Once upon a time, there was a king who enjoyed camping wherever he went. Each journey to one of his kingdoms was an opportunity for him to pitch a tent to rest at nightfall. When the weather turned inclement, he would head to his lands further south and enjoy the mild night air.

One day, one of his farriers invented a tent that covered a carriage, which had previously been used to transport luggage and food to his faraway destinations. He invited the camping king to stay in it, allowing him to travel in the elements without being affected by the elements.

The camping king liked the idea and ordered that such carriages be built for all the members of his retinue. Journeys to regions far from his castle became increasingly enjoyable. He could stop at any time to enjoy a good meal, and no matter whether the sky was gray or blue, they could eat in comfort.

The camping king and his entourage, visiting various villages and towns along their journey, aroused great admiration. Several notables from these localities then decided to create dedicated sites for these visitors from the distant royal castle. Thus, not far from the villages, there would now be sites where the king and his court could set up camp.

Then, several decades later, the king died and his children inherited all his possessions. A new king was crowned, and like his father, he loved to travel. All members of the royal family hunted and traveled thousands of kilometers each year to discover new places on their lands and meet the villagers.

Then, the carriages their father used had become obsolete, so the new king ordered the construction of larger and more comfortable vehicles. And so, over the centuries, the royal family gradually stopped traveling its increasingly fragmented territories. The advent of gasoline-powered cars, and then airplanes, completely changed the way the wealthiest members of high society traveled.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the world, an ingenious inventor dreamed up a small house mounted on wheels, its wooden frame covered not with canvas, but with metal. Attached to a gasoline-powered car, the small caravan accompanied its creator almost everywhere on the road. Inspired by airplanes, this new vehicle could be used to shelter its occupants at night or in bad weather. Later, it was equipped with a stove, a heater, a bathroom, and everything needed for family travel while enjoying the comforts of home on the road.

A new caravan king was born. And while tents continued to grow in popularity, caravans also became more numerous on the roads. However, they were not affordable for everyone, as their price was very high. A compromise had to be found that would allow the growing number of car owners to tow a caravan that was accessible to all. Thus, by combining a tent and a caravan, the result was the tent-caravan, a hybrid that became one of the greatest successes of the early leisure era. This invention allowed the deployment of a veritable canvas shelter, whose rigid base could hold various equipment, including a stove. For decades, and to this day, the tent-caravan has remained the most accessible caravan in terms of price and versatility.

But the caravan king didn't stop there. By combining the gasoline-powered van with the caravan, life on the road was made even more enjoyable. Thus was born the motorhome, a sort of coach transformed from the inside out to offer the same advantages as the caravan. The caravan king was thus granted his credentials, and nothing could stop him. From north to south, from east to west, the owners of these enormous vehicles could stay anywhere and enjoy sites specially designed to accommodate them with all the necessary amenities. This was true in America, Europe, and even Oceania.

Whether metal, motorized, or hybrid, caravans traveled the roads and offered families the opportunity to fully enjoy their leisure time.

And the rest is history...
The number of recreational vehicles multiplied, and in recent years, motorhomes (as they are now called) have become the symbol of the camper king. A true revolution. They are everywhere, summer and winter. They are so numerous, and their owners so eager for discovery and travel, that space to accommodate them has become scarce.

In Europe, especially, cities and villages began to regulate their presence and, little by little, some municipalities decided to ban them from their residence. 

What will become of the king camper?
In Quebec, the situation has not yet reached the crisis level that has been experienced for several years on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Dedicated areas, called RV Stops, are set up for the parking of motorhomes and autonomous vehicles. They offer few or no services and can be public or private, free or paid. In addition, some commercial parking lots are also made available to RV travelers for overnight stays in their vehicles. However, more and more voices of discontent are being raised, and the king camper is beginning to lose credibility with citizens and campground managers.
Moral of the legend
Thus ended—or perhaps still continues—the story of the king camper. From the simple tent pitched under the stars to the rolling palaces traveling the roads, men have never ceased to seek comfort in their travels. But in wanting to carry their homes with them, some have forgotten the very spirit of camping: simplicity, sharing, and respect for the places they travel.