RV News: A New Four-Season Electric RV, Starlink Goes Direct, and Jayco is Looking for Volunteers

rv.com, RvLyfe

Happy Friday! Welcome to our weekly round-up of the latest news from the RV industry. As usual, there was a lot going on this week, so let’s dive in:

AEONrv Debuts New High-Tech Camper: A company called AEONrv has taken the wraps off a sophisticated new camper packed with thoughtful tech innovations. The vehicle touts itself as a true four-season model capable of camping even in extremely cold weather. Built on a Ford Transit platform, the RV comes equipped with an 8.2kWh battery pack connected to a 3000-volt inverter and 700-watt solar panels. This allows owners to camp off the grid for extended periods while still running the A/C, appliances, lighting, and more. Visit the AEONrv website for additional details.
Jayco Launches Pilot Program for Next-Generation Connected Vehicle System: Attention Jayco Flight owners, the company needs your help! This week, Jayco announced that it is launching a pilot program for its next-generation Connected Vehicle Program. While not much is known about the high-tech system yet, we do know that it is GPS-based and will provide users with personalized travel information and how-to guides. To build out this new offering, the company is enlisting the aid of volunteers who already own a 2019-2024 Flight travel trailer. If you want to be a part of the process, you can find out more and sign up for consideration here.
Starlink Announces Direct-to-Cell Service: Starlink satellite internet is already a hit with RVers, but now the company is looking to extend its coverage even further. The Elon Musk-owned startup has launched a new webpage promoting “Direct to Cell” service, which will reportedly offer text—and eventually voice and data—connections directly to LTE-compatible cell phones. The new service won’t require any additional hardware but will be limited to 2-4Mbps speeds, at least initially. The new service is expected to go online next year, with expanded capabilities following in 2025.
Camp365 Introduces Truck Bed Camper Designed for EVs: Camp365—a brand best known for its lightweight towables—has launched a new model designed for electric pickups. The T Model is a truck-bed camper that weighs only 700-800 pounds depending on the configuration. The slide-in model is also built to be very aerodynamic, reducing drag and helping the EV maintain a consistent range, reducing mileage by as little as 5%-10%. The T Model will come with a folding queen bed or twin bunks, a 24-gallon fresh water tank, hot shower, electric heat and A/C, Starlink internet, and more. Starting price is $25,000 with reservations being taken for $100. Check out this YouTube video for a look at what to expect.
Lance Offers First-Ever Factory Tours: Starting today and running through October 22, Lance Camper is opening its doors to the public. The RV manufacturer best known for its line of fantastic truck campers and travel trailers will host visitors to its Lancaster, CA facility, rolling out the red carpet for those who want to drop by. Visitors will have the chance to take a guided tour of the plant and look inside all of the company’s current models. Find out more—and book advanced reservations—by clicking here.
nuCamp Owner to Take on Epic Bike Ride for Charity: nuCamp owner Jesse Mullet likes to ride his bike. So much so that he’s about to embark on epic ride covering more than 1,883 miles. Mullet will take part in the upcoming Waterfalls to Waves charity event, which sends cyclists on a ten day odyssey to cover the distance from Niagara Falls State Park in New York to Key West, Florida. Along the way, he hopes to raise $1 million for Door of Hope at the Ridge, a charity that assists women who have faced major adversity. Good luck, Jesse.
Aliner Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and A-frame RV manufacturer Aliner is helping commemorate the occasion. The company held a “pink out” day on October 2, with employees donning the color to help raise awareness and remind employees and associates of the importance of regular medical exams. Aliner will also reportedly put its money where its mouth is by donating to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Consumer Survey Reveals Canadian RVer Trends: This week, Go RVing Canada released the results of a survey it conducted back in January with marketing research firm Ipsos. The two companies collected data from a thousand Canadians regarding their RVing habits and came away with some interesting results. For instance, 25% of those surveyed indicated they were past or prospective RVers. Additionally, they averaged 44 years of age, and 66% are married or with a partner. 35% of respondents have kids, while nearly half (49%) own dogs. For further insights, check out the full report in the Promoting RV Lifestyles research summary.