Most Iconic RVs in TV & Cinema

Americans have a passion for their RVs, and that passion shows. The RV industry produced over 600,000 RVs in 2021, an increase of 19% over the previous year. This passion for RVing has led to RVs being scripted in shows and movies dating all the way back to the 1950s.

RVs have become a great backdrop for coming-of-age comedies, flying through space, or even fighting zombies. These top seven movies and shows showcase the central role RVs play in the life of American pop culture.

Famous RVs in Movies

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation might be the most iconic American Christmas comedy of all time. During the course of a disastrous Chrismast week, the Griswolds get an unwanted surprise from Ellen Griswold's cousin Eddie, played by actor Randy Quaid.

Cousin Eddie brings the whole family to town in his prized 1973 Ford Condor II motorhome. This iconic but battered RV's image has been turned into everything from t-shirts to Christmas ornaments. It now rests at the Christmas movie museum in Medina, Ohio.

Spaceballs (1987)

If the iconic Christmas Vacation RV doesn't top the list, then the Spaceballs Eagle 5, piloted by Bill Pullman as Lone Starr and John Candy as Barf, takes the cake.

The Eagle 5 was actually a winged 1986 Winnebago Chieftain that didn't age well while navigating the universe. Although the Eagle 5 couldn't go to 'ludicrous speed' as his nemesis did in the movie, the 1/12th scale model of the Eagle 5 did bring $28,000 at auction.

The Blues Brothers (1980)

Starring Dan Akroyd and Jim Belushi as the Blues Brothers, this 1980s blockbuster hit brings comedy to the city of Chicago. The two Rhythm and Blues singers infuriate just about everyone, including the entire Chicago police force, with their hijinks as they try to save an orphanage from being closed down.

While they drive a retired 1974 Dodge Monaco police sedan throughout the movie, they do get chased by the Good Ole Boys driving a 1976 Fleetwood Southwind. The two Southwinds used in the movie were unfortunately destroyed during filming, but rewatch the movie to enjoy the iconic moment when one flies through the air and into a lake after Elroy glues his foot to the accelerator.

RV (2006)

In RV, Robin Williams portrays actor Bob Munro who wants to take his family on a great American road trip. The result is a classic portrayal of every possible problem, hiccup, and screw-up that could happen in this family-friendly flick. RV is a great coming-of-age meets great American road trip tale, where the Munro family drive their rented fluorescent green 2005 35-foot Forest River Georgetown 359 across the country.

In total, there were six Georgetowns used in the movie, including two modified for crazy stunts and one made so its walls came off for interior scenes. Throughout the movie, the Munro's try to avoid the overly friendly Gornike family, who drives a vintage 1948 Flxible Clipper — a classic beauty of American motorhomes. The Clipper now rests at Jack Sisemore Traveland RV Museum in Amarillo, TX.

We're the Millers (2013)

The popular comedy "We're the Millers" is the story of a small-time drug dealer named David — played by actor Jason Sudeikis — who gets himself in trouble with his dealer. As such, David is forced to travel to Mexico and smuggle drugs back in a 2013 Coachmen Encounter with his fake wife — starlet Jennifer Aniston — and fake son and daughter.

During the movie, the fake family goes through all of the normal struggles of RV ownership, they just happen to do so while driving an RV packed full of illegal drugs. There were a total of two Coachmen Encounters used in the filming of the movie. The movie also featured another RV, a 1991 Foretravel Grand Villa Class A uni-home, driven by their overly friendly law enforcement friends, the Fitzgeralds.

Iconic TV Show RVs

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

A cinematic RV list wouldn't be complete without including the 1986 Fleetwood Bounder used in the award-winning TV series Breaking Bad. In this gritty drama, the two main characters Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, and Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul, struggle to make it in the drug world. Their choice of places to cook their iconic blue meth is in a 1986 Bounder.

There were actually two Bounders used in the show, one for outside shots and one with removable walls for inside shots. Today, you can tour the Bounder, restored to its 'production' glory at Sony Pictures in Culver City, California.

Walking Dead (2010-2022)

What could be scarier than being trapped in a post-apocalyptic world with a bunch of zombies chasing you around? Well, nothing, but if you were going to have to exist in this reality, as they do in the show Walking Dead, a 1973 D-27C Winnebago Chieftain probably wouldn't be the worst vehicle to own.

Although the Winnebago periodically has issues for dramatic effect, it continues to take on the worst of the worst and provides a safe haven for two seasons for the zombie-slaying heroes, until finally being devoured by flames. The famous RV was on display at Universal Studios until 2020, when it was removed, but is rumored to be returning for the Halloween season.

Shop Iconic RVs at Transwest

Now that you have your movie and TV show list ready for the weekend plan to stop by one of our Transwest locations to look at the newest selections of class A, B, or C RVs arriving daily. We can't promise that they will save you from a horde of zombies, but we do think they will deliver endless access to adventure and exploration. Swing by or give our team a call to learn more.