While as a class they don’t have the overall numbers of, say, travel trailers or even Class C motorhomes, the Class B “conversion van” market is exploding in popularity — with good reason. With high-end SUVs now surpassing the $100,000 plateau, people who would otherwise never consider a motorhome are using these well-appointed “mini” coaches as able replacements for tailgating, team sports events, and quick getaways. The fact that they also feature full galleys, bathrooms, beds and, in many instances, multiple TVs just further cements their status as easily the most complete vehicles built today.

This hasn’t been lost of European manufacturers, where because of space constraints and narrow roads smaller RVs rule the roads. Just how small they tend to be is evident with the Winghamm Oasi 540, coming soon to a dealership near you.

In July, Italian-based RV manufacturer Winghamm announced plans to bring the company’s Oasi 540 stateside, through an exclusive distribution deal with TM Motorhome Sales, LLC. The first two dealerships are Walt Whitman Shops in Long Island, New York, and Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, California, with plans to go nationwide. According to the company, the Oasi 540 is the first “Micro Class” RV, so named for their diminutive size: the Oasi 540 is just 17 feet, 9 inches long — shorter than a typical Ford F-150 pickup — while still having a full bath and the ability to sleep four.

What sets Wingammm and the Oasi 540 apart is its custom fiberglass monocoque shell, which not only gives the Oasi 540 its distinct sleek appearance but also allows for innovation in the design and functionality of the vehicle.

The bed, for example, requires no traditional interior space. By recessing the bed into the ceiling when it is not being used and then protracting it down when needed, Wingamm created more useable floorplan space. The bathroom includes a standing shower, sink and vanity with countertop space, toilet and medicine cabinet with mirror — again, in an RV less than 18 feet long. Sewage disposal, by the way, is handled via a cassette system that plugs into the exterior side of the van and, when engaged, has a catalyst inside that rapidly breaks down solid matter into an easily disposable liquid. When full, the cassette can be removed from the side of the van and wheeled into any bathroom where it can be simply emptied into a toilet and flushed.

The Oasi 540 also features radiant floor heating and the monocoque shell is said to provide superior insulation because, unlike metal used in other Class B/Class B+ motorhomes, fiberglass is not a thermal conductor; there is no temperature dispersion from the inside to the outside. The monocoque cabin, in combination with a proprietary structural sealant, also eliminates the vibrations and frictional noises that plague the drivers of most motorhomes.

To learn more visit, https://www.wingamm.com/us/.

Togo Group, which is creating the leading technology platform for road travel and outdoor experiences, announced in November it had rebranded as Roadpass Digital, a name that reflects the company’s mission and best-in-class tools to empower road-based recreational travelers.

Roadpass Digital’s products include roadtrippers.com, a trip-planning app that offers users the unique ability to collaborate with friends, sync across map apps for seamless navigation, identify and save destinations; campendium.com, a crowd-sourced and editorially-curated web and mobile application that allows users to search, preview and provide feedback on more than 32,000 public and private RV camping locations across the continental United States, Canada, and Baja Mexico; togorv.com, called “the ultimate app” to keep RV owners organized, inspired, and on the move with a set of tools focused on improving the RV experience; and rvillage.com, the largest and most active social network of RV owners and enthusiasts.

Each digital experience and mobile app will retain its existing name as the company adopts a universal Roadpass-branded user account to enable consumers to seamlessly access the company’s comprehensive set of travel tools for roadtrippers and RVers.

Learn more about Roadpass Digital and Campendium, Roadtrippers, RVillage, and Togo RV products at roadpass.com.

After falling off slightly in July, wholesale RV shipments to dealers resumed their escalating numbers to North American dealerships in August — and, according to a report issued in late November by the RV Industry Association (RVIA), the October 2021 shipment total of 57,971 units was the highest production total on comparable record for any month.

The previous record? 55,014 units — set in September.

Results for RVIA’s October 2021 survey of manufacturers determined that total RV shipments ended the month with 57,971 units, an increase of 22.5% compared to the 47,326 units shipped during October 2020; this October was also the best on comparable record with shipments surpassing the October 2017 total of 48,926 units by over 18%.

Towable RVs, led by conventional travel trailers, ended the month up 23.3% against last October with 52,856 wholesale shipments. Motorhomes finished the month up 14.4% compared to the same month last year with 5,115 units.

The new shipment report comes on the tail of a recently released survey by RVIA showing more Americans plan on RVing in the next year than ever before. The survey showed 72 million Americans planning an RV trip in the next year in an RV they own, rent, or borrow — an 18% increase compared to the 61 million reported in the same survey a year ago.

Through October, total RV shipments for 2021 were 510,608.

“Rollin’ On TV,” the popular RV lifestyle program seen in 100-plus markets and viewed in 375,000 homes each week, is rebranding as “RVing Today.”

The move will occur over the next several months and, according to founder and producer Jose Moniz, will be more than a simple name change. “Virtually everything about ‘RVing Today’ is new and created for today’s generation of RVers and outdoor enthusiasts,” he said.

As Moniz pointed out, the rebranding allows him and his team to rethink how to best reach today’s RVers. Supported by an all-new website, “RVing Today” will deliver content through multiple channels — including over-the-air TV, cable, streaming sources, and via the web, YouTube and social media.

“Rollin’ On TV” first launched in January 2010 and is arguably the longest-running RV lifestyle program on the airwaves.

Like its predecessor, “RVing Today” will continue to report on RVs, campgrounds, destinations and aftermarket products, as well as provide user-friendly RV tips. Additionally, Moniz said the channel will carry more content like the new-this-year pet-vet segment “Paws On Board with Dr. Fitz,” offering veterinary advice from a licensed veterinarian specifically tailored for RVs traveling with their pets.

Moniz noted that as the RV market grows and changes, “RVing Today” will change along with it, delivering the content viewers want in the format they prefer. Along with the rebranding, “RVing Today” also will be adding local content, made possible by the recent agreement with NEXSTAR Media Group, the country’s largest television station owner. The “RVing Today” website is currently under construction. Watch for updates at rollinontv.com/.

It’s been said — sometimes with good reason — that American personal transportation is oftentimes a bit staid in design and performance. This is just as true with RVs as it is automobiles. If you truly want to see some amazing motorized and towable RVs, save up your money and buy a ticket to Dusseldorf, Germany, next September for Caravan Salon, the world’s largest RV show and a showcase of awe-inspiring European design.

That mindset appears to be filtering into China, as well. Witness, as Exhibit A, this unique Whale Trailer Cabin. Designed for the growing Chinese RV market by Hu Yong, the concept makes amazing use of space. In transport mode, this lightweight (note the single axle) trailer is said to be easy to tow; campside, it nearly doubles in size. The rear extends, pop tops in both the main cabin and rear sleeping area provide plenty of headroom and a fully equipped kitchen slides out from the side. Best of all, the website motor1.com reports that it may be in the early development stages for production. But as automotive aficionados are painfully aware, that doesn’t mean it may make it stateside. We can only hope.

While it may have escaped the attention of some, Goshen, Ind.-based Keystone RV Co. is fast becoming an innovator of not only recreational vehicles but of many of the components used in them. The company worked with ASA Electronics to develop the iN•Command smart trailer system, the composite HyperDeck RV floor, MaxTurn technology to add an additional 8 inches of fifth-wheel turning radius — heck, the Keystone Innovation Lab even designed and engineered its own chassis: the NGC2 (Next-Generation Crawlspace Chassis), used under the company’s Arcadia fifth wheels and travel trailers, uses a “crawlspace” design that allows vital systems to run between supporting crossmembers and the floor of the unit.

Last year, the lab developed the Blade high-performance airflow system. Recognizing that there was a disconnect between new high-output air conditioners and the systems used to distribute cooled air throughout the RV, Keystone’s team leveraged core fluid dynamics principles to redesign the system. Elbows and wyes with larger intake openings that taper into the ducting not only reduced air turbulence but increased cold air speed throughout the full length of the ductwork. Blade also introduced a new vent design that uses negative pressure to drive air flow into the cabin; the Blade vent diffuser eliminates hot and cool spots by distributing cold air in a circular pattern and setting up natural convection throughout the RV. The system also eliminates the reliance on foil tape alone by adding injection molded components at each joint in the system. In testing, the lab saw average airflow increases of more than 20%.

In November, the lab launched an upgrade to the system, combining air filtration with even greater noise reduction levels. Rechristined “Blade PURE,” the system adds MERV 9 air filtration to the engineered ducting and unique vent design. It now filters out dust, pet dander, pollen and mold, providing a respite for campers who suffer from asthma and allergies. The new Blade PURE system combines with a Coleman-Mach Q Series air conditioner, which reduces noise levels by 10-15 decibels as compared to traditional air conditioners.

The new system is available on Keystone’s 2022 Montana, Montana High Country, Alpine, Avalanche, Cougar, Arcadia, Sprinter and Outback models.

Wondering where to travel to next summer? You might take your lead from the outdoor hospitality industry and visit an award-winning RV park. Every year about this time, the campground sector’s largest campground associations and franchisors stage annual conventions. Among the educational seminars, camaraderie and business taken care of, each names its “Campground of the Year” — oftentimes, an honor bestowed on several locations based upon park size.

At November’s Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo staged by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), Park of the Year awards were given in four categories to ARVC member-parks said to deliver an extraordinary guest experience as a result of all-around excellence in operations, professionalism, marketing, customer service and industry involvement.

• ARVC Park of the Year — Small Park Category: Aspen Grove RV Park, Tremonton, Utah (aspengrovervpark.com).
• ARVC Park of the Year — Medium Park Category: Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Quarryville, Penn. (jellystonepa.com).
• ARVC Park of the Year — Large Park Category: Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, Santee, Calif. (santeelakes.com)
• ARVC Park of the Year — Mega Park Category: Clay’s Park Resort, North Lawrence, Ohio (clayspark.com)

At about the same time, Kampgrounds of America (KOA) held its annual Convention and Expo, during which the Indianapolis KOA Holiday (koa.com/campgrounds/indianapolis/) in Indianapolis, Ind., was named the KOA Park of the Year for 2022. Additionally, the Willcox/Cochise KOA Holiday (koa.com/campgrounds/willcox/) in Wilcox, Ariz., was honored as the KOA Rising Star Campground for 2022.

Few things in an RVer’s life can be as frustrating as waiting for your rig to come back from the dealership after repairs. Now, you can find out answers on your own — well, at least Heartland RV owners can.

Heartland RV has launched a new mobile app, MyHeartlandRV, to help consumers oversee their RV. MyHeartlandRV is mobile app that allows the customer to enter their VIN# and monitor warranty information, sales and parts orders. Owners’ manuals and warranty information are readily accessible on the app, along with a dealer directory.

The app also includes a growing library of “how-to” content, checklists, and provides instruction on vital operational and maintenance tasks. Based on customer preferences, they can opt in for push notifications — which will alert them of their parts shipping, when their warranty claim has been processed (information is updated daily), or even a local rally in their area. For more information, visit heartlandrvs.com.