Evolution of RVs and Mobile Homes – The Complete Timeline
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Mobile homes are house-like structures built on a steel chassis and fitted with wheels to make them easily portable. People often use these as a permanent accommodation, especially if they have a tourist lifestyle and live on the go.
The trouble is that most people commonly mistake mobile homes with trailers and RVs. Even though these three share a history, they belong to two different categories. Mobile homes are permanent housing facilities, while RVs and trailers serve as temporary or vacation homes. According to the recent Census, almost 20 million Americans live in a mobile housing facility.
Today, there are approximately 43,000 mobile home parks, also known as manufactured housing communities. So, when did America become home to the mobile park generation?
Let's take a trip down memory lane to learn how mobile housing and trailers became an integral part of our culture.
1910 – The Beginning
By Syracuse Post-Standard - Syracuse Post-Standard, Public Domain,
Before the 1900s, people had moveable houses in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. These houses were moved back and forth depending on the tide using horses. But otherwise, they stayed in one spot, proving they were not very movable.
But in 1901, Pierce Arrow's Touring Landau, honored with the Smithsonian Award, was introduced as the first recreational vehicle. It had a patented, fifth-wheel trailer hitch mechanism, permanently attached behind an automobile. Moreover, it had an active phone line, storage, kitchen table, a bed, a detachable chamber pot, and lodgings for chauffeurs on the trailer roof. This is considered the first model of a travel trailer or RV.
1920 – The Tin Can Tourist
In 1920, after completing the Dixie Highway from Montreal to Miami, people from esteemed families started traveling to Florida in trailers similar to The Touring Landau.
They were attracted by Florida's sunny weather and sandy beaches, so they piled up bedding, extra gasoline, and canned food in their trailers and made their way. As a result, they were appropriately dubbed the "Tin Can Tourists."
The 1920s – After World War I
After world war I ended in 1918, the American economy gained strength, offering new possibilities and freedom to Americans. The progress came with automobiles. Small cargo trailers that were previously used to house tents and camping goods began serving tourists. These vehicles had a longer wheelbase, making them perfect for use as sleeping quarters.
Later on, these small cargo trailers evolved into RVs and fifth-wheel trailers. Homebuilders would remove chassis from wrecked cars and trailers to secure new trailers' cabins. They used this idea to design 18 wheelers and cargo trailers.
1929 – The Covered Wagon Company
In 1929, Arthur G. Sherman invested $10,000 in The Covered Wagon Company. He rented out a garage and started building solid-body campers. By the end of 1936, his camping trailers business was a major hit, earning him $3 million in sales.
Mr. Sherman also introduced the bread loaf shape campers, the seventh most popular design globally. After the launch of The Covered Wagon, auto-camping became the national pastime. As more people started auto-camping, many invested in trailer and camper building companies.
When more people started buying trailers, parking places became an issue as they needed a secure place to park the huge trailers when they were not traveling. That is when trailer parks became a viable business idea. Some trailers parks only allowed overnight parking, but many others propped up where drivers could book a space for months.
The 1940s - World War II and Onwards
During World War II, trailers were used as temporary housing for workers. They were a perfect solution for aiding the housing facilities shortage caused by the war. These trailers were very basic, consisting of sleeping areas but no portable bathroom. However, due to war, using these housing facilities was necessary.
After the war, the trailers built to be pulled by the family cars transformed into personal trucks and became a new trend. So, by 1948, many families permanently shifted to mobile homes.
The 1950s – The Golden Age
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By 1950, the trailers and campers became bigger and fitted with more facilities. That's why it is considered the Golden Age for trailers. Now, people were beginning to wise up to the fact that they could have all the amenities of life even when traveling.
As the competition heated up, manufacturers organized expos and trade shows to showcase their newly launched trailers. Finally, in 1980, Congress passed the bill stating trailers and RVs as mobile homes because of their massive size and numerous facilities.
The Present
Today, mobile home parks are being bought and demolished by large-scale developers, reducing the chances of mobile living. However, it is still easier to own a mobile home that provides a regular resident's perks in this financially challenging time.
If you want to live in a mobile home or invest in a mobile home park, pairing up with Park Avenue Partners is a sound decision. They invest in and operate mobile home parks nationwide. Contact them to find a mobile home park for your RV or mobile home.
