RV News: Newmar Reveals 35th Anniversary Dutch Star, RV Manufacturers Prepare for Open House, and Much More
New rigs from Opus, Gulf Stream, Thor, and others highlight this week's RV news.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Barish Baur/Getty
Wedged between last week’s big Hershey RV Show and next week’s industry Open House event in Elkhart, IN, this was a semi-quiet week for RV news. Still, there are a few important stories to share before things get busy again. Here are a few things you may want to know about:
Photo Credit: Camping World
- Hershey RV Show Sees Strong Attendance: As a final note on the Hershey RV Show, the event saw very good attendance this year, despite the industry currently facing challenges. Organizers say they saw 43,148 attendees for the 2026 edition of America’s Largest RV Show, which is down 5.2% from last year. That said, the final day of the event saw inclement weather, including heavy rain set in, which put a damper on the last day of the show. Still, dealers reported strong interest in new models and great sales throughout the five-day event. If you missed this year’s edition, you can already start planning for next year. The dates for 2027 are September 15–19.
Photo Credit: Newmar
- Newmar Reveals Dutch Star 35th Anniversary Edition: For 35 years, the Newmar Dutch Star has set the standard for Class A luxury coaches, and to celebrate, the company has introduced a new model befitting the brand. The 35th Anniversary Edition Dutch Star comes with exclusive graphics and badging, the choice of two premium leather furniture packages, and special embroidery on the driver and passenger seats. That’s in addition to the upscale features that come standard on this diesel pusher, like a washer and dryer, Starlink, and much more. This limited-edition rig is available to order now with MSRP starting at $685,971.
Photo Credit: Opus Camper
- Opus Shares Exciting Updates for 2027 Model Year Campers: There are big things coming to the 2027 Opus Camper lineup. This week, the company announced a slew of upgrades that will make their way into its line of off-road and overlanding-ready rigs. For instance, the OP15 Bunk Model and OP13 travel trailer will now come with 800W of rooftop solar, a 600Ah battery pack, a 3000W Victron inverter, and a Victron MPPT charge controller and battery monitor. Both models are also equipped with well-appointed indoor and outdoor kitchens, and storage space has been increased, too. Finally, these rigs now come with Starlink prep, along with several other functional upgrades. Visit the Opus Campers website for full details.
Photo Credit: Gulf Stream
- Gulf Stream Has Big Plans for Open House: As noted above, next week the 2026 RV industry Open House event will take place in Elkhart, IN. Most of the major players will be on hand to show off the latest additions to their catalogs, including Gulf Stream Coach, which announced this week that it will have more than 50 RVs on display, including 30 all-new floor plans. Some of the highlights will include the lightweight 17SCD Vintage Cruiser, which is aimed directly at small and midsize SUV owners. Attendees will also see the newly redesigned BT Cruiser 5210, the Conquest 6210 LE, and the BT Cruiser 5300, which is the largest edition of that model ever offered. Watch the Gulf Stream website for further updates.
Photo Credit: Thor Motor Coach
- Thor Highlights Class C Options in Indiana: Thor Motor Coach will also be on hand in Elkhart, where it will place an emphasis on its new Class C coaches. The RV manufacturer will show off its Ford E-Series-based Four Winds 30W, the new Outlaw 29T toy hauler, and the Gemini 23XT, which rides on the reliable Ford Transit chassis. And those looking for something a big more rugged and spacious, the company will also have two diesel rigs on display, including the 4×4 Magnitude C33 adventure truck and the new Inception HD 38XL, which is a bath-and-a-half model that oozes luxury and comfort. Check out the Thor website for more details on these rigs and the other coaches in the lineup.
Photo Credit: Encore RV
- Encore RV Will Launch New Venū Model at Open House: Encore RV has announced that it will be hosting this year’s Open House event at its new manufacturing facility in Topeka, IN, where it will debut the all-new Venū 22RB adventure trailer. The tandem-axle towable features a front bedroom layout with a queen bed that converts to a sofa, freeing up space during the day. The new rig also comes with a kitchen equipped with a three-burner stove, microwave, 12V fridge, and a flip-up counter extension. A dinette and dry bath are also part of the package. Watch the Encore website for more details.
Photo Credit: Cruise America
- Cruise America Debuts Ultra-Compact Coach to Its Rental Fleet: RV rental company Cruise America has introduced a new motorhome that is the smallest and most efficient model it has ever offered customers. The all-new C18 Ultra Compact RV measures just 19.6′ in length and is 7′ wide, making it easy to drive, even for complete beginners. The rig sleeps two, includes a galley kitchen with a refrigerator and electric cooktop, and has a bathroom with a toilet and shower. Holding tanks include a 31-gallon fresh water reservoir, a 24-gallon gray tank, and an 11-gallon black tank. The rig doesn’t come with either solar power or a generator, so renters will need to hook up to shore power to run the air conditioner, furnace, and water heater. Find out more here.
That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of our Friday RV news roundup. See you next Friday for another rundown of the biggest stories from within the 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. 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.
