RV News: Overland Expo West is This Weekend, New Models from Ember RV, and More
Winnebago is one of 'America's Most Trustworthy Companies‘. Again, USA Today picks the 10 Best Campgrounds, and solar panels could be surveillance devices.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Ember RV
It is finally Friday, which means it is also time for our weekly round-up of the latest news from the RV and camping industries. As usual, we have a lot to cover, so let’s dive right in.
Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
- Overland Expo West is This Weekend: This probably isn’t news if you’re already planning to attend, but if you happen to be in the Flagstaff, AZ area this weekend and are looking for something to do, Overland Expo West takes place over the next three days. As the premiere overlanding and off-road adventure event of the year, you’ll find dozens of lectures and seminars to attend, hundreds of vendors to interact with, and thousands of like-minded attendees to meet. Highlights this year will include the reveal of the 2025 Ultimate Build projects, game nights, a film festival, and much, much more.
- Ember RV Launches Two New Models at Overland Expo: While we’re on the subject of Overland Expo, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that our friends at Ember RV will launch two new models at the event. The off-road, off-grid-focused RV brand will unveil its new Overland Series 221MSL and the E-Series Spark LE 12RK, both of which bring great features for boondocking and overlanding. For instance, the newly upgraded 221MSL now comes with a MAX Solar Package that includes 1,200W of solar panels, a 3,000W Victron inverter, and a 270Ah Battle Born GameChanger lithium battery. Meanwhile, the Spark LE 12RK is a new rear-kitchen design in a rig that offers an affordable entry into this space. Find out more at the Ember RV website.
- GearJunkie Goes Camping in an $800k Storyteller Overland Vehicle: Ever wondered what it’s like to go camping in an $800,000 Storyteller Overland GXV Epic off-road vehicle? While most of us will likely never get a chance to spend a night in a rig like that one, GearJunkie’s vehicles editor Bryon Dorr did, and he lived to write about it. He lauded the GXV for its ease of driving and long list of amenities, but found it had a few confounding design choices. For instance, the rig sleeps up to four people, but can only safely carry two passengers. He also says the engine is a little under powered. But, it does offer a refined, luxurious experience in a rugged package. Read the full review here.
Photo Credit: Winnebago
- Newsweek Once Again Names Winnebago One of “America’s Most Trustworthy Companies”: For the second year in a row, Winnebago Industries has been named one of the most trustworthy companies in America by Newsweek. The companies that earn a spot on that coveted list do so thanks to an independent survey of 25,000 people. That survey assesses how those companies perform in a number of areas, including customer trust, employee trust, and investor trust. You can explore the full list here.
- Will Fewer People Go RV Camping This Summer?: The RV Industry Association—better known as RVIA—has released its 2025 Travel intentions Survey, and has found that the number of people planning an RV trip this summer may be flat, or even down compared to last year. According to RV News, the survey indicates that 45 million people went RVing last year, while 44 million plan to do the same this year. That’s a relatively small decline, but could be indicative of concerns about the economy, the rising cost of many goods, the slow drop in fuel prices, and other factors. Click here to find out more.
Photo Credit: Cedar Point
- USA Today Announces Best RV Campgrounds of 2025: USA Today has shared its picks for the 10 Best RV Campgrounds in the US, with some great options for those looking for a new place to park their rig. The list includes Gulf State Park in Alabama, Spacious Skies Campgrounds – Minute Man, and Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country. We won’t spoil the whole list, though, so you should click here to read the rest for yourself.
- Ironman Tires Intros New Trailer-Focused Tire: Looking for a new set of tires for your towable? Ironman Tires may have just what you’re looking for. This week, the company announced its first-ever all-steel model in the form of the All Steel HD. The rugged model is made specifically with towing in mind and is built for use on travel trailers, fifth-wheels, and utility trailers. The new tire is available now and comes with a 72-month warranty. Best of all, they’re affordably priced, too. Click here for more.
- Winegard Launches RV Halo Smart Hub: Last week week, Winegard announced the availability of its new RV Halo Smart Hub, a device that makes connecting with the company’s line of smart sensors much easier. When installed, the hub allows owners to use their smartphones to monitor their RVs remotely, keeping tabs on the temperature, humidity, location, and more. Just install the RV Halo app on your smartphone and connect to your rig.
- Is the Chinese Government Spying On Us Through Our Solar Panels?: Solar panels have helped create new sources of clean energy in recent years and have become a great option for off-grid camping. But a new report from Reuters says that US officials have discovered unexplained communications devices in Chinese-made solar equipment, including power inverters. According to the story, the comms devices included cellular radios that could relay information about America’s power grid back to Chinese officials and potentially could be used to shut down some devices remotely. This mostly seems confined to large-scale terrestrial solar installations at the moment and not those used on RVs. But still, it is an important story to keep an eye on. Read more here.
That’s it for this week. See you next Friday for another edition of our weekly RV news round-up.
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.
