News | Diesel Pain Gets Worse, THOR Consolidates & Brinkley RV Goes Bigger

September 15, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Diesel prices are forecast to remain painfully high for years, Thor Industries is accelerating its centralization into a single North American leadership structure, and Brinkley RV is betting on independent suspension and under-floor air conditioning for its new heavy-duty fifth wheel. Those are the dominant developments in this week’s RV and camping news roundup, which also includes a major Ford F-150 fuel tank recall, a Roadmaster tow bar recall, and a new Wyoming certification requirement for driving RVs over Teton Pass.

Diesel: Government Forecast Gets Sharply Worse

The most consequential news for RVers is the updated outlook from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Diesel has already jumped another 33 cents in the past week to a national average of $6.23 per gallon—$2.46 more than this date last year. The EIA now forecasts diesel will average $5.07 per gallon for all of 2026 and $4.40 per gallon in 2027. That 2027 number is 33 cents higher than the agency was predicting just last month and nearly a dollar higher than its forecast before the Middle East conflict began.

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

Never miss an episode of RV Miles Podcast

Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Diesel Prices Reach New Highs, Government Forecast Stays Grim** - Jason opens with the severity of current diesel prices and the EIA's updated outlook.
2 (04:24) **Thor Industries Restructures Entire North American RV Operation** - Thor consolidates its once-decentralized brand structure under a single president.
3 (07:36) **Boundless Recreation Details Its "Ride Foundation" Chassis** - The new RV manufacturer reveals the engineering underpinning its upcoming fifth wheels.
4 (10:38) **Brinkley RV's New Model R Goes Bigger with Independent Suspension** - A walkthrough reveals two key engineering choices on the heavy-duty 3710 fifth wheel.
5 (12:40) **Alliance RV Teases New Luxury Line "Aurum"** - Alliance announces a ground-up redesign for a high-end fifth wheel debuting in October.
6 (13:39) **Ford Recalls 223,000+ F-150s for Fuel Tank Issue** - A major recall for 2023-2027 F-150s due to improperly secured fuel tanks.
7 (14:30) **Roadmaster Recalls Nighthawk Tow Bars** - A safety recall for specific Nighthawk tow bars due to a potential separation risk.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Diesel prices are surging again, and the government’s latest forecast suggests the pain at the pump could continue well into 2027. Plus, THOR Industries is making one of the biggest changes to the way it operates its RV companies in decades, while several manufacturers are making big moves in the high-end fifth-wheel market.

We also take a closer look at the new Brinkley Model R, including its massive independent suspension and the decision to move the air conditioners off the roof. Plus, Ford has recalled more than 223,000 F-150s, Roadmaster has an important Nighthawk tow bar recall, and Wyoming is preparing a new certification requirement for RVs and trailers traveling over Teton Pass.

Let us know what you think about this week’s stories in the comments!

🚽 LIQUIFIED RV TOILET TREATMENT

Liquified is made by RVers for RVers and helps break down waste and toilet paper, fight odors, prevent clogs, and keep tank sensors cleaner.

Save 20% at:
https://liquifiedrv.com

Use code: RVMILES

IMPORTANT LINKS:

⚠️ Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow Bar Recall:
https://www.roadmasterinc.com/content/nw/nighthawk-recall.html?lnk=nighthawk&src=rminc&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Sun+Sep+06+2026&utm_campaign=+Roadmaster+Recall+The+Best+Places+to+Find+RV+Parts+Replacement+RV+Decals

▶️ Josh the RV Nerd’s full tour of the Brinkley Model R:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44dRR9ZzyvI&t=1s

▶️ The RV Hunter’s full walkthrough of Boundless Recreation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pAwdADKet4&t=3s

THIS WEEK:

⛽ DIESEL PRICES: Diesel has climbed to an average of $6.23 a gallon nationwide, and the latest Energy Information Administration forecast suggests elevated diesel prices could stick around well into 2027.

🏭 THOR RESTRUCTURES AGAIN: THOR Industries is consolidating its North American RV operations under one leadership structure, moving even further away from the decentralized model that has defined the company for decades.

🛠️ BOUNDLESS RECREATION: We have new details about the Boundless Ryde Foundation, including an E-coated chassis, CURT Touring Coil Suspension, hydraulic disc brakes, Michelin tires and a five-year chassis warranty.

🚐 BRINKLEY MODEL R: Brinkley’s new Model R 3710 rides on two massive 10,000-pound MORryde independent suspension units instead of a triple-axle setup. It also eliminates rooftop air conditioners, allowing Brinkley to raise the roof of the RV while keeping the overall height around 13 feet 4 inches. Axiom has already taken a similar approach, and we have some thoughts about the continuing trend toward increasingly enormous fifth wheels.

✨ ALLIANCE AURUM: Alliance RV has finally given a name to its upcoming ground-up luxury fifth-wheel project. The Aurum is scheduled to make its debut in October.

⚠️ F-150 RECALL: Ford is recalling more than 223,000 F-150s because a fuel tank strap may not be prope