park in Evesham. The application was rejected because the site lies in a high flood risk area. A previous application was submitted for the incorrect type of consent, and a further full application was submitted in July.

From 13 to 18 October, the Motorhome and Caravan Show takes place at NEC Birmingham. The Beefy Boys will hold demonstrations, and GB News offers a 27% discount on tickets.

Wild Land has unveiled the PickupMate Trunk, a modular pickup camper that mounts on the truck bed and unfolds into a two-level living space. The electro-actuated frame and multidirectional pivot allow the first level to deploy independently with 55 inches of clearance, while the second level provides up to nine feet of headroom. Dimensions are 70.1 × 45.7 × 30.3 inches for the first level and 118.1 × 57.1 × 46.1 inches for the second. Pre-orders are open on the Wild Land US storefront for $9,099, though Cinch Outdoors lists a potential launch price of $8,499.

Planning permission has been approved for 26 caravan pitches and a shower block in Bundoran. Patrick Heaney received the go-ahead for the proposed touring caravan and campervan site at Magheracar, along with retention of existing domestic sheds. He had initially applied for 41 pitches. Documents lodged with the application stated that the need for such a facility in Bundoran has been frequently highlighted in the media. The domestic sheds are to be removed once the development is complete.

San Diego Police conduct pre-dawn enforcement in Mission Bay, offering owners of illegally parked RVs a choice: relocate to H-Barracks or receive a $173 parking citation. Under the city's Oversized Vehicle Ordinance, parking RVs on city lots and public streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. is illegal. Since enforcement resumed in July 2025, SDPD has issued nearly 8,000 citations through August 2026 and made 888 successful referrals to safe parking. During one shift, officers issued 29 citations and made five referrals, but only two RVs arrived at H-Barracks.

The Pebble Flow is an electric trailer with integrated solar panels, in-wheel motors and automated hitching. It starts at $159,000, with a Founder's Edition at $193,000. The 2027 model adds a twin-bed floorplan and supports up to four additional 500-watt external solar panels, bringing total input capacity to 3.1 kW. The trailer includes an iPad Mini for controlling climate, lights and self-hitching, plus an Instacamp feature for automatic leveling.

An RV caught fire in Lindale, Texas, on Thursday night, according to the Lindale Fire Department. The LFD said that around 9:16 p.m. crews responded to Simmons Lane, where a structure fire was reported. Upon arrival, the RV was approximately 75% engulfed in flames, and crews immediately began fighting the fire. Within five minutes, nine firefighters were on the scene working to control the fire, which was brought under control within 10 minutes. No injuries were reported.

Ceredigion County Council's development management committee is again recommended to refuse Vale Holiday Parks Ltd's application to relocate 47 caravan pitches to Ocean Heights Holiday Park in Maenygroes, about 1.6 miles from New Quay on the A486. The plan would move 17 caravans from Wern Mill Caravan Park and 30 from The Village Holiday Park. Llanllwchaearn Community Council opposes it, saying it would double the site area; objectors raised concerns about road safety, wastewater infrastructure and overdevelopment. The application was recommended for refusal in March and May but deferred for extra information, and deferred in June for a site visit. Applicants say the scheme would create approximately £760,000 in annual visitor expenditure, but officers say this does not fundamentally change the merits. Ocean Heights currently has 103 pitches; the 17 Wern Mill units have permission but are not implemented.

A 2021 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro owner reported that a tanker's rear axle struck the corner of his R-Pod 202 camper, shifting it about 3 feet to the truck's left while it remained hitched. The incident occurred about 20 miles from home after a trip to Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. The owner later said the camper was a total loss, while the truck received a clean bill of health from a frame shop.

Newhaven Holiday Park in the Peak District offers platinum lodges with three bedrooms, two en suite bathrooms, a lounge, fully-equipped kitchen, and dining room. The park is located near Chatsworth Estate, Bakewell, Baslow, and Tagg Lane Dairy ice cream farm.

According to Statistical Surveys (SSI), new RV retail registrations in the U.S. fell every month from January to May 2026, down between 14.5% and 24.1% year-over-year. RV Industry Association (RVIA) reports wholesale shipments down 14.2% through August. Used RV registrations grew from January to April, then slipped 2.4% in May. In March, national registrations fell 21.9%, with Class C down 5% and Class A down 31%.

As Isaias approaches the Gulf Coast, some RV owners are moving their campers farther inland rather than waiting out the storm near the beach. Bay Breeze on the Bay RV Park in Fort Morgan, Alabama, is not allowing guests to stay past Friday night; campers can remain at the park, but owners are responsible for them. Kim Anderson, who has been staying at the park for about four years, planned to leave Thursday and return her RV to the park Monday, depending on the storm’s impact on the Gulf Coast.