A History of the RV : From Tin Can Tourism to Motorhomes

How generations of RV enthusiasts shaped a century of American mobility and leisure

A History of the RV uncovers how the recreational vehicle evolved from makeshift camping shelter to cultural icon. David Burel offers the first sustained account of the crucial, often overlooked role of auto camping enthusiasts—both in driving technological innovation by experimenting with their own vehicles and in defining American roadside culture.

Beginning in Tampa in 1919 with the founding of the Tin Can Tourists of the World, the nation’s first RV club, this volume follows the relationship between RV owners and technology through changing economic and social conditions. It explores the 1930s trailer revolution during the Great Depression, the postwar boom in leisure travel, and the rebirth of the motorhome in the 1960s and 1970s, foreshadowing van dwellings and tiny houses. Across different subcultures, from retiree snowbirds to countercultural and minimalist living movements, Burel highlights the influence of consumer-led modifications such as improved suspension systems and homemade foldable furniture. He argues that this adaptability is central to the RV’s enduring appeal and the development of leisure culture in the United States.