RV News: Thor’s Hybrid RV Wins Another Award, Outside Van is Moving, and the Best Places to Camp in the Country
Other stories include ten truths about living in a camper van and a new cooler collection from Dometic.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: THOR/Harbinger
The calendar says it’s Friday, which means it’s time for another edition of our weekly round-up of the latest news from the RV and camping space. Here are the biggest stories from the past seven days that you might want to know about:
Photo Credit: THOR/Harbinger
- Thor Wins Major Award for Hybrid Class A Model: We’ve shared news on Thor’s exciting Test Vehicle, which rides on a hybrid gas-electric chassis co-developed with Harbinger Motors. This week, the RV manufacturer earned further recognition when it took home a “World Changing Ideas” award from Fast Company. The annual awards are given out to businesses and other organizations that are tackling the biggest issues of our day. In this case, Thor’s prototype—soon to be a commercial product—promises a 500-mile range using an onboard gas generator to charge its hybrid battery packs. Read more here.
Photo Credit: Storyteller Overland
- Storyteller Overland Wins an Award, Too: Thor wasn’t the only RV manufacturer taking home prestigious honors this week. Alabama-based Storyteller Overland also gained some much-deserved recognition in the form of a 2025 Red Dot Award. The brand’s excellent GXV Hilt off-road vehicle was spotlighted, with the awards jury saying: “The GXV HILT convincingly combines robust construction with functional features and contemporary comfort.” We agree with that statement wholeheartedly.
- Outside Van is Moving: For 18 years, Outside Van has been building unique Class B camper vans in Portland, OR, but later this year it will relocate to Gainesville, GA. The company was purchased by Fox Factory Holding Corp. in 2021, and the move will streamline operations and manufacturing. Our friends at RV News have more information here.
Image Courtesy of Hillary Bird
- GearJunkie Shares “10 Van Life Truths Everyone Should Know”: While we’re on the subject of camper vans, GearJunkie posted an interesting story this week about what it’s actually like to live in a Class B model for extended periods of time. The article is called “10 Van Life Truths Everyone Should Know,” and it includes tips on how to find good campsites, the best ways to maintain relationships, and why you should make sure the toilet is depressurized before opening it at altitude. There is a ton of wisdom to be found here, especially for those who dream about #vanlife and are aspiring to join that crowd. Read it for yourself here.
- Hipcamp Announces Best Places to Camp in America for 2025: If you need to find a great place to camp in the US, Hipcamp has always been a great option. But this week, the online discovery and booking service announced the 2025 Hipcamp Awards, revealing the best places to camp in the country. The awards are broken down into several categories—including tent camping, RV camping, glamping, and more—with some truly outstanding locations getting the nod. We won’t spoil the winners here, so you’ll have to head over to the Hipcamp website to discover them all for yourself.
- Keystone Puts New Furrion A/C to the Test in Death Valley: The advances in RV air conditioning technology have been incredibly impressive over the past few years, with A/C units getting more powerful and energy-efficient at a steady pace. Case in point, Keystone RV recently traveled to Death Valley to put the new Furrion Chill Cube through its paces. The new unit produces 18,000 BTUs and comes with a variable-speed compressor, soft start capability, and is reportedly very quiet, too. So, how well did it perform in the notoriously harsh conditions of Death Valley? Check out the video above to find out.
- Dometic Reveals “Unrestricted” Cooler Collection: Dometic is well known in the RV industry for its excellent line of powered coolers. But the company makes a wide range of other products for use at the campsite and in the outdoors. This week, that catalog expanded even further with the introduction of the Unrestricted Collection of soft coolers. The new product line-up includes two totes (regular and XL), two backpacks (regular and small), and a duffel. The bags are all made from durable 100% recycled Cordura and use PrimaLoft Gold insulation. Each is available now starting at $140.
Image Courtesy of Manu Reyes/Getty
- New Report Spotlights Trends for Modern RVers: Newbook, a company that creates property management software for campgrounds, has released its RV & Camping Consumer Insights Report for 2025, revealing some interesting trends in the process. The report was compiled from a survey of over 1,000 American RVers, with some surprising trends coming to the forefront. On a higher level, the results show that RVers are most interested in quick getaways closer to home, and value clean facilities and good internet connectivity as much as they do beautiful landscapes and traditional camping experiences. Dig a little deeper into the stats, and you’ll find that 78% of campground guests expect high-speed wireless internet. Other interesting notes include Gen Z and Millennials are four times as likely to book a tent camping trip compared to Baby Boomers, while 64% of travelers now book their trips online, with younger age groups leading the way in that category, too. Read more here.
- Indianapolis Colts Partner with Holiday Rambler: The dog days of July can only mean one thing—NFL training camps are about to open ahead of the kickoff of the regular season on September 5. As the Indianapolis Colts prepare for the start of their camp on July 23, the team has entered into a multi-year partnership with RV manufacturer Holiday Rambler. The two organizations will work together on a sweepstakes this fall, presumably to give away an RV. And in addition to a game-day experience for fans who attend home games, Holiday Rambler will also supply motorhomes at training camp to allow mothers a private space to breastfeed their children and address other needs.
That’s it for this week. Join us again next Friday for another rundown of the biggest news from the RV industry.
Kraig Becker is a writer in the RV, outdoors, and adventure travel space. Over the course of his career he has contributed to such outlets as Popular Mechanics, Outside Online, Business Insider, TripSavvy, Digital Trends, GearJunkie, The Adventure Blog, and countless others. And avid runner and cyclist, he enjoys camping, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and just about any other outdoor activity. His travels have taken him to seven continents and on many amazing adventures.
