Trailer Travel: A Visual History of Mobile America

by Phil Noyes, Bryan Burkhart, Allison Arieff

Trailer Travel showcases the rich visual history of America∆s enduring fascination with life on the road. Beautifully reproduced color and black-and-white images culled from public archives and the private collections of passionate trailerites vividly document the travel trailer∆s storied past.

This engaging volume offers a look at motor-camping trips in the early 1900s, the unparalleled innovations in trailer design during the thirties, rare and unique trailer models and interiors, and an extensive array of bold and graphic promotional material, literature, and postcards that illustrate the undeniable attraction of living on wheels. Trailer Travel is the perfect book for the fan of the open road and the fervent collector of trailer ephemera.

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 11, 2002

Reviews

[Ellen Behrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

From tin can tourists to trailerites to today's RV nomads, motorized travel in the United States (and around the world) progressed as innovations made road travel more comfortable and affordable. The three authors of this wonderful book have pieced together an excellent summary of the highlights of trailering, something much more difficult than most people might think because of the array of models being produced along the way.

If you're looking for a comprehensive history of RVing, this is not your book; its focus is narrow (trailers--no motorhomes) and is, as its title advertises, a "visual history," so there's little commentary.

But that doesn't make it a waste of anyone's time. Students of RVing history will recognize much of what's in here, but there are a few gems (a two-story, five room rig was a surprise to me, for example, despite all the other books I've read on this subject), giving this book a unique spot on my shelf.

Coverage of the link between early large, boxy trailers and the evolved mobile home of the type we see today was also something not often covered in other books, and I was happy to see it here--especially in visual form.

This book is a good addition to any RV history collection, and it would make a great gift for the RVer with a trailer and a penchant for history.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing collection of visual history with some solid writing about the industry.

[Andrea D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Includes a ton of wonderful pictures.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully researched and illustrated book on the history of trailers -- a fascinating, uniquely American obsession encompassing innovative design, the romance of the road, self-sufficiency and a can-do spirit. A lot of fun to flip through as well as curl up with to read.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed looking at the visual information included in this book. If you enjoy camping or own a travel trailer this is a fun book to look through. The text is a little generic but gives you a sense of what you are looking at.

[Judy Egnew Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book, full of ads, photos, and descriptions of 20th-Century trailers and trailer camping. You'll enjoy this book if you like trailers, camping, 20th-Century memorabilia, or if you just have nostalgia for those simpler times.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book with mostly photos of the history of travel trailers.

[Darlene Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun but very dated outlook on the first trailer explorers. A fun read, but the photos, illustrations and some of the writing will bring you back to the 50's era

[Nissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and interesting, just wish it were twice as long.