High Mileage Towing Vehicle for Scamp 13 - Fiberglass RV
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Old 09-19-2016, 12:13 PM   #1
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Name: Rich
Trailer: SCamp 13' 1994
New York
Posts: 3
High Mileage Towing Vehicle for Scamp 13

I want to buy a high mileage vehicle the can pull my Scamp 950lbs. Now using

a small 96 Suburu Impreza that can tow 1500 lbs. It does not get good gas

mileage and is getting old. Any suggestions? Also looking for the name of a

product to wax the fibergalss body Zep? or something like that.Thanks for all

help. Rich
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Old 09-19-2016, 12:37 PM   #2
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You mean, one that gets good gas mileage? Or one that has a lot of miles on it?
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Old 09-19-2016, 02:49 PM   #3
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Name: Norm and Ginny
Trailer: Scamp 16
Florida
Posts: 7,517
Good Tow Vehicle

WE towed a Scamp 16 with a Honda CRV, 5 speed manual transmission, 4 cylinder engine. We traded it in after 10 years and 250,000 miles we never had a driveline failure. We towed all over North America. Manuals transmission CRVs are no longer manufactured or we would own one again.

Our 1991 Scamp 16 weighed 2600 pound. Sometimes we did down shift on long hills. Or typical mpg was 20-21 mpg on regular gas when towing.

I should have mentioned tongue weight. Our Scamp's tongue weight varied between 200 and 210 pounds. We carry a half tank of water, have a rear bumper box, and have storage compartments under the trailer (screwed to the floor).

We travel 7 months a year so are probably heavier than most. If you would like details about our set up drop me a PM.
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Old 09-19-2016, 03:35 PM   #4
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Name: Steve
Trailer: Scamp 13
California
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Start off by weighing your Scamp and while you're at it check your tongue weight with your traveling stuff in it. This is critical when you're comparing smaller high efficiency vehicles. Getting the tongue weight right and within the capacities for these higher efficiency cars takes some doing. With my 13 Scamp I can't get the weight down much and I have to have a much larger capacity in my tug since I don't travel much with the trailer but camp in it, on vacation, with allot of the comforts of home.

By the time I put in extra people, chairs, ice chest, food, BBQ and firewood. High efficiency cars are out the door. I try to keep the trailer empty as I can and carry the extra load in the tug. These lightweight trailers are not built to be utility trailers.

Good luck in your pursuit.
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Old 09-19-2016, 05:11 PM   #5
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Name: Gilda
Trailer: 2011 Scamp 13'
California
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We currently tow with a 2008 Subaru Legacy sedan and find we get good mileage towing our 2011, 13' Scamp. We are considering purchasing a 2016/17 Subaru Crosstrek (basically, a raised Impreza). I think you will find that the more modern cars will have better gas mileage.
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Old 09-20-2016, 09:53 AM   #6
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Name: Jennifer
Trailer: Scamp
Colorado
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I second the CRV recommendation. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I switched to Honda after many Subarus after some research. They are more reliable and cost much less to repair when something wears out. Ours pulls out 13' Scamp no problem. Underpowered on 13k foot mountain passes, of course. I always tow in the D3 gear, because that's what the manual says to use when towing, and it works well. Good acceleration even.

Our CRV has 140k miles on it. Our mechanic called that "low mileage for a Honda." I haven't calculated our gas mileage with or without the Scamp. It certainly drops while towing, but even so, it seems pretty good.
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Old 09-20-2016, 10:09 AM   #7
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Name: Rich
Trailer: 2015 Scamp 13D
Minnesota
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I tow my Scamp 13 with a Highlander Hybrid and get 18-22mpg depending on wind and weather.
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Old 09-20-2016, 10:31 AM   #8
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We used to tow our '85 13ft Scamp with a '98 VW turbodiesel. It got 30 mpg towing at 62-63 mph, not towing avg 45 mpg. this was one of the first generation turbodiesel VWs, before the big scandal about clean-diesel cheating, that was only the 2nd gen turbodiesels, those built after '06. The Scamp 13 didn't have a bathroom, didn't weigh very much
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Old 09-20-2016, 11:08 AM   #9
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Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
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Consistent low/mid twenties towing my Scamp13D/front bath, with my Ford Escape with a normally aspirated 2.3L I-4 . Would expect similar results from the newer 2.5L with more power and more sophisticated fuel management.
Plus you get Ford's excellent build quality and reliability at a competitive price.
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Old 09-20-2016, 11:34 AM   #10
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I'd go with a Subaru Outback if it is still equipped to tow 2700 lbs.
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Old 09-20-2016, 07:35 PM   #11
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Name: Bob
Trailer: Scamp
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We tow our 2001 Scamp 13 with a 2015 Outback with the 2.5 L engine. Hardly know it is back there. Have gone over the Bighorn mountains with it. No problems.
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Old 09-21-2016, 03:47 AM   #12
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Name: Scott
Trailer: Scamp
Ohio
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Tow Vehicle 13 Scamp

We purchased s 13 front bathroom Scamp 2016 so heavier than yours. We tow with a 2016 Outback Subaru rated at 2700 lbs. Consistently we get 20 mpg towing and 27-30 mpg non towing. The Substitute easily pulls other than very hilly areas you can tell it is working.
Good luck!
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