Campervan, RV & Vanlife News
On Thursday on Collie-Dumbleyung Road in Western Australia, a ute towing a caravan lost control while overtaking a grain truck. The caravan fishtailed, but no one was injured.
Fire crews from the Caldwell Fire Department and Nampa Fire District contained a fully involved RV fire at 1715 Andy Lane in about half an hour. The fire extended into a neighboring home and damaged several outbuildings and vehicles. Four cats died in the blaze. The cause remains under investigation.
Two people were taken to hospital after a car towing a caravan rolled on the Newell Highway near Alectown, north of Parkes, shortly before 11am on Friday, September 25. A man in his 80s was treated for an arm injury and a woman in her 70s for minor hand injuries; both were taken to Dubbo Base Hospital. As of 12:40pm, emergency services were still clearing the scene, with alternating stop/slow traffic conditions in place near the intersection of Claremont Lane and the Newell Highway.
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A fire in a fifth-wheel trailer parked behind a home on 3rd Street in Jackson, Michigan, left a 76-year-old woman dead on Thursday afternoon. The blaze broke out around 1 p.m. and spread to a detached garage. One firefighter sustained minor injuries. The cause is under investigation.
In 2023, Studio FA Porsche and RV manufacturer Airstream unveiled a camper concept combining Porsche design cues with Airstream camper expertise. The concept features an aluminum body, pop-top roof, rear hatch that doubles as a platform, modular interior with kitchen, wet bath, and digital control center, and adjustable suspension for garage storage. Only a scale model was shown at US trade shows; no production version was ever built.
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Compare across countriesA motorhome fire broke out in East Anchorage on Thursday. A woman was hospitalized with smoke inhalation. A propane heater near combustibles is the likely cause.
On Sept. 22, the RV Industry Association (RVIA), in concert with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service regarding its proposed revisions to the Travel Management Rule, which governs public access to National Forest System lands. The RVIA expressed support for the Forest Service’s proposed policy establishing open access as the default standard on national forest lands. It further urged the agency to adopt a clear and consistent national framework for dispersed camping that would broaden its availability across the National Forest System, and cautioned against the imposition of new fees, permitting requirements, or other administrative burdens that could limit access for RV owners and renters.
United States
Encore RV will hold its 2026 Open House from Monday, Sept. 28 through Thursday, Oct. 1 at its new production facility at 201 Crossfire Drive in Topeka, Indiana. The display will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with special hours by appointment, and will be entirely indoors. The event will feature the debut of the VENŪ 22RB, Encore RV's first tandem-axle VENŪ Adventure Trailer, which includes a front bedroom with a VersaSuite that converts a north/south walkaround queen bed into a sofa lounger with ottoman, a roadside kitchen with a three-burner stove, oven, microwave, eight-cubic-foot 12-volt refrigerator, farmhouse-style sink, solid-surface countertops and aluminum Shaker-style cabinets, a rear bathroom with a 31-by-48-inch shower, and a curbside dinette that converts into a bunk.
Owner of a 1997 Holiday Rambler Vacationer reported on Reddit that AC, outlets, and microwave stopped working while the generator was running. The issue was traced to a transfer switch.
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Law & Regulations
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The Duncan (Okla.) City Council has denied a request to allow a permitted use on review for a commercial RV park near the intersection of Osage Road and U.S. 81. The council voted 4-1 Tuesday to reject the request, director of communications LoisDawn Jones said in an email Wednesday. Three people in the audience opposed the proposed RV park, citing concerns about property values, potential traffic problems and the loss of the area’s tranquil setting.
French manufacturer Caravelair has updated its Sport Line 455 travel trailer for the 2027 model year. The caravan gains styling cues from the more expensive Exclusive line, a new 150-liter drawer fridge, and revised upholstery. It measures 6.7 meters in length and 2.3 meters in width, with sleeping for four. Base price starts at around €26,000, while the unit with the Looks package is listed at €26,785 in the Netherlands.
TrailLite has unveiled its new Roadcraft motorhome, with pricing starting at $231,000. The New Zealand-built model made its public debut at the NZMCA Motorhome, Caravan & Leisure Show in Hamilton. It has entered full production, with prototypes available to view at TrailLite’s Pukekohe and Christchurch showrooms. Two floorplans are available initially, with a third configuration planned for next year. Built on a Fiat platform supplied and supported by Fiat NZ, the Roadcraft is designed for local touring conditions, with increased fresh- and grey-water capacity and lithium battery capacity for longer stays off-grid. Eight units have been pre-sold.
According to the Japan RV Association, there are now over 600 RV parks nationwide, which can be introduced at a relatively low cost and are well-suited for utilizing vacant land. The operator of RV Park Kanuma in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, outlines the opening process: from defining the target audience and assessing land suitability to choosing the number of spaces (starting with 3–5 is suggested), meeting certification requirements (24-hour toilets, 100V power supply, 20A or more per vehicle), estimating initial costs, and setting prices. Meeting certification requirements does not guarantee customers, and equipment investment can be higher than expected.
German Ford camper van specialist Nugget Schmiede has launched a high-roofed Nugget Twin, offering a winter-ready camper van with four solid walls and space for four people. Unlike Ford's own high-roof Nugget, it is available in all-wheel drive. The roof will also be offered for Volkswagen vans and campers, though not for the California. The insulated, lined roof with bed starts at €11,000, and an upgrade kit adds €3,950. The complete Nugget Twin First Edition is priced at €95,980, with base models starting at €89,680.
A crash between a motorhome and a big rig on southbound I-680 near Fremont early Wednesday shut down the freeway. The impact ripped apart the motorhome and overturned the big rig's trailer. No injuries were reported. It took five hours to reopen all lanes.
Kate and Daniel O'Phalen bought a used RV in 2021 for $18,000 and renovated it for about $7,000. The family of five has been traveling full time since early 2022, visiting 53 of 66 US national parks, 11 Canadian provinces, and spending six months in Mexico.
On the A361 near West Pennard (Glastonbury, Somerset), a camper caught fire and was completely destroyed. One person was taken to hospital with minor injuries, and the road is closed in both directions.
Kristin Haynes and her partner Tom have lived without rent for 10 years, alternating between a campervan in the US and a sailboat in Mexico. She paid off debt, built a six-figure online business, and saved hundreds of thousands for retirement.
On 23 September, a camper caught fire on the A361 in West Pennard near Glastonbury. One person was taken to hospital with minor injuries; the camper was completely destroyed.
Closures
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Parsons city leadership has announced that Marvel Park RV Campground in southeast Kansas will permanently close on Oct. 4. The RV campground is located in a floodplain just north of Labette Creek. City staff cited repeated flooding and issues with campers not paying fees or abiding by park rules as reasons for the decision.