Musing from a new Scamp owner

[floyd]

Originally Posted by BillE

I guess after reading all of this...I better just leave my 2016 - 13 Deluxe out by the curb for the Monday trash pick up.

So if anyone is looking for an almost new.."SURE TO LEAK" ..too expensive POS..(at least that's what a lot of people are inferring)...then stop by the house and pick it up before waste management gets it...

I am so sad that I don't have as much $$ as Dave...

I am so sad...I just picked it up in Backus on Jan 2nd....and now after reading all of this...oh my...I am surprised that it has even held together this long...oh Whoa is me

You hit the nail on the head dude!
Kinda begs the question...don't it?
Gratuitousness defined.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by BillE

I guess after reading all of this...I better just leave my 2016 - 13 Deluxe out by the curb for the Monday trash pick up.

So if anyone is looking for an almost new.."SURE TO LEAK" ..too expensive POS..(at least that's what a lot of people are inferring)...then stop by the house and pick it up before waste management gets it...

I am so sad that I don't have as much $$ as Dave...

I am so sad...I just picked it up in Backus on Jan 2nd....and now after reading all of this...oh my...I am surprised that it has even held together this long...oh Whoa is me

Wow
I sure hope this is an attempt at humor, because if you really came to that conclusion after reading this thread, and especially my posts, you missed the mark by light years.

Sure to leak? Who said that? I had four leaks in the first six months, that's a stone cold fact. One was clearly caused by shoddy work while the others could have differing causes.

By the way, the 13 Deluxe is quite a bit different from a 16 Standard, so it is not a good comparison. (And I would almost bet you store it under cover, out of the rain)

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by gordon2

Wow
I sure hope this is an attempt at humor, because if you really came to that conclusion after reading this thread, and especially my posts, you missed the mark by light years.
Sure to leak? Who said that? I had four leaks in the first six months, that's a stone cold fact. One was clearly caused by shoddy work while the others could have differing causes.
By the way, the 13 Deluxe is quite a bit different from a 16 Standard, so it is not a good comparison. (And I would almost bet you store it under cover, out of the rain)

I have to agree with you Gordon, your posts from the start has been nothing but comments of your experience and not a tissy fit against the brand. All things may have different problems from the start. I bought a brand new GM car that started falling apart 30 days after I brought it home. Long story but I won't have another Gm vehicle. Must have been a Friday build .

[CampyTime]

Yup. Reality is that it's human nature to roll your sleeves down a bit in Friday when it's 5 o'clock somewhere. Unfortunately the consumer you don't know or have any attachment to lives with your quest to bring on the weekend!

Sent from my VS985 4G using Fiberglass RV mobile app

[CPW]

Originally Posted by gordon2

Wow
I sure hope this is an attempt at humor, because if you really came to that conclusion after reading this thread, and especially my posts, you missed the mark by light years

Gordon, I wouldn't worry to much. What you are seeing is the typical reaction of some members of this forum who rally around Scamp the moment anything remotely negative is stated about their beloved trailer brand. They often do so with sarcasm because it is primarily a defensive weapon employed by those who find it difficult to use rationale rather than emotion to rebut any statement made by another person that is contrary to their own personal belief (doesn't have to be about Scamp; it could be a favorite beverage, TV show, college sports team, political candidate, religious leaning, etc.). It isn't enough for them to respond by saying "I'm sorry you've had those problems with your Scamp; I haven't had that kind of experience with mine." Instead they feel compelled react in a method that implies you are being untruthful or unfair even though you are simply relating facts pertaining to your particular (individual) experience. You see it in human interaction all the time. It is not unlike the parent who, when told of their offspring's transgression immediately comes to his defense, "My child wouldn't do that, he is a good boy." They simply cannot accept the fact that other people have differing opinions or attitudes, and seemingly make it their goal to convince them to change their mind (which isn't going to happen 99% + of the time) or to prove to everyone else that only their belief is valid. It is the adult version of "playground behavior."


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV

[redbarron55]

Originally Posted by BillE

I guess after reading all of this...I better just leave my 2016 - 13 Deluxe out by the curb for the Monday trash pick up.

So if anyone is looking for an almost new.."SURE TO LEAK" ..too expensive POS..(at least that's what a lot of people are inferring)...then stop by the house and pick it up before waste management gets it...

I am so sad that I don't have as much $$ as Dave...

I am so sad...I just picked it up in Backus on Jan 2nd....and now after reading all of this...oh my...I am surprised that it has even held together this long...oh Whoa is me

I understand the frustration over the leaks in the new Scamp and I also understand the difficulty in building it with NO leaks.
The type of construction would seem to be less prone to leak and it is...REALLY.
The devil is in the details in these things.
The fit of the interior bulkheads with the outside (or inside for that matter) is not and cannot be perfect. The pop rivets cannot pull these really tightly together and there is the insulation whether or not it is the Ensolite or the Reflectex and Rat Fur. This means that there is the very good chance that these junctions between the bulkheads and furnishings with the flexing of the trailer.
These relative movements will "work" the pop rivets and have a good chance to leak. If a rivet gets loose this is a pretty good indicator of that flexing.
The Deluxe models with "wood" bulkheads and cabinets actually provide a better backing and a tighter connection between the shell and the interernals.
When they pull up tight they also help provide a backstop (of wood unfortunately) against leaking.
If you have or want a Scamp then I think you have to be vigilant about leaks both through the many penetrations for the pop rivets, cables, water, and windows.
I put my Scamp together with SS screws into oak or pine internals with polyurethane glue for a sealant under countersunk washers and on the shank of the screws and still had one or two leaks.
Also the windows had some leaks that had to be redone.
Since I did these for myself and not (all) on Friday and and some leaks it can happen to anyone.
HOWEVER while old Scamps abound they (over 20 to 30 years) many have rotten floors. A small leak WILL rot out the floor! So it is vital to keep a check on leaks from any source.
I think a lot of these old trailers have been rode hard and put up wet and been disused and semi-abandoned for a long time.
Stickies fair (usually) much worse. The long seams tend to leak with use and sitting as well and the total area if available leaking space is much greater and you see few really old ones (other than Airstream) surviving.
The Scamp is more expensive to build and undoubtedly could stand a better acceptance testing procedure at the factory. If you want something like this with the advantages then you have a decision, because they are what they are. Compared to a 16' Airstream they are really cheap (look in the 16' Bambi and you can see why!)
I would not have had the parts to start with if I had chosen a 1985 sticky trailer. And it would be less aerodynamic. I can't speak for the lightness since I reinforced the frame relentlessly (probably overkill, but I couldn't help myself).
My advice is to fix the problems and then try to accept the limitations and get on with life. It's too short to worry about a few fixable items on a new trailer. If you can't get past it then there are probably folks here who would give fair money for a shook down Scamp ready to camp.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by redbarron55

...
The type of construction would seem to be less prone to leak and it is...REALLY.
The devil is in the details in these things.....

Well said, and good information in your post.

My goal was (and is) to provide information that will help primarily new customers come to the table with reasonable expectations and be prepared with the knowledge to deal with issues like those I have come across.

Although I would not be surprised to get a leak or two on a new trailer, I do think that four in six months is a bit much. Of course some people get more, some get less, some get none, so it all evens out.

But I am not blaming Scamp entirely. In fact, here is my assessment of the causes:

Leak #1: Obviously caused by incomplete caulking where a gap was clearly visible and should have been caught by the worker or in an inspection.

Leak #2: I never did determine the source so I cannot say but in the process of adding caulk to a number of possible problem locations I did see some work that I thought was not sufficient. In particular, the sealant where the wires for the upper (2ed set of) tail lights on the starboard side enter the body appeared from the outside to be insufficient. However if one could check it from the inside (under the rat fur and insulation) then perhaps it would be found to be sufficient.

Leak #3: This does appear to be caused by a rivet flexing over time and causing a leak after some time and miles. It was OK before and never would have showed a problem in an inspection. Chalk it up to normal maintenance.

Leak #4: Caused by bad caulk in the front window but it rather looks like something was wrong with the caulk and not so much with the application of it. It looked like it could have been contaminated by some chemical. Probably an anomaly and not something one would see very often in a new trailer.

As for the flexing of the trailer on the road and it’s effect on the rivets, it looks like that caused a perfectly good rivet to lose it’s acorn nut on the bath wall, and in these photos you can see that the bath wall has flexed enough to cause the caulking to separate. This would of course allow water to leak out during a shower. I’m not complaining about this however, it’s part of maintaining a rolling home. It’s a pretty easy fix and I don’t plan to use the shower anyway. I just thought it is good information for new buyers.

[Alf S.]

Hi: gordon2... You can take some solace in the fact that no one wants to arrest you over your "Leaks".
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[floyd]

Redefines ad nauseam as well, in a field of dead horses no less!

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Alf S.

.... You can take some solace in the fact that no one wants to arrest you over your "Leaks".

Hmmm... www.scampileaks.com IS available!

[Raz]

Gordon, it's standard practice to install windows, vents, and fans using butyl tape and then some will apply caulk to cover the butyl mostly to keep it clean. How are your windows , etc. installed? Raz

[Mr Lynn]

Originally Posted by BillE

I guess after reading all of this...I better just leave my 2016 - 13 Deluxe out by the curb for the Monday trash pick up.

So if anyone is looking for an almost new.."SURE TO LEAK" ..too expensive POS..(at least that's what a lot of people are inferring)...then stop by the house and pick it up before waste management gets it...

I am so sad that I don't have as much $$ as Dave...

I am so sad...I just picked it up in Backus on Jan 2nd....and now after reading all of this...oh my...I am surprised that it has even held together this long...oh Whoa is me

I'll be happy to pick it up! Where in Wisconsin? My wife's brother lives in Madison. First dibs!

/Mr Lynn

[Mr Lynn]

On a more practical note, have there been any past comparisons on this forum about the differences in construction and QC amongst the various molded-fiberglass trailer makers?

/Mr Lynn

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Mr Lynn

On a more practical note, have there been any past comparisons on this forum about the differences in construction and QC amongst the various molded-fiberglass trailer makers?

/Mr Lynn

Many!