Scamp 13 Pros and cons of bathroom - Fiberglass RV
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Old 11-12-2014, 07:53 AM   #1
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Name: Annette & Wendy
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Scamp 13 Pros and cons of bathroom

We're planning to buy a Scamp 13 and have gone back and forth about whether to get it with or without a bathroom. We'd love to hear others' experience with the advantages and disadvantages of having a bathroom. If you don't have a bathroom, have you regretted it? If you do, what problems, if any, does it create? Is it worth giving up the bathroom for the extra space? Any and all thoughts are welcome. Thanks.
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Old 11-12-2014, 08:28 AM   #2
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Boy Annette, this topic sometimes turns into a hot button.

I just keep remembering, you can never miss what you've never had. Now that I've had two all molded towables, I'll never have a trailer of any size without one!

For me, it's not only a bit age related... those midnight get-ups. But, convenience (don't have to find a bush, setup a potty-tent or pull out a porta-potty). It's MY bathroom, I know how clean it is.

Dumping a flushable? NO problems. I'm a mother and grandmother and have changed plenty of diapers. At least with dumping the blackwater tank I get to wear gloves!

Best of luck with your decision
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Old 11-12-2014, 08:47 AM   #3
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Welcome Annette
Besides Donna's comments you also get a shower, HW heater and greywater tank.
Warm showers are nice and you don't have to drag around tote for your greywater . You are self containted and ready for just about anything. You loose your sofa but you do gain a lot of storage in the closet by the bath. If you do a bed mod like Floyd and add a small pedistal table you also end up with a nice small dinette. The only draw back is you have to make your bed up if you set up the dinette.
Others here really that don't like the bath option in the S-13. You really need to see a S-13 in both configurations and make a decision.
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Old 11-12-2014, 09:25 AM   #4
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Both my wife and I would not own a trailer without a toilet! We did once and immediately got rid of it and got one with!

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Old 11-12-2014, 09:37 AM   #5
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I would rather have a travel trailer without a kitchen than without a bathroom, yet I have never heard the subject breached.
You don't get extra space by eliminating the bathroom. you get additional sleeping or sitting room by sacrificing closet, storage,and essential facilities.A sacrifice necessary if you need bunks for kids.
Otherwise nearly half of the interior is already dedicated to sitting or sleeping.
It is common nowadays for motel rooms to have bathrooms,some even have kitchens, still some people still prefer a "bed and breakfast" with shared facilities down the hall and a restaurant downstairs.
This is a vote for a complete travel trailer,... without the bathroom/shower I would just sleep in the back of a minivan.
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Old 11-12-2014, 09:43 AM   #6
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Scamp 13 Pros and cons of bathroom

I'm thinking it depends partly on the number of people using the trailer and the style of camping/travel you plan to do.

A 13'er is really small, but the front sofa & window make it feel larger, in my opinion. We enjoy our 13'er with four people and no bathroom or porta-potty, but we typically take short trips to a known destination. We spend most of our time outside, and a visit to the facilities is our last stop of the evening. I haven't missed the bathroom, and I like not having the associated maintenance.

If you plan to travel more extensively, having a bathroom gives you more flexibility in where you can spend the night. Personally, though, if I were traveling more than a few days at a time with more than one person, and wanted a bathroom, I'd be looking for a 16'er. I like the side bath layout because you still get the sofa and front window. I'm not saying the 13' front bath layout can't work, but it takes some adjustment.

I agree with Eddie that you really should try to get inside several different configurations. There are three ways to approach that. (1) Scamp has a file of owners willing to demo their trailers- give them a call. (2) Visit a FGRV rally- many have a time set aside for tours. (3) Post a request here- there may be a nearby forum member willing to let you have a look.
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Old 11-12-2014, 09:59 AM   #7
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Entirely personal choice. We don't have a bathroom and don't want one. We cook outdoors and use the sink inside more like a bathroom sink. Use a porta potty at night by placing it in front of the door where it's out of the way. (We use Mr. Clean in the tank and have zero odors for up to 4 days and no stink for dumping!) However we prefer boondocking and will be adding solar power, like a light tow and love spending all our time outdoors. I dream of fulltiming in retirement, so would not be surprised if our preferences change with age and more time living in a tiny trailer.
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Old 11-12-2014, 10:23 AM   #8
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I am at the other end of the spectrum. I like my 13 without the bath. Lesley and I have no issues using a porta potty at night when needed. By day we use the campsite facilities. At night I usually have to take the dog out anyway. We are both still working so long extended trips are still in our future. If I were to feel the need for a Bathroom I would get a 16 footer. A 13 footer is basically an 8 X 10 box add a bathroom it becomes 8 X 8 box. Without the front window it is a much darker box. Being in So Cal we don't get the wet weather issues. It just depends on what your brought up with before getting a trailer. If you used camp ground out houses, Construction Porto potties, shoveled holes in the ground, bathrooms are much less an issue. As we get older the need for an indoor facility becomes much more important, just as the very reason tent camping was no longer wanted and we bought a trailer. I do know that most people exposed to indoor facilities would never go back to a trailer with out them just like once you get a trailer the tent gets reallocated to someone else. Only you can make the decision of whats important. I would not buy a 13 footer with a bathroom. At that point I would buy a 16. Without the bathroom my 13 footer works for us very well. The one good thing is when the time comes it no longer fits our needs they are easy to sell off and move on to the next adventure.
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Old 11-12-2014, 03:12 PM   #9
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It (like many things) is a trade off. Space and "open" feel + reduced weight vs. convenience. How much extra value the convenience adds depends on how you camp and what your needs are.

Some just stow a porta-pottie in cabinet under the center of the couch for late night or emergency use, or for parks with really nasty pit toilets. You can get those phone booth sized dome tents and set them up as an outside bathroom if you camp in the boondocks or rustic sites without facilities. Most have mesh floor so you can even use them to wash up in as a rustic shower. Or use the campground facilities if you camp where they have them.

Opening a door and there is the bathroom, fire up the hot water heater and it has a shower certainly has some advantages.

Both a porta-pottie and built in bathroom involve some extra maintenance and upkeep. You have to empty the porta-pottie more often but can literally dump it in any toilet as opposed to needing an RV dump site, but dump sites are readily available too so dumping the built in tanks is not a huge deal.

I like to camp in the boondocks and having ability to shower before heading back to civilization was always a big plus from wife's perspective back when we used a motorhome. With the scamp 13 ft. she does not seem to have much interest in replacing ours with a larger 16 ft. with a bath. On the other hand dragging her off to the middle of the national forest is not as easy as it used to be. Liking state parks with modern facilities more these days. We still spend almost all our time outside including the cooking so not much difference to us on inside space since we mostly just sleep there.

If you currently use the facilities where you camp you may find not having a bath is no big deal. If you get a bathroom you may really like it or may find yourself stuffing it with gear like a closet and never using it. Don't think it will hurt resale value to have or not have, you pay more for bath, it sells for more but no bath will also sell pretty easily.

If you need the front bunks to accommodate kids a 13 ft. with a bath is not an option. Have to go to a larger model. If you want a bathroom it would certainly be worth considering something larger than a 13 ft.
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Old 11-12-2014, 03:24 PM   #10
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I have no experience with a 13, bathroom or no. But I do have a 16 with bath and like it. Although it is really small and if available we use the campground facilities. But, those more frequent late night runs sure are easier without leaving the camper, but you could do that in a porta-pot too I suppose. So, my dos centavos is this: 13 w/o bathroom (but with porta-pottie) and 16 w/ bathroom. Good luck on your decision.
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Old 11-12-2014, 03:38 PM   #11
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After years of teardrop camping we purchased a new 13' Scamp this year. We still wanted a lightweight, affordable and simple to use camper but needed extra room to take our young grandsons along. We love the Scamp and enjoy the luxury of being able to stand up inside. Using the bathroom facilities provided by the campground meets our needs best. It's nice to flush a commode or take a shower and let someone else deal with the maintenance, it's worth the short walk to us. We have a portable toilet for situations when we don't want to take the walk but haven't needed it yet. Having said all this I would recommend everyone else have a bathroom inside their camper, making our choice even more convenient.
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Old 11-12-2014, 03:42 PM   #12
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Scamp 13 Pros and cons of bathroom

Quote:
Originally Posted by danny1953 View Post
...Having said all this I would recommend everyone else have a bathroom inside their camper, making our choice even more convenient.

LOL...!!

Camping alongside snowbirds in AZ in winter, bathrooms are virtually empty (and clean). Camping alongside surfers in CA in summer, bathrooms are, well, not so much!

(In fairness to CA state parks, we are impressed with how well they take care of them, in spite of the heavy use. They are cleaned several times a day.)
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Old 11-12-2014, 04:32 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wajourney View Post
We're planning to buy a Scamp 13 and have gone back and forth about whether to get it with or without a bathroom. We'd love to hear others' experience with the advantages and disadvantages of having a bathroom. If you don't have a bathroom, have you regretted it? If you do, what problems, if any, does it create? Is it worth giving up the bathroom for the extra space? Any and all thoughts are welcome. Thanks.
This is mostly an age-related issue. Older people (or maybe young children) need to get up in the middle of the night. If you do, do you want to get dressed at 2 a.m., go out there with whatever or whomever in the dark when no one is around and maybe it is cold? And do that night after night?
Or do you want to pick up and carry a porta-potty to dump.

I should add that it is gender-related also. No, I am not using the nearest tree or taking a shovel out, thank you very much.
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Old 11-12-2014, 04:36 PM   #14
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Almost 9 years of 13' Scamp camping the past 4 or 5 over 100 nights each in a row, no bathroom. I would hate to lose the open feeling being able to look out in all 4 directions. No leaks or smells to put up with. No dumping mess to put up with. Prefer the direct deposit method, once deposited all done with it.

69 and 72 years old here, we don't worry about the middle of the night boggy man, weirwolfs, or vampires. See the stars on dark night is very nice. Moon light nights mean no night vision damaging flashlights are necessary.

At 3:00 am, I've watched Coyotes loping through the campground, bobcat sitting and watch us as we walked by. Some night you can watch the bats flying around. All very cool to see.

I suppose being afraid of the dark would be one reason to have an on-board potty.

Getting dressed in the middle of the night is not a big issue, sweat pants and a zip up sweat shirt staged on the couch, crocks staged close by makes getting dressed enough easy and quick.

As the OP should be able to guess, we have no regrets. Others see things differently.
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Old 11-12-2014, 05:35 PM   #15
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Noticed a pattern here, for what it's worth... With one exception, all who posted favoring a bathroom in a 13' trailer actually own larger trailers, including two 16' Scamps, a 5m Escape, a 17' Casita, a 15' Parkliner, and a 19' Escape. Among posters who currently own a 13' Scamp, "vote" appears to be 6 to 1 against a bathroom. Just an interesting observation... Doesn't make anyone's choice right or wrong, merely more or less common.
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Old 11-12-2014, 05:58 PM   #16
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Jon, you are right and that is probably more often than not also age-related. Many start with 13's and go on to bigger. I do see some saying that if you want a bathroom, get a 16'. I was surprised to find that a 13' Scamp has a bathroom so that is a possibility. Everyone's likes and dislikes are so different. Some still have the get-up-and-go attitude, literally! Been there.
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Old 11-12-2014, 07:10 PM   #17
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I guess this qualifies as "age related" I have never minded going out in the night and finding a tree or the spot we made a hole but... my knees are just not happy holding a squat. Back against a tree or sapling to hold in front, either way at the least I really appreciate (need) some sort of seat. Even one of those folding chair leg things with a commode seat. Two branches lashed between two trees but something....

Night is not a problem but dang I hate waking up and having to get dressed first thing. Guess that is why I like the boondocks. What I wore to bed is fine for finding a little bladder relief tree first thing in the morning.

With bathroom does seem to be more desirable by boomers who retire (or those at least thinking in terms of using the camper in retirement) I think younger couples and families might find the space and bunk a bit more desirable. Or if you have a dog or pets that couch can get them out from under foot.

My dream camper is a 16 ft. with a bath and AC but I enjoy my 13 ft. with 4 windows with a nice flow through breeze and no bath just enough to keep me from being motivated to go looking. Or it could be I'm just lazy

Also unless you are ordering new you might have to broaden your search to include brands other than scamp to get a used FGRV with the features you decide you want. Or as prev. posts mention find something use it with whatever features it has and re-sell to get something different if you find it does not suit you.
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Old 11-12-2014, 07:17 PM   #18
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Agree with you Cathi. Maybe I have a hidden agenda... want lots of people to buy 16' side bath Scamps now, so when I am an empty-nester in 10 years or so and ready to travel more, there will be a nice used one waiting for me! By then my old-man bladder should be kicking in. 👴

Annette, please don't mind any of this and do exactly what you want!
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Old 11-12-2014, 07:24 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon in AZ View Post
Among posters who currently own a 13' Scamp, "vote" appears to be 6 to 1 against a bathroom. Just an interesting observation... Doesn't make anyone's choice right or wrong, merely more or less common.
One only needs to step into a 13' Scamp that has a front bathroom to get a pretty good idea as to why that may be. Any way you look at it a front bathroom makes a small trailer feel even smaller. If I had decided I really wanted to stay with a 13' trailer I would not have purchased one with a bathroom either.
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Old 11-12-2014, 07:48 PM   #20
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If you are in the trailer more smaller feel matters more. Many really do treat it as they would a tent. Sleep in it, change in it, and haul the gear in it. I use my Coleman stove and a fire to cook, scamp just gets my gear there. Others especially folks who use the camper as a base for other activities or full time may well spend more time inside.

Stopping for the night then moving on less gear to haul out is better. Getting ready to go visit a museum or art galleries being totally self contained and having everything you need to get ready to go might be a better use of space.

It is sort of like the full time bed or remove bedding and set up table question. Spend more time inside and stowing the bedding so you can have a table makes more sense.

That is one thing about a couch instead of a bathroom, one person can stretch out to read or take a nap with the table set up. No couch means only way to take a nap is with table down in a bed. Which leaves the non napping person with no place else to sit except outside or on the edge of the bed. We have been known to bring a folding chair inside for a place to sit when one of us wants to use the bed but it really takes up most of the floor space.
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