ABSTRACT
In the decades since the end of World War II, at campgrounds throughout the country, drivers of recreational vehicles (RVs)—also known as “motor homes” and “travel trailers”—have formed mobile, temporary communities for social interaction, safety, and group identification. The first organized group of automobile campers, formed in 1919 in Tampa, Florida, called themselves Tin Can Tourists. They held rallies twice a year and sought to enhance the image of automotive campers. An empty tin can hanging from the radiator cap identified a member in distress, so that others could come to the rescue. The Good Sam Club, an association of RV owners established in the 1960s, was also created as a network for roadside assistance and RV-park camaraderie; members were identified by Good Samaritan bumper stickers. The organization remains very much alive in the twenty-first century-with more than one million members-and offers a variety of benefits, services, and discounts for RV travelers.
