carpenter and America culture

Recreational vehicle as a mirror of American culture.

Introduction

Essential information

Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home. (Wikipedia)

RVs are used for everything from brief leisure activities such as vacations and camping, to full-time living. (Wikipedia)

Background description

RV has been popular in America for over 40 years. A statistics handbook issued by RVIA in 2011 showed that population of RV had arisen to 8,900,000 till 2011.That means among 9 American families, one owns a recreational vehicle. (www.21RV.com) Travelling by RV has become a lifestyle, especially for American retirees. (Wikipedia) While in the 2012 China RV Exhibition held in Beijing, although many expressed that a 300,000-yuan RV is affordable, few people placed an order.

The difference is in close connection with culture diversity between American and China. And the Review will focus on RV history and the relationship between

RV and American culture.

Gap

In the past literatures, introduction to RV and its history is not systematic. Some events don’t have specific time. The review will introduce the history of RVs more clearly.

To see American culture from RV and its development, the review expands on their relationship in time sequence from its modest start in the early 20th century to the present RV industry.

Body

 (1901-1910,rudiment) In the beginning of the 20th century, American campers added basic devices, like tents, beds to their family cars.

 Cars then had large running boards (boards on two sides of a car for stepping on) on which campers installed a box that opened into a fold-up cot. And the rear seats folded out to become beds.

Most original devices were just carried and used outside a car. But although simple, they show Americans’ love for travelling and innovation spirit.

Sooner fans of handicraft built the first motor homes. They added Simple wooden house structures to the T-chassis.

One of the earliest reported motor home was in Montreal in 1910. Ucal-Henri Dandurand brought a 3-ton Packard truck and let it converted. It was equipped with salon, sleeping room, kitchen with icebox, toilet and running water.

 (1911-1920, fixed furniture, motor home) In this decade, campers continued to adapt their own vehicles and made house cars. A wide range of equipment is fixed, such as storage boxes attached to the rear of a car. At the same time, first travel trailers appeared and buses were changed into motorhomes.

 These cars were even fully furnished. Water pump, wardrobes, refrigerator, window awnings, curtains could be found in a motorhome then.

 Some were also equipped with electric lights or communication capabilities. A person could hook into a telegraph line and send a message.

 In 1917, aviator Glenn Curtiss built a camping trailer--\"motor bungalow(small house)\". The trailer was plywood over a spruce(a kind of wood) frame, and fairly spacious, with canvas tilt-out beds.

It’s apparent that do-it-yourselfery had been popular among Americans since then.

 (1921-1930, manufacturing) Up until the 1920s, the motor homes were custom-built. In the 1920s, several manufacturers built bodies, which could be mounted on auto chassis to create house cars. In the 1920s, Ford Model Ts were by far the most common make of automobile.

However, at that time, highways in America are rare and campers had to overcome fairly enormous difficulties. Americans really love to adventure.

 (1931-1940, house trailers) Hundreds of manufacturers began to make travel trailers from the smallest tear-drops to the largest which seemed palatial even today. Kits were sold that allowed one to convert light car chassis into a trailer. Steel trailers become more common. (Trailer is a wheeled chamber attached to and pulled by a car.)

 (1941-1950, RV industry)With highway system developing, The growth of

RV industry halted during the World War II. Trailers began to serve different function as housing for war workers.

When it resumed, many began to build what were truly motorized versions of their trailers in war time.

This changed the world of recreational vehicles nearly overnight. The future of the motorhome was assured as visionary manufacturers began to make them available although still quite prohibitive in price. Accordingly there appeared special camp site for RVs.

Americans, who have a fancy for freedom, were realizing their mobile life by using RVs.

 (1950-1960, technologies) Aerodynamics technologies were applied to RVs. RV designs expanded in size and length. Increased living spaces, luxury interior decoration, modern conveniences such as generators, real plumbing systems, complete kitchens and bathrooms transformed and accelerated RV industry. The 1950s were the decade of full bloom of RV industry. By the end of the decade, the market had clearly distinguished between RVs for different uses. RV became more luxurious both mechanically and in its appearance, which could be a mirror of Americans’ wasteful lifestyle.

 (Till now, popularity) travelling by RVs has become one of Americans’ style of living .More and more people sell their house and buy a RVs after retirement in

their late years or when they need to relax. Even in the Great Depression, Americans had great passion for RVs. Americans’ pursuit of comfortable, luxurious life and their instinct to adventure is easy to see from the popularity of RVs.

Conclusion

Many aspects contribute to the popularity of RVs in America. They have experienced a century-long development of RVs, and from the history of RV, the tolerance, informality, do-it-yourselfery, activeness, flowing and moving, liberal, geographical mobility, social mobility, pioneering spirit rooted in Americans are obvious.

Reference

[1] “Recreational vehicle – Wikipedia”, ( 2012/5/20),

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_vehicle (2012/5/25)

[2] “RV history—from past to present”,

http://www.rvhotlinecanada.com/history/history_0110.asp (2012/5/25)

[3] “房车历史年鉴（二）——1911 – 1920”, (2009/06/05), http://www.21rv.com/word/wenhua/2009-6/5/11041052944.htm (2012/5/15)

[4] “房车工业发展历史年鉴：1930—1940年”,(2009/08/10),

http://www.21rv.com/word/wenhua/2009-8/10/804001003.htm (2012/5/15)

[5] “汽车露营--汽车露营在国外发展的初级阶段”, ( 2007/02/02), http://www.21rv.com/word/wenhua/2007-2/2/102500486.htm (2012/5/15)

[6] “房车——百度百科”, http://baike.baidu.com/view/348580.htm (2012/5/15)

[7] “房车仍属小众消费 欲成产业路尚远”,( 2012-03-30), http://www.xcbrv.com/2011-12-06-09-31-37/92-2012-03-30-02-29-26.html (2012/5/21)

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