So you've made the big decision? Going all out and taking the plunge to purchase your first RV (recreational vehicle). I suppose you've taken in all the considerations such as which RV best suites my needs, how long do I plan to be out on the road, how often, what is my skill level, and cost factors including purchase price, insurance, repair bills, tow vehicle, supplies, camping fees, licenses, membership fees, and any miscellaneous which may creep up unawares. Now don't let me scare you away, after all there are thousands of happy travelers across the United States and in other countries traveling daily to view this wonderful world of ours and if they can accomplish this, you can too.

As far back as the early 1900's, historians have been able to document the travels of the first “Tin Can Tourists.” These were American citizens who rigged up their affordable and popular Ford Model T's and later the Ford Model A's. Imagine today ladies being dressed in high-heeled shoes and fancy hats as you stand in pouring rain trying to crank out your pop-up! As always in the pioneer's heart there is a creative spirit. The first hotel would not open in the United States until 1925 in California, so ingenuity took over for those wanting to see the great outdoors. According to Frommer's one such pioneering Rv'er, Lee Scoles converted his 1916 Federal truck literally into a house on wheels. Sporting solid rubber tires, canvas awnings, cots, a stove, washtubs, and eleven relatives, he began an eight month round trip journey to and from San Francisco (1). Around 1919 the Tin Can Tourists checked in together for their first ever RV rally. With twenty members present, the Florida campground called Desoto Park near Tampa, Florida was a perfect meeting place. Many of the club members were Model T owners. When the 1930's came along, their membership had rocketed to around 150,000. Major camping parks were now beginning to charge some fees in order to divert undesirables away from the camping experience. Initially the wealthy viewed camping as a rich man's lifestyle, however, market place demand and society deemed otherwise and it wasn't long before the so called RV's (recreational vehicles) did more than bring pleasure to the family; sometimes the vehicle was the most expensive item the family owned during the depression era.

Twenty-five years ago, I met a woman who was one hundred years old. She told me about crossing Oklahoma through the Red River and into Texas fearing she'd lose her life to the cougars, wolves, or hostiles. Her recreational vehicle was a covered wagon pulled by a team of mules. I asked her how she felt about leaving her home and traveling so far south. She said, “I had no choice, our food and water supply ran out; we left for a better place.” My century old friend wasn't able to take a survey to see if travel fitted her lifestyle, and yet the option awaits you in this twenty-first century to do just that. At www.rvbasics.com double click on the left hand column titled “Steven Fletcher's Fulltime Rv'er Aptitude Test and see how you score regarding hitting the open road fulltime versus part time. Have your significant other take the test and this will let you both know if the first trip should be a short one. When planning to purchase your RV for the first time, remember you're not only buying a “home on wheels” you are also buying a mechanical piece of equipment. Look for wear and tear on the outside and inside of the motor home. If interior and exterior surfaces which you can see appear to have been poorly appreciated, what can you expect from the unseen mechanical parts of the engine and power train? “RV's that carry the RVIA Seal located in the vicinity of the doorway are certified by the manufacturer to comply with 500 safety specifications for fire, safety, plumbing, electrical systems, and the LP gas systems established by the American National Standards Institute. The RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association), representing builders of more than 95% of all RV's sold in the United States, makes periodic unannounced plant inspections to ensure members maintain acceptable levels of compliance” (2).

Ready for that purchase? How do you know which RV is right for you? Shop ‘til you drop! RV shows abound across the country! Take advantage of one near you. Go to website www.rvia.org for a line up of RV shows. Still not sure about the life of an RV'er? You can try renting an RV when preparing for your next vacation. Rental prices will begin around $750 a week. This probably will not include the interior set up such as linens for beds and eating/cooking utensils unless you purchase a separate “furnishings package.” For rental information contact www.rvra.org or call 1-888-467-8464.

Once you've made your decisions, chose your RV, and spent some time on the road, we may be seeing you as the next Charles Kuralt who in 1967 began broadcasting “On the Road” his famous television series bringing small-town USA into the living rooms of citizens everywhere. Spending twenty-seven years on the road in six different motor homes, he gave new meaning to Tin Can Motorists and Willie Nelson's song, “On the Road Again.” Happy Traveling!

Reference: (1), (2), Frommer's Exploring America by RV, 2 nd Edition by Shirley

Slater and Harry Basch.

Tin Can Tourist Photo: Courtesy of CalPoly Tech University website, author unknown.