This Week in RV Industry News (August 18, 2023)

rv.com, RvLyfe

Each week there is far more news from the RV and travel industry than we have time to cover. To make up for that, every Friday, 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:

KOA Expects High Demand for Labor Day and Throughout the Fall: We all know booking campsites has been challenging all year long, and it seems that trend isn’t going to change anytime soon. According to the August Monthly Research Report from KOA, we can expect busy campgrounds for Labor Day Weekend and well into autumn. In fact, the report indicates that 61% of campers already have plans for the three-day holiday, with even more planning trips for later in the fall.
National Park Service Seeks Public Input on Glacier National Park: After seeing a major surge in visitation numbers over the past few years, Glacier National Park has become increasingly crowded. That growth in popularity has brought a number of challenges for the National Park Service, most notably how to manage the crowds while still providing access that doesn’t endanger the fragile found environment there. To that end, the NPS is seeking input from the public on its strategy for public access during the 2024 travel season. We have until September 30 to share our thoughts, with Glacier Superintendent Dave Roemer recommending we start here.
Bluetti Announces New Power Stations for Home and RV: Portable power continues to evolve and become more useful, both at home and in our RVs. Case in point, this week Bluetti announced its latest power stations, which include the modular EP900+B500 models for residential use and the AC500+B300S mobile solution. Both options provide unique and interesting ways to gain energy independence during power outages or when camping off the grid.
VanLab Introduces Modular Camper Kit for Tesla Model X: Tesla’s Model X isn’t known for being a great camping vehicle, but VanLab is looking to change that. The company makes a line of pre-fab furniture and furnishings for outfitting camper vans, but now it has also introduced an option for Tesla’s EV. To see what it offers, check out this preview from New Atlas.
Midland Adds External Speakers to its Catalog: Two-way radio manufacturer Midland has launched a line of external speakers that connect to its other communication devices. This helps users ensure they don’t miss out on important transmissions. The speakers will especially appeal to off-roaders and overlanders. Check out the External Speaker, Deluxe External Speaker, and Amplified Speaker with Noise Reduction on the Midland website.
Upgrade Your Outdoor Entertainment Options with a Portable TV from LG: Looking for an easy way to upgrade the TV in your RV or add one for use outdoors at the campsite? If so, you’re in luck, as this week LG introduced a unique portable TV-in-a-suitcase that you can take with you anywhere. The LG StandbyME Go is a 27″ touchscreen model that runs the company’s smart WebOS platform. It offers a resolution of 1080p, has a 20-watt speaker system, and can run for three hours on its own internal battery with a price tag of $1000. And when not in use, it folds into its own protective carrying case for easy transport. Find out what tech website The Verge thought of this product here.
Design Engineering Allows Vanlifers to Upgrade Their Insulation: Custom van conversions are all the rage these days, offering owners a chance to create a vehicle that meets their specific needs. But those vans often lack proper insulation, which can make them less energy efficient and chilly on colder nights. But a company called Design Engineering, Inc. has introduced custom insulation kits, with options avaialble for 2023 Ford Transit, 2022 Ram ProMaster, and 2007 and newer Mercedes Sprinter vans. Find out more on the DEI website.