RV Podcast News Feb. 16

RV PODCAST NEWS EDITION - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026

INTRO

HelloRV Community, and welcome to your Monday RV Podcast News Edition for February 16th. I'm Mike Wendland, and we've got five major stories from the RV industry this week. But we're leading with a bombshell that dropped last Wednesday: the immediate resignation of Leigh Tiffin from Tiffin Motorhomes. This isn't just another executive shuffle, folks. This is the grandson of founder Bob Tiffin walking away from the family business. And when I say immediate, I mean immediate. As in, effective the same day the announcement was made.

Let's dig in.

STORY #1: LEIGH TIFFIN RESIGNS FROM TIFFIN MOTORHOMES - EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

The big industry news last week was THOR Industries announced that Leigh Tiffin has resigned from his role as president of Tiffin Motorhomes, effective immediately. Now, let that sink in for a moment. Immediately. Not in two weeks, not at the end of the quarter. The same day the press release went out, Leigh Tiffin was done.

For those who aren't familiar with the backstory, let me paint you a picture. Leigh Tiffin is the grandson of Bob Tiffin, the founder of Tiffin Motorhomes, one of the most respected names in the luxury Class A motorhome industry. The company, based in Red Bay, Alabama, has been known for decades for exceptional craftsmanship, legendary customer service, and that "Roughing It Smoothly" philosophy that made Tiffin owners feel like they were part of an exclusive club.

In July 2021, Leigh was promoted to president of Tiffin Motorhomes, about seven months after THOR Industries acquired the company. At the time, everyone said all the right things. Bob Tiffin, the founder, said he wanted the legacy protected by someone who understood what they'd built, and that THOR's partnership made sense because they would let Tiffin run its own show. Leigh himself said he was humbled and excited, committed to protecting the brand and delivering high-quality RVs.

Fast forward to this past week. The official statement says Leigh is leaving to "pursue an important personal career opportunity focused on continued leadership and professional growth." Our sources, and these are solid sources close to the company, are telling us that Leigh is heading to a large, prestigious RV dealership that specializes in luxury Class A coaches.

Now, here's what you need to understand: this isn't just any executive leaving. This is a family member with the Tiffin name. The guy who co-founded Vanleigh RV with his father Van Tiffin back in 2014, building it into what was supposed to be an industry-leading luxury fifth wheel brand. Until THOR shut down Vanleigh operations in January 2023, citing market conditions and the need to focus on motorized products.

The press release is filled with all the usual corporate language. Bob Martin, THOR's CEO, thanked Leigh for his service and talked about strong order momentum and no anticipated disruption. Bob Tiffin, the founder, said he's thankful for Leigh's dedication and grateful for THOR's partnership. And Leigh himself praised THOR, saying they've allowed Tiffin to maintain its brand identity while providing resources and expertise.

But here's the thing, folks. When you read between the lines, when you look at the pattern here, something doesn't add up.

First, there's the timing. Effective immediately. That's not how planned career moves typically work when everything is sunshine and roses. Second, there's the corporate structure being put in place. THOR announced that during this "transition period," Jayco, one of THOR's other brands, will assist the Tiffin leadership team. Ken Walters, Jayco's president, will be helping ensure "operational momentum, leadership continuity, and strategic execution." Translation: THOR is taking a much more hands-on role.

Third, and this is critical, there's no successor named. The press release says additional leadership updates will be announced later. So who's running Tiffin Motorhomes right now? Nobody seems to know for sure, except that Jayco is "assisting."

Fast forward to just a few weeks ago at the Tampa RV SuperShow. Tiffin owners who visited the exhibit had mixed reactions. On the positive side, they liked the new dash design in the Allegro Buses and appreciated meeting Bob Tiffin himself. But on the not-so-good side, multiple owners reported that Tiffin technical and design staff seemed disconnected from how customers actually use their products. One owner wrote a detailed post on iRV2 saying the staff "have no idea how people really use their product, and they don't seem to want to learn."

That same owner noted that when he tried to discuss real-world usage issues, he was told to contact suppliers directly, that Tiffin had little influence. Think about that. This is supposed to be a premium luxury brand known for listening to customers and solving problems. And now staff is saying, essentially, "Not our department."

So what does Leigh Tiffin's resignation really mean? I think it's another example of what happens when massive corporations absorb family-run RV brands. THOR owns a huge stable of companies: Airstream, Jayco, Dutchmen, Heartland, Keystone, and many others. And yes, they claim to let each brand maintain its identity. But when you start seeing Jayco brought in to "assist" Tiffin's leadership, when you see the family name leaving the family business, when you see no successor in place, it's hard not to conclude that THOR is tightening its grip.

The pattern is familiar. Acquire a respected brand. Keep the family around initially for continuity and credibility. Gradually introduce "efficiencies" and "synergies." Consolidate manufacturing. Reduce headcount. Bring in management from other THOR brands. And somewhere along the way, the magic that made the original brand special starts to fade.

Now, I want to be fair here. Bob Tiffin, the soon-to-be 84-year-old founder, remains semi actively involved. Van Tiffin continues as Senior Advisor of Manufacturing. The company says the Tiffin family will ensure continuity of culture, values, and product philosophy. And maybe that's true. Maybe Leigh simply got a better opportunity elsewhere, and everything at Tiffin will be fine.

But I've been covering this industry for 15 years, and my gut tells me there's more to this story. When the president of a family business resigns immediately, with no successor named, and corporate brings in another brand to manage the transition, that's not business as usual. That's crisis management.

The RV industry has seen this movie before. Remember what happened to Monaco? To Holiday Rambler? To National RV? Great brands, beloved by owners, that either disappeared entirely or became shadows of their former selves after corporate consolidation.

I hope that's not Tiffin's fate. I really do. Because the RV community needs companies that prioritize craftsmanship and customer service over quarterly earnings reports. We need brands where you can call the factory and talk to someone who actually understands your coach because they helped build it.

The next few months will tell us a lot. Who does THOR name as Leigh's successor? Will it be someone from the Tiffin family? Someone from within the organization? Or will it be a THOR corporate executive brought in to "streamline operations"? And what happens to the service center in Red Bay, that mecca where Tiffin owners have made pilgrimages for decades?

I'll be watching closely, and I'll keep you informed. If you own a Tiffin or you're considering buying one, my advice is simple: pay attention. Watch for changes in warranty policies, in build quality, in customer service responsiveness. And if you're shopping for a luxury Class A, maybe wait a few months to see how this shakes out before writing a six-figure check.

Because no matter how glossy the PR release reads, this is a sharp blow to Tiffin Motorhomes and its once-shining reputation. And it's another cautionary tale about what happens when Wall Street gets involved in the RV business..

SOURCES:

TIFFIN MOTORHOMES / THOR INDUSTRIES:

• THOR Industries announcement: https://rvbusiness.com/thor-announces-leigh-tiffins-resignation-from-tiffin-motorhomes/

• THOR press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thor-industries-announces-resignation-of-leigh-tiffin-from-tiffin-motorhomes---tiffin-family-to-remain-actively-engaged-302685540.html

• RV PRO coverage: https://rv-pro.com/news/thor-industries-announces-resignation-of-leigh-tiffin-from-tiffin-motorhomes/

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

• Leigh Tiffin named president (2021): https://rv-pro.com/news/leigh-tiffin-named-president-of-tiffin-motorhomes/

• Leigh Tiffin column on company changes (2023): https://rvbusiness.com/leigh-tiffin-column-covers-essentiality-of-change/

• Vanleigh shutdown (2023): https://redbaynews.net/2023/01/09/tiffin-motorhomes-shutting-down-vanleigh-operations/

COMMUNITY REACTIONS:

• RV Travel article questioning Tiffin's future (2023): https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-industry-boom-bust-demise-tiffin-1089b/

• Camper Report on THOR acquisition (2020): https://camperreport.com/thor-buys-tiffin-motorhomes/

• iRV2 Tiffin Owner's Forum: https://www.irv2.com/forums/tiffin-owners-forum.1647/

Alright, let's move on to our second story..

I'll search for recent recalls on those specific vehicles used for RVing.Perfect! Now I have plenty of information. Let me craft Story #2 for your RV Podcast News Edition with a snarky tone about chassis and tow vehicle recalls:

STORY 2: ALLIANCE RV ACQUIRES MIDWEST AUTOMOTIVE DESIGNS - AND THIS TIME, IT'S GOOD NEWS

Remember a few weeks ago when we told you about a deal brewing between Alliance RV and Midwest Automotive Designs? Well, you heard it here first - and now it's official. On February 10th, Terex Corporation announced the completed sale of Midwest Automotive Designs to Alliance RV, LLC.

And let me tell you why this story is completely different from what we just talked about with Thor and Tiffin.

Alliance RV is not some billion-dollar mega corporation looking to squeeze profits out of another acquisition. This is a family-run company, co-founded in 2019 by brothers Coley and Ryan Brady, whose father, Brian Brady, was a legend in the towable RV space, having launched both Damon RV and Heartland RV. The Brady brothers left comfortable jobs at Heartland and risked everything to start Alliance with a simple motto: "Do the Right Thing." They built their company from the ground up on 147 acres in Elkhart, Indiana, and their whole approach has been about listening to customers and building quality towable RVs - fifth wheels, toy haulers, and travel trailers.

Now here's where it gets interesting. With this acquisition, Alliance is making its first move into the motorized RV segment. Midwest Automotive Designs, based just six miles from Alliance's campus in Elkhart, is a premium Class B van builder that custom-builds luxury RVs and limousine/charter/tour vans on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. They've been doing this since 2003, have over 200 employees, and occupy more than 150,000 square feet of manufacturing space. These are high-end, beautifully crafted units.

So how did this deal come together? It's a chain reaction from the mega-corporate world, actually. Terex Corporation just completed its massive $9 billion merger with REV Group back on February 2nd. Midwest had been a division under REV Recreation Group. Once Terex swallowed REV, they started reshaping the portfolio, and Midwest Automotive Designs was one of the pieces they wanted to shed. Alliance RV was ready and waiting.

Here's what makes this a positive story for current and future Midwest owners. Alliance co-founder Ryan Brady said - and I'm quoting here - "The acquisition of Midwest aligns with our strategy to broaden and strengthen Alliance's RV offering. We look forward to leveraging the vast resources at Alliance RV to build on the incredible platform that Midwest has established."

And co-founder Coley Brady added that their goal is to "apply the Alliance RV difference, focusing heavily on customer experience, feedback-driven design, and an unwavering commitment to our dealers."

That's the Alliance DNA talking. These are the guys who built a 20,000-member online owner community and literally designed their fifth wheels based on direct customer feedback. They won Ernst & Young's national Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2022 because of that approach.

The key details: Midwest will operate as a separate business unit within Alliance. The manufacturing facilities stay in Elkhart. All 200 employees come along and become part of the Alliance organization.

Contrast that with the Tiffin story we just covered. This isn't a massive conglomerate absorbing a family brand and slowly stripping it of what made it special. This is one well-respected family brand extending its reach into a new segment by acquiring a quality builder and promising to invest in it with the same customer-first philosophy that put Alliance on the map.

If you own a Midwest Automotive Designs Class B van, or you've been shopping for one, this is encouraging news. And it's a reminder that not all acquisitions in the RV world are bad news. Sometimes, the right buyer makes all the difference.

SOURCES:

https://rvbusiness.com/alliance-rv-acquires-midwest-automotive-designs/

https://rv-pro.com/news/alliance-rv-acquires-midwest-automotive-designs-as-entry-to-motorized-segment/

https://www.autofinancenews.net/allposts/powersports/alliance-rv-acquires-terexs-luxury-rv-van-brand/

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/terex-completes-sale-of-midwest-recreational-vehicle-business-302682913.html

https://www.stocktitan.net/news/TEX/terex-completes-sale-of-midwest-recreational-vehicle-2ktd3m1bysv2.html

https://rvbusiness.com/brian-brady-sons-go-public-with-plans-for-alliance-rv/

https://rv-pro.com/news/rvia-profile-coley-brady-co-founder-of-alliance-rv/

https://blog.campingworld.com/find-your-rv/everything-to-know-about-alliance-rv/

https://rvbusiness.com/coley-ryan-brady-among-national-entrepreneurs-of-the-year/

https://www.rvia.org/news-insights/inspiration-and-innovation-coley-brady-co-founding-alliance-rv

https://www.alliancerv.com/employees/ryan-coley-brady

https://www.byerlyrv.com/blog/the-story-behind-alliance-rv-a-journey-of-passion-and-success/

STORY #3: IT'S NOT JUST THE RV, IT'S WHAT YOU'RE TOWING IT WITH

Alright, folks, we've spent the last several weeks reporting on quality issues plaguing the RV industry. Delamination, leaking roofs, wonky electrical systems, you name it. But here's the thing: it's not just the RVs themselves that are falling apart. The trucks pulling them and the chassis carrying them are having their own spectacular meltdown.

Let me walk you through what's been happening with the vehicles that RVers actually depend on. And trust me, this is not a confidence builder.

Ram ProMaster: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Let's start with the Ram ProMaster, the go-to van for Class B and C motorhomes. If you thought your RV had problems, wait until you hear what's happening with the van it's built on.

In the last two months alone, Ram has issued multiple recalls affecting hundreds of thousands of ProMasters. Let's count them, shall we?

First up: nearly 292,000 ProMasters from 2018 to 2026 models recalled for a cooling fan that could catch fire. Yes, you read that right. Fire. The electrical circuit in the radiator fan system can overheat, and in rare cases, your ProMaster can turn into a very expensive bonfire. The problem stems from premature bearing wear in the fan motor and inadequate fuse protection. Ram opened their investigation back in July 2025 after identifying a "trend of fires" originating from the cooling fan module. A trend of fires. That's the kind of trend you don't want to be ahead of, folks.

Then there's the rearview camera saga. Ram recalled 235,640 ProMasters from 2022 to 2025 because a software error in the security gateway module causes the rearview camera not to display. You know, that camera that's federally mandated for safety? Yeah, that one doesn't work. And if you're thinking, "Well, at least they caught it," remember: these are commercial vans. Work vans. Vans people use every single day to make a living.

But wait, there's more! Another recall for 219,577 ProMasters from 2019 to 2021 for rearview cameras that show blank, black, blue, or inverted screens instead of, you know, showing what's actually behind you. Cracks in the microprocessor. Because apparently quality control is just a suggestion these days.

And for the ProMaster electric van fans out there, I've got some news for you too. 790 of the 2024-2025 ProMaster BEVs were recalled because the electric drive module software doesn't manage torque properly, which can result in sudden loss of drive power while you're driving. Just imagine: you're cruising down the highway in your electric van, and suddenly, poof, no power. Hope you weren't in traffic!

So if you're building a Class B or C on a ProMaster chassis, you might want to check about a dozen different recalls before you hit the road.

Ford: Breaking Records Nobody Wants to Break

Now let's talk about Ford. Specifically, let's talk about how Ford set a new American automotive record in 2025. And no, it's not for sales or quality or customer satisfaction.

Ford issued 153 recalls in 2025. One hundred and fifty-two. That's not a typo. They nearly doubled the previous record of 77 recalls in a single year, which was held by General Motors back in 2014. And we still had a week left before the year ended when they hit that number.

For those of you pulling your fifth wheel or travel trailer with an F-250, F-350, or F-450 Super Duty, buckle up. Actually, maybe don't buckle up, because those trucks have had some seat belt issues too.

Here's what Ford Super Duty owners have been dealing with:

Certain 2025 F-250, F-350, and F-450 models had a brake booster pushrod retaining spring that may not have been installed. Read that again. The part that connects your brake pedal to your actual brakes might not be there. Ford literally told owners, "Do not drive your vehicles until they have been repaired." Nothing says quality like telling customers their brand-new truck isn't safe to drive off the lot.

Then there's the instrument panel cluster recall affecting 355,000 F-Series trucks from 2025-2026 models, including F-250 through F-550. The digital display can go completely blank at startup, meaning you can't see critical information like warning lights or vehicle speed. Ford issued a stop-sale to dealers in August, telling them not to demonstrate or deliver new vehicles until a software update was performed. Imagine buying a $70,000 truck and the dashboard doesn't work.

The 2025 Super Duty models also had a recall for steering column shifters that may have been improperly welded and could detach from the steering column. A detached shifter means you can't shift into park, which means your truck can roll away. That's always fun when you're hooking up your fifth wheel.

And for 2026 F-250 and F-350 owners, there's a recall for rear axle shafts that were improperly heat-treated during manufacturing and may break. You know, that axle that's holding up your truck and the 15,000-pound fifth wheel behind it? Yeah, it might break.

Oh, and let's not forget the rearview camera recalls. Ford recalled 291,901 Super Duty trucks from 2020 to 2022 because the 360-degree view camera system doesn't display correctly in certain lighting conditions. And 1.4 million various Ford vehicles for rearview cameras that show distorted, flickering, or blank images.

Ford's COO tried to spin this positively, saying the high recall numbers show they're prioritizing quality and safety. Here's my take: maybe if you prioritized quality in the factory, you wouldn't need to recall damn near every vehicle you build.

Ford Transit: Not Left Out of the Party

And before we leave Ford, let's talk about the Transit, the chassis of choice for many Class B and C motorhomes.

The E-Transit electric models, 32,160 of them from 2022 to 2025, were recalled because the left rear axle half shaft can partially disengage from the power drive unit. This causes loss of drive power and, get this, can result in vehicle rollaway if the parking brake isn't applied. The remedy? Still under development. Ford sent interim letters in December telling owners about the safety risk, but the actual fix won't be available until March 2026. So just, you know, park carefully until then.

The 2023-2024 Transit Trail models got recalled for an improperly secured engine crossmember. The bolts holding the engine in place might not be tight enough. Ford's still waiting on replacement parts, so if you own one of these, you'll get an interim notification letter and then wait for the actual fix.

Mercedes Sprinter: German Engineering at Its Finest

Finally, let's talk about the Mercedes Sprinter, the luxury choice for Class B motorhomes. Surely German engineering is holding up better, right?

Well, not exactly.

The 2025 Sprinter 2500 was recalled because the front short-range radar sensor printed circuit board can fail, resulting in loss of automatic emergency braking and other driver assistance features. You know, those safety features you paid extra for? They might not work.

The 2023-2024 Sprinter 2500 models were recalled because the right longitudinal frame member may not be reinforced properly, decreasing the structural integrity of the third-row seats. So if you've got passengers in back, they might not be as protected as you think in a crash.

And the 2024 Sprinter models, both 1500, 2500, 3500, and 4500, had parking brake cable bracket welds that can fail and disengage the parking brake. Because who needs a parking brake, right?

The Bottom Line

So here's where we are, folks. We've been reporting on RV quality issues for weeks. Water leaks, delamination, electrical gremlins, appliances that don't work, slides that jam. And now we find out that the very vehicles you're using to pull those problematic RVs, and the chassis those RVs are built on, are just as much of a disaster.

Fire-prone cooling fans. Disappearing rearview camera images. Brakes that might not be connected. Steering columns that fall off. Axle shafts that break. Dashboard displays that go blank. And those are just the highlights from the last two months!

Ford's CEO said three years ago that it would take "several years" to improve overall quality. Well, we're several years in, and they just set a recall record. Ram can't seem to build a van that won't catch fire or has functioning cameras. And Mercedes, the supposed gold standard, is recalling vans for structural integrity issues.

The RV industry loves to blame quality problems on the pandemic, supply chain issues, labor shortages, you name it. But let's be real here: the auto manufacturers are dealing with the same challenges, and they're producing vehicles with the same systemic quality failures.

If you own a Class B or C motorhome, check your chassis VIN for recalls. If you're pulling a fifth wheel or travel trailer, check your truck's VIN. I'm willing to bet at least one of you listening right now has an open recall you don't even know about.

And if you're in the market for a new RV or tow vehicle? Maybe wait a few months. Or years. Let someone else beta test these rolling recalls for you.

Because apparently, quality control is optional these days, and we're all just driving expensive science experiments on wheels.

SOURCES - ORGANIZED BY TOPIC

RAM PROMASTER RECALLS:

• ProMaster fire risk (291,664 units): https://moparinsiders.com/ram-promaster-recalled-for-cooling-fan-fire-risk/

• ProMaster rearview camera software (235,640 units): https://www.autoevolution.com/news/ram-promaster-vans-recalled-over-security-gateway-module-software-error-252217.html

• ProMaster rearview camera microprocessor (219,577 units): https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-recalls-ram-promaster-and-dodge-journey-for-rearview-camera-defect/

• ProMaster BEV power loss (790 units): https://moparinsiders.com/recall-2024-2025-ram-promaster-bev-over-torque-management-software/

• Kelley Blue Book ProMaster coverage: https://www.kbb.com/car-news/ram-recalls-electric-promaster/

FORD SUPER DUTY RECALLS:

• F-250/F-350 axle shaft recall (2026 models): https://fordauthority.com/2025/12/2026-ford-super-duty-pickups-recalled-over-axle-shaft-failures/

• Super Duty brake booster recall (2025 models): https://www.cars.com/research/ford-f_250-2025/recalls/

• Instrument panel cluster (355,000 units): https://tfltruck.com/2025/08/ford-f-series-recall-instrument-cluster-blank-problem/

• Steering column shifter detachment: https://www.cars.com/research/ford-f_350-2025/recalls/

• 360-degree camera system (291,901 units): https://www.cars.com/research/ford-f_250/recalls/

• Ford recall statistics 2025: https://woodardinjurylaw.com/2026/01/ford-recall-statistics-2025/

FORD TRANSIT RECALLS:

• E-Transit axle half shaft (32,160 units): https://www.abc27.com/news/over-30000-ford-vehicles-recalled-heres-what-we-know/

• Transit Trail engine crossmember (1,403 units): https://www.autoevolution.com/news/ford-recalls-2023-and-2024-transit-vans-for-improperly-secured-engine-crossmember-265488.html

FORD RECORD-BREAKING RECALL YEAR:

• Ford 152 recalls in 2025: https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2026/01/01/ford-recalls-record-year-2025/87706806007/

• Ford exceeds 150 recalls: https://www.autoblog.com/news/ford-exceeds-150-recalls-in-2025

MERCEDES SPRINTER RECALLS:

• 2025 Sprinter emergency braking sensor: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mercedes-benz-sprinter-hit-with-two-recalls-260192.html

• 2023-2024 Sprinter frame member (third-row seats): https://www.dealerrater.com/recalls/Mercedes_Benz/Sprinter-2500/

• 2024 Sprinter parking brake failure: https://carbuzz.com/mercedes-benz-latest-recalls/

Good point, Mike. Let me grab that Montana Free Press story.Great story, and you're right - this is a perfect real-world example of the gag order in action. Here's the rewrite that avoids naming the administration directly and instead lets the facts do the talking:

STORY #4: NATIONAL PARKS IN THE DARK: GAGGED EMPLOYEES, CONFUSED CAMPERS, AND THE GLACIER MESS

Here's a story that should tick off every RVer planning a national park trip this summer. And I'm going to tell it without getting political, because the facts speak for themselves.

Let's start with Glacier National Park in Montana. For the past five years, Glacier has used a ticketed-entry system to manage the crush of summer visitors. Love it or hate it, the system kept things organized. Last December, Glacier Superintendent Dave Roemer told a local chamber of commerce meeting that the park planned to eliminate the ticketed-entry system for 2026. He even explained the reasoning - the timed-entry system was causing more people to drive to Logan Pass at night, which is dangerous for both visitors and wildlife. He said the park was considering a parking reservation system for Logan Pass instead, along with reservations for the popular Sun Road shuttles.

Great. Sounds like a plan. Except... nothing has happened since. No announcement. No details. No timeline.

The Montana Free Press reports they've contacted Glacier's spokesperson multiple times since December and gotten the same canned, copy-and-paste response every time: "We will update the public once a decision for the 2026 season has been made."

In previous years, Glacier announced its summer plans as early as November or December. We're now in mid-February and tourism officials, local businesses, and millions of potential visitors have no idea what to expect.

Zak Anderson, executive director of the Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau, told the Montana Free Press he believes Superintendent Roemer and his team are doing their best "despite a lack of communication coming from Washington." His quote: "We're still waiting on the National Park Service, and I think that to a certain degree the park superintendents are waiting on Washington."

And Glacier is not alone. Mount Rainier National Park in Washington actually posted on its website in January that it would NOT use a timed-entry system in 2026. Then, after media outlets reported it, the Park Service quietly changed the webpage to say no final decision had been made. Arches National Park in Utah? Same confusion. Multiple parks across the West are in limbo.

Now here's where it gets really concerning for all of us who camp in these parks. SFGATE, which has one of the only dedicated national parks reporters in the country, broke a major story this week about sweeping new rules that restrict nearly every aspect of how National Park Service employees communicate with the public. Every employee's ability to talk to the media has been restricted. Even basic questions - what's open, what's closed, why is a campground shut down - now have to be routed through Washington for approval.

One NPS communications employee told SFGATE anonymously: "Everything has to be approved before we speak. Everything."

Former Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis, a 40-year veteran of the agency, called it "just idiotic." He said it shows "a lack of trust with field managers and ignorance of how parks need to communicate regularly with visitors, communities and stakeholders."

So let's put it all together. You've got park superintendents who apparently can't announce their own summer plans without clearance from Washington. You've got rangers and staff who can't answer a reporter's basic questions. And meanwhile, millions of RVers and campers are trying to plan their summer trips right now - and nobody can tell them what's going on.

Look, I'm an RV podcaster. I'm not here to get political. But I will tell you this: if you're planning a national park trip this summer, especially to Glacier, Mount Rainier, Arches, or any of the big Western parks, do NOT assume you know what the entry rules will be. Because right now, even the people who run those parks don't seem to know. Or if they do, they're not allowed to tell you.

My advice: bookmark the park websites and check them frequently. And have a backup plan, because the people who used to be your best source of information - the rangers and park staff - have been told to keep quiet.

SOURCES:

• https://montanafreepress.org/2026/02/11/to-ticket-or-not-to-ticket-that-is-the-question-in-glacier-national-park/

• https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/national-parks-sweeping-changes-21345348.php

• https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/national-parks-reservation-uncertainty-21322897.php

• https://www.newsweek.com/doi-hits-back-criticism-trumps-national-parks-move-11510199

• https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/federal-government-actions-affected-one-in-six-campers-in-2025-302677263.html

• https://woodallscm.com/the-dyrt-federal-gov-actions-impacted-1-in-6-campers-in-25/

• https://thedyrt.com/magazine/press/camping-report/

• https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2026/01/update-filters-have-been-installed-handle-national-park-public-communications

• https://theintercept.com/2026/01/21/nps-national-park-service-employees-cuts/

• https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/senator-axes-language-protecting-national-parks-21248796.php

Story #5: Trump Nominates Park Concessions Executive to Lead the National Park Service

Alright, staying with national parks here, and this is a story that ties directly into what we just talked about with all the confusion and chaos at our parks.

Late Wednesday night, President Trump nominated a man named Scott Socha to be the next director of the National Park Service. Now, the Park Service has been operating without a Senate-confirmed director for over a year, ever since Chuck Sams left at the end of the Biden administration. So on one hand, getting somebody in there is a step forward. But on the other hand, who they picked is raising a lot of eyebrows.

Here's why. Scott Socha is not a conservation expert. He's not a land management veteran. He is a hospitality executive. Specifically, he's the president of the parks and resorts division at Delaware North, which is one of the largest privately owned hospitality companies in the world. He's been with the company since 1999, about 25 years.

Now, if you've visited national parks, you've almost certainly done business with Delaware North, whether you knew it or not. They operate 11 general stores inside Yellowstone. They run a hotel, an RV park, and a dining hall at the Grand Canyon. They have concessions contracts in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Olympic, Shenandoah, and properties near the entrances to several other parks, including a Holiday Inn in Estes Park, Colorado, near Rocky Mountain National Park, and tour operations in West Yellowstone, Montana.

So this is a guy who has spent his entire career running the business side of national parks: the gift shops, the restaurants, the hotels, the RV parks. And now he's been tapped to run the whole system.

Here's where it gets really interesting, and honestly a little uncomfortable. Delaware North has a controversial history with the Park Service. Back in 2016, when the company lost its contract to operate concessions inside Yosemite National Park, Delaware North actually trademarked iconic Yosemite names and essentially held them hostage. They wanted 51 million dollars. The dispute dragged on for years before finally settling in 2019 for about 12 million. Socha was part of the leadership team during that entire episode.

Critics are not holding back. Environmental groups like the Center for Biological Diversity and Save Our Parks called it a conflict of interest, plain and simple. One spokesperson said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that Socha has spent his career extracting profit from national parks rather than protecting them.

But not everyone sees it that way. Some former Park Service leaders, including Dan Wenk, who served as Yellowstone superintendent for years, said Socha understands the parks and respects the mission. The National Parks Conservation Association, which is the biggest parks advocacy group in the country, was cautiously optimistic. They said they're hopeful and ready to work with him.

Now, here's what I think matters most for the RV community. The Park Service has lost roughly 4,000 jobs in the past year. We talked about the impacts of that just a few minutes ago: the closed visitor centers, the reduced hours, the canceled programs. Whoever leads this agency has to deal with that reality. And there are also the ongoing controversies about removing park exhibits related to climate change, slavery, and Native American history, all of which affect the experience when you visit these places.

The nomination now goes to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which is chaired by Senator Mike Lee of Utah, who has been a strong advocate for privatizing federal lands. So that's the committee that will decide whether Socha gets a hearing.

For those of us who love our national parks and visit them regularly in our RVs, this is a story worth watching closely. The director of the National Park Service has enormous influence over everything from campground access and fees to how parks are maintained and what stories they tell. Whether you think a business executive is exactly what the parks need right now, or whether you think it's the fox guarding the henhouse, one thing is clear: the decisions this person makes will directly affect your next national park visit.

We'll keep following this one.

SOURCES FOR SHOW NOTES:

• National Parks: Trump Nominates Hospitality Executive to Lead NPS

• https://www.kunc.org/regional-news/2026-02-13/trump-nominates-hospitality-executive-scott-socha-national-park-service/

• National Parks Traveler: Concessionaire Nominated to Run National Park Service

• https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2026/02/update-concessionaire-nominated-run-national-park-service

• National Parks Traveler Opinion: A Fox in the Hen House?

• https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2026/02/travelers-view-unqualified-choice

• Deseret News: Who Is the New NPS Director Nominee?

• https://www.deseret.com/environment/2026/02/13/trump-nominates-new-national-park-director-scott-socha/

• Outside Magazine: Trump's Pick to Oversee National Parks

• https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/scott-socha-nps/

• Jackson Hole News & Guide: Trump Nominates Park Business Executive

• https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/local/trump-nominates-scott-socha-a-park-business-executive-to-lead-national-park-service/article_7461637f-ccde-4d04-9d2d-a37c3e3b5654.html

And that is going to do it for this week's RV Podcast News Edition. As always, every story we covered today is sourced, and you'll find the full transcript with all the links organized by topic over at rvpodcast.com. If something caught your ear today and you want to dig deeper, that's where you go. We believe in showing surves fpr our work, and those links are all there for you.

Now, before I let you go, I want to tell you about something coming up that I'm really excited about. On Wednesday, March 12th at 8 PM Eastern, I'm hosting a live, interactive workshop called Getting Your RV Ready for the New Camping Season. This is not a pre-recorded video. This is you and me, live, where you can ask questions in real time. 

We're going to walk through everything you need to do to get your rig out of storage, or off the driveway, and ready to roll for spring. Whether it's checking your systems, inspecting your tires, flushing your water lines, testing your batteries - we're going to cover it all. And you're going to be able to ask me anything along the way. For all the details and to sign up, head over to rvpodcast.com/workshop. I'd love to see you there.

Alright, we'll be back Wednesday with another episode of the RV Podcast, Stories from the Road. Until then, Happy trails.