RVs—recreational vehicles—have existed in some form since the early 1900s. Those early models don’t even resemble the ones we know today, but they were just as meaningful to early adventurers as the largest RVs today. For most people, the first widely produced RV debuted in 1910. It was called the Pierce-Arrow Touring Landau. It was mass-produced and showed Americans the great potential RVs had for transportation.
RV History and the RV Lifestyle
RVs address many of the problems that Americans have with long-range travel. Instead of being small and cramped like a passenger vehicle, RVs can have room for everything we love about home. That opens up room to travel across the country without feeling like you’ve left home behind.
RVs started to make national news in 1910 because they brought together the wonders of the promising new automobiles springing up at the time. Still, they also combined those automobiles with another thing Americans love: Camping. Many people still call RV campers. In the early days, there were two main kinds of RVs: ones that were equipped with an engine built in and capable of independently roaming and others that were meant to be hitched to an automobile.
People in the 1930s frequently used RVs to explore their country. They’d take off and stay on the road for long stretches of time, just as we do now, and then they’d cook with gas stoves when they weren’t rolling across the country. It was the 1950s and 60s when the “modern” RV era began, though. You’ll still recognize some of the companies that were popular back then: Winnebago and Coachmen.
Over the years, people have enjoyed classics like the Volkswagen Westfalia Camper (the good old VW Bus), the Coachmen Leprechaun, and the 1972 Ford Condor II. Just like people collect cars, there are also classic RVs that people choose to pick up and enjoy again over the years. Of course, the RV industry is still strong today with time-tested craftsmanship and many new innovations. For example an RV called the Marchi Mobile eleMMent Palazzo Superior is a cool $3 million right now and is outfitted to be a “mobile mansion.” This one will make any brief rundown of RV history someday, too.
Learn More About RV History
Our dealership is available to provide more information about all the great RVs that have blessed our roads over the years. Please contact us for more information.
