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From their humble beginnings to the luxurious campers we see cruising down the highways today, RVs have come a long way. RV history, depending on who you ask, can be traced back to the early 1800s or right around the time automobiles were mass-produced.
(Flickr)
So let’s hit the open road on our journey through the history of RVs!
There is a bit of a toss-up when it comes to the first actual “RV” to hit the road. Some say that back in the 1800s when gypsies travelled through Europe in covered wagons, this could be considered the “first RV”. Since the gypsies were capable of living out of their wagon whilst travelling, it is believed that this actually sparked the creation of recreational vehicles.
Now flash forward to 1915 — motor vehicles just started being mass-produced, and nature lovers and car enthusiasts were teaming up with the goal to create the first RV. It wasn’t until 1904, according to the Smithsonian, that the first “RV” was hand-built onto a vehicle. The original prototype motorhome slept four adults on bunk beds, was lit by incandescent lights, had an icebox and a radio.
(Gypsy Van)
The first RV prototypes were later refined in 1915 with the creation of the gypsy van. Now don’t let the name mislead you, gypsy vans were far more technologically advanced than the covered wagons gypsies would live out of in the 1800s. The cleverly designed 25-foot, 8-ton conveyance had been custom built by Roland Conklin’s Gas-Electric Motor Bus Company. The gypsy van quickly became a sensation across the nation as people admired the convenience of mobile camping.
As more Americans became entranced with the idea of smoothing the roughness of wilderness and as camping grew in popularity, more motorhome innovations came about.
Although camping and life on the road was gaining popularity at this point, motorhomes did have some pitfalls. One of the disadvantages was that you could not disconnect the house portion from the automobile part. This meant motorhomes were restricted to automobile friendly roads only. In addition, motorhomes were a little pricey. This led to the creation of RVs famous understudy: the trailer.
Trailers became the choice for average people. Motivated tinkerers soon began to play around with the functionality of tent trailers and attached the tent canvas onto a collapsible frame. In addition to this frame, they also added cots, cupboards and cooking equipment. By the mid decade, you could easily purchase a fully equipped, manufactured tent trailer.
By the 1930s, tent trailers had become the norm if you couldn’t afford their more expensive alternative, the motorhome. But one fateful and unfortunately rainy day, Arthur Sherman’s family got caught in a particularly nasty thunderstorm. Although their tent trailer boasted to be a fully waterproofed cabin in 5 minutes, this was certainly not the case. Sherman, who was understandably disappointed with the lack of waterproofing provided by his tent trailer, decided to create something better. This new camping trailer would host a variety of amenities inside, such as cupboards, iceboxes, stove and built-in furniture on either side of a narrow central aisle. This new six-foot-wide and nine-foot-long trailer would be called the “Covered Wagon”.
(Covered Wagons in the 1950s)
The appeal of this new alternative was as clear as day, and soon the popularity of covered wagons began to spread.
In the 1950s, after the second world war, RVs started becoming popular again as young families and returning soldiers became interested in cheap ways to travel. Some of the big RV manufacturers began adding new improvements to their models. Things like plumbing and refrigeration became mainstream. Among some of these big name manufacturers are some you may recognize today, such as Ford, Winnebago and Airstream.
Luxury became a purchasing option as well in the 50s, as bigger, better and more home-like decor interiors came on the market. Marvels like the executive flagship RV, which sat on 10 wheels and was 65 feet long with wall-to-wall carpeting, two separate bathrooms and even a portable pool (WITH diving board), became an option for those who wanted all the bells and whistles and didn’t mind the price tag.
(The Executive Flagship RV)
With all the advances in the 50s and the evolution of RVs, the term “motorhome” became a permanent fixture in mainstream vernacular.
Today’s 34-foot Class A motorhome with its multiple TVs and bedrooms, various bathrooms and master bedroom complete with a king-sized bed are a happy descendant of Conklin’s ‘Gypsy Van’ while, on the other hand, fifth-wheelers and toy haulers hail from the lineage of Sherman’s ‘Covered Wagon’.
From the beginning of the first RVs back in 1915 to the big upgrade in the 1930s to the rebirth of popularity in the 1950s, RVs have come a long way. But what hasn’t changed is the desire to escape the confines of modern life and the city and hit the open road into camping adventures. The history of RVs and their evolution has always been rooted in creativity and the love of adventure.
Here at Bucars, we understand RVs and trailers! It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a Class A, B or C motorhome or a diesel pusher or even a travel camper, we have the knowledge and expertise! Your perfect motorhome or trailer is just waiting for you in our inventory. Bucars is the largest supplier of new and used motorhomes in Western Canada. Our 14,000 square foot showroom is sure to dazzle and delight you. Our dealership personnel are not only passionate about RVs but are also RVers themselves! We are confident that we can help find the right motorhome for you within your budget. So don’t wait or dream about your camping adventures any longer! Contact Bucars and hit the open road today!
A motorhome (or coach[1]) is a type of self-propelled recreational vehicle (RV) which is as the name suggests, like a home on wheels.[2]
Features
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Dethleffs alcove motorhomeMotorhomes usually have sleeping spaces for two to eight people. Each sleeping space is either fixed or converted from another part of the motorhome's interior, usually a fold-out sofa. A kitchenette area contains cooking equipment. The type of equipment included differs depending on the motorhome make and model, but generally a kitchenette has a stovetop, oven, refrigerator, and sink. More luxury models may also provide a microwave. A small bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet is usually also located in the motorhome. On smaller motorhomes, the toilet may be of the "cassette toilet" type, which is a kind of portable toilet or container-based toilet. The toilet sometimes swivels to provide extra room and can be accessed from outside the motorhome for easy emptying.[3] Larger motorhomes usually have a separate shower cubicle.
A motorhome also has a cab area with a driver and passenger seat. These seats often swivel to become part of the living space. A dinette area provides a table and seating space typically used for eating meals. A lounge may also be included, consisting of either a U-shaped sofa located in the rear of the motorhome or a side lounge.
Variations in terminology
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In the United Kingdom and the United States, the word motorhome is commonly used. On occasion, other synonyms are used, such as motor home and motor caravan.
In Germany, a motorhome is referred to as a Wohnmobil. In Sweden, the term husbil means motorhome. In France, a motorhome is called a camping-car. In Italy, the term camper is used to mean motorhome in general, and the term motorhome refers to Class A motorhomes in particular.[4] Spain and Portugal use auto caravana or auto-caravana. In the Netherlands and in Poland, the term camper is used.
In Australia and New Zealand, the term campervan is frequently used for smaller vans, either with a low top or high top that do not have a toilet and shower. In New Zealand, the term housebus is frequently used for larger motorhomes.
In some countries, the proprietary name Winnebago has been largely genericised to refer to any motorhome.[citation needed]
History
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The origins of the motorhome date back to 1910, when the Pierce-Arrow motor company introduced the Touring Landau model at the Madison Square Garden auto show.[5][2] The Pierce-Arrow's entry was specialized for the camper in mind—providing cargo compartments for camping equipment and even an on-board toilet.[6] In the 1920s, individual builders and manufactures began to convert panel trucks and buses to be used for camping. Designers patterned these "housecars" after airplanes, boats, and buses.[7] RV production was halted during World War Two and would not resume for the domestic market until the 1950s.[8] When production did begin again, designers began grafting trailer bodies onto truck or bus chassis.[7]
Raymond Frank gave these housecars their contemporary name of “motorhome". Following a pattern common in RV history, in 1958 Frank designed and built his first motorhome so his family could take vacations to Florida and the mid-west; it was 27 feet (8.2 m) long and mounted on a Dodge chassis. Soon afterwards, other campers took an interest in the design and asked Frank to build them one too. By 1960, the Franks had sold seven motorhomes, and decided to open Frank Motor Homes, Inc. the next year. With the stylish fiberglass construction and contemporary color palette, the Frank motorhomes became an acceptable option for 1960s suburbanites who wanted an RV but scoffed at the travel trailer.[9]
Soon other firms began to manufacture these mainstream motorhomes. In 1958, one of the most recognizable names[citation needed] in motorhomes was launched—Winnebago.[10] Under the direction of John Hanson, Winnebago began to produce nearly all of their motorhomes' components other than the chassis. In ten years, Winnebago had grown from 415 employees to 1,252 in 1969 with over $3 million in sales.[11] While Winnebago was the market leader, other companies were also growing. In 1969 a total of 23,100 motorhomes were sold.[12] While the gas crunch of the 1970s drove many manufacturers out of business—including Frank Motorhomes (then known as Travco)[13]—today, the motorhome market continues to be strong. In 2014, 43,900 motorhomes were sold in the United States.[14]
Categories
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Motorhomes can be roughly categorized into three categories:
Class A Ultra Van, manufactured 1968 Campervan, Oldtimer with alcove, GMCLayouts
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2012 Thor Motor Coach ACE EVO29.1There are many different motorhome layouts available with each manufacturer offering a range of options. One layout innovation that started in 1999 was the development of a slide out or slide room. As seen on the floor plan of the Thor Motor Coach, a slide out is an area that increases the square footage living space of the motorhome.[2] These slide out(s) extend to allow for more living space while parked and retract while driving. As with most innovations, the original slide outs were considered a luxury item, whereas they are now standard on most of today's[when?] motorhomes.[dubious – discuss]
See also
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References
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Further reading
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