Maintenance & Restoration

Cyndi B. · 09-11-2011, 02:01 PM

We never had a problem with our 13' (2007) and she went many places behind the Tundra.

Nancy Merigold · 09-11-2011, 03:03 PM

Thanks everyone for the responses. I am talking new, sorry I should have specified that. No bathroom, no grey water tank. We have an angled driveway and have owned a longer travel trailer and when the TV and the axle of the trailer are in the street the back bottomed out on the driveway. Our driveway is angled like Kevin's driveway he has pictured. So maybe this is a non issue for the smaller Scamp

As for the furnace, we like to camp at state parks and here in MN at least, to get a spot with electricity we have to reserve a spot in advance, for some parks, a year in advance. We would like to camp in a non electric spot which we never need a reservation as there are always spots available. So am wondering how well Scamps retain heat.

Cheryl C · 09-11-2011, 04:17 PM

I live in the Twin Cities too and a lot of my camping is in the arrowhead. I've been very grateful for the furnace on those cold spring and fall nights. I could do without one if I had to, but I wouldn't want to. It's a great option to have.

Greg H · 09-11-2011, 05:54 PM

I like them low.

Kevin K · 09-11-2011, 08:08 PM

My axle is a trailing arm with a 22 1/2 degree down angle.
You could also use a 10 degree down angle.

Joy A · 09-12-2011, 01:08 AM

I have a factory installed receiver on the back of my 13 footer which has a bike rack attached. The bike rack sticks out a good foot, maybe more, beyond the bumper and the bottom of it is about 3 inches below the bumper.

There are certain driveways that I enter and exit very slowly because the end of the bike rack will bottom out.

As for the gray water tank, it's tucked up behind the axle and doesn't hang down any further than the body of the Scamp. Won't drag at all.

I have a 2001 13 footer with a 2200# axle and probably the heaviest 13 footer around. So far the axle hasn't sagged and I don't take the weight off the trailer at all when stored. It has always sat on it's two little tires and the front jack without the stablizers deployed, unless I'm camping.

floyd · 09-12-2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joy A

I have a factory installed receiver on the back of my 13 footer which has a bike rack attached. The bike rack sticks out a good foot, maybe more, beyond the bumper and the bottom of it is about 3 inches below the bumper.

There are certain driveways that I enter and exit very slowly because the end of the bike rack will bottom out.

As for the gray water tank, it's tucked up behind the axle and doesn't hang down any further than the body of the Scamp. Won't drag at all.

I have a 2001 13 footer with a 2200# axle and probably the heaviest 13 footer around. So far the axle hasn't sagged and I don't take the weight off the trailer at all when stored. It has always sat on it's two little tires and the front jack without the stablizers deployed, unless I'm camping.

The graywater tank drain outlet is by necessity below the body line.
the issue with it only occurs when backing over a curb from street side or driving forward off the curb. Where we live the driveways are mandated to be the same structure as the curbs. I have never experienced any impact, but caution is warranted when making these manuevers.

Bill K Jr · 09-12-2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy Merigold

Thanks everyone for the responses. I am talking new, sorry I should have specified that. No bathroom, no grey water tank. We have an angled driveway and have owned a longer travel trailer and when the TV and the axle of the trailer are in the street the back bottomed out on the driveway. Our driveway is angled like Kevin's driveway he has pictured. So maybe this is a non issue for the smaller Scamp

As for the furnace, we like to camp at state parks and here in MN at least, to get a spot with electricity we have to reserve a spot in advance, for some parks, a year in advance. We would like to camp in a non electric spot which we never need a reservation as there are always spots available. So am wondering how well Scamps retain heat.

Nancy,

I found this thread informative about heating

Small quiet elec space heater?

Bill

Joy A · 09-13-2011, 12:04 AM

Floyd,
That's true the drain outlet is below the body. I've never had it drag.

You do have to watch backing into some campsites with cement bumpers, as some of them are high enough that the outlet will hit it if you try to back far enough so the tire hits the bumper.

I generally don't care to have the trailer that far back in a site.

Joy A · 09-13-2011, 12:17 AM

Nancy, you said no bathroom, no gray water tank. I ordered my Scamp without a bathroom but did get the gray water tank. I like having it, other wise you have to collect the gray water in a container outside the trailer. That's how the trailer is made. One can modify the drain and put a collection bucket under the sink.

I often stay a minimum of 4 nights at each stay when on a trip. With the gray water tank I can either connect to the sewer drain in a full hookup site and dump directly from my gray water tank. Or, I can collect the gray water in my tank for the entire stay and dump on the way out of the campground if I'm in a dry or partial hookup site. At most dump area's, and the way they are made, I can drive the Scamp close enough to the sewer drain that I don't even have to use the big drain hose. I just pull the gate and the gray goes directly into the collection area and down their drain.

I find the gray water tank a great convenience as compared to dealing with a bucket of gray water possibly daily.

Also, the are campgrounds that don't allow collection outside of the vehicle.

Rick G · 09-13-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgrugg

Running stove burners for heat is a VERY BAD idea and dangerous. Two alternatives to a furnace are an electric cube type heater and/or a catalytic heater. Our Egg Camper is all electric and has a built in 1000 watt electric heater. In addition to that, we carry a 1500w cube heater and a portable catalytic heater. The cube and the cat together will cost way less than a furnace if that's a concern for you.

Agree, very bad to get heat from the propane stove. We almost always run our furnace at night, which is an old gravity type with a thermostat. It remains nice and warm all night long and does not use any room air. The furnace gives freedom from having to adjust your camping to less than perfect conditions, or from having to seek out electricity to camp in spring and fall. We rarely use our in-trailer gas stove, preferring to use outdoor gas grills or a campfire, but we almost always use the furnace, even in summer in the mountains. I would highly recommend it.

Rick G.

Hambone · 09-13-2011, 03:49 PM

Minnesota = furnace............without electric hookup, spent quite a few memorial weekends camping, either freezing ala tent, or snug using heater (propane or electric ) in various campers.....just extends the camping season

Carol H · 09-14-2011, 10:39 AM

[QUOTE=
As for the furnace, we like to camp at state parks and here in MN at least, to get a spot with electricity we have to reserve a spot in advance, for some parks, a year in advance. We would like to camp in a non electric spot which we never need a reservation as there are always spots available. So am wondering how well Scamps retain heat.[/QUOTE]

Nancy I have a furnace in my 16' and camp without power a lot - in the early spring and late fall it is a must have if you want to dry things out in wet weather. The Scamp will retain the heat well and it only needs to be on for a very short time to warm the trailer up. It can be loud if it kicks in during the night so I tend to use it to warm up the trailer just before bed and before getting up in the morning rather than leaving it on all night.