Campervan, RV & Vanlife News
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.
Incidents
© O MIRANTE | Munícipe reclama despejos de autocaravanas e caravanas na Albufeira do Castelo de Bode.
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.
The Casinha Viageira project, in which a couple travels Brazil in a motorhome offering free storytelling and a mobile library, will end its first tour of Rio de Janeiro state on 26 September 2026 in Niterói at Praça Vital Brasil at 10:00. Admission is free. The Andanças Fluminenses tour has already visited Tanguá, Rio Bonito, Inhaúma, Grajaú, Tijuca and Manguinhos. Activities include playful performances, storytelling and access to a library of just over one hundred titles, plus a short tour of the motorhome.
Around 400 motorhomes gathered in Pomerode, Brazil, over the weekend for a large meeting of motorhome enthusiasts. The event brought together owners who travel without leaving home comforts behind.
Ford has unveiled the Transit Custom Nugget Plus camper, developed with Westfalia. The roof extends to a maximum height of 2.4 metres, 37 centimetres more than the standard variant. The interior includes a kitchen and living area with a dining table, a second-row bench for three passengers that converts into a bed, and a double bed in the upper section. Two power outputs are available for the 2.0 EcoBlue engine: 130 or 185 hp. First deliveries are scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.
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The third edition of the Motorhome Rally took place in Pato Bragado, Paraná, Brazil, bringing together more than 100 motorhomes and participants from various regions and other countries. Mayor John Nodari stated that the event boosted local commerce and promoted tourist attractions, including Porto Britânia, which is set to receive investments for improvements and revitalization, as well as the Municipal Lake. The rally was organized by a committee of local motorhome owners and the Municipal Department of Industry and Commerce.
The ROAM RV-LIFE FEST 2026 will take place on October 24–25 at Tsumagoi Resort in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, from 10:00 to 16:00. The event will feature an exhibition of motorhomes and other recreational vehicles, outdoor equipment, pet products and a food area. After 16:00, the main area will be reserved for registered camping and overnight vehicle participants. The FIELD SAUNA VILLAGE in Tsumagoi, organised with the Shizuoka Sauna Association, will include a bus sauna, barrel sauna, containers and tents; use requires advance reservation and costs ¥4,000, separate from the festival ticket. Advance tickets cost ¥1,000, while on-site admission is ¥1,100; children of elementary school age and younger enter free. The festival will proceed in rain but may be cancelled in severe weather. Dog owners must check rules in advance, including compliance with rabies vaccination and infectious disease prevention requirements; organisers may request proof of vaccination or antibody tests.
Laura Terra, 35, a journalist from Pelotas, and Bruno Rezende, 36, a videomaker from São Bernardo do Campo, live in a converted van they call Maresia e Marerê. The expedition began on 24 July in Barra do Chuí, at the southern tip of Brazil, and is expected to end in Oiapoque, Amapá, covering more than 8,500 km; the estimated duration is two to three years. The couple originally planned a South American tour, but after being defrauded during the van's conversion and exceeding their budget, they opted to start with Brazil's coast from south to north. They are accompanied by three cats; the journey is documented on social media under the name The Search Couple.
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At around 1:00 pm on Friday the 18th, a motorhome was completely destroyed by fire on the A13 in Portugal, near the Alvaiázere exit. Flames spread to nearby brush, but firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. Traffic in the northbound direction was restricted to one lane. The Alvaiázere fire brigade and the National Republican Guard (GNR) attended the scene.
Swedish company Kabe presented the Imperial TRAQ i830 in Germany — the first integrated motorhome based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with an optional Torque on Demand all-wheel-drive system. The Sprinter chassis with a 190 hp engine has rear-wheel drive with dual wheels, a gross vehicle weight of 5,500 kg and a gross combined weight of 7 t. Length is 8.32 m. The all-wheel-drive system uses a multi-disc clutch to automatically distribute torque between axles, reaching 50% to each in critical situations. A double floor houses a 200-litre fresh water tank and a 102-litre grey water tank (heated). The kitchen combines two gas burners and an induction cooktop. Prices start at about R$ 1.54 million (259,000 euros) without the all-wheel-drive option. The model is not sold in Brazil.
Former Brazilian deputy prosecutor-general Solange Mendes de Souza converted a motorhome into a home to carry her piano after retirement. The Piano Nômade project has covered Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Peru, logging nearly 50,000 km. The motorhome is equipped with solar panels, lithium batteries, a diesel stove and tanks for 260 litres of water. The next stage is North America (US, Mexico, Canada).
The 2026 Motorhome Gathering in Rio das Ostras, held September 4–6, had an estimated economic impact of R$ 415,000. According to a survey, 88% of tourists cited the event as the main reason for their trip, the average stay was five days, and 96% said they intended to return within a year.
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A municipal study estimates the economic impact of Encontro de Motorhomes 2026 in Rio das Ostras at 415.6 thousand reais. The event took place September 4–6 at Costazul.
Fernando and Ana, retirees in Spain, have lived for about three years in a 27-year-old Fiat Ducato Maxi motorhome they call “La Vaca”. According to their account, leaving their house eliminated fixed costs for water, electricity, condominium fees, garage and home internet. They carried out a wall repair themselves over five months at a cost of 1,631 euros, including exterior painting; Fernando said professional painting alone would have cost more than 3,000 euros. The couple admitted they had never calculated their expenses in detail but say they now have money left at the end of the month. According to INE, the median rent for new lease contracts in Portugal reached 9.46 euros per square metre in the first quarter of 2026, while the median price of transacted homes was 2,337 euros per square metre.
Law 66/2021, amending the rules on parking, overnight stays and stopping of motorhomes, was published in Diário da República and enters into force on Wednesday. Outside protected areas, overnight stays are allowed for motorhomes certified by IMT for a maximum of 48 hours in the same municipality. Overnight stays and parking are prohibited in Natura 2000 areas, protected areas and coastal management plan zones, except at expressly authorised locations. Where municipal regulations exist, they apply.
Vanessa Lourenço, 36, from São Paulo, became the first woman to travel alone by motorhome from the Americas to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the northernmost point of the continent accessible by road. She arrived on the 10th after nearly two years on the road. She built the motorhome herself. She now plans to drive to Ushuaia in southern Argentina before returning to Brazil.
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Compare across countriesAboard has unveiled the T4 caravan, equipped with a 100 kWh traction battery and an electric drive assistance system. The caravan can help the towing vehicle while driving and manoeuvre independently via smartphone or remote control. According to the manufacturer, the battery and roof-mounted solar panels allow it to operate for up to seven days without external power. Technical specifications, price and European market launch date have not been announced.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland showed off an Airstream International 684 caravan worth 78,000 euros on his YouTube channel. The caravan's interior is customised with the Supreme brand, which the footballer collects. Haaland said he will use it to travel and sleep in. The purchase adds to his car collection, which includes an Aston Martin DBX707, Audi RS 6 Avant, Bugatti Tourbillon, Ferrari Monza SP2, Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato, Mercedes-Maybach S 680 Virgil Abloh, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Range Rover Sport, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Shelby F-150 Super Snake.
At a Leiria municipal council meeting, PSD councilwoman Luísa Gonçalves raised the future of the Praia do Pedrógão campsite and highlighted issues with maintenance, cleaning, lighting and security. After visiting the site, she acknowledged storm damage but said that several months later problems affecting usability remain.