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40-541: Airstream trailers and recreational vehicles are manufactured in Jackson Center, Ohio , United States. The company, now a division of Thor Industries , is the oldest in the industry. Airstream was created by Wally Byam who began building Masonite trailers in Los Angeles during the late 1920s. In 1936, Byam introduced the "Airstream Clipper", which was essentially a rebadged 1935 Bowlus Road Chief , with

80-817: A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis), will be used to transport Boeing commercial crew astronauts to the launch pad where they would board the CST-100 Starliner on their way to the International Space Station . The United States Air Force uses a modified version of the Airstream Silver Bullet aboard C-17 aircraft when officials from the Air Force, Department of Defense , or the United States Government are traveling overseas. However, in 2019 it

120-597: A kitchen , a bathroom, and one or more beds. RVs can range from utilitarian – containing only sleeping quarters and basic cooking facilities – to luxurious, with features like air conditioning (AC), water heaters, televisions and satellite receivers, and quartz countertops. RVs can be either trailers that are towed by vehicles or vehicles that drive themselves. Most RVs have one level, but there are also some with two levels. To save space while traveling, larger RVs often have slide-outs or canopies that open up when parked. Self-driving RVs can be categorized into pushers, which have

160-545: A burgeoning industry that would continue to develop over the subsequent decades. Prior to WW2 a number of other countries developed their own small-scale RV manufacturing industries including Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands. Germany had a particular focus on small, lightweight caravans towable by low-cost automobiles whilst Australia developed 'pop-top' caravans with good ventilation, ample water storage and high ground clearance. During WW2 RV production

200-533: A dozen Airstream parks throughout the United States. These are RV resorts or campgrounds where owners of Airstream-manufactured units are allowed to buy, rent, or lease a site such as AutoCamp . Some of these facilities welcome non-Airstream products while others are more strict in their admission. Some of the parks require membership in the WBCCI (Wally Byam Caravan Club International) to be admitted. Several of

240-502: A hotel room. They may even decide to tow their car from the back of the RV so they can use that to travel around more easily when they reach their destination. Although the most common usage of an RV is as temporary accommodation when traveling, some people use an RV as their main residence. In fact, one million Americans live in RVs. In the United States and Canada, traveling south each winter to

280-474: A long-term expense. This is similar to home vacation rentals but is cheaper and also offers the flexibility of itinerary planning. While it is legal in all of the United States to live in an RV, there are laws regarding where and for how long RVs can be parked. Some owners fit solar panels to the roof of their RV. It is possible for RV users to live off the electrical grid while still having access to internet, making remote working feasible. Usage of RVs

320-747: A mystique which surrounded Airstreams and persists to this day. The Wally Byam Caravan Club was formed in Kentville , Nova Scotia , Canada during the 1955 Eastern Canada Caravan. Later, the word "International" was added to the club name, resulting in the acronym "WBCCI". On August 17, 2005, a commemorative plaque was dedicated on the site. The club continues to offer RV caravans all over the USA, Canada, Europe, and Mexico each year. Club members join together for one large international rally each summer and hundreds of smaller local rallies are held coast-to-coast by "units" or chapters. Restoration of older Airstream models

360-454: A partial solution to the homelessness problems found in cities across the US. RVs for Homeless ( https://rvforhomeless.com/ ) has been formed as a coalition to encourage the donation of older vehicles to alleviate homelessness. This is distinct from the simple use of older vehicles as temporary shelters in homeless encampments. As of 2016, the average age of RV owners in the United States was 45,

400-464: A three-year decrease since 2015. Per 2020 research reports, more millennials are interested in buying RVs due to their increased demand for camping and outdoor recreational activities, especially in the US. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , sales of RVs in the United States have increased, and as of March 2021, 11.3 million households own an RV, which is a 26 percent increase over the past ten years. In

440-400: A warmer climate is referred to as snowbirding . In Australia, the slang term for a retired person who travels in a recreational vehicle is a "grey nomad". There are local and national RV rental companies, such as Adventure KT and Outdoorsy that specialize in renting RVs to families for vacationing purposes. People enjoy the road trip and luxuries an RV provides while traveling without having

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480-440: Is a passion shared by many RV-ers as well. Recreational vehicle A recreational vehicle , often abbreviated as RV , is a motor vehicle or trailer that includes living quarters designed for accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes , campervans , coaches , caravans (also known as travel trailers and campers), fifth-wheel trailers , popup campers , and truck campers . Typical amenities of an RV include

520-407: Is common at rural festivals such as Burning Man , but most festivals have strict rules about operating an RV during the event. Burning Man is strict about RV water leaks, and generator usage is another of the restrictions that festivals put on the use of RVs. Bluegrass Festivals regularly host RVs; they become the locations for afterhours jamming by participants. Recently, RVs have been proposed as

560-788: The Grande Diligence of Prince Oldenburg (1896) and the De Dion Bouton trailer of Monsieur Rénodier (1898). The first steam-driven motorhome was the Quo Vadis (France,1900) and the first gasoline-driven motorhome was the Passe Partout (France, 1902). The first recorded powered motorhomes in America were the 'camp cars' of Roy Faye and Freeman Young of 1904–06 (a 1904 Rambler , 1905 Thomas Flyer and 1906 Matheson ). Lightweight tent trailers were especially popular in

600-618: The McMaster Camping Car (US,1889). Camping-vehicle In the 1890s, US RV pioneers self-built timber 'houses on wheels' for health, leisure and hunting purposes. The most widely reported of these were those of Morgan Lasley and his family. Horse-drawn RV use declined after the First World War as many horses were killed during the war and automobiles became cheaper, more powerful and more widely available. The first powered RVs were steam-drawn trailers from France including

640-621: The Moon, the crewmen of the missions Apollo 11 , 12 , and 14 were quarantined, until it was deemed that there was little likelihood of them having brought back lunar pathogens. From the crew's collection aboard an aircraft carrier, until their arrival in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston, they were housed in the mobile quarantine facility , which was a modified airtight Airstream trailer. Four were built in total and

680-496: The Operations and Checkout Building following a shuttle landing. According to driver Ronnie King, the early shuttle astronauts liked the history-filled vehicle, even if it was somewhat old, and even argued against upgrading the vehicle. "We were staged to get a new one," King said, and added that word came that the rookie astronauts wanted to keep the vehicle that was a tradition of the astronauts who traveled those nine miles to

720-519: The Oregon-based company, Nest Caravans. Nest trailers were made of molded fiberglass . The Nest was a smaller and lower priced trailer than any in the Airstream line, but at the upper end of prices for its market segment. Airstream moved the company to Ohio and expanded staff for production with Airstream Nest trailers scheduled to be available in early 2018. The Airstream Nest was withdrawn from

760-633: The RV Industry Association. The recreational vehicle industry around Elkhart is part of a large network of related transport equipment companies, including utility trailer makers and specialty bus manufacturers, who source from the same supply chains. The industry has taken hits from US tariffs on steel and aluminum and other duties on RV parts made in China, from plumbing fixtures to electronic components to vinyl seat covers. Tariff-related price hikes forced manufacturers to pass on some of

800-615: The US from 1911, thanks to improved roads , new national parks and the affordability of tow vehicles such as the Ford Model T . At the other end of the price scale, luxury touring limousines, developed in France by De Dietrich in 1904, were built in small numbers in the US by Welch (1909) and Pierce Arrow (1910). The first US RV club, the Tin Can Tourists, was formed in 1919. The first known, recreational fifth wheeler

840-511: The US) were usually converted goods trucks and were heavy, noisy, inflexible and expensive, restricting their use to the wealthy or self-builders. The 'one box' RV was not seen in large numbers until the small, lightweight Volkswagen Kombi of 1950. During the 1920s and 1930s, caravans (travel trailers) became the dominant form of RV in the UK due to their low cost, weather-resistance and flexibility. There

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880-691: The United States, about 85 percent of recreational vehicles sold are manufactured in Indiana , and roughly two-thirds of that production in Elkhart County , which calls itself "the RV Capital of the World", population 206,000. The industry has US$ 32.4 billion annual economic impact in Indiana, pays US$ 3.1 billion in taxes to the state and supports 126,140 jobs and US$ 7.8 billion in wages, according to

920-551: The deceased from the funeral home to the cemetery. The aluminum motorhomes were followed by more traditional-looking fiberglass models in the 1990s. Airstream discontinued the manufacture of Class A motorhomes in 2006. Airstream, still based in Jackson Center, is a division of Thor Industries. Airstream produces several models: Basecamp, Bambi, Caravel, Flying Cloud, International, and Classic. Trailer sizes of 2020 range between 16 and 33 feet. In 2016, Airstream acquired

960-424: The door relocated from the front to the side. The design cut down on wind resistance and thus improved fuel efficiency . It was the first of the now familiar sausage-shaped, silver aluminum Airstream trailers. In 1936, the first Airstream was introduced. It sold for $ 1,200 and was able to house four people with electric lights and a water supply. Of more than 400 travel trailer builders operating in 1936, Airstream

1000-524: The engine at the back, and pullers, which have the engine at the front. Generally, pushers use diesel fuel, while pullers use gasoline. The first recreational vehicles were horse-drawn. They evolved during the second half of the nineteenth century as adaptations of vehicles used for other purposes, including public transport caravans (UK, also known as stage wagons ), gypsy vardos (Europe), living vans (UK), ambulance wagons (US) and sheep herders wagons (US). The first, currently-known, purpose-built RV

1040-400: The increased costs through higher RV prices, which in turn has contributed to slower sales. Shipments of RVs to dealers fell 22% percent in the first five months of 2019, compared to the same period a year earlier, after dropping 4% in 2018. RVs are most commonly used for living quarters while traveling. People may choose to take a road trip in their RV and use the RV to sleep in, rather than

1080-536: The last Airstreams to be manufactured in California. In 1974, Airstream began manufacturing a Class A motorhome , badged "Argosy". They were followed in 1979 by the first examples of the Classic model motorhome, with an unpainted aluminum body much like the trailers. In 1981, Airstream's Commercial Vehicle Division marketed a Class A motorhome as a funeral coach . It was designed to transport family, flowers and

1120-622: The market in September 2020. In February 2022, the company unveiled the concept for an all-electric Airstream that can recharge from electric outlets at campgrounds and that has regenerative braking . Airstreams are distributed in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Lowdhams Airstream Direct (Lowdham Leisure World Ltd) with four models made for Europe and specifically tuned for the British market. The International "534", "604", "684" and

1160-742: The month of October 2021, 58,000 RVs were manufactured in North America, the most ever in a single month. Astronaut transfer van The astronaut transfer van , known as the Astrovan during the Space Shuttle era, was a NASA vehicle used at the Kennedy Space Center to transport astronauts from the Operations and Checkout Building to the launch pad before a mission and for launch dress rehearsals, and back to

1200-599: The new "25" have been created with smaller dimensions to accommodate narrower European roads. The International models are still entirely manufactured at the headquarters in Ohio and shipped over for final fit of market specific items. Airstreams are also popular amongst the European market for takeaway diners and business stands. Airstreams in Europe are distributed by Airstream Germany and Airstream Italy. Upon their return from

1240-814: The pad before them. During the twenty-minute drive to the launch pad for shuttle launches, the Astrovan usually stopped at least once along the way. An astronaut rode with the crew and was let off near the Vehicle Assembly Building to board the Shuttle Training Aircraft and assess local weather conditions. Senior NASA managers occasionally rode along as well, and were dropped off at the Launch Control Center . [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of

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1280-444: The resorts are owned and operated by the local unit of the WBCCI. Airstreamers are a group of "RV-ers" who share a community spirit through their common love for the trailers. In the early 1950s, Airstream founder Wally Byam began leading groups of owners on travels to many portions of the world, where the towed trailers were quite remarkable. Photos taken of the trailers in front of many famous tourist sites were common. This promoted

1320-401: The three that were actually used can be seen on display at various space museums. For decades, NASA has used a fleet of Airstream motorhomes to transport astronauts to the launch pad. The space shuttle program used a modified 1983 Airstream Excella beginning in 1984 dubbed the Astrovan . On October 21, 2019, Airstream and Boeing announced that a modified Airstream Atlas (which also uses

1360-400: Was a successful trailer builder of the period and is the only survivor of over 400 pre-WW2 US RV manufacturers. These trailers, with their distinctive, shiny exteriors, were not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional. Its aerodynamic shape and sturdy construction made it a favorite among travelers. These early advancements in RV and trailer design established the foundation for

1400-402: Was announced that by 2022 it would be replaced by custom Roll-On Conference Capsules that are airworthy for the entirety of the flight, unlike the modified Airstreams. The trailers are strapped down inside military cargo planes and feature leather seats, air conditioning and climate control, wood paneling, porcelain toilet, LED televisions, surround sound, and Blu-ray players. There are more than

1440-673: Was halted in most countries except when required as accommodation for military personnel or essential workers. Between 1945 and 1960, RVs flourished in many western countries as disposable income and leisure time grew. Dedicated RV parks were established to cater to the needs of both short and long-term RV users. Improvements in RV technology including batteries, fridges, gas cookers, toilets and lightweight construction techniques dramatically improved RV comfort levels. More powerful gasoline and diesel engines allowed RVs to increase in size, weight and speed. Regulations were introduced in many countries to control how RVs were manufactured and used. In

1480-961: Was likewise a travel trailer boom in the US in the 1930s as automobile production-line manufacturing techniques were used in travel trailer manufacturing to meet growing demand from recreational users and those seeking low-cost housing during The Great Depression . Self-built trailers were highly popular in the US during the 1930s and travel trailers featured in a number of Hollywood movies including Mickey's Trailer (1938). The 1920s and 1930s, saw some influential, maverick builders construct innovative RVs in small numbers. These included Bertram Hutchings (UK, 1930–39, streamlined caravans), Charles Louvet (France, 1924–34, aircraft-inspired, coach-built motorhomes and trailers), Noel Pemberton Billing (UK, 1927, Road Yacht motorhome), Glenn Curtiss (US, 1918–30, Adams Motorbungalo, Curtiss Aerocar, Aero Coupler hitch) and William Hawley Bowlus (US, 1934, aluminum monocoque trailers). Wally Byam's Airstream (US, 1931 onwards)

1520-620: Was the Auto Salon Deluxe built in Belgium for Baron Crawhez by Auto-Mixte Pescatore in 1913. In the early twentieth century RV builders in the UK (Navarac, Piggott Bros, Eccles, Bertram Hutchings), the US (Detroit Trailer Company, Welch , Graham Brothers , Pierce-Arrow ) and France ( De Dietrich , Cadel) experimented with a wide range of RV types including caravans and trailers, motorhomes , touring limousines, tent trailers and fifth wheelers. Early motorhomes ('house cars' in

1560-480: Was the horse-drawn Wanderer (UK), commissioned from the Bristol Wagon Works Company by Dr. Gordon Stables in 1884. Stables was a pioneer of the UK's Gentlemen Gypsy movement (1885–1914) which promoted the restorative benefits of horse-drawn leisure caravanning and inspired the formation of the world's first RV club, The Caravan Club (UK), in 1907. The Wanderer was closely followed by

1600-474: Was the sole survivor of the Depression . During World War II , travel became a luxury most could not afford and non-military industries faced an acute aluminum shortage. When World War II ended, the economy boomed, and people's attention once again turned towards leisure travel. Byam's company went back into production in 1948. In July 1952, a new facility in Jackson Center, Ohio , was established. 1979 saw

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