Finding Art in RVs

In this month’s issue, we call attention to a new book published by one of our regular columnists, Douglas Keister, introduce a new cartoon strip about RVing by Joe Schmidt, and spotlight one of the hottest segments in the RV industry—toy haulers.

If you enjoy Keister’s Vintage RV column in RV Life, you’ll want to buy his new book Mobile Mansions: Taking “Home Sweet Home” on the Road. Many of the RVs that Keister has featured in his column, including the 1969 Volkswagen Westfalia in this month’s issue, appear in his new book in brilliant full-color images. The book has more than 200 beautiful photographs to accompany an entertaining account of the evolution of motorhomes.

This is the third book on RVs by Keister, who has been called “America’s most noted photographer of historic architecture.” His book career began in 1985 with Driftwood Whimsy: the Sculptures of the Emeryville Mudflats, which grew out of his Smithsonian Magazine photos of sculptures created by artists from items found along San Francisco Bay.

His interests led him to photograph Victorian houses, bungalows and cottages, turning out book after book on those subjects. From his fascination with residential architecture, it was a small step to an interest in RV design. His first RV book, Ready to Roll, in 2000 covered travel trailers, and his second, Silver Palaces, in 2004 focused on Airstream and other streamlined trailers. In all, he has now authored or co-authored 27 books.

The streamlined era and a number of unusual motorhomes and trailers built decades ago have captivated Keister’s eye for design. Keister likes the rounded look of older RVs better than today’s boxier models. Since it’s a lot easier to fit nice interiors in a box than in a curved structure, manufacturers have gone in that direction, making today’s RV exteriors more alike and less interesting than they were in the streamline era, even as the interiors have become more sleek and attractive.

In Mobile Mansions, you can follow all the twists and turns in the evolution of RV design, and also see some amazing detours along the way.

Keister, who lives in Chico, California, will officially launch Mobile Mansions at the annual meeting of the Tin Can Tourists, a club for owners of vintage travel trailers and motor coaches. The meeting will be held at Michigan’s Camp Dearborn near Detroit, May 18-21.

You can learn more about Keister, his books, photo library and other enterprises at his website, www.keisterphoto.com.

New Cartoons
Another website you might want to check out is www.joes-toons.com. That’s where you will find the work of Joe Schmidt, whose comic strip, Winding Roads, makes its first appearance in RV Life this month.

Schmidt retired nearly a year ago after 33 years as a high school art and animation teacher in the San Diego area. He has worked at a graphic design studio and for years did editorial cartoons and even a localized comic strip for a community newspaper.

About two years ago he started drawing a comic strip for an online cartoon syndicate, and then created Winding Roads, a strip that focuses on RVing. Schmidt is now syndicating Winding Roads himself and you will find samples of his cartoons, prints and drawings on his website.

Schmidt’s extraordinary talent as an illustrator is also evident in this issue in a feature he created that describes his family’s encounter with a bear at a state park in California. We’re happy to welcome Schmidt to RV Life.

Toy Haulers
Anyone who wants to haul dirt bikes, ATVs or other recreational vehicles inside their RV can now find a motorhome, travel trailer or fifth wheel to meet that need. In this month’s issue, we present some of the newest toy haulers on the market.

Sales of toy haulers are booming, and the reason is apparent. There is a vast market of younger RV enthusiasts who want to camp in style and have all their recreational toys along on the trip. Manufacturers of toy haulers have plugged into this market, and as they add new features to their products, the appeal just continues to grow. Take a look at the story and photos of toy haulers in this issue and you will see the wide range of RVs now available as toy haulers.

Write to Mike Ward, editor at RV Life Magazine, 18717 76th Avenue West, Suite B, Lynnwood, WA 98037 or e-mail editor@rvlife.com. Find First Glance on-line at rvlife.com