Campervan, RV & Vanlife News
Outpost Outfitters, Maine's newest RV dealership, will make its first appearance at the Cumberland Fair from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3. The display will include an Ember RV Overland, a Kropf Park Home RV Eldorado and a Grand Design Imagine, with sales, customer service and service teams present. The dealership offers service, parts, winterization and storage, focusing on year-round ownership. Visitors can book private tours with Bill Schwarz during the fair.
United States
Kropf Park RVs has unveiled the Eldorado 9110P, a new floorplan in its ultra-premium Eldorado series, to be sold as the Tiny Chateau or Hampton House. It measures 45.5 feet (13.8 meters) long and 12 feet (3.6 meters) wide, sitting on a custom quad-axle trailer. The 2027 model year unit will be displayed at the 2026 Hershey RV Show. Expected MSRP is in the $220,000-$230,000 range.
United States
Emergency personnel responded around 9:45 a.m. Monday to a fire at a camper at 1525 Fish Hatchery Road. A resident of the property heard a loud popping sound and found the camper engulfed in flames. No one was inside at the time. The Greene County Sheriff's Department listed the camper's value at $20,000.
United States
A growing number of American Gen Xers are choosing full-time RV living as an alternative to traditional retirement. According to the RV Industry Association, about 170,000 Americans over 55 live full time in recreational vehicles. Patty and Shane Gill of Texas have saved over US$100,000 in five years, with monthly living costs of US$3,500–US$4,000 compared to previous expenses of US$7,000–US$8,000. Only 16% of American Gen Xers feel they have saved enough for retirement, per the Schroders 2025 US Retirement Survey.
SlashGear has published a roundup of five campers and RVs intended for full-time living. The list includes the Paradigm Longhorn van conversion based on a Ford Transit (from $72,965), the Jayco Greyhawk Class C motorhome on a Ford E-450 chassis (under $200,000), the Winnebago ARKA adventure truck based on a Ram pickup (from $330,000), the Crossroads Hampton trailer (from $100,000), and the Newmar Dutch Star Class A motorhome (from $618,570).
Keystone RV and its dealers achieved their strongest retail sales at the America's Largest RV Show in Hershey, Pennsylvania, since before the pandemic, setting several fifth-wheel sales records.
Nikola Borić, a former athletics coach who moved from the city to a forest on Papuk more than a decade ago, sold his house, farm and land with his partner Zorana and moved into a camper. After several months, they face an unexpected problem: an excess of free time. In a new post, Borić described a rainy day when the horses rest and they have no usual tasks. He noted that after years of farm life, where there was always something to mow, feed, repair or clean, they suddenly had no to-do list. Borić admitted that freedom from daily work was something he had dreamed of for years, but now he does not know how to fill the day. In the comments, followers discussed that boredom may not be a problem in itself but a moment of facing oneself.
A 20-foot camper trailer in Central City was destroyed by fire Saturday morning. Centralia Fire Protection District firefighters responded to 137 North Morrison after Central City police officer Brody Meigs found the camper burning behind the residence. The fire is believed to have started from a nearby brush pile fire that had spread and went unnoticed. The owner, Perry Hixenbaugh, planned to scrap the camper, although he said it had new tires he wanted to save. No one was injured.
Aliner has unveiled the updated Alite trailer, returning after nearly a decade. Dry weight 672 lbs, sets up in 30 seconds, priced from $17,650.
An RV caught fire on Interstate 95 in New London, Connecticut, on Saturday afternoon. The fire occurred near Exit 82A on the northbound side and had spread to grass and woods along the highway by the time first responders arrived. The blaze was contained with mutual aid from the Waterford Fire Department. No injuries were reported, and travel in the area was impacted.
A 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special camper will be auctioned at Mecum in Nashville on September 25, 2026. Estimated value is $30,000 to $40,000.
Four companies control the majority of RV brands in the North American market: REV Group, Forest River, Winnebago, and Thor Industries. REV Group owns Holiday Rambler, Fleetwood, American Coach, and Monaco Coach; Forest River, owned by Warren Buffett, includes Coachmen, Berkshire Luxury Coach, Dynamax, and East To West; Winnebago owns Grand Design and Newmar; Thor Industries owns Airstream, Dutchmen, Jayco, Tiffin, and CrossRoads. Consolidation may lower costs and simplify the supply chain, but can also lead to reduced quality control and cookie-cutter designs.
Starting October 2026, the Wyoming Department of Transportation will implement the WY22 SAFE PASS program, requiring a mountain safety self-certification for certain large vehicles on Teton Pass. Drivers of RVs, vehicles towing trailers, and vehicles with a GVWR over 10,000 pounds must complete the certification. The program includes an online review covering steep grades, brake fade, and load limits; the certificate is valid for one year. Once launched, operating these vehicles on the pass without a valid certificate will not be allowed. All existing regulations, including seasonal closures and the 60,000-pound weight limit, remain in effect.
Elon’s town council is considering amendments to its land management ordinance that would replace current restrictions on RVs, campers, and trailers. Under existing rules, RVs in residential areas must be garaged unless the owner obtains special permission. The new draft would allow parking in a residential driveway at least 20 feet from the road, but prohibits hookups to water or sewer services. Unlicensed or inoperable RVs would require a special use permit. The planning board unanimously recommended against the changes in August, preferring to regulate RVs under the town’s code of ordinances, but Mayor Emily Sharpe said that option had already been rejected. The council directed staff to make minor revisions before a final decision later this month.
Warwick fire crews tackled a camper fire on Thursday afternoon in Warwick, Rhode Island. The fire occurred at around 2 p.m. on Marblehead Street near Rita Street. The fire appears to have affected a nearby building. An NBC 10 News crew observed multiple people being taken into custody at the scene; authorities did not immediately share information about the incident.
Aliner revives the Alite folding trailer after nearly a decade. The 2027 model weighs 672 pounds, measures 11 feet long, with an 80-inch peak ceiling height.
Openings
© Woodall's Campground Magazine - Daily News & Information for the Outdoor Hospitality Industry
Shepherds RV Park in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, opened for business on July 2. The park offers overnight sites for motorhomes and campers, as well as picnic spots with tables and fire pits, a small store, a catch-and-release pond, paddle boats, and Wi-Fi throughout the property. It is located at 1950 Highway 44 West.
Glaravans has refurbished a 1976 Biod Extase 2L camper, preserving its original fiberglass shell. The project was completed for a private owner and is not for sale. The camper has a GVWR of 750 kg (1,653 lbs) and can be towed in Europe without a special license. The interior features a bed, a modular dinette with a drop-down table, a galley with a sink and fridge, and a toilet. Glaravans, known for restoring vintage campers since 2019, shifted focus to its own camper model in 2026.
On Wednesday, monsoon storms caused flooding at Sunset RV Park near Broadway and Ellsworth roads in Mesa, Arizona. The park experienced significant water levels. The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for multiple areas in Arizona, including the Dragoon, Mule, and Huachuca Mountains, the Upper San Pedro River Valley, the Baboquivari Mountains, the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains, and the Tucson and Phoenix metro areas. The watch remains in effect until 11:00 PM MST on Wednesday.
City of Centre officials issued a public-awareness notice clarifying the local camper zoning ordinance after residents raised questions about camper storage and temporary construction offices. Under Article IV, Section 9, one unoccupied camper trailer may be stored inside an accessory private garage or in a rear yard in any zoning district, but it cannot exceed 10 feet in width or 25 feet in length. The ordinance prohibits using the stored camper as living quarters or for business activities. Residents can contact Centre City Hall at 256-927-5222.