California RV scene: SF relocation program and sluggish sales

Former ABQ BioPark Botanic Gardens curator Jon Stewart shared his overland setup, a Toyota Tacoma with a rooftop tent, at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff in May. He plans to install an expanded fuel tank for remote trips. Stewart regularly travels to southern Utah in his vehicle.

A Darien, Illinois, resident, Cynthia Haney, is seeking an exception to city rules that prohibit parking RVs in front yards. Her 25-foot camper trailer was spotted in the driveway in May. The Plan Commission and a City Council committee unanimously rejected the request, citing the need to avoid setting a precedent. The full council will consider the matter at its meeting Monday at 7:30 p.m. Neighbor Steven McCarty opposed the exception, saying it diminishes his property value, while another neighbor, Emily Polacek, supported Haney, noting the RV is not an eyesore.

US-based upfitter Custom Crafted Vans has completed its 58th project: a family camper based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 with a 170-inch wheelbase. The conversion cost is close to $300,000, with the base Sprinter billed separately. The company builds only five to six custom vehicles per year, and the waiting list exceeds six months. Features include four individual Scheelmann seats, a pop-up roof with a bed, a U-shaped sofa that converts into a bed, a kitchen with induction hob and 195-liter fridge, a shower with separate toilet, 132 liters of fresh water, an 810 Ah battery pack, a 3,000-watt inverter, and 420 watts of solar panels. External equipment includes reinforced Fox suspension, off-road tires, a roof rack, awning, extra lighting, and an electric bike carrier. The vehicle's weight and payload have not been disclosed.

Laveo by Dry Flush has introduced the Blackwater Conversion Kit, an adapter system that lets RV and camper van owners replace their conventional toilet with a waterless Laveo unit. The kit includes floor-mounting plates, a template, and a contoured spacer for installation over a standard floor flange. The Laveo uses patented technology to seal waste in self-contained bags, eliminating the need for water, chemicals, or a holding tank. Weighing 29 pounds with battery, the unit operates without external venting, and each cartridge lasts about 15 flushes.

In 1936, Wally Byam introduced the all-aluminum, riveted Airstream Clipper in Culver City, California, pioneering a design that influenced modern camper vans and vanlife. The trailer featured aircraft-inspired Duraluminum skin, flush rivets, and amenities like a stainless steel galley, cocktail bar, bottled propane, and radio, priced from $1,465 to $5,200. Its aerodynamic shape and lightweight construction set it apart from competitors, and the design has remained largely unchanged over 90 years.

Tamar Cesana and her partner Benaya are spending nearly two months traveling across the US in a rented RV. They altered their route due to wildfires in Colorado and Utah, and faced challenges on remote Nevada highways. The couple observes Shabbat, stopping near Chabad houses, and finds kosher products even in remote areas.