Earlier this year, at the Toronto Interior Design show, the Cubitat was introduced. This lifestyle cube is 10’ x 10’ and features a bed, bathroom, kitchen and television. All you need to do is hook up water and power and you have yourself a compact living space.

Smaller living spaces have become increasingly popular. Now we have Cubitats and 400 square-foot ultra modern condos, designed to provide habitants with style, comfort, and luxury. But before these modern abodes, condensed living was found in a Recreational Vehicle (RV): a simple home on wheels with the basic comforts.

The history of RVs dates back to the early 1900’s when trailers took on the resemblance of wagons with a roof. They were light enough to be towed by the motorcars of the era, but were not very popular.

Between the 1930s and 1950s there was renewed interest in mobile homes. And by the time the ‘60s rolled around, people regularly turned buses into RVs. Then came the “boogie van” which became synonymous with the “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll” of the 70’s.

By the mid-80’s RVs as we know them became a vacation norm. Also, they were becoming more affordable. Companies like Airstream and Winnebago realized there was an increased demand for mobile homes and began to create a wide variety of models. Meanwhile, another ideology developed. Instead of just using RVs for camping excursions, people began living in them. Forget about a mortgage and shoveling snow, an RV could take you to any hot spot you wanted to go.

Some choose to drive them while others hitch them to a truck and tow them around.

Regardless of one’s approach, with campgrounds, RV Parks, and so much beautiful scenery, the Yukon is a motor home owners dream.

The proof is in the pudding. According to the Yukon Government, RVers travelling through the Yukon contributed an estimated $26.9-million to the Yukon’s economy in 2012.

Yukon entrepreneurs and employees alike owe much to people like Marion Sarre.

Sarre is a roaming Canadian who has been doing the permanent RV lifestyle with her husband, Wilf, for 11 years. “We have been camping for over 30 years and loved it so much we decided to make a home out of it,” she says.

Sarre owns an impressive 38-footer with 3 slide-outs. Naturally, a pick-up truck is needed to get this home in motion — which is an added benefi t. Not only do they get to drive cross-country, but also they can park the trailer and take a drive into town without worrying about knocking something over.

Sarre and her husband have traveled across North America and Mexico. A few years back they, too, could not resist the beauty of the Yukon and we’re drawn to it. “We took the ferry from Prince Rupert over to Alaska and then we drove all over the Yukon,” Sarre says. “We went to the Top of the World Highway, Dawson, Beaver Creak, Kluane Park, Carmacks, and of course, Whitehorse.”

Sarre enjoyed every bit of the Yukon trip and even admits our mountains are nicer than the ones in Alaska. During the winter, she heads south to the United States. “There are some parks in Vancouver which open all year, and the small few in Ontario. But your trailer has to be properly insulated. In the winter we enjoy driving down to Arizona or Florida or wherever we end up.”

Two places Sarre has not been in the trailer are Hawaii and Newfoundland and Labrador. She and her husband plan on making it to these destinations at some point.

Returning to the Yukon is also on their list. “Of course I would love to comeback to the Yukon, but maybe a pickup truck with a camper would be a better choice.”

I am wondering if the Cubitat will make it on wheels. Perhaps that will be the next step in RV evolution; they could call it the Boogie Van 2.

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