RV History: Fun Facts About One of America’s Greatest Icons

When it comes to RV history, there was the Hunt Housecar, the Model ‘T’ Telescope Apartment, and the Kozy Kamp Tent Trailer that created America’s fascination for luxury camping.

Decades later, RVs captivated American audiences in big Hollywood films like “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” that brought gut-busting laughter to moviegoers around the globe.

While comedic greats helped popularize RV adventures, our fascination with RV history is about jumping into what is essentially a small home on wheels, and piloting our own course through the countryside goes way back.

According to RV historians, 1910 is cited as the birth of the RV industry with the invention of “auto campers” and “camping trailers.” Up until that point, people traveled by train – basically, an RV on a track. But unlike trains, in these precursors to the RV, people could travel and camp anywhere there was a road.

Jump forward to 1950, and you’ll begin to recognize our modern-day RV. But many would agree it was Winnebago’s “eyebrow” design in 1970 and the infamous flying W that made America fall in love, everlasting love, with RVing.

Today, there is a long list of different types of RVs to choose from:

• Class A Motorhome – big on size and luxury
• Class B Motorhome – camper van
• Class C Motorhome – smaller version of Class A
• Fifth Wheel- hitches to truck bed
• Travel Trailer – #1 selling RV type
• Pop-Up – folding camper trailer
• Truck Camper – self-contained RV that slides into the bed of a truck

While there is nothing like the feeling of cruising on a long stretch of highway towards your next big adventure, there is the little challenge of where to park your RV when its not in use.  Also, many regions of the country require owners to properly prepare their RVs for winter storage is also part of RV ownership.

Baby boomers helped make RV history by helping the industry grow by leaps and bounds. Today, younger generations are still captivated by the idea of mobile living and use their RVs as mobile offices and homes while driving across the country.

For the times you want to safely store your cherished chariot in between road trips and vacations, Metro Self Storage is here for you. We’ll be ready for your next adventure whenever you are.