Overland Expo SoCal Recap & Big Changes in the RV World

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Welcome to this month’s episode of Drivers Edition, where we’re diving into the latest in the world of overlanding, RVs, and camping. We’ve got plenty of exciting news, from events to industry updates, and even a campground spotlight. Here’s a breakdown of what’s covered in today’s show.

Overland Expo SoCal Recap

We talk about the Overland Expo SoCal experience held in Costa Mesa, California, where we saw 19,500 attendees over a two-day period and 303 vendors. The show was a huge success, with many vendors already securing spots for next year.

One downside? A smaller camping area compared to other Overland Expos, but overall, the event exceeded expectations. Many exhibitors praised the high engagement, strong sales, and great turnout, with 70% of attendees being first-timers.

Exciting news: Kenny will be attending every Overland Expo this year and will be located at the Winnebago booth. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

Upcoming Event: Sea Otter Classic

Kenny will also be at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California, from April 10th to 13th at the WeatherTech Raceway. It’s a fun mix of biking and camping, and I’ll be working at the Winnebago booth again—so don’t miss it!

RV Industry Update

RV shipments have seen a 6% increase compared to February 2024, with a significant jump in towable RVs, although motorhome shipments are down. We’ll dive into the latest numbers and what they mean for the RV industry.

Camping Season News

Camping season is on the horizon, and we’ve got some updates on campsites. The U.S. Forest Service offers 4,000 campsites, and the Corps of Engineers has 425 in Pennsylvania. However, there are some troubling updates from Yosemite National Park, including a halt in reservations and staff layoffs. We’ll cover how these changes might affect your summer camping plans.

Canadian RVers Rethinking US

Many Canadian RVers are rethinking their southern trips due to rising costs and trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. We’ll talk about how these factors are impacting the RV travel market for Canadian retirees, including new U.S. policies set to go into effect soon.

Is Lazydays RV Going Out of Business?

There’s been a lot of buzz around Lazydays RV’s recent restructuring. With Camping World purchasing five of their locations, we break down what’s really happening with the company and how they’re undergoing a major rebranding campaign.

Campspot’s Best Campground of the Year: Verde Ranch RV Resort

If you’re looking for a great campground to check out this spring, we’ve got the winner of Campspot’s Best Campground of the Year Award – Verde Ranch RV Resort in Verde, AZ. We dive into what makes this Arizona resort stand out, from stunning red rock landscapes to its great amenities and discounts for weekly stays.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Overland Expo SoCal Recap: RV Business
• RVIA February 2025 Survey: RVIA Report
• Camping Updates: Elon Musk’s Doge Cuts Impacting Campsites
• Lazy Days RV Update: Camping World Acquires Lazy Days
• Verde Ranch RV Resort: Campspot Best Campground of the Year

Show Wrap-Up

That’s it for today’s episode! If you enjoyed the show, we’d love for you to leave us a review or rating on your favorite podcast platform. It helps us grow and reach more listeners.

Have comments? Reach out to us through our Contact Us page.

Sponsor Shoutout

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