Campervan, RV & Vanlife News

Remote Vans announced it has been ranked No. 2 on the 2026 RedHawk50, marking its second consecutive year among the fastest-growing companies in the world led by Miami University alumni. The Cincinnati-based manufacturer of premium adventure camper vans offers its 2026 lineup — T-45, Friday, Oasis and Aegis — through a growing dealer network that includes Campers Inn RV, Happy Daze RV, Johnson RV, Yozzy Overland, Vogt RV, Van City, Hawkes Outdoors and Luxeworks RV.

Go RVing reports that Halloween is expanding from a single-day holiday into a weeks-long season of experiences including decorating contests, community events and outdoor activities. According to Circana data, over 50% of American families will participate in Halloween festivities over several weeks leading up to the holiday. Go RVing advises brands to integrate this trend into marketing: create social content featuring campground trick-or-treating, host 'Spooky Saturday' events with RV decorating and pumpkin carving, and publish blog or email content about local haunted attractions and RV-friendly campgrounds.

Dometic has launched the 400 Series Toilet lineup, a standardized RV sanitation platform with a shared 7.5–8 inch rough-in and universal 2-bolt mounting footprint across all models. The range includes the Essential 400, Complete 410, and Platinum 420, offering plastic or porcelain bowls and various feature levels, all interchangeable without plumbing or floorplan changes. The company states this is an industry first, simplifying specification for OEMs, installation for dealers, and upgrades for RV owners. Features include a sealed gravity-flush system, 18-inch comfort-height seat, soft-close lid, tool-free serviceability, and a reinforced structure tested to support over 700 pounds of front-load force. The toilets are assembled in the USA and come with a 2-year warranty.

On Sept. 1, RVIA began mandatory enforcement of new standards for electrical components, including the 2026 edition of NFPA 1192, the 2025 ANSI/RVIA DC Standard, and adopted portions of the 2026 National Electrical Code. Article 551.40(D) on grounding-monitor interrupters was excluded pending availability of listed devices. RVIA enforces through more than 2,000 unannounced inspections of member-company RV manufacturing plants annually. Section 2-7 of the DC standard requires that an RV shipping with solar installed carry a charge controller listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and rated for the array it feeds. Renogy’s REGO MPPT charge controllers, in 30A and 60A, publish certification to UL 1741 alongside CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 107.1 and IEC 62109. For service departments, the rule means that if panels are touched, the charge controller must be examined, as a change in array wattage or configuration can exceed the installed controller’s rating.

Four weeks after mandatory enforcement of new RV Industry Association (RVIA) standards for electrical components began, Renogy brought its power lineup, including charge controllers certified to UL 1741, to the Elkhart RV Open House. The REGO MPPT charge controllers, in 30A and 60A, are certified to UL 1741, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 107.1 and IEC 62109, meeting Section 2-7 of the new DC standard. Renogy also showcases monocrystalline panels, including the ShadowFlux anti-shading series, as part of a complete solar charging system. The company will be at Booth C3 at the Hall of Fame RV Supplier Show, Sept. 28-30, at the Northern Indiana Event Center.

Dream Haven RV announced the arrival of the Gladiator Familia, a family RV already established in the Australian market. The model has a body length of 17 feet and an overall towable length of 23 feet, features 6-foot bunk beds, an optional triple-bunk configuration, a convertible twin-to-queen bed, separate dual bench seating/dining, internal wet bath, portable induction cooktop, Smart TV, and external hot and cold shower. Standard off-grid equipment includes off-road airbag suspension, a 690W solar system, a 460Ah heated lithium battery, a 3kW inverter, DC-to-DC charging, full-size spare tire, dual heated freshwater tanks, and a heated gray water tank. The first U.S.-specification units are in production; the American debut will be at Overland East Expo in Virginia from Oct. 23-25, followed by the SEMA Show in Las Vegas from Nov. 3-6.

The Venice Neighborhood Council has scheduled a town hall on illegally parked RVs, campers, and vans for Wednesday, October 28, at the First Lutheran Church of Venice, 815 Venice Blvd. Doors open at 6:00 PM. The event will feature a moderated panel discussion, a legislative update by LA City Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11), and 90 minutes of public Q&A. Panelists include representatives from the Mayor's office, LADOT Parking Enforcement, LASAN, and LAHSA. The town hall follows months of deliberation; a moderator has not yet been selected.

Camper van manufacturer DM Vans, founded in Gypsum, Colorado, in 2018, has produced 800 vehicles. The company now builds its lineup to RVIA standards at a factory in Rifle. In May, it sold out its 2026 model year three months ahead of plan. For 2027, every model from the 18-foot LV3 to the 21-foot LV7 will come standard with 600 amp-hours of lithium power, 400 watts of solar, a composting toilet, insulated window covers and a full-length roof rack. Reservations for 2027 builds are open, with prices starting at $99,800 including the Ram ProMaster chassis.

The roundup features five pickup truck campers that cost less than full-size RVs and travel trailers. The units range from 350 lbs to under 1,000 lbs and are suitable for mid-size trucks. Prices: Moonlander by Radica from $8,000, Go Fast Campers Platform Camper V2 Pro from $8,000, Lone Peak Camper V2 from $7,000, Four Wheel Campers Project M from $12,500, and Scout Yoho around $25,000. All are lighter and cheaper than traditional campers, making off-road travel more accessible.

Forest Grove Fire & Rescue crews extinguished a fire that destroyed a fifth-wheel RV trailer and two passenger vehicles on a rural Gales Creek property in Washington County, Oregon, on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Firefighters arrived around 10 a.m. to find the RV and two nearby cars on fire; a live power line to a nearby house under construction had burned and fallen, creating a hazard. Crews brought the flames under control in about 15 minutes and prevented the fire from spreading to the under-construction home. One person living in the trailer was evaluated for smoke inhalation but did not require hospitalization. The cause remains under investigation.

Australian company Headspace Campers has developed a lifting roof conversion for the Land Rover Defender 90 and 110, turning the 4x4 into a compact pop-top camper with a sleeping area. The conversion adds 140mm to the vehicle's height when closed and 95kg to its weight; when open, it provides close to two metres of standing room. The mattress is 1,300mm wide, and the Defender 110 version offers a 2,500mm-long bed. Two specifications are available: Standard and Premium, priced from AUD $16,826 and AUD $23,533 respectively, before engineering and installation costs. The company ships internationally and has already carried out Defender 110 installations in the UK.

A neighbor rescued two dogs and a cat from a burning camper trailer near a Tooele mobile home park on Sunday morning, according to Tooele County Fire officials. The incident occurred in Tooele, Utah.

YouTuber Quiet Nerd built a fully electric 8-wheeled camper with a wooden body and tank steering. The project uses eight 48V 1000W motors, allowing it to spin 360 degrees on the spot.

A 2025 Ford Maverick XLT completed a five-week, 6,500-mile trip towing a 2026 Forest River R-Pod 171 camper weighing 3,200 pounds. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost pickup, equipped with the 4K Tow Package, handled mountain grades of 7% or more and repeated crossings of the Continental Divide without issues. Reported fuel economy was 15–16 mpg in the mountains. The driver reported nervous moments only from crosswinds near Cheyenne, Wyoming, gusting to 40–50 mph, which closed the highway.

Eugene Springfield Fire crews responded to an RV fire on Franklin Blvd. in Springfield, Oregon, early Friday morning. The fire fully engulfed the vehicle and reached utility and power lines overhead. Crews brought the fire under control within six minutes of arrival; utility lines sustained minor damage and power to the area was not impacted. No victims or injuries were reported.

A legal settlement requiring Mountain View to maintain at least 3 miles of streets with two-sided parking for oversized vehicles expires on Feb. 28, 2027. The settlement, fully effective in February 2023, also mandated a city map of parking restrictions. A June city staff report counted 306 inhabited vehicles in August 2025, rising to 438 seven months later, of which 402 were RVs and trailers. The report attributed the increase to the removal of street parking on El Camino Real for bike lanes and more restrictive policies in neighboring cities, including Palo Alto. After expiration, the city council could adopt additional regulations; three new council members will be elected in November.

A Maine resident living off-grid in an RV said a neighbor's complaint led to a visit from local code enforcement. The town, with about 1,000 residents, limits RV living to 120 days. The owner uses a SunMar composting toilet and natural soaps but was unsure of local rules. The code officer asked about solid waste, a gray water plan, and right-of-way issues, and ultimately said the owner was 'all set.' The discussion highlighted that even simple setups may require gray water, septic, access, or permit planning to be compliant.

An RV parked along Water Street crashed through the seawall Wednesday morning, leaving a large hole. The vehicle is owned by Gary and Donna Sinrich of North Carolina, who were on a road trip; Gary Sinrich said he accidentally pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake. Both were uninjured. Town officials said repairs could take several days, and temporary concrete barriers are being installed due to a potential nor'easter this weekend.

SITKA Gear and Scout Campers have unveiled the limited-edition SITKA x Scout Camper in SITKA's Optifade Open Country camouflage. Priced at $55,000, only 10 units will be available in the United States and Canada. The camper features a GORE-TEX upholstered interior, a heated gear locker, a custom Zarges bow mount, MOLLE panels, Richlite countertops, pre-wired Starlink Mini, Garmin Power Switch integration, a diesel heater, and Baja Designs lighting.

Woodland Trails Resort on Strawberry Lake in Minnesota is closing permanently after 26 years in business. The owners cited rapidly escalating lakefront values, making it unfeasible to sell the resort as a business. About 70 seasonal camper owners and lot renters were informed by email on Sept. 21 that the resort will not reopen, and all personal property must be removed by the end of October when the current business insurance expires. The owners are exploring an interim insurance policy that could allow winter storage for a fee.