Did You Know? Henry Ford Helped Invent Glamping
Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
Despite all his serious flaws, Henry Ford’s role in
history
is undeniable. Few could claim to have changed America and the world more than he did. His assembly-line and Model T changed everything, from the nation’s landscape to its work-life and workforce.Stories of Ford’s life can invoke awe and disgust much like a Greek myth. His inventiveness and pursuit of success intertwine with his revolting appetite for union crack-downs, antisemitism, and conspiracy theories, making for a larger-than-life tale that’s hard to wrap one’s mind around.
Many details of his life make it difficult to remember that Ford was a regular human being, but one often overlooked hobby helps bring him to our level, if ever so slightly—his affinity for nature and camping.
Ford’s camping club
To say Ford’s excursions into nature help humanize him might be a little disingenuous. For one thing, the company he kept on his camping trips only adds to the man’s mystique.
Hagerty
says his nature-loving friends, the self-proclaimed “Vagabonds,” included Firestone Tires founder Harvey Firestone, then-famous naturalist John Burroughs, and none other than America’s greatest inventor, Thomas Edison.How they camped also keeps them at arm’s distance. Along with their families, they brought staff to set up camp and cook lavish meals for them. One trip required a caravan of 50 vehicles, including a modified kitchen car and a truck to haul tents, lights, and furniture.
The trips eventually became publicity campaigns for Ford and his companions. Public knowledge of the trips sparked interest and momentum for budget-conscious tourism and public road construction.
MORE: State-of-the-Art Camper Might Be Nicer Than a House
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The evolution of luxury camping
Glamping is a subjective concept, so it’s difficult to say who exactly invented it, but the Vagabonds certainly made it a more popular form of vacation, even if they didn’t use the term themselves.
Their modified vehicles and emphasis on comfort helped spawn the whole RV industry, and what’s considered luxurious while camping has moved along with technological advances and consumer expectations.
Ford couldn’t have imagined the extravagant motorhomes and camper vans available today.
Luxatic
says current “camping” vehicles can cost millions. But features that were once considered opulent like marble countertops, home theatre systems, and solar panel plug-ins are now available in the most basic of trailers and
RVs
. Ford and Edison’s club still takes the cake though, thanks to the extensive staff they brought along.How much does it cost to insure an RV?
MORE: RVs Are on the Rise, Why Isn’t VW Selling Their Campers in America?
Price ranges for RVs are almost as wide as they are for cars. The same is true for insurance premiums. Depending on the value of your RV, how often you use it, and other factors similar to
car insurance
, you could spend anywhere between $500 and $4,000 a year on RV insurance.Insurance companies categorize RVs into three classes. Class C RVs are distinct, in that they rely on van chassis and have overhead sleeping compartments. Class B includes modified and factory-made camper vans, along with small to medium RVs not included in Class C.
Class A RVs are the true glampers, the bus-sized monstrosities that emphasize the “home” in “motorhome.” Unsurprisingly, they are the recreational vehicles that require $1,000+ insurance policies.
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