America's early truck campers did double duty

I come from a long line of RVers. In fact, my great grandfather, Grover Rockholt, built one of America's first truck campers on the back of a one ton Model A like this one. He decided to move from Tennessee to California in a truck camper. He was a builder and made a handsome camper on the back of this truck. It had sleeping quarters, dinette, cook stove and also doubled as a passenger section for his four boys while uncle Rex rode in the passenger seat with my great grandfather as the pilot. Since great grandma had a baby, she elected to take the train (a more comfortable option back in those days).

The roads were mostly dirt and gravel back in the 30's so they had to change a few tires along the way. My grandfather, Sheldon Rockholt, (one of the four boys) recalls an incident where they encountered a low railroad bridge. The truck camper, being a few inches too tall to safely navigate under the bridge, fostered the idea to dig trenches under the bridge so they could drive under to the other side. It worked, they made it to California and I have no idea what happened to the camper after they arrived. He more than likely dismantled it and used the truck for work.

Most everyone in my family enjoys RVing. My grandfather became a full time RVer for a couple years as he and my grandmother toured the country. Now I'm following in his footsteps. It gets in your blood! Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing