Campervan, RV & Vanlife News
As the season ends, a caravan must be prepared for winter storage to prevent damage. Drain all water from tanks and pipes, leaving taps open, ensure interior ventilation, disconnect or remove the battery and store it in a dry place, and slightly overinflate the tires. If stored outdoors, use a breathable cover.
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Trigano Group has launched Atom, a new UK camper brand. Sales are handled directly by Atom, while physical partners remain involved in viewing, handover and warranty work. The initial line-up comprises four versions based on the Volkswagen Crafter: the Atom 600B and 600G, both around six metres long and designed for two people, each available in Core and Element trims. Production takes place at Auto-Trail in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. The UK starting price is £61,940; a temporary launch price from £59,950 was also quoted. Orders are being taken in the UK only, with no European launch announced.
The Cubivan Camping System, developed by Florian Haller of Vanna Camp in South Tyrol, Italy, converts a passenger van into a camper using sliding and folding modules made of fiber-reinforced plastic with polyurethane insulation. The rear module extends and unfolds into a compact kitchen with a cooktop, sink, 25-liter water tank, and a small refrigerator, and also contains a slide-out toilet and shower. A roof module opens into a 200 x 200 cm double bed. The system will be available for the Ford Tourneo Custom, Mercedes Vito, VW ID. Buzz, and VW Caravelle. Pre-orders are open until December 31, 2026; market launch is expected in early summer 2027, with pre-orders granting priority and a €1000 discount.
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Dutch municipalities set their own rules for parking motorhomes on public roads. In most areas, recreational vehicles may stay for a maximum of three consecutive days; exceeding this can result in a fine of 139 euros (130 euros fine plus 9 euros administrative costs). Motorhomes longer than 6 metres or higher than 2.40 metres are often banned from parking within built-up areas. Emmen allows caravans and motorhomes for up to five days, and from 1 May to 1 September for up to fourteen days, but large motorhomes over 6 metres or 2.40 metres high are limited to three days. Heerlen also applies a five-day limit. Diemen prohibits parking in one spot for more than three days, while Nieuwegein restricts only designated roads. Enforcement often starts after complaints from residents; towing at the owner's expense is possible. Exemptions can be requested in advance.
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AL-KO has unveiled the Mammut Galaxy caravan mover, weighing 25 kg for single-axle caravans up to 2,500 kg with an AL-KO chassis and U-connection. The device reaches speeds over 1.0 km/h and offers three modes: precision, standard and boost. It is controlled via a remote with a joystick and colour LCD display, usable in the dark. The mover is also available for tandem-axle caravans up to 3,500 kg, handles gradients up to 35% and obstacles up to 4 cm. Power options include 18V CAS batteries, PowerXtreme lithium-ion or Optima BlueTop 75Ah. It will be shown at the Kampeer en Caravan Jaarbeurs in Utrecht from 30 September to 4 October.
The new EU driving licence directive, in force since late 2025, allows motorhomes with a permissible maximum mass between 3,500 and 4,250 kg to fall under category B. However, drivers will need to complete additional training, pass a driving test, or both. The Netherlands must implement the main provisions by 26 November 2028 and apply the new rules from 26 November 2029. Until then, the current 3,500 kg limit for category B remains for petrol or diesel motorhomes; vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500 kg require a C1 licence. Since 1 July 2025, the Netherlands already has a national exemption allowing B licence holders to drive a truck or motorhome up to 4,250 kg, but only if the vehicle is not powered exclusively by petrol or diesel, the driver has held the licence for at least two years, no trailer is used, and the exemption applies only within the country.
Polish company Tomplan, which has produced transport and recreational products for over 25 years, has focused on trailer caravans for the past eleven years and now sells them across Europe. All models — Mini Tommy, Tommy BD and Tommy — have a maximum permissible weight of 750 kg. The Mini Tommy is available in a basic version and a version with a kitchen; the Tommy BD and Tommy feature sleeping areas, a kitchen with a two-burner hob, a fridge and a full bathroom with shower and Thetford cassette toilet. Standard equipment includes a 32-litre fresh water tank, waste water system, battery, 230V and 12V installations, LED lighting and USB ports; heating is optional. Payload depends on the specific mass of the caravan, limiting how much luggage can be added.
Roller Team has unveiled the Kronos Fit 235 TL, the shortest model in the Kronos Fit range at 5.99 metres long and 2.15 metres wide, built on a Ford Transit and homologated for four occupants. Instead of a rear garage, it uses a pull-out platform for a scooter or two e-bikes. The maximum permissible weight remains 3,500 kg, requiring careful accounting of optional equipment and payload. German magazine Promobil estimated in April 2026 a starting price below €70,000, while a French price list quotes €63,991 for the 165 hp version; no official Dutch price for the 2027 model has been published.
Camperworld Maastricht and NKC (Dutch Motorhome Club) have entered a strategic partnership one year before the first edition of the show, scheduled for 10–12 September 2027 at MECC Maastricht. NKC, with 65,000 members and a reach of about 1 million motorhome enthusiasts, will act as content partner, hosting the NKC Camper HUB for independent advice and contributing to the Inspiration Stage with presentations on motorhome travel, routes and maintenance. Organisers report that a significant portion of exhibition space has already been reserved and exhibitor demand is growing.
Laura converted a 40-year-old camper, purchased for €6,000, into a roughly 14 m² living space. After discovering rot in the wooden structures, she completely stripped the interior and did almost all the work herself. She estimates conversion and subsequent repair costs at €12,000–15,000. When stationary for long periods, insurance, breakdown cover and road tax cost €250–300 per month; when driving extensively, fuel can push this to around €700. Laura has been travelling for about 18 months, favouring Portugal and southern Spain.
Two people were injured on Wednesday when two trucks and a camper were involved in a rear-end collision on the A3 near Oberhausen, Germany, around 12:26. The camper driver was trapped and had to be freed by firefighters using technical equipment. Both occupants of the camper were taken to nearby hospitals; a trauma helicopter was called but not deployed. A dog was also injured and taken to a veterinary clinic. The A3 was temporarily fully closed, and about 30 emergency personnel responded. Police are investigating the cause.
The Bürstner Signature, named Camper of the Year 2026, has undergone its first test. The test vehicle is a pre-production model with under 1,000 km on the odometer, built on an Al-Ko chassis with independent rear suspension, which provides stable handling. The chassis is rated at 3,650 kg (category B), with a 140 hp engine and an optional automatic transmission in the test vehicle. The base price is just under €100,000; the tested configuration without a garage door is €125,000, and a similar setup in the configurator is €122,545 including BPM and delivery costs. Features include a 137-litre cooler drawer, two burners under a sliding glass panel, a sliding shower wall, and convertible seating.
In most municipalities in the Netherlands, campers and caravans may be parked in a parking space for no more than 3 days, with some cases allowing one day more or less. Exact rules are set out in the local General Local Ordinance (APV). Some municipalities also restrict vehicle size and prohibit parking within built-up areas. Restrictions may also apply to private parking spaces or driveways if they affect the street scene. Fines for exceeding the limit average around 90 euros.
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Manchester City forward Erling Haaland imported a 2022 Supreme x Airstream Travel Trailer from the US to Europe. Only 100 units were made, with a starting price of about $90,000.
Niewiadow has unveiled the N-Cross 3 Black, a compact caravan for three people. The 2027 model measures 5.61 m long and 2.23 m wide, with a body made of insulated sandwich panels with an aluminium outer layer. Inside, two seating areas convert into a double bed of 143 by 205 cm and a single bed of 63 by 199 cm, a kitchen with a two-burner gas hob, sink and 55-litre Dometic compressor fridge, a wet cell with cassette toilet and shower, a wardrobe, a Truma S3004 gas heater, a 100 Ah gel battery and a 30-litre water tank. A digital touchscreen controls lighting and system levels. Black plastic exterior elements distinguish the Black version from the regular N-Cross, but the model is not intended for off-road use.
German manufacturer Fendt has presented the layout of the Bianco Activ 445 SFB caravan. The trailer sleeps four: parents in a fixed French bed and children on a converted corner sofa. The model measures 6.77 m long and 2.32 m wide, has a kerb weight of 1,274 kg and a maximum mass optionally upgradeable to 1,500 kg. Equipment includes a 157-litre Dometic fridge, a 25-litre water tank and a Truma Combi 4 heater with an integrated 10-litre boiler.
AlpacaCamping and Deutsche Schadenregulierung DSR24 have announced a partnership under which DSR24 becomes a supporting member for green pitch growth. The AlpacaCamping booking platform already lists over 4,500 nature-based pitches with private hosts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. DSR24 offers free claims settlement support, including specially trained assessors for campers and a legal department. AlpacaClub members gain fast access to this assistance in the event of a no-fault accident.
For the 2027 season, Pilote has revised the front-end styling of its motorhomes and reworked the 690D layout without a floor-level bed. The models will be presented at the Paris-Le Bourget show from 26 September to 4 October. The garage has been enlarged by 25%, and the length is 7.11 m for the integral and 7.02 m for the low-profile. The layout is available in Evidence and Expression trims.
At Caravan Salon 2026, Robeta unveiled the Hercules camper van based on a Mercedes Sprinter (190 hp, automatic) with a length of 6.97 m. The interior features a rotating dinette bench, an induction cooktop, a lit display cabinet, and an optional wine cooler. The bed measures 200/185 × 160 cm and has a lifting mechanism. Standard tanks include 107 L fresh water, 80 L grey water, and 40 L toilet; an optional off-grid package adds two 500 Ah lithium batteries, an inverter, and solar panels.
Cubivan presented the CCS system: a rear module slides out with kitchen and bathroom, a roof module becomes a bedroom. Compatible with Volkswagen Caravelle, Ford Tourneo Custom and Mercedes Vito/V-Klasse.