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LVJJJ's avatar
LVJJJ
Explorer
Oct 18, 2017

When did TT's become "Campers"

Having been on the planet over 7 decades, I must be falling behind. When I started RV'ing in the '80's, a "Camper" was a unit that slid into the bed of a pickup, a unit that was bumper hitch towed behind a vehicle was a "travel trailer", a unit that hitched to the middle of a pickup bed was a "fiver." So, I guess now everything you can camp in is a "camper?"

Just wondering.

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  • colliehauler's avatar
    colliehauler
    Explorer III
    Oct 18, 2017
    WNYBob wrote:
    Our pastor (who likes to backpack and tent camp) said a camper use to be a person not a thing!
    That's the way I always understood it. RV- recreational vehicle would be all inclusive but use to be defined as self propelled.

    Non campers use to call everything a Winnebago.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2017
    Our first camper after a tent was a, "tent trailer."
    Now I guess it's a, "pop-up," or a, "folding trailer."

    Call it whatever, if you 'camp" in it, it's a camper....and we are I am camping so, I'm a 'camper.'.......
  • aguablanco's avatar
    aguablanco
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2017
    It seems to me that anything you can camp in, that has a roof, is a camper. That would be my definition. In Chicago we drank pop, in Arizona we drink soda. How about sofa, couch or divan? No need to continue. Unlike Latin, English is a living language.
    RichH
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2017
    my cousin always referred to his RV as a "camper" regardless of makeup.
    bumpy
  • PenMan's avatar
    PenMan
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2017
    My family has owned tents, truck campers, hybrids, travel trailers, class c motorhomes and class a motorhomes and they have all been called campers.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2017
    WNYBob wrote:
    Our pastor (who likes to backpack and tent camp) said a camper use to be a person not a thing!


    Well said! Love it!
  • WNYBob's avatar
    WNYBob
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2017
    Our pastor (who likes to backpack and tent camp) said a camper use to be a person not a thing!
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2017
    "Toe-mato" or "Tah-mato" It's a mater of semantics. A lot depends upon where you originate from, your age, and the way you use words. "Camper" is all inclusive term for all of them now.

    Want to stir up a hornets nest on these forums, ask everyone to define what an "RV" is?
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Oct 18, 2017
    Mickey referred to the "camper" in The Long, Long Trailer, a 1954 movie.
  • TurnThePage's avatar
    TurnThePage
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2017
    Well, on the same subject, RV and ATV also seem to be interchangeable in many circles. Guess it's all about recreation. I always knew small travel trailers as campers. It's taken self discipline while hanging out on this site to change my verbiage. What about slides, tip-outs, and bump-outs?

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