The Real Cost of Van Life: A Climbing Magazine Editor's Breakdown

In St. Louis County, Minnesota, a motor home caught fire on Tuesday morning while parked along Highway 7. The woman and her dog, the only occupants, escaped uninjured, but the vehicle was declared a total loss. According to the sheriff's office, the fire started in the engine compartment after the camper experienced engine issues.

A nearly decade-old Tru Form Tiny house on wheels is for sale in California for $89,000. Built in 2017, it features a kitchen with quartz countertops, a full bathroom, and an upstairs bedroom. The sale is tied to a lot in Tiny Tranquility Park Redwoods. Amid rising prices for new models, this offer is seen as a lower-cost alternative.

According to TheZebra.com, there is a shift in the US from full-time living in self-converted vans to using professionally built adventure vans for occasional trips. The change is driven by rising material and fuel costs, as well as insurance challenges for custom builds. The average cost of a full DIY van conversion exceeds $80,000, and insurance for such vehicles may only cover the value of an empty shell. The national average gas price in the US reached $4.99 per gallon in 2022 and stood at $4.48 in May 2026.

Montour Township Police are searching for a Chevrolet Sunseeker camper that struck a height-limit sign on the historic Rupert Covered Bridge on June 13 at approximately 4:50 p.m. and fled the scene. The bridge, built in 1847, is the oldest surviving covered bridge in Columbia County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Officer Alex Hernandez.

A Florida man faces animal cruelty charges after three dogs were discovered dead in his camper trailer. The dogs were found weeks after his girlfriend was fatally mauled while trying to protect them.

A man in Berkeley, California, died from leptospirosis contracted in an RV where he and his partner were breeding wild rats. The couple, both in their 70s, had at least 100 rats and did not seek medical care for months. The woman also contracted the disease and was hospitalized. Nearly 200 rats were removed before the RV was towed and destroyed; cleanup is expected to take at least 30 days due to the bacteria's survival in soil.