# A Brief History of Recreational Vehicles in America

A staple of the American road trip, a tiny house on wheels, a mobile bar, a glamping shelter, an icon of the hippie movement—is there anything recreational vehicles can't do? No. RVs have been around for more than a century, but right now they're more popular than ever.

Today, we're going to look at the history of the recreational vehicle, where it came from, how it came to represent the American dream, and why it continues to surge in popularity. How did that happen? Let's hit the road and find out.

RVs became better known to the public when the Conklin family converted a bus into a double-deck motorhome that the New York Times called a "land yacht." The idea was clear: these vehicles could smooth out the roughness of camping, which would prove to be the ticket for success as luxury became as American as an Apple pie.

Ironically, the American desire to escape the pressures of modern life led people to nature, where they also wanted to enjoy the comforts of modern life. But how could the everyday person attain such a luxury? It wasn't long before manufacturers offered some solutions.

Anheuser-Busch, you know, the beer guys, were losing a lot of money because they couldn't sell beer during prohibition. So they pivoted to making RVs. Refrigerated boxes that were used to schlep beer were sitting around not being used. So Anheuser-Busch created a kit that could be assembled under the chassis of a Model T converting it into a motorhome called the Kampkar.

In a time where hotels were more expensive and harder to find independence was an expanding idea, the Kampkar made a lot of sense. By the '20s RV camping clubs were popping up all over the US despite the unpaved roads and limited camping facilities.

With the economy booming, several manufacturers were making motorhomes, including Hudson Essex's, Pullman Coach and REO Speed Wagon Bungalow. These vehicles were large and could only travel on auto-friendly roads, so they became a less common choice than detachable trailers.

That didn't stop a group of travelers called the Tin Can Tourists named because they heated tin cans of food on gasoline stoves by the roadside. I wonder if they ever read Watchman. They formed the first camp that killed by the way for one person, they formed the first camping club in the US, holding their inaugural rally in Florida in 1919.

They had an initiation, an official song and a secret handshake. They're basically stonemasons. The 1929 stock market crash and the depression put a damper on the RV industry, although travel trailers did see a surge in popularity as inexpensive homes, which we're seeing nowadays kind of.

So how did RVs transform from novelties to America's sweetheart? The answer is in those patriotic postwar years.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- A staple of the American road trip,a tiny house on wheels, amobile bar, a glamping shelter,an icon of the hippie movement.Is there anything recreationalvehicles can't do? No.(upbeat music)RVs have been aroundfor more than a century,but right now they'remore popular than ever.Today, we're going to look at the historyof the recreationalvehicle, where it came from,how it came to representthe American dreamand why it continuesto surge in popularity.How did that happen?Let's hit the road and find out.Once again we wanna thank Surfshark VPNfor sponsoring today'sepisode of Wheelhouse.Did you know that on average,we're spending six to eighthours a day online? Wow.- I finally found you,it took me all week.I hacked your email,searching your calendar,cross-referencing it withyour locations, and I made it.I've finally made it.(laughing maniacally)- Jeremiah, what are you wearing?Why are you so sweaty?- It's taken me a long time,but I finally hacked you.The last person without hack lock.Freaking stupid and all that.- Well, not anymore, Jeremiah,I just signed up for it.I no longer have to worryabout some fool hackinginto my account and spreadingmy personal informationall over the web.I can now use Surfshark'sBlind Search functionto search privately withoutany ads or tracking.Now it's your turn to improveyour online experience.Click the link in the descriptionand enter promo codedonutmedia for 85% off, 85% offand three extra months for free.- Well, this bit is overnow then I'm exposed.So I guess writing moreobscure swordfish referencesthat most of you guys won'tunderstand is finished.- Now let's get back into it.In post revolution America, covered wagonswere being used assettlers headed out Westand travelers in Europe, usedthem to live on the move,inspiring some of the firstRV campers in America.But we used horse power insteadof horsepower because horses.Before RVs, people campedin private rail carsand the early RVs has providedmore privacy and freedom.Known as auto campers orcamping trailers at the time,these vehicles were dovetailednicely with a 1915 movementfor Americans to return to nature.Camping was marketed as away to escape noise, crowdsand urban life and appreciate nature.I think something similaris gonna happen pretty soon.I don't like being cooped up.Pierce-Arrow's Touring Landau debutedat Madison Square Garden in 1910.It had a backseat that folded into a bed,a sink that folded fromthe chauffeur's seatand a chamber pot.Why isn't the driver's seat a chamber pot?That's where I'd want it.The word Landau means a type of carriageand if you saw our videoon different kinds of cars,you probably already knew that.Although it's been about a centurysince they dominated theroad, you may have seen oneof these recently.Prince William and KateMiddleton went homefrom their wedding ina very opulent landau.I don't know if they hadthe chamber pot in there.RVs became better known to the publicwhen the Conklin family converted a businto a double deck motorhome that the New York Timescalled a land yacht.The idea was clear.These vehicles could smoothout the roughness of camping,which would prove to bethe ticket for successas luxury became asAmerican as an Apple pie.Ironically, the Americandesire to escape the pressuresof modern life led people to nature,where they also wanted to enjoythe comforts of modern life.But how could the everydayperson attain such a luxury?It wasn't long before manufacturersoffered some solutions.Anheuser-Busch, you know, the beer guys,were losing a lot of moneybecause they couldn't sellbeer during prohibition.So they pivoted to making RVs.Refrigerated boxes that wereused to schlep beer weresitting around not being used.So Anheuser-Busch created a kitthat could be assembled underthe chassis of a Model Tconverting it into a motorhome called the kampkar.In a time where hotels were more expensiveand harder to find an independencewas an expanding idea,the kampkar made a lot of sense.By the '20s RV camping clubswere popping up all over the USdespite the unpaved roads andlimited camping facilities.With the economy booming,several manufacturerswere making motorhomes,including Hudson Essex's,Pullman Coach and REOSpeed Wagon Bungalow.These vehicles were largeand could only travelon auto friendly roads,so they became a less common choicethan detachable trailers.That didn't stop a group of travelerscalled the Tin Can Tourists namedbecause they heated tin cans of foodon gasoline stoves by the roadside.I wonder if they ever read Watchman.They formed the first camp,that killed by the way,for one person,they formed the firstcamping club in the US,holding their inauguralrally in Florida in 1919.They had an initiation an official songand a secret handshake.They're basically stonemasons.The 1929 stock marketcrash and the depressionput a damper on the RV industry,although travel trailers didsee a surge in popularityas inexpensive homes, whichwe're seeing nowadays kind of.So how did RVs transform from noveltiesto America's sweetheart?The answer is in thosepatriotic postwar years.Play me in.("The Star-Spangled Banner")The end of World War II sawa boom in the workforce,consumerism, car culture,suburban expansion,and the advent of the interstate highway,as well as improved roads and bridges.All this left Americansitching to get on wheels.I should probably have that looked at.When GIs returned to theirfamilies after the war,RVs allowed the freedomto travel anywhere,get a good night's sleep andstill enjoy a home cooked meal.The combination of wanderlustand patriotism made road trips, camping,and by extension RVs,staples of American pastime.After the baby boom,the road trip became thedefault family vacationand any parent who has spentan extended amount of timein a vehicle with theirchildren will tell you,they could always use a little more space.So how did primitive pre-war RV's turninto the insanely high-techrolling houses of today?(upbeat music)The combining of the trailerand the vehicle itself,as well as the addition ofplumbing and kitchen appliancesmade a big difference in theevolution of the modern RV.The family no longer hadto stop for bathroom breaksor get a cold drink.At a time where fasterand stronger hot rodswere all the rage, RVs followed,becoming more space-age,and appearance and beingbuilt with the powerto keep up with cars on the road.So who was making theseinnovative vehicles?The longest running manufacturer stillon the road today isthe easily recognizable,Airstream with its aluminum exteriorand egg-like shape.The 1950s saw creator WallyByam hosting a caravan,developing the first hotwater system in a trailerand releasing the 1958Airstream International,the first self-contained traveltrailer not requiring accessto outside power.This decade was also whenthe largest known motorhomewas produced for William McDonald,who worked for an early RVand mobile home manufacturer.His Flagship was 65 feet longwith a foldout double deckand a diving board with a four foot deepportable swimming poolthat could be set up behind the unit.It seems a little unsafeto have a diving boardat that depth.I'm no lifeguard, I'm just saying.The deck could even be usedas a helicopter landing pad.The company offered duplicatesof the Flagship in 1953for a hundred thousand dollars,but no one took them up ontheir offer, I wonder why.Even more accessible RVs than the Flagshipwere still considered luxuryitems, so what changed?Fiberglass bodies madeRVs more lightweightand accessible along withthe advent of sliding windowsand potty drawers.Pickup trucks were alsobecoming personal vehicles,they weren't used just for work anymore.Lightweight fiberglasscamper shells were becomingincreasingly popular.You could turn your regularold truck into an RV.It was also the free love '60sso hippies were rejectingthe idea of stayingin one spot and hadgiven new purpose to vansand buses as temporary homes.Groovy decor graced their mobile homes,making RVs more eye catching than ever.And I mean that literally,they really loved turquoise back then.In 1967, RV stapleWinnebago began producingwhat is it called America's first familyof motorhomes pricedat around $5,000 each,about half of what otherRVs were going for.This was an invaluable marketing move.Even today, Winnebago is usedas a catch all term for RVsfrom any manufacturer.Also making their way tothe stores at this timewere the Volkswagen Westfalia camper vans.A conversion of the VolkswagenType 2 by Westfalia,these camper conversions were availablefrom Volkswagen dealersand also delivered via theTourist Delivery Programwhere a customer could pickup their van in Germany,drive it around Europe,and then VW would ship itto the customer's house, pretty cool.By the end of the 1960s,RVs were everywhere.On the road and as asymbol of American culture.Traditions that are commonwith RV owners today,like driving in nationalparks and music festivals,started during this era.The amenities being addedaround this time are what RVsfrom hippie dwelling to afamily vacation vehicle.Instead of just being usedfor occasional camping trips,RVs could now allowfor destination travel.RVs incorporated beds,mini kitchens, televisionsand eventually internet access.These days they're even RVswith washer and dryer setssatellite dishes,showers, baths, and ovens.I wish I could have a washerand dryer set in my placeso I can do laundry insteadof buying clothes every week.There's a coin shortage.I got it, I have to do this.The 1970s continued the golden eraof motorhome developmentas they increased in popularitywith more than a hundred thousandbeing sold per year by 1972.In spite of the economicchallenges of the time,manufacturers were growingand advanced rigs we're being made.General Motors got into the RV gamewith the GMC Motorhome,which still sees use todayas a popular vintage RV.By the end of the decade,the Kelley Blue Book,for motorhomes listed morethan 450 different brand namesthat have been produced.That's a lot.How many RV manufacturers can you name?Maybe three of them, yeah, try 450 (beep)Developing technology in the neon '80sput more RVs on the road asthey became more affordable.What better way to followyour favorite Hair Metal Bandthan in a tricked out motorhome?I can't think of many, exceptmaybe by hot air balloon.Manufacturers were addingmore features all the timeto stay relevant and competitivewith entertainment systemsand speakers becoming louder and betterand even offering RVs withsaunas and hot tubs inside.Seems a little excessive, butyou know what, you do you,you paid for it.The Fleetwood EnterpriseBounder model was the firstto have a basement lifting the floorabove the wheel wells for more storageand living space.Though practical, this style didn't thriveas consumers found it too uglyin a time where luxury wasmore important than function.Ironically though, the Bounder came backinto the public eye in recentyears with the TV show,Breaking Bad, as the settingof Walter White's mobile meth lab.Couldn't do an episode on the RVwithout mentioning the best dramaof the prestige television era.Ever since then RVs have only continuedto improve in the modern era.They've conquered land and thesea might be next, you know,with houseboats are practically RVs.Customization is on the riseand there are more RV choices than ever.How do you know whichvehicle is right for you?Camper vans are exactlywhat they sound like,a van you can camp in,like the VW Westfalias.They can vary in size,have additional sleeping areasor pop up tops that expand.This is usually what you think ofwhen you see hashtag van life.There are also pop up campers,which are basically tents on wheels.We've got truck campers,these go in the back of pickup trucksand offer a few more creature comforts.You've got travel trailers,which are small and towable campers,which includes the compact,but adorable teardrop trailer.I don't know if I'd fit in one of those.Then of course you have fifth wheelsand these are larger trailersthat require a big old truck'cause they're thick boys.- Damn boy, he thick.- They usually require a gooseneck hitch,sometimes they have acompartment on the backwhere you could put your dirt bike, quadand go out to the dunes.Then we have our classic motorhomes.There are different classes,but A is the biggest,offering, the most space, the most powerand the most amenities.You can find an RV thatfits whatever lifestyleyou wanna live, but when itcomes to powertrain options,you need the right engineto get where you wanna go.Getting these sometimesgigantic vehicles moving,requires a lot of power.And there's a lot of debateover whether or not gasor diesel is the way to go.But even more importantthan that is the torqueand suspension you're working with.The Ford Triton engine isconsidered the industry standardpowering 80% of class Cs,and most class A motorhomes.There are quieter andmore powerful engineslike the Chevy Vortex,but the Triton is the gotofor most manufacturers.Diesel engines offer even more power,better handling and longevity,but people will certainlyhear your coming.(engine roars)It is loud.Though there are a wide varietyof engines powering them,RVs have some of the highesthorsepower on the road.For the non gear heads out there,what is it about RVs thatmake them so appealing?Comfort and technology mostly.Today's trailers and motor homes can offerall the comforts of homes,sometimes even morethan your typical abode.Fuel efficiency and environmental impactare also important factorsas RV enthusiasts arebig fans of going green.This is probably why solarpanels have been more popularon RVs than they are on stationary homes.Because of their versatility,the RV industry actually tendsto thrive in times of economic downturn.Rent is expensive.A lot of the time it's muchcheaper to just live outof your vehicle.I actually made a video on it,you can check it out right here.Living in my car for a week, it sucked.Still a large purchase,we could see changes thatmake RVs more affordableand there are still stridesto be made in sustainability.Keystone RV Company has designed a processusing Helium technology thatcan reduce a rigs weightwithout sacrificing strength or capacitythat could be an importantfactor in these improvements.When we look at how theRV industry evolved,we can appreciate whatit has become today.Throughout their history,RVs have resonated with Americansand it's easy to see why.They offer comfort, freedomand a way to get out of townand venture into nature.I'm excited to see whatthe future of RVs hold.And while I'm not sure I'mready to buy one personally,I could use a road trip right now.Let me know in the comments,what kind of RV you'd like to have.I think one of those toyboxes would be pretty cool.My kind of RV is justskinning a race trailerand then sleeping in thatwith your car outsideof the racetrack.Follow Donut on oursocial media @donutmedia.Follow me @Nolanjsykes.Be kind, I'll see you next time.