My wife, young daughter and I were back in Illinois visiting a friend when he suggested we go look at campers at a local dealership. This was back in 1972 or 73. After looking at several different trailers and tent trailers, I spotted a used Apache tent trailer, similar to today’s pop-up trailers, but without a hard top or door. It had two fiberglass covers that had to be removed, and then pull out the beds, step inside and erect the aluminum bows to support the canvas that came to a peak in the middle. It then looked like a tent on a trailer. It was already set up when the salesman approached and told me he wanted $300.00 for it. After looking it over and some discussion with my wife, I offered $200.00 for it, which the salesman initially laughed at, but finally agreed to sell it to me. However, when I asked him to show me how to take it down, he said, “For $200.00 you have to figure it out yourself” and walked away. My friend and I did our best but couldn’t get it completely closed, so we tied it down with rope and towed it to his house. Looking at the title I saw the previous owners name and address, looked him up in the phone book and gave him a call. He said he had a spare tire for the camper and if I would buy it for $20.00 he would show me how to set up and take down the camper, which I did and he did. I towed that little camper back to Arkansas and thus began my love for camping and RVing. My wife and eventually two daughters, towed that little Apache all over Arkansas and half of Missouri behind a little Toyota station wagon. I have had several different RVs through the years and currently have a 5th-wheel, which my wife and I thoroughly enjoy. A trip to Canada this summer is planned to visit our daughter.
Submitted by Ron Jacques of Flippin, AR as a part of the RV Centennial Celebration “Share Your Favorite RV Memory” contest.
Do you have a favorite RVing or camping memory you’d like to share? Submit your favorite memory here!
Craig Benoit
Great story about the Apache. My parents first camper was an Apache Chief. My dad asked for it instead of a cash bonus from his boss. He knew he would not buy one with hard earned cash, but if he was given one – well that’s different.
Prior to the Apache Chief, named DRAGON WAGON we slept in the car, under the picnic table with a tarp draped across it, in a lean-to fashioned from a little larger tarp or on week long vacations in a borrowed tent. We camped every three day weekend and for every week’s vacation. Once we graduated to the Apache we camped every weekend from May through September.
My Dad and Mom went camping with several other families on an island on Lake Winnipesaukee NH. Dad lashed that Apache Chief to 6 big Tractor Inner Tubes and they towed it to the island behind a boat. That Apache was so light we musseled it onto tent platforms and into tent sites that looked impossible to get a trailer into.
They subsequently graduated to a Mobile Traveler Motor Home, then to a Pace Arrow Class A and became the Happy Hobos. Foot loose and on the road fulltime for 14 years.
My dad had been camping since he was an infant with his parents every summer at the Connecticut shore. We camped and I do mean CAMPED as a family from the time my parents were married through both my sister and my births. Both my sisters and my children still camp in tents, pop-ups and 5th Wheels.
My wife and I are practicing to be fully retired. This year we have spent 5 days in Mystic CT for our season shake down trip. Next is a week in the Finger Lakes region of NY, then two weeks in the Gaspe region of Canada. Then back to Salem MA, Winter Island for a week at the end of August. Then we’ll catch as catch can a week on Cap Cod MA for the fall.
GaryM
Good Story. It is pretty nice to see how those simple memories give us the most pleasure. Although you probably really like the 5th wheel you have now, I bet you won’t have a story like that about it.
Happy camping…