In the television series 'Frasier' I often hear the name 'winebago'. What exactly is this - some kind of camper van, perhaps?

Laurel Laurent

The Winnebago are (were?) an American Indian tribe as well as the name of what the Americans call a mobile home, which is a flash campervan. Mar 29 02, 9:21 PM

McGruff

Actually, Americans don't call mobile homes 'Winnebagos,' we call them trailers. Although they are movable, most often they are set up on a lot permanently. On the other hand, a Winnebago is a large travel trailer and like the British adopting 'Hoover' as a generic name for a vacuum cleaner, many Americans call all travel trailers 'Winnebagos.' It is actually a brand name. Here is a great pic of a Winnebago: http://www.winnebagoind.com/ Mar 29 02, 9:43 PM

Sal	Winnebago is a motor home. You know-a motorized camper. Mar 30 02, 1:32 AM

Brainy Blonde

Where I was raised, a Winnebago is a brand name of a motor home or RV (recreation vehicle.) When RV's first started to become popular, years ago, the most popular one was a Winnebago and the name became the term as well. Not many people use it now. They say RV, since they are even more popular than ever, and there are so many on the market. A Mobile Home is a large trailer that is mobile. However, as McGruff said, they are not the easiest things to move. Most are in a permanent spot on a piece of land, or in a trailer park where you rent your lot, and are someone's home. A travel trailer is the kind of trailer you tow behind your car or truck and come in a variety of lengths. A camper is something on the back of a pick up that hangs down from the tail gate. There are steps up into it and they are very similar inside to a travel trailer but smaller. A tent trailer is a square metal trailer towed behind your vehicle that opens up and is half tent and half trailer. They can come with all the amenities a travel trailer have, but the pull up part is made of canvas. There are hardtop and soft-top varieties. A tent is well, a tent! It seems in the North American culture, new families start of with a tent since they don't have much money. Then slowly work their way up to a RV the size of a bus that usually costs more than their first home. There are a lot of people that choose this lifestyle after they retire. Mar 30 02, 3:12 AM

McG

I should not have used the term 'travel trailer' in my first reply. Trailer implies something that is being towed and of course, a Winnebago has it's own engine. Substitute 'motor home.' The difference I was trying to explain was 'mobile home' (which we call trailers even though they are usually permanent or semi-permanent housing) versus 'motor home' (Winnebago being a brand name that is used generically.) A travel trailer would be towed behind a car or other vehicle. Mar 30 02, 8:17 AM

Brainy Blonde

McGruff, I sure hope you don't think I was saying your answer wasn't clear. I think it was, and I'm sure everyone else would as well. The only reason I defined all the terminology, is because it even differs between provinces in Canada. So, if there is a difference within the same country, there are bound to be big differences between other countries. When I moved to Ontario, what they called a camper, I called a van that was all geared up in the back, like in the song Chevy Van. OOOOOOOOOOOOW, now that's dating myself, I sure hope you know the song!! LOL!!! Mar 30 02, 9:10 AM

Jeeves

I think that what you refer to as a mobile home is called a caravan in the UK. They are towed relatively slowly along narrow country roads during holiday periods followed by frustrated motorists who cannot overtake them. Mar 30 02, 10:11 AM

Brainy Blonde

A caravan is called a travel trailer around here. Mar 30 02, 12:05 PM

cocomojoe

It is a large recreational vehicle and like all facial tissues are called Kleenex and sodas coke and cotton swabs Qtips and flying disks frisbees all rv's are winnebagos. Even though i believe fraziers dad owns an actual winnebago Mar 30 02, 7:28 PM

McG

Jeeves, what we refer to as a 'mobile home' would not be towed anywhere for vacation. They are usually permanent housing. We call them trailers even though the term is not very accurate. What you call a caravan, we would call a travel trailer or camper depending on the size or style. These have no engine of their own and are towed behind another vehicle. Unfortunately I do remember 'Chevy Van.' Mar 31 02, 5:25 AM