RV News: Lots of New and Updated RV Models, Starlink Launches Mini Terminal, and Much More
Another busy week has come and gone, which means it’s time to recap everything that went down in the RV and camping industry over the past seven days. Here are the most important stories you should know about:
- Mercedes Benz’s New Camper Van has Impressive Tech: Mercedes took the wraps off its latest Marco Polo V-Class camper van this week, revealing some great new features and technology in the process. The new model—which celebrates the 40th anniversary of the badge—includes full control of interior lighting, climate, audio, fridge temperature, and more directly from the van’s touchscreen or via a smartphone app. Owners can even raise and lower the rooftop tent with the touch of a button. Perhaps more impressive, the camper van now comes with a built-in self-leveling system completely controlled via the onboard infotainment system. Sadly, the vehicle remains locked in the European market and isn’t likely to make its way stateside. But if you’d like to see what it looks like, Gear Patrol has a complete rundown.
Photo Credit: Rossmönster
- Rossmönster Launches New Overlanding Vehicle: Overlanders and boondockers got a new vehicle to drool over this week courtesy of Rossmönster. The specialty manufacturer announced the edition of the Baja Plus truck camper to its catalog, further expanding its Baja line. The new model features true four-season capabilities, a full-size indoor wet bath, and room to sleep up to six people. It comes with a hard-wall pop up rooftop tent and is fully equipped for off-road travel and camping. Pricing starts at $448,000.
- AEONrv Reveals Enhancements to Flagship Model: Earlier this week, innovative RV startup AEONrv revealed a number of significant enhancements to its flagship motorhome. The latest version—dubbed the 2023 Rev2 model—now comes with an advanced heating system that offers greater efficiency and features like altitude adjustment and a quieter pump. The vehicle also gets more solar power—going from 700W to 800W—better internet connectivity options, improved insulation, and a host of other design features. Find out more on the company’s website.
- Thor Updates Class B Camper Vans: Last week, we shared Thor’s announcement for upgrades coming to its 2025 Class A diesel pushers. This week, the RV manufacturer has revealed what’s new for its Class B camper vans heading into the new model year. For instance, the Dazzle and Twist both get the new 2HB floorplan that includes a pull-out bench and tri-pullout sofa for added sleeping space. Meanwhile, the Sequence and Tellaro add the 20H layout, which now comes with a 24″ TV, a single-burner induction stove, and a Winegard 2.0 Wi-Fi/4G range extender. Most models now get a versatile new Lagun table system, cassette shades, and the Firefly control system. RV Business has the full rundown.
Photo Credit: Taxa Outdoors
- Taxa Reveals Changes to 2025 Mantis and Woolly Bear Models: Taxa Outdoors—now a subsidiary of Storyteller Overland—has also announced major updates to its 2025 Mantis and Woolly Bear models. The latest edition of the Mantis gets a new layout that includes a third seating option, expanded under-bed storage, Bluetooth-controlled LED lighting, a Victron battery monitoring system, and a redesigned kitchen. Meanwhile, the smaller Whoolly Bear gets improved outdoor kitchen storage, shore power connectivity, Bluetooth LED lighting, and a slideout tray designed to hold a power station. The company also revealed new MoonMoth Clamshell and Foldout rooftop tents.
Photo Credit: Starlink
- SpaceX Launches Starlink Mini: Thanks to its speed, ease of use, and ability to work nearly anywhere, Starlink’s satellite internet service has grown in popularity with RVers, van lifers, and overlanders in recent years. So much so that some RV manufacturers now offer built-in satellite receivers as standard equipment or a factory-installed option. This week, the company launched a lighter, more portable version of its receiver dubbed the Starlink Mini. This unit condenses down the antenna and Wi-Fi router into a single device that is small enough to fit in a backpack, requires much less power to run, and weighs just 3.37 lbs. It costs $599, is limited to download speeds of 100Mbs, and requires Starlink residential service but is otherwise the full Starlink experience. Tech website The Verge has a full review of this exciting development.
- Solo Camping Continues to Rise in Popularity: Online campsite discovery engine The Dyrt shares another interesting bit of data from its 2024 Camping Report this week. According to the study, 29.8% of respondents said they spent at least one night camping alone in 2023. That’s up from 24% the year before and 18.8% in 2021. Those numbers follow a general trend of increasing camping and outdoor participation in general.
That’s a wrap on this week. Join us next Friday for another rundown of the latest news from the RV industry.
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