RecPro Visits The 2026 Elkhart RV Dealer Open House At The RV/MH Hall of Fame

From September 28th-30th, hundreds of 2027 model-year RVs, including several debut models, were on display at the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Event Center in Elkhart, Indiana, for the 2026 Elkhart RV Dealer Open House. RecPro was fortunate enough to have a few boots on the ground who got to walk the show and speak with manufacturers and retailers about where the RV world stands and what to expect in the years ahead.

Every fall since 2009, the RV industry turns its attention to Elkhart for the Open House. Dealers, manufacturers, reporters, and over 150 recognized companies gathered for this year's show. The day was made complete with networking, stepping inside dozens of exclusive 2027 showcases, and picking the brains of a few industry professionals.

Two of our conversations on the show's second day stood out. One was with a first-time exhibitor with a uniquely designed micro-trailer. The other was with a longtime industry leader who shared insight into a market segment that has been quietly returning.

A First-Time Exhibitor Brings Jeep to the Open House

Brian Rea, Chief Product Officer at Addax Outdoors, was attending the Elkhart RV Open House for the first time. His centerpiece was the 2027 Addax/Jeep Basecamp, a compact off-road camping trailer built in partnership with Jeep.

"We're definitely different from what a lot of guys are showing here," Brian told RecPro. Addax holds the only official Jeep licensing agreement in the camping-trailer game, setting this unit apart by title alone. Among the many models on display this year, the Basecamp is a trailer built for a different kind of camper. One destined for extreme terrain, without sacrificing any off-grid comfort.

Out-of-the-box engineering was a common trend we noticed at this year's show. Addax, along with many others, was excited to showcase what news they brought to the table. Brian was also enthusiastic about returning in 2027. "So far it's been a good reception." For a first-time exhibitor to already be thinking about next year shows that innovation and novelty are alive and well in the industry.

A Veteran's Insights on the Future of the RV Market

Scott Tuttle, owner of Soaring Eagle Campers, offered industry insight from a longtime leader's perspective. When we asked Scott what he's seen in recent trends, he shared one that stood out: "Truck campers are growing in popularity again."

Popular in the '60s and '70s, he said, they faded for decades as buyers moved to travel trailers and fifth-wheelers. Citing industry shipment statistics he and his team have tracked, Scott says truck campers are the only RV segment that has consistently grown for seven quarters in a row.

Scott credits this comeback mostly to affordability and to frequent campers who tow fishing boats, horse trailers, or ATVs and also want extra storage or utility on hand. "They like having a camper too, but they can't pull a camper trailer, so they are looking at the truck camper market."

As for what's next, Scott expects the industry to rebound. He called the current slowdown cyclical and believes that, similar to the comeback of truck campers, more affordable and compact RV units will be the next popular trend in the industry.

Looking Ahead to 2027

Between a first-time exhibitor excited to present his new, distinctive trailer, and a veteran who has seen the industry's ups and downs, the 2026 Elkhart RV Open House showed an industry that's still innovating and excited to keep growing.

Brian and Scott shared a similar outlook in that we may start to see the rise of compact, utility-minded RV and trailer options in the coming years. At RecPro, we plan to return in 2027 to dig deeper into this topic and, hopefully, meet and talk with more retailers and manufacturers about the RV industry trends a year from now.

RV/MH Hall of Fame Information
21565 Executive Parkway
Elkhart Indiana 46514
(800) 378-8694
(574) 293-2344
https://www.thervmhhalloffame.org/