Fast forward to 1951 when Wally Byam conceived the idea to lead a group of travel trailer friends on a trip to Central America. After a magazine picked up the story, 63 trailers showed up to start the trip. This group made it to Managua, Nicaragua before turning back. The route was challenging and the roads often almost impassable, but the group safely completed the trip and the idea of group travel via trailer caravan was proven. Participants quickly began asking when the next caravan would be.