RV News: Coleman Towables Tops in Sales, Thor Goes Electric, and Outdoorsy has the ‘Best Summer Job in America’
Happy Friday, and welcome back to another edition of our weekly round-up of news from the RV and camping industry. These are the stories you may have missed this week.
- Camping World’s Coleman Travel Trailers are the Best-Selling RVs in the Country: Camping World is so proud of its Coleman brand of towables that it sent out a press release touting them as the best-selling RVs in the country. Data collected by an independent auditing firm indicate that the travel trailers were tops in terms of volume in January 2024, indicating strong interest from consumers in an affordable option for RV camping.
- Thor Receives First Electric Chassis From Harbinger Motors: Thor’s quest to build an all-electric motor coach took a major step forward this week when the company’s Innovation Lab took possession of the first electric chassis from Harbinger Motors. Delivery comes after the RV manufacturer expressed support for the platform by investing in Harbinger’s fundraising efforts. Now that Thor’s techs have their hands on the finished product, they can start to work on an actual consumer e-RV with the chassis serving as the underpinnings. Hopefully, we’ll hear more about those efforts soon.
- Outdoorsy is Now Hirking for “America’s Best Summer Job”: Outdoorsy—an online platform for finding and booking campsites, cabins, and glamping destinations—has announced it is hiring for what it promises will be the best job in America this summer. The “interview” comes in the form of a competition, with applicants sharing a 60 to 90-second video of why they should be hired. What makes this job so special? It pays the winner $20,000 for a 30-day journey across the country in an RV, stopping in up to ten national parks while en route. They’ll be expected to share details of the trip on social media, which makes creativity and personality a big part of the hiring process. Read all of the rules and information on the America’s Best Summer Job webpage.
- Two-thirds of Americans Want to Go Camping in the Next Few Years: The hits just keep on coming from the Dyrt’s 2024 Camping Report. The online platform for campsite discovery has been slowly releasing stats and data from its annual survey, and this week it shared the news that two-thirds of participants indicate they would like to go camping sometime in the next three years. That’s a fairly broad timeframe, but it demonstrates the growing interest in travel, the outdoors, and camping in general. For reference, about one in four Americans went camping in 2023.
- Truma Holding Eclipse Watch Parties with RV Dealerships: If you’re still looking for ideas on where to watch the solar eclipse taking place on April 8, Truma is here to help. The RV parts manufacturer announced this week that it is partnering with RV dealerships across the US to host watch parties for the celestial event. The gatherings will take place inside the path of totality, including the following places four places: Iron Horse RV Specialists in San Antonio, TX; Moix RV Supercenter in Conway, AR; Sullivan RV Center in Decatur, IN; and Craig Smith RV in Galion, OH. For more information—and to RSVP—click here.
Photo Credit: Rivian
- Dometic Announces Roof Rack for Rivian Trucks and SUVs: Hot on the heels of Rivian announcing three new electric vehicles last week comes word that the company’s existing models are getting support from Dometic. This week, the accessories manufacturer announced the Front Runner Slimline II Roof Racks custom-made for the Rivian R1S and R1T. Pricing starts at $1,372. Find out more here.
- Blue Ox Launches Line of Custom Receiver Hitches: Blue Ox specializes in making equipment that makes the towing process easier and safer. This week, the company announced it is launching a line of custom-built receiver hitches designed to match the exact specifications of the make and model of a tow vehicle. The goal is to improve efficiency without compromising the vehicle’s appearance. Find out more on the Blue Ox website.
- BougeRV Ships Solar Panel with Breakthrough Technology: BougeRV—a company that makes a range of products for RV camping—has shipped its first solar panel using TOPCon cell technology. Why is this important? TOPCon is an emerging solar solution that promises greater efficiency in converting light from the sun to usable energy. New solar cells using this technology offer up to 25.5% efficiency ratings, which leads to faster-recharging rates and more electricity generated in a shorter time span. The new panel from BougeRV is a 200W model priced at $269.99. Read more about it here.
- Gazelle Launches First Class 3 e-Bike Model in the US: Want an e-bike with a little extra oomph? Gazelle has you covered. This week, the electric bike manufacturer launched the Eclipse, its first Class 3 model to hit the streets in the US. A Class 3 e-bike can reach maximum speeds of up to 28 mph, while Class 1 and 2 models are capped at 21 mph. The Eclipse features the sophisticated Bosch Smart System, which incorporates a powerful mid-drive with 85Nm of torque and a 750Wh battery, giving it ample range and power for long rides. Pricing starts at $5,499
That’s the rundown of everything that happened this week. Join us again next Friday for another recap of the latest news from the RV and camping space.
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