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Old 02-07-2007, 09:04 PM   #21
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Trailer: Escape
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New to forum -- but been lurking for a while. The retirement dollars in the old wallet are really starting to heat up -- so getting real close to making the plunge.

Wife & I know we want something small (between 16 - 20ft). We really like the idea of purchasing a Scamp custom for the maple woodwork (and the first mod I'll make - wood laminate floor). We sort of narrowed our choice down to a new 17' Scamp.

... then we got thinking about the "real definition" of retirement -- namely that time in life when I get the opportunity to spend every waking second/minute/hour following my wife around, constantly under foot and in her way, in her space .. so we start thinking about the Escape or Scamp 5ers -- her at one end, me at the other.

Would like some opinions from you folks on relative merits. We really want those Scamp maple cabinets, but we also like the layout of the Escape. For us, the primary consideration will be quality of construction, fit, and finish.

One more item -- we'll be towing with a 2007 Toyota Tacoma 4-Dr 4X4. Any problems with the 5er hitch mount and the composite nature of theTacoma's bed? Is this a situation that becomes a "bridge to far," and therfore we need to reconsider the 17' with me outside in a tent?

Thanks -- and know we'll get some profound answers from you friendly folks.
Hello Ed: Paddy and I are presently towing the #1 Escape 5.0. We are presently in Desert Hot Springs, Ca. and enjoying all the space of our new 5th wheel as compared to the 17' escape trailer we towed for two years.

We are presently towing with a Toyota Tundra (4.7 litre engine) but have towed very easily with the 1998 Tacoma V6 we previously owned. I would think both the Scamp 5th wheel and the Escape 5th wheel could be towed by any snall pickup with a V6 engine or larger.

Box length is a consideration but not really a problem if the box is short. On our Tundra the pin hitch is about 4" behind the axle. On your Tacoma yu would find the pin hitch to be back about 8". Over the axle is optimum. We presently do have some bounce when on "rolling" roads or concrete slab roads. Next week I will resolve that problem by having airbags installed. I do feel airbags should beconsidered by anybody who is driving a pickup with a constant laod in the box. Aside from the bounce (not severe), my headlights are too high and act as thoough they are constantly on high beam. As far as your composite box goes, it also should not be a concern as the 5th wheel pin receiver is mounted directly to the chassis of the truck. Toyota service dept. may give you a conclusive answer.

I could say lots about our enjoyment of the Escape 5th wheel but I do feel much has been said by others on this forum under the heading "Escape 5.0 has hatched".

I wouild like to brag about the twin Electric jacks that are standard on the Escape 5.0. It makes hitching and unhitching a dream, especially in bad weather.

Rather than say more about the Escape 5.0 I will simply offer to answer any questions yu may have an dI will include any photos you might want to see. Paddy and I are on the road until early May and are sending out regular e-mails on our travels to any one interested in how the 5.0 performs. If you would like to be on our mailing list please send your e-mail to me at <ianwaymark@mac.com>.

Good luck shopping and Happy trails
from Ian, Paddy, Gypsy and Rubea II (Escape 5.0)
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Old 02-07-2007, 10:04 PM   #22
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Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
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Ummm, maple??? I thought Scamp 19' Deluxe only came in Honey Oak or Birch
Pete, I have an oldy but goody 1988 Scamp Deluxe...and mine is Corinthian Eastern Maple. I don't think the maple is offered any more. Just the Oak and Birch..
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Old 02-08-2007, 12:00 AM   #23
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Trailer: 2005 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
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One more item -- we'll be towing with a 2007 Toyota Tacoma 4-Dr 4X4. Any problems with the 5er hitch mount and the composite nature of theTacoma's bed? Is this a situation that becomes a "bridge to far," and therfore we need to reconsider the 17' with me outside in a tent?
The couple we bought our Scamp 5er from had a recent-model Toyota Tacoma with the composite bed. Their RV body shop welded little "wings" on the hitch so it could bolt into body frame members. Problem solved.

We pull with a 3.0L Ford Ranger with no problems. A little slow up steeper hills (like dropping down to 50 or 55 mph), but otherwise it's almost like driving the truck with nothing behind us.

The one commet I'd make is the "queen" bed our 5er is shorter than even the traditional RV Queen bed. My wife and I are both 5'8", and it's just a wee bit cramped in there. Our solution will be to take the gaucho out and build a platform with drawers and other storage under it (Storage Space!) and rotate the bed 90 degrees, but I'm a handy guy who knows how to work with wood, metal, and fiberglass. One of the nice things about the Escape is it already has the bed spun around that way.

--Peter
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Old 02-11-2007, 12:40 AM   #24
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Trailer: 1988 19 ft Scamp
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Hi Ed,

I'll throw in my two cents:

We tow our 5er with a 2WS Tacoma with a manual transmission. We had a fabrication shop make brackets and weld them to the frame under the bed and had the nuts tacked to the brackets. This way we can easily put the hitch in and out of the bed and only have the small bolt holes on the floor of the bed when the hitch is out.

Ian hit on an important item, the air bags. I installed some on the truck and air them up when we tow. It really makes the whole setup very stable and eliminates any bounce (we don't get blown around by semi's or other vehicles). I really didn't like the softness of the ride without the air bags.

You may want to pay attention to the height of the sides of your truck bed when you order a trailer as you may want to have the factory raise the trailer axle to make sure that you don't hit the sides of your bed (especially when going into driveways, gas stations, and some camp sites). Also, I installed a new axle on our trailer that raised it up enough for me to put 14" wheels on it. The larger wheels run much cooler and are less prone to blow outs. This gave additional clearance between the trailer and the bed walls, which I was incredibly thankful for in one instance where we were off the beaten path and I used every bit of that clearance getting out of a tight spot.

I'm sure you will enjoy whichever trailer you select.

-Isaac
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