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.
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