RV News: Newmar and McLemore Boys Collab on ‘Freedom Bus’, Overland Expo a Success, and More
Other news includes the Dyrt's list of best places to camp for free and the latest product from Yeti.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Newmar
It has been a relatively quiet week in the RV industry, but we still have some news to report from the past seven days. Here’s a few things that went down that you might want to know about:
Photo Credit: Newmar
- Newmar and the McLemore Boys Collab on Custom Class A Coach: This week, Newmar and the McLemore Boys unveiled a custom new rig that celebrates America 250 in style. The RV manufacturer noted that when the Big John and John Boy McLemore kicked off their “Grillin’ Across America” Freedom Tour, they went looking for a vehicle that could take them from coast to coast in comfort, while spinning tales and working the grill. The McLemores have built a massive online following for their “faith and family first” message, and now they’ll hit the road in what they’re calling the “Freedom Bus.” The Class A coach is a one-of-a-kind 2026 Newmar Essex with a custom paint job that will certainly grab attention. Read all about it here.
Photo Credit: Overland Expo
- 2026 Overland Expo West a Success!: The 2026 edition of Overland Expo West went down last weekend in Flagstaff, AZ, and by all accounts it was a resounding success. This year’s event welcomed more than 28,500 people and included 420 exhibitors, 320+ seminars, and representatives from all 50 states. Running from May 15-17, OEX West maintained its position as the top overlanding-focused show in the country with plenty to see and do. Organizers shared a recap video on YouTube that you can watch here. If you missed out on the expo this year, never fear. It will return in 2027 running from May 14-16. Start making your plans now.
Photo Credit: Storyteller Overland
- New Adventure Vehicles Debut at Overland Expo West: Speaking of OEX West, there were a number of unique and interesting adventure vehicles announced at the show, including highly capable off-road rigs from several notable manufacturers, including Storyteller Overland and Winnebago. We sorted through the major announcements and shared a rundown of those new vehicles earlier in the week. Check it out here.
Photo Credit: Pebble
- Pebble Launches New AI Assistant and iPhone App for Owners: Pebble, the company behind the high-tech, all-electric Pebble Flow travel trailer, launched two new great features for owners this week. First, the brand introduced Scout, an AI assistant designed to answer questions, troubleshoot issues, and provide guidance for the towable’s many features. And as if that wasn’t enough, it also launched a new iPhone app that allows owners to monitor and control their rigs remotely. We posted a full story, including a video, about these upgrades here.
Photo Credit: Entegra Coach
- Entegra Coach Welcomes Owners for 2026 Homecoming: The annual Entegra Coach Homecoming event took place from May 8-15, with more than 400 owners, staff, and suppliers on hand to celebrate. The meet-up went down at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen, IN, with attendees having the opportunity to take part in seminars, social events, live music, pickleball tournaments, a vendor fair, and more. RV News has a report here.
Photo Credit: The Dyrt
- The Dyrt Offers the Top 10 Best Places to Camp for Free: Look, times are tough right now, and life is expensive. But there are some things that are still affordable, like the outstanding campsites that made The Dyrt’s list of Top 10 Places to Camp for Free. The list is made up of great locations across the country, ranging from West Virginia to California, with several other states in between. A few of the locations that made the cut include Morgan Mountain Road/Spy Rock in Arkansas and Mt. Roosevelt in South Dakota. You’ll have to click here to see the rest of the list.
Photo Credit: welcomia/Getty
- Campspot Finds Lack of Time a Limiting Factor for Many Campers: Campspot, your one-stop-shop for finding RV campsites, resorts, and glamping destinations, has shared its Dust-Off Summer Trend Report for 2026, with plenty of insightful data on offer. Most notably, 37% of respondents indicated that lack of time is the biggest limiting factor for undertaking outdoor trips this year. Another 47% say that current events and travel uncertainty also play a role, while 86% want to explore more of the US through road trips and getaways. Read the full report here.
Photo Credit: welcomia/Getty
- Thousand Trails Kicks Off 2026 100 Days of Camping Campaign: Since 2015, the RV campground and resort platform Thousand Trails has hosted its “100 Days of Camping” campaign, which encourages RVers to take advantage of the summer travel season. As the brand points out, there are 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and we should all take advantage of those days to get outside, explore the country, and simply go camping. As part of the celebration, Thousand Trails is conducting a photo contest, with participants sharing images from their adventures with the chance to win prizes. Get all the details here.
Photo Credit: Millennium Motorcoaches/The Motorcoach Store
- The Motorcoach Store and Millennium Luxury Coaches Join Forces: If you’re in the market for a truly luxurious motorhome, you’ll want to pay attention to this news. This week, the Motorcoach Store announced that it has partnered with Millennium Luxury Coaches to bring upscale bespoke Prevost chassis conversions to the US audience. For the past 25 years, Millennium has been at the forefront of that market, and now it is working with the Motorcoach Store to deliver a premium buying experience unlike any other. The partnership gives the RV manufacturer a larger reach and deeper resources, while the RV dealer adds another big name to its stable. Read all about this exciting collaboration here.
Photo Credit: Yeti
- Yeti Debuts Carbon Steel Frying Pan: Yeti, the brand that made its name selling premium coolers, continues to expand its lineup of products. Recently, the company added a carbon steel frying pan to the mix, offering camp chefs a new way to bring an elevated experience to the campsite. The pan is available in 10″ and 12″ sizes, with both models offering built-in handles and pre-seasoning for enhanced nonstick performance. The 10″ version will set you back $150, while the 12″ model runs $180. GearJunkie has a review here.
That’s it for this week. See you next Friday, for more news from the RV and camping space.
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. An 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.
