RV News: Lance Revives 805 Truck Camper, Camp Winnebago Dates, and RV Rental Outlooks is Good
The end of the week is here, and the weekend is in sight. But before we head off for a few days of fun and relaxation, we have just enough time to recap the important news and announcements from the RV and camping industry. Here are a few things to know from the past seven days:
- Lance Reintroduces 805 Truck Camper Model: RV News has the lowdown from Lance Camper as it relaunches a familiar model for the past. In April, the company started shipping an updated version of the 805 truck camper, which originally debuted back in 2004 but has been out of the catalog for a while now. The new version is aimed squarely at younger buyers and newcomers to the RV space, offering a lighter option at an affordable price. The 805 is designed to fit the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tundras. It has a dry weight of 1,550 pounds and comfortably sleeps four. Find out more about its revival here.
- NuCamp’s New Teardrop is a Hit: It looks like lightweight towable manufacturer nüCamp has a hit on its hands. Recently, the company added the all-new Tab 360 to its line of Tab teardrop models and it is already creating a stir with buyers. According to online reports, four months of production orders were received in just 48 hours, creating pent-up demand for the camper. The rig reportedly offers plenty of space for taller RVers, and has A/C, hydronic heating, a Nautilus water management system, and a 12V compact refrigerator.
- Küat Ibex Truck Bed Rack Nabs Red Dot Design Award: Küat’s Ibex truck bed rack is an excellent addition to any overlapping or tow vehicle, adding extra versatility and gear storage capacity. Now, the Ibex is also an award-winning product after taking home a very prestigious Red Dot Design Award. The innovative rack has a number of great features, including telescoping crossbeams that allow for height adjustment and plenty of T-channels for attaching accessories. Earning a Red Dot Award just adds to its mystique, putting it amongst the best-designed products in the world.
- Camp Winnebago Dates Set for July: Winnebago has confirmed the dates for this year’s Camp Winnebago gathering in Forest City, IA. The annual event will take place from July 15 to 18, with pre-rally parking starting on July 10. As usual, there will be plenty of live music, games, contests, parties, and seminars. Register to take part in the festivities here.
- Super Pacific’s Switchback X1 Camper Now Works with 4th Gen Tacoma: Super Pacific—the company behind the lightweight X1 Camper—has announced compatibility with the new, fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma. The fitment hardware is available now, giving 2024 and newer Tacoma owners the option of adding the X1 to their rigs. Check out a video of the two products working together here.
- The Dyrt Says Most Campers are Skipping Out on Reservations: This week’s eye-opening statistic from The Dyrt indicates that the majority of campers regularly cancel or skip out on their campground reservations. The online campsite discovery service says that just 42.7% of us used all of our reservations last year, only exasperating the challenges of finding a campground. Read more about these—and other findings—here.
- RV Rental Dealers are Optimistic Heading into the Summer: This week, the RV Rental Association (RVRA) shared some insights from the rental dealerships that make up its constituents. Heading into the busy summer months, RVRA members are quite optimistic about their business, with 41% saying they expect an increase in booking in 2024. Roughly 31% predict things will stay the same compared to last year. Also of note, 38% of the companies indicated they already have contracts in place for five and six-night rentals, while 22% reported rental agreements for seven nights or longer. That’s a healthy sign as camping season continues to ramp up.
- RoadMaster Debuts New RV Protection Solutions: Roadmaster—a company known for making excellent after-market products for the RV and towing space—has revealed two new innovations that deliver added benefits for customers. Those solutions include 4725 Heat Shield, which is designed to provide extra safeguards against extreme heat generated by diesel exhaust, and 4725-10 Fabric Anchors. The latter of those new products is made completely out of recycled materials and offers four times the strength of brass grommets. Find out more here.
Have a great weekend, and join us next Friday for another round-up of the latest happenings from the RV space.