Reinventing the RV

In actuality, the very first concept of Recreational Vehicles or RVs is rooted to the ‘frontier era’ wherein families in bandwagons travel the lands before settling on an area. However, the first ever documented RV was the Pierce-Arrow’s Touring Landau which debuted in 1910. It had a backseat that folded into a bed and compartments for a chamber pot toilet and sink. This launched other manufacturers to create the camper vans we recognize today.

A basic RV had foldable beds, kitchen area and an RV camper toilet. Through the years, these RVs transformed into bulkier shells that offers a wide range of features. The old RV camper toilet became a composting toilet before technology stepped in. Newer models have toilets have sensors for water and septic tank levels. Even with setting up RV beds have become fully automated and kitchens also integrated technology to possibly include a full sized oven.

The RV industry almost died out but since 2017, a spike on sales has been noted by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. It has been observed that RV sales has grown to around 200 percent. And surprisingly, the demographic centered mostly to millenials and Gen-Xers. They have observed that the younger generation are more attuned to nature and tend to have more of a nomadic lifestyle. This is mainly due to the fact that they adapt more easily and are consciously socially aware. No wonder the younger generations are grabbing the RV industry by the horns!

With this in mind, manufacturers have tailor fitted camper vans for millennial. These RVs are lightweight, stylish and furnished with the basics. Most of the younger generation prefers camper vans that can easily attach to their car rather than the full sized RV. This gives them the space as well as freedom.

Modern designs such as the TAG Teardrop by NuCamp has futuristic look due to its sleek silver metallic paint design. Another manufacturer, Tipoon, launched their The Tipoon Travel Machine that boasts of a fully automated grounding system. With a push of a button, stabilizers pop to the ground as the pod expands to three times its original size. The Nest by Airsteam, on the other hand, uses fiberglass for its main body to make it durable but still lightweight. These designs start anywhere from $15,000 to 50,000. Long gone are those truck sized RV, lackluster design. For millennial, bulky RVs are out and sleek trendy pods are in!

Another trend, influenced by the younger generation is the customization of their RVs. Their penchant for going against the grain made rise to unconventional RV parts and do-it-yourself decors; trading up traditional RV dinettes and RV camper toilet for a modernized version.

The RV industry or any industry for that matter can reinvent itself to adapt to the times. More than hundred years since its debut but the RV still resonates today.