need more floor space in Scamp 13'

[DogHaus]

Hi, I'm finding that I need more floor space in my camper now that I have a second dog. I know a lot of people have moved away from fiberglass for this reason, opting for something with a slide, but I'm wondering if there is another option? I currently have a Scamp 13 with front bathroom. One dog sleeps and hangs out under the bunk. That is terrific. Now where does the second dog hang out that is not underfoot all the time? That is the problem. I'm thinking of doing something with the bathroom door so that I can set up a dog bed in there, or maybe opening up the bottom part of the front storage compartment next to the door. Although that space doesn't really look big enough at floor height because of the curve of the Scamp body. No need to tell me not to travel with dogs etc., I've seen that thread, the only reason I have the camper is for agility trials. If I can figure something out I can keep my 13' and my Honda Element TV, and life stays simple. The dogs are medium/large sized, 35# and 45# Australian Shepherds.
Any thoughts out there?

[Thomas G.]

Chihuahuas are not such bad dogs, really, once you train them.

[deryk]

I guess you need to look at your needs and desires. Are you planning on getting more dogs? If the answer is yes then you will be looking for a bigger trailer and tow vehicle.

There are scamp 16's, Casita 16 and 17's out there pretty abundantly. Im not 100% sure on the under bed layout but the lil snoozy has under bed storage, might be able to have it converted and partitioned into a doggie den... this way they are not underfoot when sleeping. Escape makes a 21' trailer, if you order one Im sure they can modify the height of a settee and turn it into a doggie den. Another thought, but probably would need a larger tow vehicle is purchasing an enclosed utility trailer and build it to your specifications to hold you and your dogs.

Like everything else in life, its all about how much you can afford to spend to get whet you think you need/want.

[Nate R]

Tough question in your situation......I don't have an answer for you.

In our 13' older Casita, we have the bunk beds. Found a soft sided collapsable crate that JUST fits between the seat cushion and the kitchen. Our 42 lb Aussie sleeps in that, and our 65 lb mutt (Looks very similar to a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever) lays on the floor. But if you have the bathroom, there's no sofa to put a dog and/or crate on.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Get a trailer without the bathroom.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Doghaus

I currently have a Scamp 13 with front bathroom. One dog sleeps and hangs out under the bunk. That is terrific. Now where does the second dog hang out that is not underfoot all the time?

On your bed! Just like at home

[Hazel in Sk]

Have you thought of letting one or both dogs sleep on the front couch/bunk? They could have their regular kennels even.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Hazel in Sk

Have you thought of letting one or both dogs sleep on the front couch/bunk? They could have their regular kennels even.

13' with bath doesn't have a front couch/bunk. That area is a taken up with a wall, door and potty/shower.

[Donna D.]

I no longer have a dog, but when I did... I tried to make him a whole lot more comfortable than what he needed. Dogs are pretty accomodating. You've got one under the bed, put a doggy bed next to the door and I'm betting that other pouch will find it plenty comfortable once he knows that's his personal space. Yeah, ya gotta move that bed to get out the door in the morning. But better than kicking a dog out of the bathroom because you need to use it in the middle of the night.

[Lynn Musgrave]

Chihuahuas are not such bad dogs, really, once you train them. ( we have chihuahuas ) and they do run agility ( not our girls,they are like us"older" & on the retired side of lazy)

Depending on how much storage you need .....you could take out shelves or lower cabinets and convert them to crate space. Our dogs hang out in their crate inside or outside all the time. I know that Australian Shepherds are just a tad bit bigger than my "fur kids"....but being show dogs I feel sure they are use to being in a crate and IF their stuff is there then they would be happy there while you are busy moving around then out with you when you set down to relax.That is how we handle ours as well as DD's agility dogs when they go with us.

Hope this idea is some help to you ...others here have dogs too so I feel sure they will chime in with some suggestions soon.

Happy Camping.....

P.S> if you or anyone would like to see DD & her husband( James) on youtube running & or training their dogs then look here http://video.search.yahoo.com/search...ube+by+quossum. On Line she goes by Quossum so she is easy to find

[beardrum]

We have the same trailer, so out of curiosity, I went out and measured the space between the seats under the table. It's 29", just a bit too narrow to just put in a vertical divider, which was my first thought. What if the floor under the table just extended out onto the main floor a foot or so? You might make it permanent (see the thread about "stealth storage") or removable. I bet the two shepherds could share the under-the-table space if it were just a bit bigger. And, something that I wish for as I climb over my wife to get out of bed, is a bit of a step near the bed.

I hope you don't decide to cut into the walls or cabinets. You'll want to sell your Scamp one day, and a mod like that probably won't help.

Love watching agility trials - good luck!

c

[DogHaus]

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies! I do think the front bunk suggestions would have worked, but as someone pointed out, I don't have one. I did try having them both get under the bed, but my male seems to be just too large and tall to fit under there comfortably. I will probably do like Donna suggests for our first weekend all together in the Scamp and see how that goes. Maybe they will think of something else Thank you for the suggestion NOT to take out a cabinet in case I want to sell it someday. I hadn't thought about that but it's a good point.
Cheers!

[DogHaus]

...oh and YES! Chihuahuas are awesome dogs, and can definitely do agility! I should have thought of that before falling in love with the Aussies.

[Sharon D]

I hope you will report back on what you ended up doing. I am pondering buying a 13 foot, and would normally travel with one bearded collie, but might travel with both and have been wondering the same thing. When they were young they slept on the bed, but now that they are older they like their own space.

[Gilda]

I think I saw a thread here, somewhere, where someone built a 1/2 shelf above their bed (over their feet, not their head) to accommodate a toddler. Perhaps that could be a solution for your second dog.

[Gilda]

Here's the link which I found by doing a Google search on the forum "Toddler bed". http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...amp-55214.html

[Gilda]

I was just thinking...instead of installing rails you could make the shelf a table with pipe and flange legs that screw on/off. You'd need to tuck the cushions around the legs, but it could work.

[Sharon D]

Alright Doghaus - your name came up recently among aussie agility people - what happened when you took your two dogs to the trial? Did the trailer work out for you?

[DogHaus]

Hey! We survived it, my older, smaller dog slept under the bunk as usual, and the new larger dog came up with his own idea, to sleep right up against the raised floor of the dinette. I had to step over him to get in and out of bed, which was a pain but not awful, and when I had to do something that required me to use that space such as cook or do dishes, I put him in an expen in front of the camper or put him in the car. If the two dogs didn't get along so well I can imagine that the dog under the bunk could end up being blocked in, and not liking that. There was one growl when she must have stepped on him when she came out to get a drink. I am thinking of trying the mini bunk idea that someone else pointed me to, a short bunk that is raised up over the foot of my bed. I think that has possibilities.
My advice is to NOT get a 13' Scamp to travel with two Beardies though. One would be fine, two I think you may regret it. Plus, who can really stop at two dogs???
Talking with other RV'ers at the trial, it seemed like everyone had issues with dogs taking up too much floor space in their RV's. Even people with bigger Class C's with slides!
Good luck!

[bomni]

We have a 13ft. Boler with two huskies...no front bathroom though & bunk beds fully functional.

We have zero issues with the two of them on the front bunk. Have also had a foster husky (3 total including our 2) who slept on the floor, on a bed beside the portapotti. We had to watch where we stepped, but with just the two on the bunk we find it roomy enough and not at all cramped. We want a bigger trailer but the dogs aren't the main reason.

If you can make due with a portapotti at night perhaps a 13 without a bathroom would make the arrangement more comfortable?