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Old 12-06-2013, 10:52 AM   #1
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Picking up a Scamp later this month, need help.

FGRV sages,

I am picking up a new Scamp 13 this month and it may be interesting as its 6 degrees today in Madison and no doubt cooler in Northern Minnesota. I hear they have 12 inches of snow already. (That's why the first trip will be to Tucson in February) I hope you can give me some advice on how to examine the trailer while at the Scamp factory. It will be inside their heated warehouse, maybe 60 degrees, so I expect to be able to poke around for a couple of hours before heading home. I am not opposed to trying a couple of nights of winter camping near the factory, but zero degrees might test my DW's adventurous spirit.

In looking over some pre-delivery checklists on the WWW I see things I can do and some I cannot. Certainly I won't put any water in it. I could put a couple of gallons of antifreeze in and check for leaks. Is that worth the trouble? I can check out the furnace, electrical, propane, etc.

Once home it will thaw out in the garage while I get at my long list of Mods.

I wonder if you folks with your vast experience and/or common sense can suggest items for my pre-delivery checklist. What did you discover on your new fgrv? It is long trip back to Backus for any warrantee work and while Northern Minnesota is stunningly beautiful I would prefer a non-Winter visit. On the other hand perhaps the mosquitos will be flying a bit slower in December.

Many thanks for your ideas,

John
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Old 12-06-2013, 11:54 AM   #2
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California
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Other than checking everything works before you leave make sure you check the lug nuts before you leave dont trust anyone that says they are tight. Drive 50 miles and check them again and then run another 100 miles and check them again. New wheels and lug nuts need to seat properly and new wheels need to be checked until they show no sign of needing retightening. Know what the torque should be and set a torque wrench with the proper setting and extension and socket and bring it with you. Takes 5 minutes to check the torque. I check my lug nuts before I leave on any trip. Bring a tire guage and check the air too. While there grab the wheel hub as soon as you stop the first time and see if its running hot. If its to hot to hold your bare hand on its running too hot and needs to be adjusted or repaired.

People are human beings and humans make mistakes. When you get home check tightness on everything and check for leaks. Anything left loose by the installers will probably show up right after your first trip. Better to catch it now rather than after something gets damaged. If you never towed a trailer before have the factory watch you hook up the trailer and check your work not you watch them do it and figure it out next time you have to hook up.
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Old 12-06-2013, 12:14 PM   #3
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Trailer: 2012 ParkLiner #006
New York
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I agree with Steve on the torque wrench check, but I always dial my non-digital clickers back to zero unless I'm checking something. If you have a clicker torque wrench it is NOT good to leave then on any setting any longer than normal.

If you have any flexible supply or drain hoses, just make sure nothing is kinked before you leave the factory!

Best of luck to you, and please, drive safe!

Pics are also required...

Frank
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Old 12-06-2013, 12:41 PM   #4
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Trailer: 2011 Scamp 13'
California
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Personally, I would not want to drive my trailer in ice and snow, but I live a lot further from Minnesota than you do (California). I suggest that you look up "first trip in Scamp" and "Scamp factory visit" in the Search tab above to see previous posts on your topic. (For best results scroll down to the Google Search.)

Steve gave you the most important safety advice. I'd check that your brake, signal and back-up lights work. We did not discover that our back up lights did not work until well into our first trip. As it turns out the people who installed our hitch system neglected to connect the rear light wire. We had them repair it as soon as we got back home.

Be sure to carry a good tool kit. You might want to bring a good padlock to lock the trailer hitch. You don't want to make it easy for anyone to take your new baby!

Check out this Arrival and Departure List by Bill Watts http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/d...checklist8.pdf which is posted in the Documents Section under the Resources tab on our very own FGRV website. Don't let the list intimidate you. After a few trips almost all of it will be automatic, yet it's still a good idea to run through the checklist much like an airplane pilot!

I am curious about the mods you have in mind as you are purchasing a spanking brand-new trailer. All of us have personalized our rig in one way or another.

Have a fun and safe trip!
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Old 12-06-2013, 03:04 PM   #5
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If they have an electric outlet and a water spigot there, hook up water & electric and test everything. Plug something into each outlet. Look under cabinets for leaks.

A while back, one person got to a CG a day's drive away from Backus only to get a flood inside when they hooked up. It seems that some plumbing was missing.
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Old 12-06-2013, 07:07 PM   #6
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You might want to check ahead of time if the folks at Scamp will let you check out your trailer inside their facilities for 2 hours. When we picked up our trailer in August they had it waiting for us indoors but there was only room for one or two trailers there. They had scheduled our pick-up for a precise time and I got the impression that they schedule pick-ups for all day. Their facilities are quite small. Perhaps there will not be much pressure for space in December, though.
We camped close to Backus on our return trip to check everything out. (There were no problems) I suggest you might want to stay at a nearby motel/hotel and check out your trailer before heading home.
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Old 12-06-2013, 07:40 PM   #7
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For your winter trip be sure to pick up some Reflectix from Menards. We just push it up behind the curtain rods, stays put. I did put some small pieces of velcro in a couple of spots on the bottom.

We just returned from Louisiana and that Reflectix was excellent. Our other must have was an electric cube heater. We stayed toasty when it got down to 30's. we may have blown a fuse as the battery did not charge on the way home.

There is no way I would want to check out a trailer in the winter. After checking turn signals, brake lights, lug nuts, tire pressure I would check out other stuff when I got to warm climate.

Have a safe trip. It is really cold right now. check the weather before coming this way, it is just too cold right now.

We were very fortunate to get back to Minnesota weather wise. The return reminded me why we really aren't eager to tow in winter.

Nancy
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Old 12-06-2013, 09:45 PM   #8
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Trailer: 2015 Scamp 13 Front Washroom, Van Camper
New Brunswick
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If you decide to try camping.. About two hours from Backus in Hinkley, MN the casino keeps one loop of serviced sites available year round. I wouldn't advise using the services except for electricity. The shower house is clean and the free shuttle runs to the casino and you can get a reasonable meal.
Reflextic in the windows and a cube heater you'll be fine. We usually spend the night there on our way South in February.
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Old 12-07-2013, 03:28 AM   #9
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Ditto on the tightening, checking, and tightening and checking and re-tightening the lug nuts. I just towed a boat up to Alaska after having installed a new axle with new hubs on the trailer, and could not believe how much I had to keep tightening the lug nuts. I was even re-using the old wheels (with new tires). Even after 1000 miles I'd still find a lug nut that would need a bit of a turn.

In British Columbia, mid-November, I saw an Escape 17 parked at the back of the motel where we were staying the night. That got me thinking...for a shake down cruise, one person could stay in the trailer checking out the heater operation, and one could be in the motel. It was too cold for any sort of water use by that time.
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Old 12-07-2013, 04:48 AM   #10
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John
I just finished cleaning up and painting the frame of a 2011 Scamp 16. The camper was delivered to Va. in Feb. and there was snow between Mn. and Va. The PO did not wash off the trailer or frame, since he was taken ill shortly after delivery . I painted the frame with POR-15 and replaced most of the external hardware due to corrosion caused by the road salt. Make sure you wash off the trailer (including the frame) as soon as possible. Also wipe down the inside of your water heater and frig. and exposed copper lines.
Eddie
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Old 12-07-2013, 06:53 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddie Longest View Post
John
I just finished cleaning up and painting the frame of a 2011 Scamp 16. The camper was delivered to Va. in Feb. and there was snow between Mn. and Va. The PO did not wash off the trailer or frame, since he was taken ill shortly after delivery . I painted the frame with POR-15 and replaced most of the external hardware due to corrosion caused by the road salt. Make sure you wash off the trailer (including the frame) as soon as possible. Also wipe down the inside of your water heater and frig. and exposed copper lines.
Eddie
Excellent advice. I would add: when you think you are done cleaning, do it again. Pull the wheels and drums and clean the brakes. Clean the window mechanisms, the door hardware, the stabilizers, etc. Once it's clean, a picture would be nice. Enjoy your new Scamp. Raz
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Old 12-07-2013, 08:24 AM   #12
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I would also agree with Steve. People do make unintentional mistakes. When I first picked up my trailer at the factory, I found I had to tighten the lug nuts a few times on the way home. The first night I had to disassemble one of the 12v lights and found that the + wire had come loose or had never been connected to the terminal. When braking, something didn't seem to be "quite right." I found the ground wire on the left side electric brake dangling; it had never been attached to the frame. At that time I wasn't carrying a drill with me and could not address the problem until I got home. But even though all the "original" bugs have been worked out, it is reasonable to expect additional bugs in the future. Actually, something new seems to crop up in every new trip, generally minor however.
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Old 12-07-2013, 08:49 AM   #13
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One piece of advice I haven't heard John:
Hook up that new Scamp at the factory and tow directly to Tucson.
Life is too short to shiver! Enjoy your new rig and travel safe.
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Old 12-07-2013, 10:15 AM   #14
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I'd check with Scamp to see if and how any warranty work can be done elsewhere when you are on the road.
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Old 12-09-2013, 09:01 PM   #15
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Just be safe. That's what we all want for you. If something doesn't feel right or sound right... pull over and stop! Don't fall into the thinking trap it will get better. It won't.

Safe travels, always
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