Maintenance & Restoration

Mike Watters · 11-06-2007, 03:50 PM

In the meantime - I think this is your door lock mechanism:

At TJ Trailers

John Mc · 11-06-2007, 04:16 PM

I removed the inside part of the door latch. Placing the new latch mechanism in its place, it's obvious that the doorknob is drilled in the wrong place to allow the new latch to contact the striker properly. The old and new latches are just that different. And there's no evidence that the "official" Scamp latch was ever installed previously.

I'll post a few pics of the trailer in general- that should look more familiar!

Mike Watters · 11-07-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

I removed the inside part of the door latch. Placing the new latch mechanism in its place, it's obvious that the doorknob is drilled in the wrong place to allow the new latch to contact the striker properly. The old and new latches are just that different. And there's no evidence that the "official" Scamp latch was ever installed previously.

I'll post a few pics of the trailer in general- that should look more familiar!

It was pretty clear from your first few photos that the original-style latch could never have been installed. The tumbler is too far back from the edge of the door. It could have been hidden on the inside - but swapping original-style for what you have would have left a HUGE hole easily visible on the outside of the door.

Exterior is very very Scamp - down to the red stripe. The decals are a non-standard though.

How about some interior shots? This trailer is certainly interesting in it's variations from standard!!!

It seems to be pretty clearly a Scamp - but has several pretty serious deviations from their normal construction. Most likely to me is still that a previous owner was making 'tweaks' here and there. The latch difference would require essentially a complete swap of a new door. You CAN order such parts from Scamp and maybe they ship them undrilled... Similarly I suppose it's possible someone would remove all the ensolite and replace it with ratfur (or the title got the year wrong at some point).

Oh... also... The frame looks beefier than usual up at the tounge. Do others see that or is it just me?

mkw

Donna D. · 11-07-2007, 08:18 AM

I have those same red stripes and little tree decal on my 1988. Frame looks familiar too.... it's completely boxed from just behind the front of the trailer all the way to the tongue.

John Mc · 11-08-2007, 09:59 AM

Thanks to all who puzzled over this with me. I've checked the serial number and found no correlation with the VIN number scheme outlined in the decoder. My title just says "1985 SCM". I removed the big red "Scamp" from the sides for a neater look.

I've found a rubber hose bib that takes the place of my sink drain. The doorknob remains a mystery. I do like the round knob. It's more homey, and harder for a bear to open, I suppose. I'll tow her down to the local RV shops to see if anyone recognizes my door latch and knows how to make it lock properly.

Mike Watters · 11-08-2007, 11:20 AM

Freaky Door latch:
Did you click on the link I posted? I think it's an exact replacement for the one currently installed. Kinda pricy - but solves any problems.

VIN# vs Title:
You could probably call Scamp with that serial number and they could tell you a lot more about it. At this point - I wouldn't be remotely shocked if it's just not an '85 regardless of what the title says.

My weird little fiberglass cargo trailer is titled as an "UNK". I spent a year pondering over what an Unk was (related to Unik?!?) before I realized it was for: Unknown".

mkw

Roger H · 11-08-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

I removed the inside part of the door latch. Placing the new latch mechanism in its place, it's obvious that the doorknob is drilled in the wrong place to allow the new latch to contact the striker properly. The old and new latches are just that different. And there's no evidence that the "official" Scamp latch was ever installed previously.

I'll post a few pics of the trailer in general- that should look more familiar!

Well, John... your trailer certainly looks Scamp-y, doesn't it!

I really think it'd be a good idea to find the VIN on the tongue and call Scamp with it to see what they could tell you. I don't know when the first 16s came off the line, but you may have one of the first, or it may, in fact, be a "kit" trailer sold by Scamp for finishing by the owner.

Roger

Donna D. · 11-09-2007, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Well, John... your trailer certainly looks Scamp-y, doesn't it!

I really think it'd be a good idea to find the VIN on the tongue and call Scamp with it to see what they could tell you. I don't know when the first 16s came off the line, but you may have one of the first, or it may, in fact, be a "kit" trailer sold by Scamp for finishing by the owner.

Roger

Joy A. posted this at YahooScampers: YahooScampers Scamp History

Quote:

According to an interview with Duane Eveland, co-founder of Scamp-Eveland, in
SOI newsletter Fall 2001, they contracted with Boler American to build 1000
Bolers October 1, 1971. Before any trailers could be made Boler American went
bankrupt. Envoking a clause in their contract the Evelands started
Scamp-Eveland Inc. and produced the first 13 Scamp January 1972. They started
producing the 16 footers in 1978 and 5th wheels in 1981. The custom Deluxe all
wood interiors went into production 1986.

In the mid-80's 3 or 4 28 foot trailers were made but they didn't sell well and
were discontinued. In addition, between 1984-85 Scamp produced 10 motorhomes on
Ford Ranger chaises. They too didn't sell well and were discontinued.

John Mc · 11-09-2007, 09:46 AM

Thanks for the tip on that Decker lock. It looks identical, so I'll order one today.

As for my trailer's pedigree, I've confirmed the post-'82 Scamp VIN prefix (1S7) seems to be on what's left of my faint number plate. That means the beginning of the VIN number on my title is wrong, and also the stated 1985 model year. Scamp says the "L" in the number means it's a 1990. Hooray, my trailer just got five years newer!

The person I spoke to at the Minnesota mothership says that, "Two months after they leave here, they're becoming something else..."

Charlie C · 11-09-2007, 10:38 AM

Hi John, I noted that you did some kind of a fix for your sink drain. I don't know if it was temporary or permanent, but here is a link to a DRAIN KIT in the Coast Distributing catalogue. This is a similar design to what Trillium used for their sink drains.

Brian B-P · 11-09-2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

...Scamp says the "L" in the number means it's a 1990.

Yes, "L" means 1990 in the year field of a standard VIN, from any manufacturer. The standardized VIN is a great thing!

Quote:

The person I spoke to at the Minnesota mothership says that, "Two months after they leave here, they're becoming something else..."

A humour columnist once wrote that he drove a "Canadian Tire" car - it used to be a Chevrolet, but so many of the parts had been changed...

John Mc · 11-09-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Hi John, I noted that you did some kind of a fix for your sink drain. I don't know if it was temporary or permanent, but here is a link to a DRAIN KIT in the Coast Distributing catalogue. This is a similar design to what Trillium used for their sink drains.

Thanks, Charlie. The "flex drain" looks appealing. I'd have to figure out how to remove my original exterior drain valve and install this. It looks a lot wider, which ought to mean fewer clogs than the garden-hose-gauge drain I have. The real problem would be the length, though, if it coiled too much on the way to the nearby drain location, and lost positive drainage.

**Frederick L. Simson** · 11-09-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Freaky Door latch:
Did you click on the link I posted? I think it's an exact replacement for the one currently installed. Kinda pricy - but solves any problems.

The Mobile Home I used to own had a door knob like that, as did other stick-built trailers of the mid '60s I am aware of.

Joy A · 11-11-2007, 01:13 PM

You mentioned the sink being next to the closet opposite the stove. Scamp made 3 16 footer layouts like that. 2 had couches up front, 1 with a fold down table next to the stove by the couch and the other had a side bathroom/storage room. The 3rd layout had a front bath and a storage cabinet between the bath and stove.

Other than that....keep in mind that people often do a lot of mod's to their trailers adding rat fur would be somegthing I'd do if I had an old Scamp with elephant skin. Just 'cause it's not like other Scamps you've seen doesn't mean it's not a Scamp.