Took our Scamp to the scales today

[paulw]

1740# on the axle when I pulled in.... 1960# when I dropped the tongue jack and took the weight off the hitch.

Thats about what I expected for an empty 16 footer, but it was the last time I hitch it up to the Outback. Clothes, bedding, food and assorted camping tools will put us ~2300-2400# I'm guessing. Too close to the 2700# rating on the OB.

I kinda figured this was going to be the case & my older Subie needs replacing anyway...Now to find a rig in time for Bullard's Beach

[peterh]

Clothes, bedding, food and assorted camping tools will put us ~2300-2400# I'm guessing. Too close to the 2700# rating on the OB.

Why? If you're figuring 2400 lbs loaded for bear you're still 300 lbs short of your car's tow rating. That's a 10% margin in excess of the safety margin the Subaru engineers in their calculations before coming up with their published tow rating for the Outback.

--Peter

[paulw]

Hi Peter
The Outback I'm going to replace has nearly 300,000 miles on it. I don't think the newer one will make it that long if I were to tow with it.
I was going to go with it if I could get the Scamp on the road ~2000#, but now I know that won't happen (Norma was talking about a light weight sewing machine today ).
I'm glad the Highway Dept. leaves that old scale turned on....

[Sharon Herman]

(Norma was talking about a light weight sewing machine today ).

HA HA HA HA......Norma sounds like my kind of folk!!

[Mikeny]

Paul / Norma
Did you use the Outback in the past to tow the Scamp 16 ? If so how was it ? (Handling, braking, power on the hills) I currently have an Outback that I use to tow a Scamp 13 and have been wondering if I could move up to a 16 and still use the Outback ?

Regards, Mike

[paulw]

Paul / Norma
Did you use the Outback in the past to tow the Scamp 16 ? If so how was it ? (Handling, braking, power on the hills) I currently have an Outback that I use to tow a Scamp 13 and have been wondering if I could move up to a 16 and still use the Outback ?

Regards, Mike

Hi Mike,
I've used the Outback to tow our 5'x10' teardrop on several long trips. The tear weighs ~ 1300# loaded for a trip and is equiped with electric brakes. I don't think you could ask for a better TV for a rig like that.

I've only towed our Scamp from the previous owner house to our storge and then yesterday, from storage to the scales, to my house for a bath and back to storage.
Handling was good - we got up to 55 mph on one stretch wit no sway or control issues (or trucks blowing us around).
The braking just what I expected...the Scamp brakes had been recently serviced and worked well with the controler we already had.
I live in a pretty hilly neighborhood and didn't have any problems, but some of the mountain and coastal roads I like to travel might be an issue.

Just remember the weights in the original post were for an empty 16 with side bath with toilet only (no shower, hot water heater or grey tank) and no AC. The fresh task was about 1/3 full.
Have you weighed your 13? The difference might not be that much.
If what you're doing works for you, knowing the weights can help you decide. I will have to replace an older car soon and I going to look for a little more robust vehicle.

[Lee Trenholm]

I took my 13 ft trillium to the scales and dropped the hitch, it was 320 kgs or 705 lbs for you folks across the border

[paulw]

Nice...
Thats lighter than my teardrop

[Pete Dumbleton]

Wow! That's from back in the old days when the 950 lbs on the frame tag spoke the truth!

[Alf S.]

Hi: Paul... How much does a needle and thread weigh???
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Daniel V.]

I took my 13 ft trillium to the scales and dropped the hitch, it was 320 kgs or 705 lbs for you folks across the border

First impression: unless your Trillium is completely gutted or filled with Helium, I'd say... get a second opinion. Something like 620 kg would make more sense!

[Carol H]

Mike I tow a 16; Scamp - Side bathroom with 07 Outback with a 3000lb towing limit.
No problem with towing and braking - in fact the car handles it well and you hardly notice the trailer. Have even towed it during a snow storm. You only really notice the trailer if you push it on the highways. The only issue can be lack of big power on big long hills. I just take it easy and we always get there. We live in the North West and live on the side of a mountain so the hills are hard to avoid. Every so often I think it would be nice to have more power but then I start to think about the price of gas. You do need to watch your tongue weight though as the 16' with a battery and propane tank is getting pretty close to the limit for the Outback.

Carol

Paul / Norma
Did you use the Outback in the past to tow the Scamp 16 ? If so how was it ? (Handling, braking, power on the hills) I currently have an Outback that I use to tow a Scamp 13 and have been wondering if I could move up to a 16 and still use the Outback ?

Regards, Mike

[paulw]

Mike I tow a 16; Scamp - Side bathroom with 07 Outback with a 3000lb towing limit.
No problem with towing and braking - in fact the car handles it well and you hardly notice the trailer. Have even towed it during a snow storm. You only really notice the trailer if you push it on the highways. The only issue can be lack of big power on big long hills. I just take it easy and we always get there. We live in the North West and live on the side of a mountain so the hills are hard to avoid. Every so often I think it would be nice to have more power but then I start to think about the price of gas. You do need to watch your tongue weight though as the 16' with a battery and propane tank is getting pretty close to the limit for the Outback.

Carol

Now you've got me thinking again Carol
It would be nice to use the Outback since we're both still working and only get to use our trailer 2-3 weeks a year...and the thought of looking at trucks gives me a headache.
I'd have to upgrade the hitch...the dealer installed receiver is only good for 200#tongue/ 2000# total.

[Carol H]

Now you've got me thinking again Carol
It would be nice to use the Outback since we're both still working and only get to use our trailer 2-3 weeks a year...and the thought of looking at trucks gives me a headache.
I'd have to upgrade the hitch...the dealer installed receiver is only good for 200#tongue/ 2000# total.

Just check that the 05 had the same towing cap of 3000lbs and what the tonque restriction was.
I had two Outbacks before this one and I seem to think they had a lower towing cap - but then again I never towed with them. Also never tow with water - other than a very *short* distance if needed for sites without water. I also pack the trailer light - formerly did a lot of back packing and kayaking so I find the trailer to be luxury enough. If I have to bring along a lot of extra heavy stuff I put it into the back seat of the car. The dog gets the back area.

Carol

[Pete Dumbleton]

A new hitch might cost less than a new truck...

[Lee Trenholm]

my humble appologies. I have a freind in the government scales,and he told me they had a load cell that was screwed up so the scale wasn,t reading accurate. and they changed it yesterday. so I took my trailer back down today and it weighs 550 kgs or 1212 lbs not 320 kgs like i said.

[Mikeny]

Mike I tow a 16; Scamp - Side bathroom with 07 Outback with a 3000lb towing limit.
No problem with towing and braking - in fact the car handles it well and you hardly notice the trailer. Have even towed it during a snow storm. You only really notice the trailer if you push it on the highways. The only issue can be lack of big power on big long hills. I just take it easy and we always get there. We live in the North West and live on the side of a mountain so the hills are hard to avoid. Every so often I think it would be nice to have more power but then I start to think about the price of gas. You do need to watch your tongue weight though as the 16' with a battery and propane tank is getting pretty close to the limit for the Outback.

Carol

Carol
Thanks for the info. For now I am happy with the 13 footer but I keep thinking about going up to a 16 and may want to do that in the future. Knowing that I would not have to change tow vehicles would make it a much easier decision.

Mike