Truck Campers, A Truly American Institution

Truck Campers, A Truly American Institution

If you were to look for a defining image of America, the two most enduring are the cowboy the open road. The legendary cowboy was a real part of the American scene, but not as important or influential as movie folklore would have us believe. The road, however, is a different matter.

Americans have always been a traveling bunch. Those who came across the Atlantic in the first place had the moxie to leave their home to find opportunity on the other side of the horizon. Many of them reached these shores and kept moving West. The pioneer's covered wagon is a spiritual ancestor to the modern Truck Campers Recreational Vehicle.

The American Vehicle

If the defining image for America is the open road, then their should be a defining American vehicle. Candidates would include the iconic muscle cars of the sixties, but they are almost extinct because of high fuel prices and safety concerns. The SUV seems like a likely choice, but after they type matured from the rough and tumble Willys Jeep, the SUV has become so civilized that it is more of a grocery-getter than an adventure vehicle.

The truest American Vehicle these days is the RV and the Northern Lite Campers. Like the covered wagon, these rigs are designed to get you away from home so that you can see for yourself what adventures and opportunities lie beyond the horizon.

Truck Campers and RV are an American phenomenon in part because they work so well in America. Few other countries have the combination of good roads and camping infrastructure that are needed to really enjoy vehicular camping. This also means that a greater portion of the truck camper or RV you are enjoying will be made in America.

From Back Roads To Wall Street

Even investors are noticing what a good American investment the recreational vehicle industry is. Although stock prices for these manufacturers took a beating while the country went through the real estate crisis, prices have recovered, in many cases to pre-2008 levels.

Camper sales will always be somewhat volatile compared to the car or the truck market, after all, a new camper is a luxury. The camper itself may be a better investment than than stock in the company which built it. Truck campers can be more practical than a full size RV because the slide in does not have to support a complicated power train. If something goes wrong with the RV's engine, it will require the services of a specialized mechanic. You can slide a whole new pickup under a camper.