Trailer question not Fiberglass

[vintageracer]

Looking at a 1 owner 1967 Apache Eagle to purchase.

Kinda neat, very light (400#'s) and vintage popup to boot to pull behind our VW Westfalia Van.

Anyone have any input to add (Good or Bad) about this little piece of camping nostalgia???

[Darwin Maring]

Make sure the canvas has no rot, frame is not rusted out, tires serviciable and the price is right.

[Raz]

Is that the one the folks had at Woodstock?

[mary and bob]

If you like it and the price is right, that's all the info needed. We had an Apache pop-up years ago, sold it to upgrade to a larger pop-up, a '73 Starcraft. That was 1978, put new canvas on the Starcraft about 12 years ago, and just gave that camper to our son. You may be able to get new canvas from a company called Canvas Replacements, that's where we got it for the Starcraft.

[james kent]

Check the weight. Our Starcraft pop up, back in the seventies, was very close to 2000 pounds before loading. After a trip to the east coast towing with a 73 Grand Torino, our springs and shocks were shot and had to add air bags.


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[vintageracer]

Trust me the "Eagle" is very light!

[Glenn Baglo]

Why just buy a utility trailer and a tent?

[Raspy]

My parents bought an Apache in about 1963. We used that trailer for many years. My father continued to go to Death Valley with it every year until he was about 75. He loved how it was so narrow and light. Ours opened up to one side and landed on the ground.
We never had any problems with it except for the tires which were a bit too small. Yours look bigger than ours were. Get the best tires you can find for it. The structure and the tent lasted the whole time and it went a lot of miles. Those huge screened sections of the tent are really nice for ventilation and the view.

It's lighter than other models because it is more spartan and it's narrower. We Had various cars over the years, but towed it sometimes with our VW bug.

[Raspy]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

Why just buy a utility trailer and a tent?

Well, for one thing, it's not the same thing as a utility trailer and tent. And there it is, all ready to go.

[Glenn Baglo]

Had a tent trailer for a very long time. Nothing like packing it up in the pouring rain, dragging it home and then waiting for the sun to appear so you could dry it out. At least with a utility trailer you have the option of hauling manure for the garden.

[David B.]

We borrowed an earlier Apache tent trailer than the one you are looking at, for a couple years, and loved it. It even had an "Add-A-Room" with a floor, that zippered on. We pulled it with 1979 Diesel VW Rabbit. I believe they were made in Michigan, and for years one could purchase new canvas for it.
Dave & Paula

[Carl Pa]

My 1st trailer experience back in 71. borrowed my FI starcraft and headed up to Sturbridge Mass. Pulled with my 2 year old 69 Cutlass. Went to U-haul and they clamped a hitch on the bumper and off i went. 2 hours on the road and we were over heating, that new car was never the same. Had to rebuild engine, after that trany went. Unloaded it in 74 and got a new malibu station wagon, we were in heaven the kids and two dogs fit perfect. Carl

[Jon in AZ]

Carl, I'm guessing your Starcraft was a lot heavier than an Apache Eagle! The Eagle is just a bare-bones tent-on-a-box. We had a '72 Skamper- a large, heavy double dinette model. Traveled all over, first in a '68 Dodge Coronet wagon and then a '76 Olds Cutlass wagon. The Cutlass was a nice ride! It was our first with 3 rows and our first with AC.

I like your plan, Mike. As Glenn says, there are easier ways to get extra sleeping space, but the Apache sounds fun, vintage, and attention-getting! You're preserving a piece of history.

[rgrugg]

We have had two Eagles. Towed the first with a 1964 VW bug, the 40 hp one. Did ok. We enjoyed both but now enjoying our Escape 19 much more.


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[Casita Greg]

Always fun watching people come in and set one of those things up when its just about dark, raining like hell, and a mad-as-a-wet-hen wife and kids screaming "hurry up already" while the poor guy fumbles around for half an hour trying to rig it up. That's entertainment you can't buy...

[Raspy]

Originally Posted by Casita Greg

Always fun watching people come in and set one of those things up when its just about dark, raining like hell, and a mad-as-a-wet-hen wife and kids screaming "hurry up already" while the poor guy fumbles around for half an hour trying to rig it up. That's entertainment you can't buy...

Yep. That can really take the fun out of the trip if you're the ones setting it up. My last tent experience was with a truck bed tent. I practiced setting it up at home before we went, but the night we arrived it was dark and blowing hard. It was nearly destroyed by the time I get it up and definitely not savable by morning. Total loss. Meanwhile, there was lots of yelling about hold this, pull that, put that in there, etc. It served to reinforce how nice trailers are.

[vintageracer]

Originally Posted by Casita Greg

Always fun watching people come in and set one of those things up when its just about dark, raining like hell, and a mad-as-a-wet-hen wife and kids screaming "hurry up already" while the poor guy fumbles around for half an hour trying to rig it up. That's entertainment you can't buy...

Are we having FUN yet???

[oldblacksmoker]

Originally Posted by vintageracer

Are we having FUN yet???

The best camping trips are when the weather is perfect. The best memories are when the weather is horrible.

[David B.]

Originally Posted by vintageracer

Are we having FUN yet???

I also remember telling the kids (5 & 7 yrs old) "DO NOT TOUCH THE CANVAS WHILE IT IS RAINING " ......so what do you think they just ad to do? LEAKS EVERYWHERE THEY TOUCHED. When asked why did you do that, they would say "I don't know"
Dave & Paula. Ah memories

[Mike_L]

Nice light unit for hauling. We used one in the back country years ago. The wind came up and it tipped over, LOL. After that we kept it hitched to the vehicle, just in case.