In 1962, we purchased a 13 foot pull trailer that slept 6. At that time we had three children, two boys, 6 and 4 and a girl 1. The trailer had two cooking burners fueled by a propane tank. No toilet fixtures, no sink, no heater for warmth, no air conditioner, no electricity, only a table which lowered into a bed where our daughter slept. Bunk beds in the rear of the trailer slept four. My wife and I slept on the bottom and our two boys slept on the top. Night lighting was provided by either flashlight or lantern. Bathing was a problem. We carried a ten gallon copper bucket which we heated the water over a outside fire. We used the park water to fill the bucket for bathing. Kids went first and my wife and I sponge bath. We filled water jugs before leaving home for drinking water and making coffee. Our food was cooked over the outside fire. We tried to park near a park picnic table because not all could eat at the table in the trailer. We had a portable potty for which my wife and daughter used and the boys used the park toilets when, or, if any were available. In ’67, our third boy was born, which was not a problem, since our trailer slept six.
We lived in Illinois and during one vacation time we traveled to the Wisconsin Dells and the next year we traveled to Iowa to visit relatives. Always using the trailer for sleeping accommodations. Almost every weekend during the summer, we camped at the Kankakee River State Park. As our children grew and overnight camping became a problem, we sold our 13 foot trailer.
Missing the good times we enjoyed with our family, in 1999, my wife and I purchased a ’99 fifth wheel and since have elevated to a 2006 Bounder. Our camping days are not over yet and we still enjoy having the kids and grandkids, not all at once, go with us on weekend outings.
Submitted by Donald Brazier of Glendale, AZ as a part of the RV Centennial Celebration “Share Your Favorite RV Memory” contest.
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