Demand for Affordable Fifth Wheel Campers Rises Ahead of Fall Travel

Gossamer Gear has introduced the Free one-person tent, weighing 1.8 lbs (816 g), which the company claims is the lightest double-walled freestanding tent on the market. The tent requires no stakes for setup, allowing it to be pitched on rock, sand, or wooden platforms. It includes six aluminum stakes and four guylines for wind reinforcement. The tent uses ClearSkies fabric, a 15D recycled Robic nylon with a 20D ripstop grid and a 1,200mm silicone-polyurethane coating, free of PFAS. Interior dimensions: 39-inch peak height, 16.5 sq ft floor area, tapering from 34 inches at the head to 21.5 inches at the foot. Price: $400.

Colorado-based Rossmönster has introduced the Loft, a Class B camper van built on a 144-inch all-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. It is the first American-made camper van to feature a vacuum-infused composite fiberglass shell, offering improved strength, weight reduction, and sealing. The van sleeps up to four adults, includes a 1,000-Ah lithium-ion battery, 3,000-watt inverter, and 440-watt solar array. Pricing starts at $284,987, with reservations available for a $1,000 deposit.

The article examines whether a propane furnace is still necessary in RVs in 2026 or if modern heat pump systems can fully replace it. Propane furnaces remain the most reliable heating source in extreme cold and high-altitude conditions, as they do not depend on outside air temperature. Heat pumps are efficient in moderate climates but lose effectiveness in low temperatures. In practice, most RVers use both systems depending on weather and travel conditions.

A family of seven calculated that a three-day trip to Disneyland would cost $7,250 by car and over $10,000 by air. Instead, they opted for multiple RV trips throughout the year. Five four-day RV trips averaged $5,250, allowing visits to the Smoky Mountains, five national parks in Utah, the Grand Canyon, and other destinations.

The North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) announced the Service Hub, a dedicated destination debuting at the 2027 NATDA Trailer Show in Nashville's Music City Center. Located in the Karl Dean Ballroom, it will provide service-focused training, certification, and networking for dealerships. The initiative responds to tightening margins on unit sales and longer trailer lifespans, pushing dealers to expand service operations.

Registration is now open for the annual two-day MH FacTOURy Summit, scheduled for August 18–19 in Elkhart, Indiana. The event features factory tours and educational seminars for manufactured housing professionals. Now in its fifth year, the summit will be preceded by the RV/MH Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on August 17, honoring 10 industry veterans. Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities are also available.