RV News: Lightship AE.1 Cosmos Edition Now in Production, Rossmönster’s New Digs, and Much More
This week's news includes new RVs coming from Puma, late-summer adventures from Hipcamp and AllTrails, and a new AI RV traveling companion.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Lightship
Can you believe it’s Friday already? That means it’s time for our weekly roundup of all the latest news from the RV and camping industries. Here are the biggest stories from this past week that you might like to know about:
Photo Credit: Lightship
- Production Begins on Lightship AE.1 Cosmos Edition Electric Travel Trailer: We’ve been following the progress of the all-electric Lightship travel trailer for several years now, and this week the brand hit a major milestone. The company announced that production has started on its AE.1 Cosmos Edition towable, with the first deliveries set to take place before the end of the summer. Additionally, two new models were announced in the form of the AE.1 Atmos and AE.1 Panos editions. These e-trails feature a design that lowers the roof while in transit, making the trailer more aerodynamic in the process. At the campsite, the roof expands back to its full height, providing plenty of room for owners. The rig also includes an electric drive system to assist tow vehicles on the road and 1.8kWh solar panels on the roof to feed power to its all-electric appliances, HVAC, and large house battery array. Learn more on the Lightship website.
- Palomino Has New Puma Fifth-Wheels and Travel Trailers on the Way: With the big Hershey RV Show now just a few weeks away, we’ve entered that time of year when a number of new coaches and towables are announced. This week, the team from Palomino let our friends at RV News know that new Puma models are coming soon. They’ll reportedly come in the form of Mesa and Grand Mesa fifth-wheels and Tracks travel trailers. Details are still a bit sparse, with more to come soon, most likely at the big show. Read more here.
Image Courtesy of Rossmönster Vans
- Rossmönster Relocating to New Manufacturing Facility: Off-road, overlanding, and adventure vehicle manufacturer Rossmönster is on the move. The company announced a while back that it was moving into a new production site that will allow it to continue to ramp up production and meet increased demands for its trucks and vans. The new manufacturing plant is located in Longmont, CO, and covers 36,000 square feet, offering 20 production bays, advanced equipment, and dedicated design and service areas. Congrats to the Rossmönster team on this big move and all of the success that has made it happen.
- Hipcamp and AllTrails Team Up for Late-Summer Adventures: Sure, the calendar may indicate that it is mid-August, but there is still plenty of summer to enjoy. To prove that point, online campsite and trails discovery platforms Hipcamp and AllTrails have joined forces to launch a list of ten all-in-one late-summer adventures. Each entry includes a brief explanation of what the activity entails, along with a suggestion of three hiking trails to enjoy in the area. Options include catching the Perseids meteor shower, going bird watching, and paddling a river or lake at sunset. Those all sound good to us.
Photo Credit: Thor Motors
- House of Highways is Your AI-Powered RV Travel Companion: AI continues to pervade every facet of our lives, including how we travel. This week, a new app called HoH+ from House of Highways launched, bringing some intriguing features along with it. The smartphone software—which is available on iOS and Android—includes a database of more than 45,000 places to stay in an RV, as well as trip planning and RV-friendly GPS navigation. It also comes with a built-in AI named Junie who can assist users with troubleshooting vehicle issues, serve as a guide to destinations they are visiting, and take over the trip planning process. The campground database is available for free, but the full suite of services runs $12/month. Find out more on the HoH website.
- Requirements for Registering an RV as a Primary Residence: Want to live in your RV full-time, but not sure if you can classify it as your primary residence? This week, Jalopnik took a look at what is required to make that happen, and while there are a few hurdles to overcome, it isn’t all that complicated. In a nutshell, you’ll need to let the IRS know that you’re declaring your rig as your home. You’ll also need to establish residency in a state, with some places offering more lax rules than others. You’ll also need a permanent mailing address, and there are a few other important items to consider. Get the full lowdown here.
Photo Credit: Jeep
- Blue Ox Celebrates 100th Anniversary: 2025 is a significant year for Blue Ox, a company that specializes in RV towing accessories. This year, the company is celebrating its 100th anniversary, marking a century in business. To commemorate the occasion, Blue Ox held a special event for employees, friends, and family at its Nebraska headquarters last Friday. Congratulations to everyone there for this momentous milestone.
- US-China Tariffs Delayed Again: As the Trump Administration’s tariffs have now gone into effect for most countries around the world, this week we learned that the US has once again paused all new tariffs on China. The two countries continue to negotiate a trade deal that is fair for both sides, but so far have not reached a resolution. Those tariffs are now delayed another 90 days, and are now scheduled to begin on November 10. Read more here.
That’s a wrap for this week. See you next Friday for another edition of our weekly look at 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.
