RV News: Peace Van’s VW ID.Buzz Camper Conversions, Polydrop’s New Energy Efficient Towable, and Much More
It’s Friday at long last. But before heading off into the weekend, we thought you might want to catch up on the latest news from the RV and camping industries. Here’s a rundown of the top stories from this past week.
- Peace Vans Announces Volkswagen ID.Buzz Camper Conversions: With its retro looks and modern design sensibilities, the all-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz is set to make a big splash when it lands stateside later this year. Of course, ever since it was announced, we’ve been wondering if there would be a camper version of the Buzz, and now that question has been answered. Seattle-based Peace Vans has announced that it is working with VW directly to create custom ID.Buzz conversions in the US. The new Buzz.Camper is a complete conversion, although the company will also offer add-on accessories like the Buzz.Box storage system and the Buzz.Box. Sleeper bed. Everything looks well built, with a design meant to compliment the van’s existing aesthetic. To learn more, click here.
- Polydrops Introduces P21 Towable, Claims It’s the World’s Most Energy-Efficient RV: Polydrops—a company best known for its forward-thinking teardrops—introduced an intriguing new model this week. The latest addition to its line-up is the P21, a sleek, ultramodern-looking towable that the company says is the company describes as the most energy-efficient on the planet. Built for off-grid camping, the trailer comes with an air conditioner and a heat pump, 5kWh hour battery bank, and 1,300W solar panels. It is also aerodynamically designed to glide down the highway, improving the range of both gas-powered and EV tow vehicles. The P21 even comes with industry-leading thermal insulation to keep campers comfortable and cozy all year round. You can pre-order the travel trailer now, with production set to begin in Q4 2024. Base pricing starts at $38,900.
- Keystone Debuts Cougar “Hero” Edition: The Keystone Cougar has been a mainstay in the premium fifth-wheel space for years, with the company even offering several special edition versions like the Midnight Edition. The latest of those models is the new Hero Edition, which is designed to salute American troops wounded in the line of duty. This model has a distinctive matte-green color, which will definitely make it stand out on the road and at the campsite. The new towable will make its debut at the Hershey RV show in September, with proceeds from future sales going to the Wounded Warrior Project.
- Airstream Details 2025 Updates: Iconic RV manufacturer Airstream shared a long list of updates coming to its models in 2025. Highlights include a new floorplan for the Trade Wind travel trailer, an updated multiplexing smart control system coming to the Classic, and refreshed, modern interior decor for the Caravel. Some of the new features allow the brand to flex its technical muscles. For instance, the Trade Winds now comes with 500W of solar power and a tankless recirculating LP water heater. Find out more at RV News.
- Winnebago Officially Launches Winnebago Connect Smart Control System: We’ve been hearing the buzz around Winnebago’s new Winnebago Connect smart RV control system all summer long, but this week it officially launched in earnest. Debuting in the new 2025 View and Navion, but eventually rolling out across all Winnebago vehicles, the intelligent system puts smart home controls at your fingertips. Owners will be able to adjust climate control, turn on and off lights, monitor holding tanks, and much more. It even had a “pet minder” feature to keep your furry friends safe and comfortable at the campsite. Push notifications keep owners up to date with what’s happening in and around the vehicle, while a smartphone app grants complete control from anywhere in the world. We’re getting a hands-on demo of the new system in a few weeks’ time, so stay tuned for in-depth analysis soon.
- Expion360 Partners with KZ RV: Big news this week from lithium battery maker Expion360 and RV manufacturer KZ. The two companies have partnered up to bring Expion360’s batteries into KZ’s premium towables to enhance off-grid travel and camping. Specifically, the Durango and Durango Gold fifth-wheels will now come with three 51.2-volt 60-Ah Edge VHC heated batteries, with an option to add a fourth if needed.
- The Dyrt Shares Best Campgrounds for Dogs: The Dyrt continues to be an excellent source of insight and knowledge for campers of all varieties. This week, the online campground discovery site shared a list of the best campsites in the country for dogs, affectionately calling it the Top 9 for K-9s. Each location has a detailed description of what makes it great, along with tips for dog owners who like to bring the pups with them on their camping adventures. We won’t spoil the whole list, but some of the most intriguing options include Santa Fe Skies RV Park, Tahoe Valley Campground, and the aptly named 4 Paws Kingdom Campground * Dog Retreat.
- Elvis Presley’s Private Plane Converted Into an RV: Despite passing away more than 45 years ago, Elvis Presley still manages to make headlines even today. The latest news about the King of Rock and Roll is that his private plane—which had sat rusting away for decades—was recently purchased and converted into an RV. As you would expect, it’s not like any other RV you’ve seen before, although it does look like a fun vehicle. Check it out for yourself in this YouTube video.
That’s all for this week. Come back next Friday for our wrap-up of the biggest news from the RV and camping space. Until then, enjoy the weekend.