RV News: NüCamp 20th Anniversary Teardrops, Yosemite’s New Reservation Rules, and More
Also, auto tariffs get a reprieve, California emissions rules under scrutiny, and overlanding media consolidation.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
Friday is here at last, which means the weekend is in sight. It also means that it is once again time for our weekly round-up of RV and camping industry news with a quick rundown of everything that happened this week. Here are a few stories you might want to know about:
- NüCamp Reveals 20th Anniversary Teardrops Trailers: We already noted that 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of teardrop trailer manufacturer nüCamp, with celebrations expected to take place all year long. This week, the brand revealed special 20th anniversary editions for its TAG XL, TAB 320, TAB 360, TAB 360 CS and TAB 400 trailers. Just 20 anniversary editions will be built for each of those models, which will include custom graphics packages, a upgraded premium interior, and individually numbered badges. They’ll also come with a Boondock Black Canyon package that adds an additional 120W solar panel, a water heater, a heated holding tank, underglow lights and a tri-fold multifunctional mattress. Visit the nüCamp website for more info.
- Yosemite Announces New Reservation Rules: Planning on visiting Yosemite National Park this summer? If so, then you may want to read up on the park’s new reservation system, which has taken some time to roll out. In a nutshell, a reservation will be required for anyone wanting to visit the iconic destination between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-28). From then on, reservations will only be required from June 15 through August 15 and again for the Labor Day weekend (August 30-September 1). You can start booking your reservations on May 6 through recreation.gov. Note: Campground reservations are handled separately.
Photo Credit: Lucy Hewett
- White House Brings Temporary Tariff Relief to Automobile Industry: Tariffs continue to be a major topic of conversation and concern across a wide variety of industries. But this week, the Trump administration announced that it was easing some of the tariffs impacting the car industry. The move comes after American automakers expressed concerns over how tariffs would impact their bottom line, with GM cutting profit expectations by 20% and saying the import taxes will cost the company $5 billion. The latest executive order protects car companies from having to pay additional taxes on steel, aluminum, and parts made in Canada and Mexico. Other tariffs will remain in place, however, so prices are still expected to go up. Read more here.
- House of Representatives Votes Against California’s Strict Emissions Policies: While we’re on the topic of politics, this week the US House of Representatives struck a blow against California’s ability to enforce strict environmental policies, particularly where they involve vehicles. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House voted on three separate measures that rescind the state’s exemptions that allowed it to place tough emissions standards on heavy and medium-duty trucks. Part of those regulations required manufacturers to sell zero-emissions chassis and vehicles in an effort to reduce pollution. This spread over into the RV industry, as some of the chassis found on those trucks are also used in motorhomes. As of now, the California here. Truck Emission Standards (CARB’s Omnibus rule) and California Truck NOx Emission Standards (CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulations) are in jeopardy, although the Senate would also need to pass a bill striking down the exemptions. It should be noted that independent observers say the move to regulate states’ rights is unconstitutional and won’t stand up in a court of law, perhaps signaling lawsuits to come. Read more here.
Photo Credit: Harbinger Motors
- Harbinger Unveils First Hybrid Chassis: Harbinger Motors continues its march towards cleaner, more energy-efficient power trains for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. This week, the company announced its first-ever hybrid chassis, which is built on an electric platform and uses a gas motor as a range extender. The platform includes a 50-gallon gas tank and an 800V generator, which work in tandem to give it an estimated 500-mile range. The hybrid chassis will start shipping to partners in 2026. Our friends at RV News have more info here.
- Renogy Launches Ranger Power Box Line-Up: Renogy—one of the top manufacturers of RV power systems—revealed a new line of products this week. The brand announced the launch of its Ranger Power Box devices, which utilize Anderson connectors, an 800W MPPT solar charge controller, and a 12V hybrid output all incorporated into an easy-to-install single grab-and-go enclosure. The Raner series is designed to work with Renogy’s new low-profile solid-state lithium battery, giving RV manufacturers, overlanders, and vanlifers more options for designing power systems for their rigs. For more info, visit renogy.com.
- XOVERLAND Acquires Overland Journal and Expedition Portal in Media Consolidation: There was big news this week in the overlanding space, as XOVERLAND announced the acquisition of Overland Journal and Expedition Portal. The merger, which involves print, video, blogs, online outlets, forums, and podcasts, creates the largest media conglomerate in all of overlanding, with new branding revolving around Overland Collective. The team at GearJunkie has the entire scoop.
Photo Credit: Overland Expo
- Overland Expo Reveals ‘Ultimate Builds’ for 2025: Staying on the subject of overlanding, this week Overland Expo showed off its “Ultimate Build” vehicles for 2025. This year’s winners include a Suzuki V-Storm 800DE overlanding motorcycle and a 2025 GMC Sierra HD AT4, both of which are beautiful. Click on both links to explore these build outs further.
- The Dyrt Says Older Campers Prefer RVs: Online campsite discovery platform The Dyrt continues to reveal interesting stats from its 2025 Camping Report. This week, the site announced that campers over the age of 55 prefer RV camping over staying in a tent, cabin, or other shelter. In fact, the study showed that 61% of respondents in the 55 and up age demographic felt this way, a 50% increase over other age groups. 79.1% of that same age demo said they plan to visit America’s national parks in their retirement, while another 73.6% said they looked forward to “open road exploration.” Read more of the report here.
That’s a wrap for this week’s edition of our RV news round-up. See you next Friday for another rundown of the latest stories from the industry and beyond.
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.
