RV News: RV Biz Names Best RVs of 2027, Imperial Outdoors Shares Model Year Upgrades, and More
Other stories include an important milestone for Forest River toy haulers, new power panels from REDARC, and an amazing dark skies camping map.
Image Caption: Photo Credit:Forest River
Coming off a very busy couple of weeks following the Hershey RV Show and the industry’s Open House event, things were a bit quieter this week. Still, there were a number of stories worth mentioning in our Friday RV news roundup. Let’s dig in.
Photo Credit: Airstream
- RV Business Announces 2027 RV of the Year Awards: If you’re wondering which motorhomes, camper vans, and towables are the best the industry has to offer, RV Business is here to help. This week, the magazine announced its picks for the 2027 RVs of the Year, with 62 models making the cut across a variety of categories. The list was curated after seeing dozens of models and floor plans at the Open House event, with some of our personal faves earning a spot on the list. Those include the Airstream Stetson + 6666 travel trailer, the Forest River Teleos, and the Winnebago Elora/Resa. Check out the full list here.
Photo Credit: Imperial Outdoors
- Imperial Outdoors Details 2027 Model Upgrades: Tis the season for announcing model year updates, and off-road towables manufacturer Imperial Outdoors got in on the fun this week. The company says that its Xplore Series X-195 and X-145 models are switching to Victron power systems in the coming year, gaining a touch screen controller display, a 30A MPPT solar charge controller, a MultiPlus inverter, and a 240W solar panel as standard equipment, with the option to upgrade to 1240W or 740W, respectively. Meanwhile, the Sport Series S-195 and S-145 now have tiered solar power options to better meet customer needs, while the Outback Series OB-120 receives some quality-of-life upgrades that include a new tank-levels monitoring system, USB-A ports replaced with USB-C outlets, an amber exterior porch light, and more. Visit the Imperial Outdoors website for more info.
Photo Credit: Pebble/Jackery
- Pebble Partners with Jackery, Shows Off 2027 Models: One of the big stories this week was the announced collab between all-electric travel trailer manufacturer Pebble and portable power company Jackery. The two brands are working together on a new solar package that adds up to 2000W of power generation using four 500W portable solar panels. We covered that news here. And at a special event held in California a few days back, Pebble showed off the 2027 edition of its Flow towable. New additions this year include a layout with twin beds that convert to a king, a larger exterior awning, a new interior color option, and a new “Boost Mode,” which increases a tow vehicle’s range when needed. RV Pro has the skinny here.
- Forest River XLR Toy Haulers Notch 15K Sales: It seems the Forest River XLR line of toy haulers, which includes the Boost and Nitro models, has been a success. This week, the company announced that the towables have achieved a cumulative 15,000 retail sales, indicating their popularity and demand with buyers. The rigs come in both travel trailer and fifth-wheel floor plans, with expansive garages for carrying all kinds of gear, along with features like rear patios, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, and more. Check out the XLR series on the Forest River website, and congrats to the team for reaching this important milestone.
Photo Credit: Rebelle Rally
- The 2026 Rebelle Rally Is Underway!: If you have a passion for off-road adventures and bad-ass women, you’ll definitely want to follow this year’s edition of the Rebelle Rally. The annual event kicked off a few days back with 45 teams of two (ladies only!) on a 2500 km (1553 mile) off-road course that is the longest and most challenging in the country. Drivers and navigators will spend eight days crossing some of the most remote and inhospitable terrain the American West has to offer in a wide range of 4×4 vehicles. Learn more about this amazing event here and follow the action on the Rebelle Rally YouTube channel.
Photo Credit: REDARC
- REDARC Launches REDWorks Power Panels: Overlanders and RVers looking to simplify their onboard power systems will want to give the new REDWorks Power Panels from REDARC a look. Compact and easy to install, these panels come pre-wired, making it easy to configure them with compatible charging, monitoring, and power-distribution systems. The new line of products makes recharging auxiliary batteries from an alternator or solar panels a breeze, taking all of the complications out of an install. To learn more, visit the REDARC website.
Photo Credit: Lisa Ballard
- The Dyrt Shares the Best Campgrounds for Hiking: RVers love to camp and hike, which is why the latest list from online campsite discovery platform The Dyrt will be of interest. This week, the outlet revealed its picks for the ten best campgrounds in the US that make the perfect launch pad for a hiking adventure. Some of the locations that earned a spot on the list include Hickory Ridge Campground in Virginia’s Grayson Highlands State Park, Jenny Lake Campground in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, and Deception Pass State Park Campground in Washington. Check out the entire list, with far more details, here.
Photo Cedit: krblokhin/Getty
- Hipcamp Updates Free Dark Sky Camping Map with Latest NASA Data: Did you know that Hipcamp, your one-stop shop for finding campsites online, also hosts a free Dark Sky map? This incredible resource shows a campsite’s relative darkness, ensuring travelers get the best views of the night sky possible. This week, Hipcamp updated that map to include NASA’s latest 2026 Black Marble satellite data, providing a much clearer indication of what to expect if you stay at any of the locations included. The new map is already live on the Hipcamp website, with an update to the app rolling out now. Check it out for yourself here.
That’s all for this week. See you next Friday for another recap of all the latest RV news.
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. An 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.
