Runaway Vacation - I don't get the whole 'RV' culture (I'm non-US)

Where are you from? I'm litterally watching this film as I type this (why I'm here lol). I am American, but I NEVER been on an RV trip in my life. But like the family in the movie, I'm from the big city, L.A., no one RV's in L.A. lol. And no, that's a ridiculous big R.V. which the movie states is unusual and hence the 'slapstick' ensues with driving such a big vehicle. So yeah, they are common, America is a huge country and many of the inner states you see tons of them. I guess it just depends where you live. Majority I see are small to midsize though.

Christian Bale is a spoiled and scary nutjob!!

My family did not used a RV or a one of the tow caravans (I think they also called campers). My family and I would used tents to travel with.

I just bought a new tent and am planning on going on my own tent traveling trips.

I live in Northern California, and I have never been on an RV trip, but I know people who have. My across the street neighbor has one of those huge RVs parked in front of their house sometimes. If they were millionaires, I would think they would want to live in a nicer neighborhood. My own house (lot size around 5000 square feet) has a large cement area in the backyard originally intended for RV parking. Previous owner had a few cars parked back there; we have planters and stuff there now. Many RV owners will keep their beast at a storage facility.

I did know a family that lived in an RV on their relatively large (3 acre) lot in the country, while their house was being built. Many retired seniors live in their RV, traveling around the country.

From what I understand, here is how the RV culture works. The family gets to relax in back, with all the comforts of home. Large windows let them get a good view of the scenery. In theory, they can stop anywhere for the night, which is handy for cross-country trips through unpopulated areas. In practice, it seems like may RVers stop at RV parks, where they "camp" but pretty much get to sleep indoors, and there are many amenities like a pool, a general store, etc.

Personally, I don't find that kind of vacation very fun, but to each their own. I also don't go on vacation specifically to go shopping, but many others do. If I want to go camping, I would rather be in a tent and be closer to nature. I know people who hate tent camping and are much more comfortable in an RV or camper trailer, but they are much more limited in the places they can "camp."

RV's are really popular with the retired , senior population - at least , here , in the southwest they are. A good six months of the year the retired people either roll in with their RV's and rent spaces or drive and fly out here to live in trailers. RV's are a nice way to travel at your own leisure and save on hotel expenses. Depending on the size, they can be very costly. I have seen some that cost more than the average house.

RV's are also popular here in the summer - family vacations and empty nest couples.

Where I live in central Texas there are some very nice RV parks all the way down to very basic parks.
I've met people from all over the northern US that come down here for the winter mostly. Northern winters are brutal, especially on older folks. I have a friend that owns a RV but he doesn't use it much because he hates paying to gas it up.

We're gonna need a bigger boat.

To add to what everyone else has mentioned, the RV was a rental, so the cost might be more manageable. The States are pretty huge, and there are upsides to traveling by rv - you're more comfortable (check the seats out), you can sleep in the same bed every night. I would think the gas prices would make rv travel prohibitive for a lot of people.