7 DAY EVALUATION SCAMP 13'

[John Kellow]

Hi
I picked up my new Scamp 13' on Feb 22 2007.
I drove 1,100 miles back to Denver.
It pulled like a dream.
It really is nice so here is what I found.
Interior.
We really like the interior. I would take it out to 0deg F.
With the front window you really don't feel cramped in and
the extra 2" height is wonderfull.
The bed could be bigger, but I took the hinges off the top cushion
on the front bunk bed, put the top cushion on the bottom and the
other cushion on the back. This gave a lot more room and made it
easier to get into the front botton storage. Now it makes a great couch
or a roomy bed. I got both upper cabinets. So with the 2 upper cabinets
and the 2 storage areas under the couch and closet, there is plenty of
storage for clothes.
The rear storage under the dinnett is worthless for clothes.
The kitchen area is great but needs something on the back wall to protect
against food spatter.
Overall I would rate the interior a A
Exterior
1. I ordered the dual propane tanks. Nothing wrong with it except they only
used 1 bolt on each side in the middle of the tank pan. This allows for
excessive vibration caused by the tanks rocking back and forth.
I consider this dangerous and life threatening.
The factory is negligent on this. 4 bolts placed correctly would cure this
2. I have both large roof vent and roof fan. Both needed to be grease as they
both do not open or close smoothly. If not greased they both would wear
prematurely.
3. The chaulking around windows and vents is a little sloppy.
4. The DOOR I spent a lot of time before purchase researching the door.
I read a lot of complaints from others with little or now factory solution.
I complained at the factory and the door man came and made a small
adjustment, but I accepted it because the door fit good at the bottom.
But the top opposite the hinges would not pull tight. The door is not
strong enough to hold shape.
I believe that there is a easy solution to this problem but the factory is
not going to be any help. (more on this later)
Overall I would rate the construction of the trailer a B+
Only because of the door.
Would I buy it again"
In a heart beat.
There are some mods to make. But for this year it is good to go.
I am styling now.
John

[Donna D.]

Too cool. Let the memories begin John, don't forget to start a journal of your travels. In the cold winter months when you're not out camping, you can refresh you memories!

[Kurt & Ann K.]

John,
Thanks for the report. Helping others is the intent of this site and you have provided insight to some who might not have made a choice of brand.
Enjoy your rolling "home away from home"!

Kurt & Ann K.

[Duane Fowler]

Thanks for the update, I am thinking about making a deposit on
a 13 with the fantastic fan, gravel guard over the front window,
brakes and so far that is all I think I need. I like the idea of the
front bunk as I would never use if for more than a couch or an
extra bed. I wonder if there are other options you consider a
must. And also hope you post more info about your fix for the
door. Thanks
Duane

[Gina D.]

Yay! A brand new trailer! How fun!

[Robert Scallan]

John, your info could not be more timely for me...as most everyone who reads this site is probably sick of hearing, I'm picking up my 13 at the factory on the 22nd of this month. I am really interested in the attitude of the folks at the factory...so far I'm not impressed with the salesman...either one...it's not that I'm hard to please or that I am a difficult customer, but we are after all paying a good amount for what is very small trailer, and I'd like more help/info from the factory reps than I'm getting. For instance, the rear hitch...I asked several times if there was anything else I could order for my 13 and they told me NO...now I have to pay a lot for it and I'm not going to do it...I asked about a gravel shield and Jim, the salesman stumbled around for some time and told me they don't have them...now I'm told they do....what do you know about this? Do you know abut gravel shields? I'm going to call again today and ask again. Tell me more about the door....it's seems like it's not a deal breaker, but what should I look for on the trailer when I pick it up....any more areas of concern...thanks for the help.
Enjoy your new digs!!

LIFE IS GOOD!

[Adrian W]

Robert Scallan Gravel Sheilds are listed as options on their option list ?

Did you order a 13' with a front bath area? Our 16' has the front bath, therefore, it does not have a front window, other than a small vent type window. No gravel shields are need for it, nor would I think offered for it.

We have had ours since Aug. 05 and have not had any problems with the door. I have read about there being a door problem, but so far it has kept its shape and closes easly. At first it has hard to latch when closing it, but last summer, I sprayed it with some WD-40 and it worked easy after that.

They were easy to get information from when we were waiting and would call, etc. Last summer, I wanted to add shut off value to the water line to the toilet. I called and talked to someone, not a salesman, from parts maybe. He gave me the information I needed so I could ask at a RV dealer parts counter to get the value. It went on easily. Keeps the black holding tank from filling up so fast. I was able to install it at a campgound at a state park along the coast by Oxnard/Ventura, CA.

My son and his wife picked it up at Backus and got the tour of the unit and did the pick up check of the trailer, etc. A month later, they drove it down to Colorado where we met them. They then gave us a run down of the unit. One of the tech guys from the shop did the run down, not a salesman.

We visited the factory in July before it got on line to be made. We say some of the receiver hitches on Scamp waiting to be picked up and asked about them. We added it to the order at that time, $50 at that time. My son does welding and steel has gone up a lot since '05. Not sure why it is not on the option list, nor why your saleman didn't know about it.

Good luck with your egg. We are very pleased with ours so far. Only real problem we had with the construction, the clamp which holds the wiring where it enters the fiberglass into the trailer from the battery had gotten one of the wires caught in its "teeth." When we went camping at a state park just before we were going to winterize it in fall of 2005, the fuses began to blow. Not havng spares with us, we drove to a small town about 35 miles away to get some fuses. They would pop as fast as I replaced them. We spent the night without power. Next morning I asked the Campgound Host what he thought about the problem. He looked it over and said to check the clamp. I found a worn spot, pulled the wires out a little way, taped them and re-clamped it. No more problems.

Waiting for it to get made can make you loopy .


Again good camping once it is yours.

AW