Motorhome on the Range

Wanderlust doesn't preclude having the comforts of home

A A A Comments (0) By Byron Kerman Wednesday, Jun 21 2000

Motorhome on the RangeDavid Woodworth owns no fewer than 30 recreational vehicles. Most are antiques, like the 1931 HouseCar originally belonging to Mae West. At least one is ultramodern, that being a 36-foot 2000 Rexhall Aerbus motorhome. He will offer tours of these two highly functional homes-on-wheels at the St. Louis RV Park on Friday.

The Aerbus and the HouseCar

More About

Woodworth is on a cross-country tour sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association to promote the RV lifestyle. He is known for his impressive collections of both vehicles and motorhome anecdotes and is happy to share some of each with visitors. The Smithsonian Institution has utilized his talents for a recent exhibit and book on RVs.

Mae West's HouseCar is 22 feet long, rests on a Chevy-truck chassis and packs a V-6 engine. It sleeps four adults and features a stove, dining area, pantry, closet, bathroom and kitchen sink. The massive Rexhall Aerbus, which retails for well over $100,000, has such luxuries as a bathroom with tub, rearview video camera to facilitate backing up, satellite dish and living room that doubles in size at the push of a button.

Have fun in the vehicles, but remember, as Mae West might have said, "If the RV's a-rockin', don't come a-knockin'."

The National RV History Tour is displayed from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 23 at St. Louis RV Park, 900 N. Jefferson Ave. Admission is free. Call 215-592-8601 for more information.