From MORryde: We’ve discovered the world’s most overbuilt shackle… But seriously—when it comes to suspension upgrades, size does matter (just not this much). Upgrade to real performance with MORryde heavy-duty shackles. Built for the long haul, not for laughs.
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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Overland Expo West, the premier overlanding event in the U.S., returns to Flagstaff, Arizona, May 16-18, 2025. As the original and largest event in the Overland Expo series, West is widely regarded as the “grandfather of overlanding events”— bringing together the world’s top adventure travel experts, gear innovators, and thousands of enthusiasts for a weekend of inspiration, education, and community
More than 400 exhibitors and over 300 hours of educational programming, including 150+ classes, demos, and roundtables—await attendees across a jam-packed three-day schedule. From vehicle recovery techniques to backcountry culinary skills, Overland Expo West offers hands-on learning for everyone from curious beginners to seasoned explorers.
“Overland Expo West is where this entire community began,” says Jessica Kirchner, VP of Consumer Events and Show Director for Overland Expo. “From the very first gathering in 2009, we’ve grown into a global series—but Flagstaff remains our flagship. It’s where overland legends gather, where gear debuts, and where lifelong adventure dreams take shape.”
Born out of a shared passion for international exploration and vehicle-based travel, Overland Expo was created in 2009 as a place for travelers to share stories, learn skills, and get inspired for their next adventure. What began as a modest gathering has since grown into a full-scale experience that now hosts five events across the U.S. each year.
Located at the gateway to the Grand Canyon and the Four Corners region, Flagstaff offers the perfect setting for adventure-minded travelers to come together and celebrate the spirit of overlanding.
With 175+ specialized classes, demos and activities and 400+ hours of instruction available, Overland Expo West offers an unmatched educational experience for all skill levels. Attendees can join sessions on topics like wilderness first-aid, recovery skills, content creation, route planning, cooking tips, and gear essentials. Plus, enjoy film festival screenings, roundtable panels, product demos, and check out custom DIY overland rigs.
New for 2025, the Women Who Wander Pavilion Sponsored by Rig Ready Systems becomes an event series-wide addition, featuring female-focused programming tailored to the growing number of women in the overlanding community. Kid-friendly programming is also expanding, with activities including the RC course and sessions focused on visual storytelling and more. Due to popular demand, the Hands-On Pavilion sponsored by U-Haul International returns this year with small-group, skill-building sessions that dive deeper into high-impact overland techniques.
To support media attending the event, Overland Expo West provides a Media Room with dedicated workspace and sponsor-hosted luncheons from TROVOCA (Friday, May 16) and ROA OFF-ROAD (Saturday, May 17).
Camping on-site at Overland Expo West 2025 offers attendees an unparalleled way to immerse themselves in the event. By setting up camp within Fort Tuthill County Park, participants are just steps away from all the action—attending classes, exploring exhibitor booths, or joining evening festivities. This proximity allows for a seamless experience, eliminating the need for daily commutes and providing more time to engage with the overlanding community.
Overland Expo West offers day passes, weekend passes, and premium camping packages. Attendees are encouraged to secure tickets early as camping spots are expected to sell out. Buy tickets and camping passes here.
For more information, visit overlandexpo.com and join the next event.
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BOULDER, Colo. — Roofnest has launched the Condor 2 XXL Air, the largest and easiest to use hardshell rooftop tent in the world, capable of deploying in seconds and comfortably sleeping four full-size adults and a couple furry friends, according to a press release.
Designed entirely in-house in Boulder, Colorado, the all-new foldout rooftop tent debuts Roofnest’s refreshed branding and color scheme. Condor 2 XXL Air is Roofnest’s latest flagship tent and premiers new accessories and standard features that will be incorporated across the Roofnest lineup in the years to come.
Fully open, the interior of Condor 2 XXL Air measures 102 inches long and up to 80 inches wide with four feet of maximum headroom. The tent boasts a mattress that is 8.0 feet long and 6.5 feet wide — that is 51 square feet of mattress. Condor 2 XXL Air comfortably sleeps four adults, each with 24 inches of shoulder room. Despite its impressive interior volume, Condor 2 XXL Air is relatively compact when closed, measuring 88 inches long, 60 inches wide, and 15 inches tall — the same height and width of the Falcon 3 EVO XL, the brand’s largest clamshell rooftop tent.
Condor 2 XXL Air is not an extended version of the Condor 2 XL AIR; it debuts a new shell and tent structural design that keeps weight low and maximizes interior space and ease of use. The Condor 2 XXL Air has modular side windows that can be used with a simple rainfly canopy covering, which is perfect for fast setup and minimal fuss and ideal for bed-height truck mounting options. An additional supported flap can be deployed for full coverage in all weather conditions. With no additional components to manipulate or extend, the Condor 2 XXL Air is the fastest-deploying Roofnest yet.
The Condor 2 XXL Air is not only the biggest hardshell on the market, it’s also the easiest to operate thanks to the additional U-bar and redesigned four-way windows,” said Roofnest CEO Dave Rogers. “What’s more, Condor 2 XXL Air sets up in half the time of the competition. Condor 2 XXL Air is the new pinnacle of the hardshell rooftop tent industry and perfect for families who want to camp in comfort.”
A key component of the Condor 2 XXL Air is its compounded PC-ABS hardshell design, which provides all-weather protection and stability both when closed but especially when open. The shell’s material is compounded — not laminated — with UV stabilizers, ensuring it won’t fade, bubble or peel. The tent is finished at the factory with a LINE-X coating, a popular ruggedized truck-bed liner, adding another layer of protection and a matte finish.
“The best way to describe the toughness of the Condor 2 XXL Air’s shell is to take a car bumper, make it twice as thick, then cover it with LINE-X,” said Turner Sessions, Roofnest’s Director of Engineering.
“Top-shell fatigue is also limited by the interior frame, which limits the stress on the shell but also offers
customers the ability to install accessory cross bars on the Condor 2 XXL Air, which can hold up to 150 pounds of gear when the tent is closed.”
Climb up the Condor 2 XXL Air’s integrated 7.5-foot telescoping ladder and campers will find a new 2.0-inch foamcore airmattress. Including an inflatable rather than a solid foam mattress means that campers can both dial in the mattress to their comfort but also leave it inflated even when the tent is closed, speeding up the close-down process. Plus, the new mattress is both lighter weight and more comfortable than the previous memory foam mattress.
The new inflatable foamcore airmattress is part of Roofnest’s new “Rest EZ Sleep System,” featuring fitted and top sheets made from 100% bamboo and a puffy blanket — standard with the Condor 2 XXL Air. An optional accessory ladder will be available that can be mounted to the tent’s rear window and is another new and exciting feature unique to the Condor 2 XXL Air. The new accessory ladder gives campers a secondary entry and exit point and helps limit disturbing fellow campers, especially when the tent is at full capacity.
Condor 2 XXL Air offers several gear storage options: a six-pocket gear grid that attaches to the top shell, two deeper pockets, designed for items like water bottles, located on either side of the top shell, and two additional three-pocket sets attach to either the inside or outside and flank either side of the door.
Control of interior illumination has never been easier inside the new Condor 2 XXL Air. The thick, insulative, and fully recycled 280-GSM tent material is finished in blackout material. When Campers want a view of the sky, a translucent moonroof can be revealed by unzipping the moonroof cover. Finally, if even more light is required, there are three dimmable LED light strips. Standard HVAC ports in the tent wall allow campers to hook up portable air conditioners or heaters to their Condor 2 XXL Air for more comfortable year-round camping.
The Roofnest Condor 2 XXL Air is priced at $4,395.00 and is on sale now with shipments scheduled to start April 21, 2025. Customers can learn more about the new Condor 2 XXL Air on the dedicated product page: https://roofnest.com/products/condor-2-xxl-air
Specifications
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OCEAN CITY, Md. – Blue Water Development, announced a strategic transition involving two of its standout resort destinations – Chincoteague Bay RV Resort & Cottages in Virginia and Sugarloaf Key Resort & Cottages in Florida, according to a press release.
Formerly operated under the Sun Outdoors brand, both resorts are now stepping into a new era with fresh independent branding and continued leadership from Blue Water — reflecting the company’s vision to elevate outdoor recreation and guest experiences nationwide, the release stated.
The transitions officially took place on April 1 (Chincoteague Bay) and April 15 (Sugarloaf Key), marking another milestone in Blue Water’s mission to redefine outdoor hospitality. For more information on these properties or Blue Water’s full portfolio, visit BWDC.com.
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Hosted by the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds, the Regional Knowledge Summit concludes today with the second of its two presentations, this one on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, Mich. The first session took place Tuesday (April 22) at the Suburban Showplace in Novi, Mich.
In both sessions, Sharonne Lee, vice president of education and operations for the RV Technical Institute (RVTI), explained the new Ground Monitor Interrupter (GMI) requirements going into effect in 2026. Also, Bonnie Mayfield, an attorney at the Dykema law firm, spoke on Michigan’s new Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA). In addition, MARVAC President and CEO John Lindley updated participants on the state’s new legislature and regulatory landscape.
When the 2026 Edition of the National Electric Code (NEC) is published later this year, it will finalize the requirement and electrical evolution of protecting RV owners and users from the occurrences known as “hot skin,” which Lee said is a condition that refers to when any metal item, including an RV’s metal exterior, becomes electrified, raising the risk of shock or fire.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, all new RVs manufactured with 30A or 50A electrical service will be required to have installed a Ground Monitor Interrupter (GMI), which is a loss-of-ground device. Before electrical current can pass into the RV, a GMI will check the receptacle for a proper ground connection. During use, the GMI will also monitor the ground connection to the RV and, if lost, will disconnect the power to the RV.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: For further background see: “Grounding Monitor Interrupters on RVs Coming in 2026”)
For her part, Mayfield explained the myriad nuances of the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA), which details how an employee can earn paid sick time during. While the ESTA goes into great detail, it’s expected that more answers will emerge as the legislation is implemented in the field.
Lindley said the two Regional Summits are another opportunity for the association to provide a real-time benefit to RV dealers and campground owner/operators in the Great Lakes State.
“These events provide a great opportunity for colleagues to get together with colleagues,” he said. “Those are truly extraordinarily valuable conversations that members of the association have with each other that we’re able to facilitate.”
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MIDDLEBURY, Ind. – Remote trails, first tracks in fresh powder and backcountry star gazing are more accessible than ever thanks to Grand Design RV’s latest innovation, the new Lineage Series VT luxury adventure van, according to a press release from Grand Design parent company Winnebago Industries.
Grand Design RV, a leading manufacturer of premium towable and motorized RVs, today announced the launch of its first class B motorhome, a new addition to its acclaimed Lineage product line, following the recent introductions of the Lineage Series F class super C and Lineage Series M class C RVs.
Built for those who demand rugged assurance, the Lineage Series VT empowers adventurers to explore with complete confidence – whether traveling challenging terrain, towing additional gear, or venturing off-grid.
“Every inch of the Lineage Series VT has been meticulously engineered to solve the real challenges adventure van owners face,” said Tommy Hall, Grand Design’s motorized general manager. “From our innovative storage solutions to our enhanced off-grid capabilities, we have created a vehicle that doesn’t just meet the demands of remote exploration – it anticipates them. This isn’t another van conversion; it’s intentionally built to change how people experience van life.”
The launch of Series VT answers the growing demand for sustainable travel options and the rising popularity of nomadic lifestyles. The Lineage Series VT is built on the AWD Ford Transit chassis, marking the first high-volume production collaboration of its kind in the adventure van segment and includes an exclusive, industry first, fully integrated pop-top option allowing the rig to comfortably sleep four. The Ford Transit chassis provides the perfect foundation for what adventure van owners truly need: reliability, capability, and serviceability across North America
Lineage Series VT highlights include:
that conserves counter space with an Italian porcelain countertop featuring a built-in undermount induction cooktop.“At Grand Design, everything we do and every product we build revolves around our customers and the goal of elevating their outdoor recreation experience,” said Stephan Dolzan, the Lineage Series VT product manager. “Our entry with the Lineage Series VT isn’t about capturing a trend; it’s about setting new standards in a market that’s ready for disruption.”
The Lineage Series VT continues Grand Design’s tradition of quality manufacturing and is backed up with exceptional customer service and industry leading warranties so owners can stay outdoors, longer. For more information about the Lineage Series VT and the full range of Grand Design RV models, visit www.GrandDesignRV.com.
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FAIRFAX, Va. – Dealer registration for the 2025 RV Dealers Convention/Expo, set for Nov. 10-14 at Paris Las Vegas, is now open. Dealers can click here to register.
The convention brings together North America’s top dealership personnel for a week of in-person networking and continuing education workshops designed for dealers/GMs, sales, fixed ops, F&I, and digital marketing professionals. The annual RVDA convention also includes opportunities to interact with leading manufacturers, suppliers, and RV industry business partners in the Expo.
Best-selling author and former Fortune 500 company chief revenue officer Ryan Estis will deliver the keynote address during the Tuesday general session on Nov. 11th. During his keynote address, “The Art of Standing Out: Leveraging Remarkable Experiences and Experimentation to Create Brand Evangelism,” Estis will explore how category-leading organizations have cracked the code to meet evolving customer expectations.
Companies interested in partnership, sponsorship, exhibiting, and Vendor Training +Plus opportunities can contact Julie Newhouse at (703) 364-5518 or by email at jnewhouse@rvda.org. The annual convention is sponsored by RVDA of the U.S., RVDA of Canada, and the Mike Molino RV Learning Center.
Protective Asset Protection is sponsoring the online registration portal this year. Protective provides RVDA’s exclusively endorsed XtraRide extended service contract. Regular convention updates will be posted on rvda.org/convention, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
RVDA has secured hotel accommodations at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas. Official hotel registration information is available here. RVDA is alerting attendees about potential email scams or phishing campaigns where malicious actors are claiming to work with the association or are acting as third-party vendors to book hotel rooms in Las Vegas during the convention/expo.
Attendees should use official information and links provided on the convention website.
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GREENVILLE, N.C. – In his latest interview, the CEO of Camping World is reiterating his stance that he will not take down the huge flag at his location at the corner of Evans Street and Red Banks Road while acknowledging the controversy has had an impact on his business in Greenville, according to a report by WITN, citing an interview by WTIB in which Marcus Lemonis announced he has closed one of the company’s two Greenville locations. (See video above; the interview starts at the 1:07:00 mark.)
The city says the American flag and flagpole it is flying on, violate city code due to their size.
Marcus Lemonis was on Inner Banks Media radio station WTIB Tuesday morning where he told Henry Hinton on Talk of the Town that he closed one of his two Greenville locations on Friday. He said that employees at the Forest River RV location on Greenville Boulevard were told they were closing due to the controversy created by the council.
“We think the ordinance is wrong,” said Lemonis. “I think it’s also wrong council members have been working very actively to disparage my business and on Friday I had to consolidate modification of 2 dealerships in town. The main one that you’re referring to and another one of Greenville – and we had to close that – our business which has been unfortunately impacted uniquely in Greenville, N.C.”
Click here to read the full WITN report.
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LAS VEGAS – Noovo recently opened its doors to local and national media, supplier partners, and customers at its facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. Noovo’s open house event detailed the company’s origins, evolution, and its vision heading into the next few years as it promotes its approach to “van life”.
Noovo’s open house was held April 5-6 at its relatively new 20,000 square-foot facility near Nellis Air Force Base, where screaming jets performing acrobatics punctuated the event. In 2024, Noovo moved from a much smaller facility in Las Vegas as the company honed its focus to producing “livable” vans.
“Our vans are like an extension of your home where you can live on the road rather than off-grid adventure vans,” says Benoit Lafond, who founded Noovo with Paul Aubert and Antoine Alberteau in 2020.
“Our specialty is Class B vans – that’s all we carry – and we were looking for something unique that doesn’t cannibalize the brands on our lot,” says Nick Schmidt, owner of Sunshine State RVs in Gainesville, Florida, one of the largest Class B dealers in North America and the exclusive dealer for Noovo. “We’ve found the market for these, generally, has been a younger customer who works remote on the road and wants something where they can sleep and work.”
Despite the current uncertainty in the market, Schmidt is fairly bullish on 2025 for Sunshine State RVs. “We’ve seen a boost from people who want to go ahead and lock in their price for an RV. We’re up 20 percent from 2024 so far,” says Schmidt, who also attributes year-over-year growth to other dealers holding less Class B inventory, the momentum of the Class B market, and adding units like Noovo’s Plus series.
“After eight months on the road in the converted school bus we found there was a spot that was missing in the market. We had so much fun living on the road and we saw the possibilities for creating the same type of experience for others,” says Lafond.
Noovo customers Calvin and Patti Yarbrough, aka, Tripper and Slipper, respectively, are big proponents of life on the road and building a relationship with their RV builder.
“We’re realtors and understand the customer relationship; it’s really a service rather than sales business. Noovo was great about showing us how everything is built and their processes. They kept us up to date on every detail,” says Patti.
Calvin adds, “We’ve always heard about ABC when it comes to sales – always be closing – and I can’t embrace that. I think it’s the opposite: CBA – consistently be authentic. Sales should come from the passion that built the business.”
Before living full time in their Noovo van, the couple lived in an Airstream trailer on top of a mountain near Jasper, Georgia, having sold their house and acquired the land on which to park the trailer.
“Our experience with Airstream was phenomenal. We met the people who were actually building our trailer and loved the people we worked with there,” Patti says.
After hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2016 they started looking for a minimalist approach that would allow them to get back to the “intimacy we had on the trail and still build our careers,” Calvin explains.
They fully embraced the van life and made the trek to Las Vegas for Noovo’s open house, which concluded with a campout at Lake Mead. Noovo plans to make the open house an annual springtime event.
“We’re looking forward to continuing this tradition and offering even more opportunities for adventure seekers to connect, explore, and discover what Noovo has to offer,” says Maggie Shaffer, Noovo’s marketing director.
For a calendar of upcoming events at which Noovo will participate, go to https://www.noovolife.com/van-events/
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ELKHART, Ind. – Dometic today (April 23) announced two personnel appointments to its Sub-Segment Land Vehicles Amercas.
Tim Hall has been appointed Regional President – Sub-Segment Land Vehicles Americas. He joined Dometic March 31 and is based in Elkhart. He was previously General Manager BMT Aerospace and before that spent six years with Dometic.
Hall rejoined Dometic to advance and strengthen the company’s position in the RV industry in North America. During his previous six years at Dometic he served as VP CPV & RVOE for Americas. He is an experienced leader with deep knowledge of the RV business.
“Tim’s leadership, proven track record in driving business and his ability to build high performing teams are important assets needed to accelerate our transformation journey in the segment and take the business to higher level of performance. We are excited to be welcoming Tim back to Dometic and the team,” said Juan Vargues, President & CEO Dometic Group.
“Reconnecting with the industry will be both key and exciting for me. I look forward to the different opportunities to meet up with familiar faces and meet new players in the market. Dometic plays such an integral role in this industry and I want to play my part in bringing it all the way to the leadership position,” Hall said.
Also, Eric Brown has been appointed Director of Sales, RVOE – Sub-Segment Land Vehicles Americas. He joined Dometic April 7 and is based in Elkhart. He joins Dometic with a substantial amount of RV knowledge, having spent the 12+ years in the industry, most recently as the Product Manager for XLR Toy Haulers for Forest River.
Brown is joining the Dometic team at a critical time within the business’s transformation. Dometic has increased focus on the RV OE business and bringing industry leadership to the team will accelerate the changes. As a change agent, Eric’s role will drive the team supporting our OE customers, building the trusted relationships throughout all aspects of selling, engineering, manufacturing and marketing RVs.
“Eric’s leadership and approach to the industry will improve our position within the RV market and enhance our sales team. The company has made many changes in the past year and bringing in industry knowledge was important to me”, said Hall.
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