RV News: The Airstream Clipper Turns 90, Winnebago and KOA Collab on New Film, and More
Tiffin has an interesting internet connectivity solution, the pros and cons of pop-up campers, and a new app for RVing cyclists.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Airstream
It was a somewhat quieter week in the RV industry over the past few days, but we still have plenty to cover in this week’s RV news roundup. Here are a few stories you might want to know about:
Photo Credit: Airstream
- Outside Magazine Celebrates 90 Years of the Airstream Clipper: It has been 90 years since the original Airstream Clipper arrived on the scene, and to commemorate the occasion, Outside magazine has published an article honoring the influential travel trailer. The story draws a straight-line connection between that groundbreaking towable and the culture of vanlife that is prevalent today. This is a must-read for any fan of RVs. Check it out here.
Photo Credit: Airstream
- Colonial RV Named Top Airstream Dealer Globally for Fourth Year in a Row: Staying on the topic of Airstream, the company is well-known for having an outstanding dealership network to sell, service, and support its range of travel trailers and touring coaches. This week, the company named Colonial Airstream in Millstone Township, NJ, as the top dealer of its touring coaches, a distinction that the family-owned Colonial has nabbed four years running. RV News has the full story here.
Photo Credit: Acela Truck Co.
- Soaring Eagle Campers and Acela Truck Co. Partner on Adventure Vehicles: If you’re in the market for an overlanding-focused adventure vehicle, you may want to wait to see what Soaring Eagle Campers and Acela Truck Co. have cooking. The two companies announced this week that they are partnering to build a line of new rigs that ride on Acela’s Breacher chassis, which is based on the Jeep Gladiator platform. This gives it impressive off-road capabilities, along with plenty of versatility and access to a thriving aftermarket accessories catalog. Meanwhile, Soaring Eagle brings an expertise in truck campers designed for off-grid travel. Stay tuned to see what they conjure up together.
Photo Credit: Cinncinati Museum Center/Getty Images
- Jalopnik Debates the Pros and Cons of Pop-Up Campers: Lightweight and inexpensive, pop-up campers have been a staple of the RV industry for decades. In the past, these compact towables were often the gateway model for many first-time buyers, who later went on to purchase other travel trailers and motorized rigs. And while they may not be as prominent in the industry as they once were, they remain a solid option for prospective RVers on a budget. This week, automobile-focused website Jalopnik shared the pros and cons of this type of camper, with some enlightening insights. Read what they have to say here.
Photo Credit: Tiffin
- Tiffin Debuts Tiffin Connect Wireless Internet Solution: We all know that getting reliable internet in your rig can be a challenge, which is why any effort to improve that situation is always welcome. The latest attempt to do just that comes from Tiffin, which recently announced the arrival of Tiffin Connect—an all-in-one solution designed to improve connectivity in the company’s motorhomes. The new system combines Starlink, cellular data networking, and Wi-Fi into one seamless package that includes automatic failover solutions to ensure a fast, reliable connection at all times. Owners can choose from a number of different packages, with options to roam between the T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T cell networks as needed. Hardware for the service is standard on the Tiffin Allegro Bus and Zephyr, and optional on the Phaeton. Read all about it here.
- KOA and Winnebago Collab on “Campfire Chronicles” Film: There is no question that camping is an indelible part of American culture. Generations of families have enjoyed traveling across the country, while camping in beautiful locations along the way. Now, the spirit of that collective experience has been captured in a new film from KOA and Winnebago. The documentary is called Campfire Chronicles and it delves into the camping experience that has helped define the modern culture of our country. Best of all, the film is being shown on broadcast TV, making it accessible to a wide audience. Find out more about this project, and check showtimes, here.
Photo Credit: welcomia/Getty
- Quartz Examines America’s “Obsession” with RVs: Online news outlet Quartz posted an article this week that takes a look at “America’s Obsession with RVs.” The piece offers a look at why Americans in particular are fond of motorhomes, travel trailers, and other rigs, along with the joy that comes with RV camping. There are some fun and interesting facts mixed in, too. For instance, did you know that the average number of days a US RV owner spends in their rig each year is 30? That’s pretty impressive. Read it in full here.
Photo Credit: Küat
- New App Helps RVing Cyclists Find Campgrounds: A new smartphone app launched this week that’s designed to help RVers who enjoy riding bikes find campsites close to paved cycling routes. The aptly-named RVing with Bikes app reveals places to park your rig that are close enough to bike routes that you don’t need to reload everything up to get on a ride. The app creators tout its ability to find campgrounds that are close to paved or hard surface routes and its ability to plan trips with RVers in mind. It shows locations that are suitable for both traditional bikes and e-bikes, and has a growing directory of bike-friendly destinations. Download it for iOS and Android. The app is free to use, but for full, unlimited it access it costs $9.99/year or has a lifetime subscription for $39.99.
That’s all for this week. Drop by again next Friday for another rundown of the latest 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.
