The Revival and Mystique of RV Travel
The Scout Guide – Triad
March 23, 2022 By Carla G. Harper
It comes as no surprise that Forbes dubbed 2020 “The Year of RV Travel.” An RV is a vehicle that combines transportation and temporary living quarters for travel, recreation, and camping.
According to the RV Industry Association, 602,200 Recreational Vehicles (RVs) were built in 2021. That equates to a 40% increase over the 2020 year-end total of 430,412 units. It’s also a 19% gain over the 2017 record high of 504,600 units.
What many call “Glamping” – camping with all the comforts of home in an RV – shows no signs of slowing down in 2022.
Traveling in an RV gives people a sense of control, safety, and fellowship with friends and family. With more than 18,000 public and privately owned campgrounds nationwide in rural and urban settings alike, roaming around the country in an RV for a weekend or much longer is more accessible and appealing than ever.
Many RVers love tailgating, music festivals, travel with pets, outdoor sports, and other leisure activities. As a result, sports utility RVs, or “toy haulers,” have become more common, making it possible to bring ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles on trips.
The Piedmont-Triad of North Carolina is a perfect spot to enjoy RVing with many rivers, lakes, and parks to explore as well as short drives to mountains or coast. See a list below for where to rent or buy RVs and how to find interesting spots for RV camping.
I’d dreamed of heading out across the country in an Airstream for many years. So, when an opportunity to pick up a 1969 Airstream Safari fully restored in Idaho came about in 2020, I didn’t hesitate. Roaming around in my Airstream proved more than I’d imagined, whether at campgrounds with full hook-ups or “boondocking” (no water or electrical service).
My experience aligns with the survey stats published by the RV Industry Association. RV travel is the way to go when virus-related rules and restrictions are confusing and frustrating, alongside the real health concerns. A weekend away in the RV allows for all the conveniences of home while saving money. And, RVing creates an atmosphere of closeness among family and friends that took me back to fond pre-internet memories.
Excursions in the Airstream allowed us to mostly put our phones down while sitting around in folding chairs, listening to music, and talking. We also rediscovered Corn Hole and Badminton. A game of Corn Hole is a great way to meet new people and enjoy the ones you traveled with.
Getting into RVing
For over 100 years, Americans have enjoyed RVs, from small towables to large motorhomes.
Today, RVs come self-contained with generators, solar panels, and satellites. It’s standard to find fully-equipped kitchens and baths, rooms and awnings that slide out at the touch of a button, central air and heat, flat-screen TVs, surround-sound stereos, and much more.
Out-of-Doors Martin Greensboro is the oldest running Airstream dealership in the world. They also sell Salem and Rockwood RVs. Bryan Bishop, Sales Manager, said, “We saw a boom as soon as the pandemic started. Customers told us they no longer wanted to rent houses or hotels yet still wanted to vacation.”
They usually have 50 to 70 RVs available. However, as of November 24, 2021, they had only eight in stock.
For those not yet initiated into the world of RVing, Bryan Bishop recommends starting with a date or family night in the driveway. “Don’t allow yourself to go inside during the night. Instead, make a list of everything you forgot.”
Bryan also suggests that if you use a towable RV, hitch up and practice taking corners and backing up in a local parking lot.
“Interest in RVs has been phenomenal. But, honestly, the RV industry and people have been making lemonade out of lemons. We have no control over what’s happened. But, the bright side is that we’ve seen families get closer by spending more time together RVing,” said Bryan.
A case-in-point is Kathy Barbee and George Hartman, who are in the market for an Airstream. The couple enjoys horseback riding all over the country. “In our younger years, we’d camp in a tent on the trail. But, that’s not what we are looking for now,” noted Kathy.
They are looking for a home-away-from-home on wheels to take some longer trips out West and to Alaska to leisurely see the sites and visit friends along the way. “We wanted to buy a new Airstream travel trailer. But, it seems things are still not moving very fast with production lines. So, we are looking at buying an older model and having it restored and upgraded.”
Another trend involves putting an RV on personal property to expand space for relaxation or guests. “We sold an RV to a fellow who set it up behind his house overlooking a swimming pool. After work, he unwinds in the RV. We’ve had quite a few grandparents who put one in the backyard to have extra space for grandkids to visit,” Bryan Bishop said.
“I love working in the RV business because you are generally helping people start a whole new chapter of life. It’s great to receive photos and hear stories about people’s adventures,” he added.
The RV Dealers Association puts Jayco at the head of the pack in travel trailers. However, Montana is the leading brand for Fifth wheel campers.
The Winnebago is still the leader in motorhomes and camper vans, with the Airstream coming in second for camper vans.
There are 2,667 RV dealers, producing $25.9 billion in sales, according to 2017 data.
Photograph from the collections of Al Hesselbart and the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum
RVing: A Historically American Pastime
Al Hesselbart is the RV Museum and Hall of Fame historian in Elkhart, Indiana. Northern Indiana is home to numerous RV manufacturers producing 80% of all RVs globally. Hesselbart has written a book titled The Dumb Things Sold Just Like That, A history of the Recreational Vehicle industry in America.
The Pierce-Arrow Touring Landau debuted at Madison Square Garden in 1910, offering a back seat that folded into a bed, a toilet, and a fold-down sink. That same year, Los Angeles Trailer Works and Auto-Kamp Trailers began making “auto campers.”
By 1922 campgrounds in places like Denver offered golf courses, hair salons, and movie theatres.
Early camping enthusiasts formed a club in 1919 called the Tin Can Tourists. They’d park on a roadside and heat tins of food on gasoline stoves. By the mid-1930s, they’d grown to 150,000 members.
Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs took annual car camping trips from 1913 to 1924. National media attention gave others the desire to experience the RV lifestyle.
In 1948, Elkhart was first identified as the “Trailer Capital of the World.” During that year alone, more than 100 companies were manufacturing RVs in and around the region of Elkhart. Many famous brands are still made in Northern Indiana, including Airstream, Jayco, Livin Lite RV, and Heartland RVs.
World War II put RV camping on hold but returning GIs and their families started a boom that lasted well into the 1960s. Winnebago’s came on the scene in 1967 advertised as “America’s first family of motor homes.” They offered five models from 16 to 27 feet long, selling for $5,000 and up.
CBS News correspondent Charles Kuralt began his “On the Road” series in 1967. The show spanned 25 years and helped engender an excitement for RV camping.
Get out there and explore. Life’s too short to sit around waiting.
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