Tacoma with rooftop tent for backcountry adventures in New Mexico and Utah

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.

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.

On July 30, a tractor-trailer collided with an RV on US 25 in Buncombe County. A juvenile passenger was ejected and taken to Mission Hospital with serious injuries.

After her divorce, Eva sold everything and converted a 2016 Chevrolet Express 3500 van into a motorhome named Betti for about €30,500. With a friend's help, she completed the main work in six weekends, including insulation, wiring, and a cab-to-living-area door. The total budget, including the van, reached around $35,000. The motorhome features 400W solar panels, two Jackery batteries, a kitchen with 68 liters of water, a fridge, Webasto heating, and a dry toilet.