Quote:
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 
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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.