Ancient inventions for comfortable camping

We know that going camping involves some sacrifices when compared to the comforts of everyday life. Washing with cold water (generally), dealing with insects, having to get rid of the earth from the corners of the tent and other small details. We are obviously well aware of this and, above all, we are well prepared to put ourselves to the test to live the experience of spending a few days in the open air, away from the walls of our home and the daily routine. We give up something to get other benefits and have a different experience. But it hasn't always been like that: at the dawn of camping's history, the primary objective of the passionate inventors was to transport everyday life, including comfort, in the middle of the woods, on the shores of a lake or near a beach. Let's see together three ancient patents that were supposed to make camping more comfortable.

The folding cart-tent - 1917

Simply put: a primordial motorhome when motorhomes did not yet exist. The invention of the American George Chapman was in fact a wagon that could be pulled by oxen or horses that, once stationed, was opened like a sort of huge book. The platform could then be prepared as a double bed, the two wooden "wings" served as a low support for the awning that then remained fixed to the top of the structure of the wagon. In a few minutes, therefore, it could be opened and closed, even if handling was not the strong point of this invention.

The spring tent for cars - 1940

Going camping and lying on the ground wasn't supposed to seem very comfortable for Ray Strauss. In the 1940s cars began to become a common and much-loved means of transport and the possibility of making use of every surface was very attractive: the American inventor therefore decided to patent a folding tent that could be fixed by means of support bars to the roof of the car. Once parked, the tent was opened and automatically extended upwards thanks to a spring system. The support bars at the bottom provided the base for a mattress and the bed was reached by a folding ladder, which was supplied with the tent. It was only to be hoped that the sheet metal of the car would not give way under the weight of the occupants.

The camper-boat - 1952

Come to think of it, practicality was indeed there: Richard Somers' invention was in fact dedicated to fishing enthusiasts and all lovers of camping on the lake shore. Why force them to move away from their camper to reach the jetty where they could rent a boat? You can easily take the boat from home! It was in fact positioned upside down as the "roof" of the motorhome itself. Once stationed, the boat was unlocked and lowered into the water while the camper remained waiting for the occupants with its wheels firmly planted in the ground. Probably aerodynamics was not the strong point of this patent, but the basic idea was not to be underestimated.

Are you aware of any other particular invention that tried to improve the camping experience? Write to us!