US motorhome manufacturers face issues due to war and high fuel prices

A rare combination of a 1968 Chevrolet C20 CST Custom Camper pickup and a 1966 Del Rey Sky Lounge camper is for sale in Arizona. The 3.35-meter-high vehicle features a 6.5-liter V8, dual fuel tanks, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic windows. The owner recently rejected a $60,000 bid at auction.

The US recreational vehicle (RV) industry is experiencing a downturn as high gasoline and diesel prices (up 33% and 43% respectively), inflation, and a 7.53% loan rate dampen consumer demand. Manufacturers like Alliance RV in Indiana have reduced workweeks on some production lines. RVIA data shows shipments fell 13.5% in the first four months of the year compared to the same period last year, prompting a downward revision of the annual forecast.

In late March, Alliance RV co-founder Coley Brady cut production to four days a week at his factories in Elkhart, Indiana, as spring sales dropped. The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has destabilized global energy markets, raising fuel prices and affecting RV sales. Industry leaders remain optimistic about a recovery, expecting stable fuel costs and higher alternative travel expenses to drive consumers back to RVs.

A 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan has been converted into a drift car. It features a 5.3-liter LS-based truck V8 with a twin-turbo setup sourced from eBay and a Tremec TKX-600 5-speed manual gearbox. The build is intended for track use, not street driving. Boost was set at 5 psi, with plans to increase it to 10 psi.

Claudio and Gabriela, an Argentinian and a Mexican, bought a motorhome worth about $50,000 and plan to drive from Kansas to New York, following the Argentine national football team at the 2026 World Cup. The couple says living in the motorhome is not expensive and is covered by Claudio's pension. They have already adapted to this lifestyle and make new friends at every stop.

Special correspondent Nolo Sánchez from Argentine outlet El Doce encountered a storm while traveling to Kansas for World Cup coverage. He received a tornado warning and captured footage of the weather from his motorhome.