Spend any amount of time in most any RV and you can find yourself wondering “why did they do that?” We’ve all been there. RVs are built for mass consumption; it’s just a matter of finding one that closest fits your lifestyle and wallet.

If you’re really handy, though, you can build your own — and to lend a bit of help, Boreas Campers now offers the same chassis used for its XT Overland camper trailer as a standalone product for backyard builders.

The heavy-duty, powder-coated, laser-cut frame (1/8-inch by 4 x 2 and 3 x 2 tube steel) is 16 feet long and 60 inches wide. The rolling chassis includes a Cruisemaster CRS2 independent suspension and DO35 articulating hitch, BFGoodrich AT tires and Pro Comp wheels, front and rear 2-inch hitch receivers, tail and marker lights, 7-pin and a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin.

The MSRP is just $6,500, with add-ons such as a spare tire holder, fenders and a 30-gallon water tank available. For information on the Boreas Campers Chassis and everything that is included, click here.

Ever go camping with friends, only to wonder where everyone is going to sleep? If you have a travel trailer — or just a truck, for that matter — the Lone Peak Camper might be the answer. It combines the security of a lockable waterproof truck bed topper with the living space of a rooftop tent.

Locking side access doors, open-air tent windows, tinted windows, and a 4-inch-deep x 80-inch mattress come standard. Each camper includes bed gaskets and a fit kit to mount to the vehicle. Side access door offers unobstructed access to the truck bed, and with 32 inches of pass-through space so you can stand up in the camper even with the bed deployed. If more room is needed, the bed pushes up out of the way using dual gas struts so you can utilize the full truck bed out of the elements. The Rear Rain Guard also increases the interior volume of the tent, providing more elbow room, and sheds water so you can unzip the rear door even in bad weather.

The base price for the camper — which sets up in less than a minute — is $5,995 and there is a host of available options including a gear vault, LED lighting, roof vent fan, cab pass-through window, tall edition, grab handles, stowable bed ladder, load bars, solar panel wiring port and driver-side vent.

Orders are currently being accepted and units are expected to ship in September. For complete details, visit lonepeakoverland.com/.

RVShare, the largest community for RV owners and renters, announced in mid-April its first-ever “Explore America’s Parks Promotion” ahead of the summer 2023 season. By giving away up to $500,000 in national and state park passes to those booking RVs through RVshare, the company is committed to encouraging awe-inspiring exploration of the country’s national and state parks.

After surveying customers and finding that two-thirds of RV renters are facing economic factors that have already hindered their summer travel plans, RVshare decided to launch “Explore America’s Parks” to help ensure restricted budgets don’t hold travelers back from experiencing the great outdoors.

The Explore America’s Parks Promotion is available to RVshare travelers who book rentals by May 31, 2023 for travel by September 5, 2023. To apply, visit pages.rvshare.com/free-park-pass/. Eligible applicants will receive $80 for trips booked for three nights or more. For other helpful tips and resources, visit the RVshare blog at rvshare.com/blog/.

Timed to the announcement of “Explore America’s Parks,” RVshare also has released The Road Ahead, the company’s quarterly guide highlighting insights, tips, and recommendations for every outdoor enthusiast. The Q2 2023 edition of The Road Ahead includes Green Travel Considerations, Memorial Day Weekend Planning Tips and an Events Season Breakdown, touching popular RVing events like Coachella, Kentucky Derby, Bonnaroo, Dover Speedway, and the Indianapolis 500, to name a few.

Living Vehicle appears intent upon leading the charge in the all-electric luxury travel trailer revolution — and its latest model, the 30-foot 2024 HD, hammers that home. With unmatched off-grid capabilities and more solar power than most residential homes, the HD is the company’s most capable and powerful model yet.

The company has created an autonomous, electric-powered living solution, starting with a foundation of renewable solar energy. Each travel trailer is custom-built with a clean, modern design and offers multiple bedroom configuration options capable of sleeping up to 8 adults. The flagship Queen or King Suites feature more than 150 square feet of storage space, zero-gravity lounge, 4K Home Theater system and integrated Hi-Fi wireless audio.

Professionals and “work-from-anywhere” creatives will appreciate the Mobile Office, with an 80-inch dual workstation and folding bed system. The fully customizable Creative Studio integrates a suite of high-end Mac and Apple devices, and the Starlink Flat Satellite dish provides a dedicated Wi-Fi network wherever your adventures take you.

The Flagship HD PRO model offers 72kWh of energy storage and 18kW of power, which runs all onboard electrical equipment, including electric heating and cooling. With the air-conditioning system relocated to the basement, the 2024 HD PRO features a wall-to-wall solar capacity of up to 6,000 watts and can operate entirely off-grid.

The solar-powered trailer also has true four-season capability and can thrive in below-freezing temperatures down to an industry-first sub-zero -4°F, thanks to the dual-zone 240-volt AC mini-split electric heating system. It is also fully insulated with 100% rigid closed-cell foam insulation, which keeps the inside cool in environments that reach 120°F or higher using the 24,000-Btu air-conditioning system.

Granted, all this is not without a steep price tag — the Living Vehicle HD starts at $459,995 — but the company plans on introducing a smaller 24-foot LT series with MSRPs starting at $359,995. For more information, visit livingvehicle.com.

We all know how expensive RVing can be. RV maintenance, fuel, nightly camping fees — the dollars spent add up quickly. Finding ways to save on the road allows you the freedom to invest more in the experiences that matter most to you.

That’s why the folks at Harvest Hosts — who know camping — have introduced CampersCard, a truly innovative campground discount program. With a CampersCard membership, RVers save money on nights they spend at campgrounds of their choice.

CampersCard-affiliated campgrounds offer members a host of exciting benefits such as early check-in, late checkout, free showers, free Wi-Fi, free hookups and/or discounts on nightly rates in order to be part of the program. For just $39/year, members receive benefits that will quickly offset the membership cost — it’s a win-win for everyone. Plus, if you’re already a Harvest Hosts Member, you can save 25% off of the cost of your CampersCard membership here.

Already several hundred campgrounds strong, the growing list of campgrounds can be found at the CampersCard interactive map to discover campgrounds that suit your needs and all pertinent information. The website also allows users to add specific campgrounds to their “favorites” list simply by clicking the “heart” button.

RVers can expect to save on the cost of nightly camping fees at campgrounds across in the United States and Canada by joining CampersCard. Other perks include discounts on camping gear, entertainment and theme park adventures. Plus, CampersCard is offering a special promotion to readers of RV Enthusiast magazine. Join CampersCard today — and save 15% off with the code ENTHUSIAST.

Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) announced the release in mid-April a new roadside assistance program, RV RoadHelp. Working closely with Drive America, a company with more than 50 years of automotive protection expertise, the new roadside program exclusively designed by KOA utilizes curated, expert service providers to offer what the company says is “the best on-the-road assistance.” RV RoadHelp will offer RVers full-service roadside rescues and repairs across the U.S. and Canada. And, according to KOA sources, it offers the largest network of certified RV specialists allowing more repair flexibility than other assistance options.

Relying on specialized service providers like Custom Glass Solutions and Tire Rescue, KOA’s RV RoadHelp combines multiple providers, differentiating it from other roadside assistance products currently available. Benefits of RV RoadHelp include roadside basics such as towing, locksmith service, fuel delivery, windshield repair, battery boosts and mobile tire repair and replacement. Unique offerings include 24-hour ask-an-expert service, travel interruption assistance and an RV Lifestyle & Repair Club subscription, which includes a library of how-to videos for the DIY-inclined.

The annual cost for RV RoadHelp is $124.95. Visit koa.com/marketplace/rvroadhelp/ to learn more and sign up.

nuCamp, a major manufacturer of teardrop trailers and truck campers based in Sugarcreek, Ohio, has announced the dates for uCamp 23, the manufacturer’s annual rally for its community of campers.

The seventh annual teardrop trailer rally is scheduled for June 12-16 at the Winklepleck Campground in Sugarcreek, just minutes away from nuCamp’s manufacturing facilities. Attracting nuCamp owners from across North America, the five-day event will include Q&A sessions with company techs, tours of the nuCamp facility, company-sponsored dinners on Wednesday and Thursday nights and a hot breakfast on Tuesday morning. A wine-and-cheese night is on the agenda for the first night of the program.

nuCamp will also provide limited services during the rally, with appointments made online.

According to nuCamp EO Scott Hubble, the annual rally continues to grow. Last year’s rally, he said, attracted more than 450 attendees from 35 states and two Canadian provinces.

For more information on uCamp23, go to nucamprv.com/ucamp23/.

Last issue, if you recall, we brought you word of this 1977 GMC Kingsley motorhome, which — after heavy modifications to its interior, exterior and drivetrain — set a new Class A motorhome land speed record with a 122 mph run at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Now, we’ve received word that the haulin’ Jimmy has been purchased by RV aftermarket supplier RecPro — with an eye toward pushing that record to new heights and, perhaps, claiming the outright speed record for motorhomes, a 141.3 mark set by Simon Robins in a (much smaller) Fiat Doblo camper van.

According to a report in RVBusiness, the company plans to unveil a “new and improved” MoHo (the motorhome’s chosen monicker) by late this year. Planned upgrades include new graphics, improved aerodynamics and further drivetrain upgrades. It sounds like MoHo may be taking RecPro’s focus on “lightning-fast delivery” to new heights.

Want to follow along? Visit Recpro.com for more information.

If you haven’t heard about it yet, a 2024 eclipse is going to carve its way across the northern hemisphere next April 8 — and a number of states look to be prime viewing locations. If you’re considering making it a weekend to remember, though, you’d best jump on it: Predicted by some travel insiders to be the biggest mass travel event ever in the United States, campgrounds are already reporting heightened reservations for the weekend.

Campgrounds in the path of totality offer front-row seats to this special event, and Campspot — the leading booking site and app for private campgrounds — has noted a corresponding surge in searches and demand. The company reports that searches are up nearly 120% across all U.S. states for stay dates including April 8th, 2024 — but for those states in the full path of totality, searches on Campspot for 2024 stay dates including April 8th are up more than 700% year-over-year.

To help travelers experience the eclipse first-hand, Campspot has created an eclipse booking page with tips, FAQs, and recommended locations. Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead and make reservations early to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience that will be remembered for years to come.