Campervan, RV & Vanlife News

The Caçadores de Bons Exemplos project, founded by Iara and Eduardo in 2011, marks 15 years. Over that time, the couple has driven more than 1 million km, published 11 books and given numerous lectures. For the new stage, they presented an expedition setup: a hybrid BYD Shark pickup and a fully customized trailer by Itu Trailer, which serves as home, office and recording studio. The project has opened sponsorship slots for 2026–2028, offering brands participation through trailer decals, content creation and lectures.

The parish council of S. Julião in Figueira da Foz has decided to create specific regulations to control and monitor the parking of heavy goods vehicles and motorhomes. Critical points named include Avenida Dr. Manuel Gaspar de Lemos, opposite Dr. João de Barros Basic School, and Avenida Joaquim de Carvalho. The council proposes that the parish assembly approve the regulation and asks the Figueira da Foz municipality to ban long-term parking of heavy vehicles and to regulate motorhome parking so that such vehicles can only stay in designated areas. The municipality approved a new concession model for parking management, increasing paid spaces from 1,440 to 2,540 (up 76%) and raising the base hourly rate from €0.50 to €0.70 (up 40%), with a special rate of €1.20 per hour during the bathing season. The parish council demands the suspension and review of the new tariff model.

Elizete Ribeiro, 52, and João Mancilha, 57, from Campo Grande, Brazil, completed an 11-month motorhome journey to Alaska. They crossed 21 countries, including Brazil, witnessed the northern lights in Canada, and filmed Elizete running on the frozen Arctic Ocean. The couple plans to visit Bocas del Toro, Panama, before returning to Campo Grande.

Police checks on overnight parking of motorhomes and caravans have increased in coastal areas of France. The fine for violating a ban on parking between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. is 135 euros. Restrictions are justified by the need to protect natural spaces, reduce noise and prevent overcrowding; travellers are being pushed toward paid sites. Authorities advise checking local regulations, reading signs and having a backup location within 30 minutes.

At a GWM brand experience event in Baldim, Minas Gerais, a modified GWM Poer P30 pickup was displayed as a compact motorhome. The interior was optimized with a bed, compact kitchen, and bathroom. Air conditioning and power management systems are also included. The cost of the conversion was not disclosed. The GWM Poer P30 has seen significant sales in Brazil.

The Movement for Conscious and Itinerant Motorhoming (MOVACI) held its national gathering in Viseu, bringing together dozens of motorhomes at the weekly fairgrounds, where they will remain until tomorrow. Participants have been exploring the city, municipality, and region, including rides on the Dão Ecotrail, while also taking advantage of the ongoing 'Outono Quente' festival and the Viseu International Literary Festival. The organization also arranged activities such as zumba classes, concerts, and makeup workshops. MOVACI has over 300 members and aims to create a community of motorhomers committed to environmental preservation and responsible tourism.

A German couple, aged 66 and 69, spent the night in their motorhome on a dirt parking area near Lavadores beach in Canidelo, Vila Nova de Gaia. At the time of the journalist's visit, they were working on computers inside the vehicle. The man is an engineer; the woman is a retired teacher who now runs a small beauty products business.

Greater Porto lacks parking, overnight spots and service stations for emptying wastewater and cleaning motorhomes. As a result, motorhome owners occupy prohibited areas, including the former Seca do Bacalhau in Canidelo, where parking is banned. They are calling for more authorised locations, particularly near beaches, or they will choose other parts of the country.

Fernando and Ana spent years unable to stretch their pension to cover a full month. They sold everything and moved into a 27-year-old Fiat Ducato Maxi named La Vaca. By eliminating fixed costs tied to a house, car and mortgage, they found the same pension now lasts to the end of the month with money left over. The vehicle had about 84,000 km when purchased and now shows over 127,000 km; maintenance costs have increased.

In the US, a retired bus driver couple converted an old American school bus into a full-time mobile home, a project known as a skoolie. The interior now features a fixed bed, kitchen counter, cabinets, and a compact bathroom. Conversions can cost from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, roughly R$52,000 to R$261,000. Owners emphasize the need for proper insulation, ventilation, and compliance with state registration and parking rules.

In episode 195 of the Papo Solar podcast, Ericka Araújo and Bruno Kikumoto discussed the energy system of a motorhome. Guests included Edimar Promucena, Brazil Sales Manager at Victron Energy, and Eduardo Macedo, a physicist from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. The episode demonstrated how solar panels, batteries and energy management systems work together to power a refrigerator, lighting and outlets off-grid. It also covered how consumption profile and storage capacity affect a motorhome's energy autonomy.

Área Carrascosa, a new service area for motorhomes, caravans and campers, has opened in Carrascosa del Campo with support from Invierte en Cuenca.

In Guarulhos (SP), Nathália Custódio and Murillo Átilla founded Namu, a company that converts utility vehicles, mainly Kombis, into motorhomes. In 2024, revenue reached R$ 800,000. The first vehicle was built by hand with an initial investment of R$ 8,000; nearly 150 vehicles have been converted to date. One project for the Costa family cost R$ 28,000 and included an indoor bathroom. The company delivers up to four vehicles per month.

The first Motorhome Gathering will take place in Marechal Cândido Rondon from October 22 to 24 as part of the Oktoberfest programme. A dedicated area for motorhomes will be set up next to the Ney Braga Sports Gymnasium, where participants can stay during the event. Some motorhomes will also take part in the Oktoberfest allegorical parade. The gathering is supported by the Marechal Rondon city government and Proem.

Rita Barros and Rodrigo Machado bought a 1985 Renault Trafic in July 2025 and converted it for travel, naming it Jacinto Pinto.

French manufacturer Pilote has unveiled its 2027 lineup of 25 models: nine Fiat-based profiles, twelve Fiat-based integrals and four narrow Ford-based profiles. Models P620D, P690S and P720P are dropped.

JT Collective Tiny Homes has unveiled the Magnolia, a movable tiny house built on a two-axle trailer. The standard configuration measures 7.9 metres long and about 2.6 metres wide, with a wider option available. The interior includes a kitchen with an oven, two-burner stove, fridge-freezer and dishwasher, plus a vertical washer-dryer. The bedroom is in a mezzanine, with a bathroom below containing a shower, sink and toilet. Cabinets and shelves are built into the staircase. Prices start at US$102,000.

Ilca, Paulo and Nescau left the corporate sector in São Paulo in 2025 to embark on a multi-year journey from Brazil to Alaska in a converted 3 m² Chevrolet S10 4x4 pickup. They have already visited 35 countries and recently backpacked through Asia. The project involves converting the vehicle into a motorhome and covering a route across multiple countries and borders.

On 21 September in the municipality of Sines, Portugal, the GNR conducted a raid against camping and caravanning outside authorised locations. 31 administrative offence reports were filed.

At a meeting of the Tomar municipal council, resident Vítor Santos from the Madalena parish demanded action against illegal dumping from motorhomes and caravans at the Castelo de Bode reservoir. He claimed the dumping is carried out by converted vans, while standard motorhomes have 120-litre fresh and waste water tanks and cassette toilets that last a week. Councillor José Delgado reaffirmed his earlier statements, saying he is not responsible for classifying vehicle types but must report illegal operations, and called for increased surveillance of the area. He also urged the municipality to find a solution for designated motorhome parking spaces in Tomar.