Strauss proposes new rules, services for vehicle residents

A mother and her three children under the age of 10 died in a fire that engulfed a fifth-wheel camper in rural Eagle Point, Oregon, on August 9. The fire was reported at 12:47 p.m. on Leafwood Drive. One family member escaped with minor injuries. The cause is under investigation, but authorities believe it was a non-criminal accident.

Yard 65 Restaurant and Brewery in Kiel, Wisconsin, has applied for a conditional use permit to join the Harvest Host program, which allows overnight RV parking. The permit would limit stays to one or two nights, with a maximum of two RVs at a time, at the owner's discretion. City staff report the permit would not significantly impact neighboring properties, traffic, utilities, or municipal services. The city council will consider the request at its next meeting.

A trailer fire on undeveloped land east of Redmond, Oregon, late Saturday night injured one person and left the fire district with no available emergency apparatus. Because all district fire resources were tied up with the fire, Redmond Fire & Rescue was unable to send the appropriate number of responders to a separate high-priority medical call in the city. First responders arrived around 11 p.m. to find the trailer fully involved in flames, which had spread to nearby rubbish piles. Initial response included three brush engines, one medic unit, one battalion chief and nine firefighters; an additional medic unit transported the injured civilian.

A couple of airline pilots from Dallas started an RV rental business, investing about $782,000 in seven vehicles. Revenue was approximately $114,000 in 2024 and $95,000 in 2025. The business is not yet profitable but provides tax deductions and asset accumulation.

A Ford Maverick Hybrid with the 4K Tow Package towed a 16-foot Bushwhacker Plus travel trailer weighing about 2,400 pounds over 5,000 miles, achieving a reported 16.2 mpg. However, the oil-life monitor dropped to 8% after 3,400 miles since the last oil change, suggesting an interval of about 3,500 miles under severe towing conditions. The route included 10% grades in the Bighorn Mountains and high elevations, increasing engine load.

A 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Activity AWD owner reports towing a loaded Coleman Lantern LT 18RB trailer weighing 3,440 pounds, just 60 pounds below Hyundai's published 3,500-pound towing limit. Owner Dan Mathisen confirmed the weight was measured on a scale and has towed the trailer over California mountain grades, including the Sierra Nevada and the Grapevine, without issues. He uses an Equal-i-zer weight-distribution hitch and an Echo wireless brake controller. The story highlights that dry trailer weight can differ significantly from actual loaded weight, and that maximum tow rating is not the only number to consider.