Show 5 H J. J i HK X J X K oi k r BARON DABSON'S i AUTHENTIC i 3 0 i REPORT i J rW W b Mobile Home Explosion Expositions displaying the latest In mobile homes and recreational recreational recreational rec rec- vehicles of all types have been popping up all over the country And never before has the general public showed so much Interest In this specialized specialized specialized special special- form of transportation Well over a million families now depend on such vehicles sometimes just for week ends and vacations sometimes for time full portable homes W WANDER BUG B ANDER-B UG IS BITING HARD The trend toward more mobility mobility mobility mo mo- mo- mo In living has long been on the increase but In the past few years the epidemic of the wan wan- der-bug der has been spreading more rapidly The big switch Is In full swing from the simple convenience of auto travel to the themore themore themore more complicated comforts of trailers tent-camping tent units up pick-up coach campers and mobile homes I So far trailers are still the most popular since the auto can be unhitched and used separate separate- ly But motorized homes with the compact conveniences of a small dwelling are gaining steadily Sales of recreational vehicles during 1966 smashed all previous previous previous pre pre- records moving ahead al almost almost almost al- al most over 1965 to reach a grand total of more than units There is every reason to expect continuing ad advances advances advances ad- ad vances over the years immediately immediately ahead Better highways rising in incomes incomes incomes in- in comes desire to see new parts of the country Increasing a availability availability avail vaIl ability of suitable camping fa facilities facilities fa- fa and the economical as aspects aspects aspects as- as of such modes of travel all all mean more Interest In portable homes COUNTRYSIDE COUNTRYSIDE ADAPTING ADAPTING 3 J TO THESE VEHICLES The trailer rash brought quick emergence of overnight and term longer-term parks and camping sites equipped with water wa- wa ter er electricity and other ne ne- ne Many were privately operated established to capitalize capitalize capi- capi alize on the swelling migration of trailers Recently arrangements for vehicle recreation-vehicle sites have been seen greatly stepped up because of the freshet of new families on the go It Is esti estimated mated that there are currently over 1400 privately owned parks in the US U.S. where recreational vehicles can put up for the night or longer In the past five years th the federal government government government gov gov- has opened 41 additional addition addition- al camp sites under the aegis of the he National Park Service This brings to a total of 1700 the number of such camps run by bythe bythe t the e government o e e t alone Since vehicle vacation-vehicle visits to all parks have skyrocketed from in 1961 to during the past year itis it itis is Inevitable that there will be speedy efforts to make more localities 10 lo- available in the immediate immediate late future Expo 67 opening at Montreal Canada In April reports re- re ports camp sites already completed In that general vicinity vicin- vicin Ity with work In progress or in early prospect on about a thousand thousand thousand thou thou- sand more MORE INNOVATIONS IN MOBILE HOMES Both trailers and self con motorized homes are now building in a great many features features features fea fea- tures that were once optional and and extra People want them and would prefer generally to have them already installed when they buy the vehicle instead in instead instead in- in stead of ha having ving to go through a dickering deal More firms are Including lavatories pressure pumps hot water heaters carpeting thermostats complete Insulation tion and Uon and some even bathtubs r I rAlso Also demand is growing for larger structures permitting more room for luxury equipment equipment equipment equip equip- ment and storage Prices are not exorbitant everything considered Some mobile homes on truck chassis are being offered for prices somewhat less than The average cost of this kind of transport-home transport not too many years ago was about At present there Is evolving a ade- ade de demand demand de- de mand that allows greater production production production pro pro- a situation which has always led to more reasonable prices Even with labor and materials costs at very high levels up stepped-up output can be ex expected expected expected ex- ex to reduce retail prices for mobile homes homes or or or at least to keep them at attractive lev lev- els This will certainly add to the growing popular desire for fora fora a a home on wheels |