🇩🇪 Germany — OpenVan.camp

AL-KO is selling its E&P LevelVan hydraulic lifting system for camper vans based on Fiat Ducato, Citroën Jumper and Peugeot Boxer from model year 2016 for 4,999 euros including VAT and standard installation, down from the regular 5,799 euros. The offer is available only at participating official AL-KO VT customer centres in Germany, Austria, Italy, Benelux, France and Sweden. The system, which weighs under 50 kg and uses carbon cylinders, is designed to level a camper van without ramps.

Demand for extended off-grid travel has led to higher prices for motorhomes and caravans. Manufacturers such as Hymer and Hobby offer larger batteries, tanks and management systems, increasing vehicle costs. The Hymer B-ML starts at around 178,000 euros, while some luxury motorhomes exceed 1 million euros. Due to high dealer inventories, the industry association CIVD sees opportunities for bargains.

A 65-year-old woman from Burgkunstadt got her motorhome back after an alleged fraud. The buyer used a false name and failed to pay the agreed sum.

The municipal council of Klosterlechfeld has rejected plans for a motorhome stopover between the sports ground and the railway line. After dismissing an offer from Camping-Car-Park as too expensive, the council deemed self-financed development with water and sewer connections at around 100,000 euros, plus technology and asphalting, too costly relative to potential benefits; costs would only be recouped in about 20 years. Eleven of 15 council members voted against converting the remainder of the old B17 into a motorhome stopover, citing noise from the railway line and the B17.

In the Spreewald, a tree fell on a caravan at a campsite in Lübbenau, with five people inside. No information on injuries is provided.

In the night of Tuesday, 13 October 2026, an unknown perpetrator smashed the driver's side window of a motorhome parked on Hillegosser Strasse in Bielefeld-Heepen. The thief entered the vehicle and stole a mobile navigation device and coins. Police are asking witnesses to provide information by calling 0521/545-0.

On Tuesday at around 18:40, a 75-year-old man from the Offenbach district drove his motorhome into the Lohgasse railway underpass in Weilheim, ignoring height restriction signs. The front of the roof structure hit the underpass, and the vehicle became stuck. Other road users helped free the motorhome. The roof structure was significantly damaged; after paying a 40 euro fine, the driver continued his journey. The underpass was not damaged.

In Munich, unknown persons stole a Fiat camper van parked on Kriegerheimstraße. The 67-year-old owner discovered the theft on October 13, 2026. Police estimate damage in the tens of thousands of euros.

At a leisure vehicle show, Concorde presented the Centurion 1050 GI — 10.49 m long, 18 t GVW, base price €704,900, rising to €890,370 with options. Its rear garage holds a Microlino electric city car; options include a 900 Ah lithium battery for €13,865, 560 W solar panels for €5,265, a diesel generator for €8,460, a 6 m awning for €4,050 and a sliding platform for €36,205. Built on a Mercedes-Benz Actros chassis, it requires a category C licence and has a 10.7-litre diesel engine producing 315 kW (428 hp).

The government of Upper Franconia approved the third and final construction phase for the outdoor facilities at the Eisteich site in Hof. The total cost is 1.85 million euros, with 1.1 million euros coming from the "Vibrant Centres" urban development programme, and additional support from the Upper Franconia Foundation reducing the city's own contribution. The Hof construction committee discussed the start date.

A partially integrated Challenger Etape 250 motorhome based on a Ford Transit 350 is for sale in Ribnitz-Damgarten on the Baltic Sea. The price is €74,990; the vehicle was first registered in April 2025 and has 4,000 km on the odometer. Equipment includes four berths, a drop-down bed, a kitchen with fridge and gas hob, a separate bathroom, a parking heater, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Power comes from a 2.0-litre Ford EcoBlue diesel producing 165 hp, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The permissible gross weight is 3.5 tonnes, allowing it to be driven with a standard category B licence. It also has a TV, bike rack and tow bar with a braked towing capacity of 2,000 kg. The Ford has had one owner, is accident-free and has a full service history; the next MOT is due in April 2028.

A ranking of motorhome stops for October, based on user views, favourites and ratings, shows increased interest in Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria. The list includes stops in Moselkern, Traben-Trarbach, Kempten, Neu-Ulm, Bernau am Chiemsee, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Koblenz, as well as in North Rhine-Westphalia and South Tyrol. Most stops have grey water disposal, and some accommodate extra-long motorhomes.

IMTEST tested the Sunlight CLIFF 540 RT Adventure Edition camper van based on the Fiat Ducato 8. The 5.40 m vehicle with a pop-up roof (RT) sleeps four: two in the cabin and two on the roof. Engine output is 103 kW (140 hp), and the test vehicle price is 61,985 euros. The review noted a spacious rear garage, an 84-litre compressor fridge and a 100-litre fresh water tank, but also insufficient insulation in the pop-up roof and no skylight in the rear. Overall rating: satisfactory (2.8).

In a new episode of the documentary series 'Wir werden Camper', Jasmin and Sven Ruby from Hamm-Bockum-Hövel take three short camping trips. They visit a five-star campsite in Bensersiel on the North Sea, then the Wehlingsheide recreation park near Datteln, and a forest campsite near Xanten. The couple travels in a 1995 caravan painted with graffiti by an artist. They are accompanied by friends Simone and Markus Steffens from Castrop-Rauxel.

On Tuesday afternoon, a Nissan towing a caravan left the road on a curve on the L3249 near Nentershausen-Bauhaus in the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district and ended up in a ditch; the caravan tipped onto its right side. Initial reports of a person trapped did not materialise, but one person sustained minor injuries. The Nentershausen fire brigade responded, and the road was temporarily restricted to one lane. The extent of material damage remained unclear on Tuesday evening.

Franchise company Hannes Camper, which rents out equipped campervans, is looking for independent partners to open and operate additional rental stations. The network currently has 21 locations in Germany, including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne, plus two stations in Austria, in Salzburg and Wolfsberg. According to founder and managing director Tim Aster, booking revenue grew by 48% in 2024 without external funding; in 2025 growth stood at 32% year-on-year. Franchise partners run their own station, handling vehicle handover and return, cleaning, maintenance, booking management, accounting, staff planning and regional advertising. The company provides a supplier network, its own camper production, financing contacts, booking software and marketing support. Most stations operate fleets of 15 to 25 campers.

With the first frost approaching, motorhome and caravan owners must completely drain water from pipes and tanks to prevent costly damage in spring. Residual water in lines, pumps and fittings can freeze and destroy valves or become a breeding ground for bacteria. Traditional methods such as placing a balloon over the tap or blowing with lung power are insufficient. Compressed-air drainage systems like Berger DrainX (40 euros) or Floë (66 euros) remove residual water; a Floë test showed that over 600 millilitres remained after conventional draining. Installation takes about 30 minutes, with a maximum pressure of 1 bar.

A parked motorhome on Schönhardter Straße in Böbingen was first scratched and then sprayed with black paint. According to police, the vehicle was found with scratches on its side on Saturday, 10 October, at 5 p.m., causing about 1500 euros in damage. Between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, the motorhome was additionally sprayed with black paint, with damage estimated at about 2000 euros. The total damage amounts to around 3500 euros, and police are asking witnesses to contact the Heubach police station at (07173) 8776.

Aguti is recalling Isofix child seat mounts due to potentially faulty welds. The recall affects seats in campervans and motorhomes from various manufacturers, including Knaus and Hymer. Owners are advised not to use the Isofix mounts until inspected.

In Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, renting out campsite pitches or tiny houses in one's own garden requires official permission. Without approval, such pitches are considered illegal. The rules apply, among others, to the districts of Osnabrück and Minden-Lübbecke.