DWELL SHELL: Hard-sided pop-up truck camper unveiled

The Washington County Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday night to deny a special exemption for a proposed RV park on Highway 77. The developer plans 115 units for Class A motorhomes, but the commission cited insufficient information, as updated plans were submitted just before the meeting. Residents raised concerns about noise, safety, and the potential influx of people. The denial prevents the application from being reconsidered for two years; the final decision rests with the County Commission on August 20.

Residents of Guntersville have raised safety concerns about a proposed RV park at the site of a former YMCA camp. They point out that a small two-lane road is the only connection between the properties and Highway 69.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating a body found after a motorhome fire in the Ojai Valley on Aug. 1. The fire occurred on Highway 33, also known as Maricopa Highway, near North Lomita Avenue, around 4:30 p.m. The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames, with fire spreading to nearby vegetation. After extinguishing the fire, responders discovered a deceased person inside the motorhome. The identity and cause of death are not yet known. Highway 33 between Meiners Road and North Alvarado Street was closed for about four hours. Witnesses are asked to contact the CHP Ventura office at 805-662-2640.

A couple's RV caught fire on I-95 near Bangor on Monday, minutes after they left Newburgh for northern Maine. They pulled off at the rest stop at mile marker 175 after noticing smoke. The couple and their pets exited safely before the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames, according to Hampden Deputy Fire Chief Jason Lundstrom. The fire may have started with a mechanical malfunction in the RV's refrigerator. No injuries were reported.

Journalist Irv Oslin reflects on his early morning walks at Eagle Point Campground on Charles Mill Lake, recalling his time 30 years ago when he camped there as a staff writer for the Ashland Times-Gazette. He notes the change in camping culture, from rustic sleeping under a canoe to modern RVs and tents, and muses on the quiet solitude of dawn.

Highland Rigs has unveiled the Chino 2026 Model, a camper based on a diesel all-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It is priced at $175,000 and has about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) on the odometer. The vehicle features an electric HappiJac lift bed and two folding sofas that create four sleeping positions, but only two seat belts. Equipment includes a refrigerator, an induction hob, 400 W solar panels, a 3,000 W inverter, 36 gallons (136 liters) of fresh water, and a Rixen hot-water system. The manufacturer does not specify the exact off-grid duration. This is a custom conversion; the base Chino starts at $155,000.