Campervan, RV & Vanlife News
Vietnamese traveller Tran Dang Dang Khoa stayed in Turkey from early August to late September 2026 as part of a round-the-world road trip. Due to visa restrictions, he could not drive through Syria and Iraq and entered the country on an e-visa, while his small truck with Vietnamese licence plates arrived by sea at the port of Yaromca near Istanbul. Khoa visited Ankara, Cappadocia, Trabzon, Antalya and Mardin, staying at free campsites and coastal spots. He noted high prices: petrol at times exceeded UK levels, a coffee in central Istanbul costs 120 lira, and the Museum Pass costs 165 euro. He plans to continue through the Caucasus, then cross the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and possibly Afghanistan; he will spend the winter in Kazakhstan and aims to return the vehicle to Vietnam on 1 June 2027.
At the Caravan Salon Düsseldorf trade show (August 28 – September 6), Cubivan presented the Cubivan Camping System, a modular system that converts a five-seat van into a motorhome for two. The system comprises two main modules: a slide-out rear unit with a kitchen and toilet, and a pop-up roof with a bed measuring approximately 2 x 2 m. The kitchen and bathroom share one space: the kitchen block folds away to free up the room for showering and toilet use. The prototype is based on a Volkswagen ID. Buzz; future compatibility is planned with Volkswagen Caravelle, Ford Tourneo Custom and Mercedes-Benz Vito. Orders will open in summer 2027, with an estimated price of 22,000–25,000 euros for the complete set, excluding the vehicle.
China
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Xiaomi has launched the Skynomad N90 Max Explorer Edition with an electric pop-up roof that turns the crossover into a two-story camper. In China, the price is 300,000 yuan.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has bought a classic Airstream motorhome, ordered from the US. In a new YouTube video, he showed the vehicle, fully styled by Supreme, including the interior and awning. The price of such a model exceeds £67,000. Haaland said he plans to use the motorhome for trips and overnight stays.
United States
An American YouTuber converted his car into a mini motorhome for a cost comparable to a Honda Wave motorcycle. The result includes air conditioning and a shower, far cheaper than a new motorhome, which can cost up to $70,000.
United States
YouTuber President Chay turned his pickup into a removable mini-camper for under $1000 (about 26 million dong). It features two beds, a sofa, a mini-kitchen, AC, and a TV.
Residents of the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto are temporarily relocating for a major utility upgrade. About 90% will stay within 4 miles, and the move may take up to eight months. The project is funded by a $24.5 million state grant that must be spent by June 30, 2027.
United States
Levi Kelly built a 1.8-square-meter motorhome on a single-axle trailer. It includes a bed, kitchen, air conditioning, and a toilet. The project cost $5,000.
China
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Liu Peijin, 69, from Weifang, converted a 7-seat car into a mobile home to travel with his wife, partially paralyzed due to diabetes. They visited 31 provinces over 12 years.
Actress and singer Cecilia Cheung stated that the motorhome she uses for work travel has become a second home for her and her three sons. While appearing in Qingdao, she mentioned the RV, which is equipped with belongings for each child. Cheung maintains a permanent residence in Hong Kong but uses the motorhome while on tour.
German manufacturer Sealander offers a towable trailer that can be used on roads and then launched into water as a motorboat. The 4.69-meter model, weighing up to 750 kg, sleeps two and starts at €39,750, excluding the outboard engine.
Residents of San Jose Mobile Home & RV Park say owner Monte Christo Communities is pressuring them to sign new leases and issuing violation notices, which they see as retaliation for forming a tenants association.
Brazilian manufacturer Easy Trailers has completed the T900 Special Project, a custom-built luxury travel trailer. The 9-meter-long, 2.3-meter-wide trailer (expanding to 2.9 meters) features two slide-outs, two bathrooms, a kitchen with appliances, and Alexa voice control. Weighing 4,940 kg, it is designed to be towed by a RAM pickup truck. The price has not been disclosed, but one website listed it for 1 million Brazilian reals (about 193,000 USD).
The Kempy-chaty.cz portal has published a ranking of five campsites in the Czech Republic with the highest visitor ratings this season. The list includes Vranovská pláž, Camping Olšina, Kemp Keramika, Autocamping Rozkoš and Autokemp u Kosů. The campsites were assessed on infrastructure quality for caravans and motorhomes, cleanliness and additional services.
Bloomberg analysts link a decline in hotel occupancy in China to the growing trend of sleeping in electric vehicles. For the week of July 6-12, average hotel occupancy was 62.3%, down 3% year-on-year. RevPAR fell to 209.6 yuan. Budget hotels saw an 8.2% drop in revenue per available room, and mid-range hotels 7.8%. Tourist numbers did not decline, but spending shifted from accommodation to camping in EVs.
Germany
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Nissan and Eifelland unveiled the Interstar-e Relax camper based on the electric van. The Truma Eezy heater runs off the battery via V2L, range up to 410 km, price €89,900.
Czechia has over 66,000 registered motorhomes, with sales up 28% in the first half of the year. Marek Knieža, director of TIP Cars, advises buyers to consider driving licence requirements based on vehicle weight and to choose domestic routes for their first trip. Overnight stays outside designated areas are banned in most countries, except Germany, where sleeping in some locations is allowed.
According to the National Energy Administration (NEA), China had over 21 million EV charging points by Q1 2026, up about 50% year-on-year. This has fueled a 'car camping' trend where owners use EVs as mobile homes, saving on hotels. The IEA reports China accounts for over 65% of global public charging points and over 80% of fast chargers. Automakers like XPeng and BYD add sleep modes and V2L features for cooking and work. The camping accessories market is projected to reach $72 billion by 2030, per iiMedia Research.
A growing number of Chinese travelers are sleeping in their electric or hybrid vehicles instead of hotels, enabled by an extensive charging network (over 21 million points as of Q1 2026) and a fleet of more than 44 million new-energy vehicles. The trend has spawned a multi-billion-yuan market for accessories like custom mattresses and window shades. However, cities such as Shenzhen and Sanya have restricted overnight parking in parks due to complaints about littering and space occupation.
A rare 1989 Outbacker camper, made almost entirely of plastic, has been listed for sale in the US. The cabin weighs about 50 kg (per manufacturer) or about 102 kg (per owners) and can be detached from the trailer and placed on the ground like a tent. Total weight with chassis is about 181 kg. Price is around $4,000, comparable to a Honda SH 160i scooter. Only about 400 units were produced.