Travel trailer
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Caravan (Europe)
In Europe, the origins of caravans and caravanning can be traced back to travelling gypsies and showmen who spent most of their lives in horse drawn caravans. The world's first leisure caravan was built by the Bristol Carriage Company in 1880 for Dr. W. Gordon-Stables. It was an 18 ft design, based upon their Bible Wagons, which the Doctor named "Wanderer".
Modern European caravans come in a range of sizes, from tiny two-berth caravans with no toilet and only basic kitchen facilities, to large, twin-axle, six-berth caravans with all the luxuries of a four-star hotel.
In the UK, 2003 saw a huge increase in the popularity of caravans and caravanning. This was due to several factors, including excellent summer weather, fear of travelling abroad due to worries over terrorism and large increases in house prices, which provided people with the ability to raise capital by re-mortgaging their homes.
The National Caravan Council now estimate that the Caravanning industry which includes Motorhomes, Touring and Static Caravans and Mobile Homes is now worth over £1bn ($1.7bn) to the UK economy alone. The growth in popularity of caravanning has also been enhanced by the improvements in quality and facilities making caravan holidays possible at any time of the year not just summer months.
Caravans are used by people in all walks of life, although common traits are the love of outdoor life and a willingness to help other caravanners. Some make use of their caravans only during their annual holidays (vacations), whilst others take regular breaks at the thousands of caravan and camping sites around the world.
Jeremy Clarkson, host of popular BBC Two motoring programme Top Gear, has publicly expressed deep loathing for caravans and has destroyed over a dozen of them on the show.
Travel Trailers (North America)
In the USA, caravans are called "Travel Trailers". Their history can be traced back to the early days in the 1920s, in which the people of the time called it Tin Can Tourists. As time progressed, trailers became more livable and earned a new name in the 1930s and 1940s which was the House Trailer. In the 1950s and 1960s, the industry seemed to split, creating the two distinctly different entities that we see today, that of the recreational vehicle (RV) industry and Mobile home industry. Today travel trailers are classified as a type of RV along with motorhomes, teardrop trailers, and truck campers.
Smaller travel trailers and pop-ups are still made with touring in mind. These generally are less than 18' long and contain simple amenities. By design, they are lightweight and quick to set up or prepare for travel. Most weigh less than 3000 lbs (2300 kg). and can be towed with a large car or small truck.
Mid-range travel trailers are 18'- 25' can weigh 5000 lbs or more, and are generally towed with compact V-8 powered pick up trucks and SUV's. They have most of the amenities of the larger travel trailers but sleep fewer people.
Larger travel trailers are made with the seasonal or full-time user in mind. These generally range from 25-40' long and contain all the comforts of a luxury condominium. Because they require a purpose built tow vehicle, either large truck or SUV, these amenity-laden homes can reach 12000 pounds or more. Multiple TVs and Air Conditioners are common. Slide-out rooms and screen porches add to livability. By law, travel trailers are limited to 400 square feet of living area, and many models offer exactly that.
One innovation in Travel Trailer is the "Toy Box." Half living area and half garage, the rolling wonders allow all the toys to be brought to the countryside. A folding rear ramp give access for Motorcycles, ATVs, Personal Watercraft, even racecars, to the back half. A built-in generator provides power for A/C, TV, and microwave, even at the edge of the dune or river.
Another innovation is the hybrid travel trailer, combining the features of a pop-up trailer and a hard-sided trailer. In its camping configuration, one or more bunks fold down from the side with canvas tent covers. When in travel, the bunks fold up into the side of the trailer leaving four hard sides. Larger models allow the hybrid travel trailer to be used while "turtled", that is with the sides up. The primary advantage of a hybrid travel trailer is that it offers a greater space to weight ratio. A disadvantage is that the tent ends are not insulated and subject to heat loss and condensation build-up.
Amenities
A typical mid-range, modern caravan will contain the following features:
- Gas/Electric powered refrigerator
- Gas/Electric powered stove, oven and grill
- Gas/Electric powered water heater
- One or more beds, some of which double-up as daytime seating
- Electricity supplied by battery or external hookup
- Toilet with removable disposal tank and flush-water tank
- Shower
- Radio
- TV aerial/satellite dish
- Air conditioning
- External barbecue points
- Tow hitch stabilizers
- CD players
- Awning or screen room
- Clothes washer and dryer
- Microwave
- Slide-out rooms (such as a 4' x 7' dinette or bedroom extension)
See also
- double decker trailer
- jackknifing
External links
- [So-Cal Teardrops] So-Cal Teardrops is a manufacturer of high quality teardrop trailers.
- [Tiny Tears Teardrop Trailer Site] Teardrop Trailer Information Site
- [Travel Trailers]
- [RV Assistant]
- [caravantrailers.com]
- [airstream.com]
- [Trailer Hitches]
- [Vantastic: a book on New Zealand caravans]
- [Australian RV Trailers] Australian RV/camper/travel trailers manufacturer and custom repairs
- [Hardcore Camper Trailers] Manufacturer of top quality Camper/travel trailers
- [Directory] 4WDing, Camping & Caravanning Information Directory
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