Recreational Vehicle – An Overview and a History

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December 10th, 2010

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The recreational vehicle have given Americans the ability to pack up and leave without making reservations at a stuffy hotel in the middle of a packed city. These vehicles give people the chance to experience nature at its finest, without leaving the comforts of home.

The recreational vehicle is a American icon and although there are similar caravans in Europe, nothing quite compares to the motorhome found in the United States and Canada.

These vehicles have many various purposes and many seem to be at home doing whatever it is their owner desires. Many RVs are used a hotels on wheels and a holiday homes, but some use them as permanent homes. If you don’t have the money to spend on these things, as some can reach the $1 million mark, many cities have rental shops where people can take out the motorhome of their choice for a selected amount of days.

The history of the recreational vehicle is quite vast and dates back to the covered wagon days of the 1800s. In 1810, wagons were developed in France that were meant to live in, as opposed to just carrying goods. Ten years later in England, circus performers used these vehicles and in the 1850s, Gypsies used them as permanent homes.

In the United States, the covered wagon is synonymous with westward travel and these wagons featured enough room to eat, sleep and haul various items that the average person would need during a trek across the American landscape. It wasn’t until the 1920s that trailers were used as vacation vehicles and often times, companies started off small and grew along side the hobby itself. It was in the 1950s that the motorhome as we know it today was created.

There are numerous types of recreational vehicles on offer to the public. The first and the largest is the Class A. This motorhome is usually constructed on a commercial truck chassis or a bus chassis. These motorhomes feature such luxuries as slideouts, king sized beds, televisions, full kitchens and bathrooms and some even have storage for a automobile underneath the motorhome. There are variations to the Class A, such as the diesel pusher, which basically means that a diesel motor is located at the rear of the vehicle. There is also a bus conversion and these are usually the most luxurious and the largest Class A motorhomes on offer.

Going smaller, you’ll find the Class B and the Class C. The Class B is basically a van with a raised roof and some have a lowered floor. The Class C motorhome is built on a truck chassis with an attached cab section, which is usually based off of a van. These vehicles come in many different forms and from many different manufacturers.

Trailers without motors include the folding trailer, or popup camper, fifth wheel trailer and the travel trailer. Most are lower in price that the Class A or the even the Class C, but there are some fifth wheel trailers that can be quite expensive.

No matter what you’re after, there is an RV for you that will be able to take you to places that you never thought you’d visit.