RV News Weekly Round-Up (July 7, 2023)

Thor Helps the National Forests, Yosemite Traffic Jams, and Temperatures are Heating Up Worldwide

July 7, 2023

Image Caption: Photo Credit: Lance Campers

Each week there is far more news from the RV industry and lifestyle than we have time to cover. To make up for that, we offer a roundup of the most interesting and important stories that you may have missed over the past seven days. Here’s what you need to know:

Thor Reaffirms Commitment to National Forests: As interest in camping in national forests continues to grow, Thor Industries has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting those spaces. The company has re-upped its partnership with the National Forest Foundation—the nonprofit arm of the US Forest Service—for another three years. Over that time, RV manufacturer will focus on restoring fish and wildlife habitats, planting trees, implementing sustainable practices, and other initiatives. Find out more here.
Xtreme Outdoors Revives Little Guy Shadow Teardrop: Teardrop trailers are one of the most popular segments of the RV space, with Xtreme Outdoors producing several high-quality models. This week, the company announced the return of the Little Guy Shadow, a tiny teardrop that has been missing from the lineup for a while now. The new edition of the LGS includes some nice upgrades over the previous generation. Find out more on the Little Guy Trailers website.
Yosemite Visitors Face Long Wait Times: Yosemite National Park has always been a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, but recently it has seen an even larger influx of visitors. Hikers, climbers, and campers who arrived at the park in recent days have found themselves waiting in traffic jams of up to four hours just to get in. Naturally, this has made visiting Yosemite extremely difficult this summer. Read more about it here.
It’s Hot at the Campsite: If you that it was a little warmer than usual this past week, it turns out you were right. According to the Univesity of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer—which studies global weather trends—Monday (July 3) was the hottest day on record since satellite monitoring began 50 years ago. But the new record didn’t stand for long, as Tuesday (July 4), the planet was even hotter, then that new record was broken again on Thursday (July 6). Find out more about this sobering trend here.
Lippert’s New Solar Awning Made Possible by Renogy: A few weeks back, Lippert announced a new awning that comes with a built-in flexible solar panel that can generate up to 300 watts of power. Turns out, we can thank Renogy for supplying the innovative new fabrics that make that solar panel possible. Find out more here.
Outside Shares Camping Tips: Outside magazine posted an article this week sharing 15 must-know camping tips. While most of these apply to tent camping in the backcountry, there are still more than a few pieces of advice that RVers can learn from too. Those include putting a hot water bottle at the bottom of your sleeping bag, packing earplugs for a better night’s sleep, and the fact that everyone loves s’mores.
New App Protects RVs and Trucks from Low Clearance Collisions: Giraffe G4, a company that makes advanced safety systems for RVs and big rig trucks, has developed an app to protect those same vehicles. Available for iOS and Android, the app gives drivers a warning if they are approaching bridges, overpasses, and other structures that may be too low to pass under. For more information, visit the company’s website.
Lance Camper Officially Opens New Enduro Factory: A few days back, Lance Camper held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on a new facility built specifically for manufacturing the company’s new off-road adventure travel trailer, the Enduro. The event, which took place in Lancaster, California, included plant tours, a celebratory lunch, and other activities.