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05-03-2020, 11:02 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Name: Harold
Trailer: 1975 Scamp, 13-foot
Redding, California
Posts: 390
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Build your own travel trailer
I stumbled on this vintage ad for sale on ebay. Apparently you could buy a "Build your own travel trailer" Scamp kit.
Notice that in the ad the Scamp is being pulled by a Volkswagen Beetle.
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05-03-2020, 11:11 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
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Yup! Burro did the same. A couple of posters have reported misalignment of the inner shell pieces, and I’ve often suspected those may have been one of the kit versions.
With Scamp, assembly variations would probably be less noticeable. Can’t imagine there are too many out there.
No comment on the Beetle except to note I did things 40 years ago that would not be acceptable today!
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05-03-2020, 11:27 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
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Scamp Kit
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
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05-03-2020, 11:33 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Harold
Trailer: 1975 Scamp, 13-foot
Redding, California
Posts: 390
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon in AZ
...........No comment on the Beetle except to note I did things 40 years ago that would not be acceptable today!
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As for me, not only wouldn't I, but most likely couldn't...
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05-03-2020, 11:34 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Name: Harold
Trailer: 1975 Scamp, 13-foot
Redding, California
Posts: 390
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
Scamp Kit
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Wow!
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05-03-2020, 11:51 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 1,704
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Been a long time since I've seen all of this posted...LOVE the "kit" idea! If it was about 1/2 price.. it might be considerable to do...but I SERIOUSLY doubt it'd been much cheaper. Anyone have ANY idea as to what it would have cost back then vs a built one?
I can guarantee you, if MINE was a kit, it be minus about 2000 caps one way or the other!!
Good post/topic for a change. Thanks. Doc/DD.
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05-03-2020, 12:52 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Name: Harold
Trailer: 1975 Scamp, 13-foot
Redding, California
Posts: 390
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I've seen here on the forums where an FGRV company has gone belly up and someone bought their molds. They always seem to want to dive deep and build a complete ready-to-go trailer. I think it's a natural thing.
But since there appear to be a lot of resourceful people wanting to restore, rebuild, and/or customize an old trailer, it seems to me that there might be a market for a bare-bones trailer where all the structural components are installed, and everything else is available à la carte for self-installation. Kind of like a rolling chassis. Tail/brake lights so you could pull it home, and an "idea manual" with instructions for keeping things safe, such as adding additional wiring, and where (and where not) to cut holes in order to maintain structural integrity.
Ah, if I were 30-years younger.... could be a fun business.
--Harold
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05-03-2020, 02:43 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 1,861
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If you want to build your own check out Wee Roll Campers. Trailers ready to make into campers (non fiberglass). They seem to be built pretty good and they do custom builds.
Eddie
https://www.weeroll.com/
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05-03-2020, 05:26 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2009 17 ft Casita Freedom Deluxe
Posts: 857
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The original add for my Campster showed a Beattle towing it too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doctor Harold
As for me, not only wouldn't I, but most likely couldn't...
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05-04-2020, 12:38 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2008 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 235
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I’m thankful I love to read instruction manuals, so if it had been substantially discounted, I might have given it a whirl. Sure, it would have taken 20 years, but you all know I’d get my money back out of it—plus some. However, I love Harold’s ala carte idea. Much more doable...
“...it seems to me that there might be a market for a bare-bones trailer where all the structural components are installed, and everything else is available à la carte for self-installation. Kind of like a rolling chassis. Tail/brake lights so you could pull it home, and an "idea manual" with instructions for keeping things safe, such as adding additional wiring, and where (and where not) to cut holes in order to maintain structural integrity.”
--Harold[/QUOTE]
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05-09-2020, 12:12 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Name: Ray
Trailer: scamp
Indiana
Posts: 823
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Actually I would love to have a build it yourself ket. Like a 16 foot probably or maybe a 20. But then mostly put your own stuff in. I would love to custom build a ham shack on wheels.
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05-09-2020, 12:28 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
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Quote:
Originally Posted by computerspook
Actually I would love to have a build it yourself ket. Like a 16 foot probably or maybe a 20. But then mostly put your own stuff in. I would love to custom build a ham shack on wheels.
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You should check out the Facebook group: Cargo Trailer Conversions. Some builds are absolutely fantastic, others look like someone put a garden shed on a trailer. It's all about design and skill in the build out.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
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05-09-2020, 01:22 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
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I have one of the kits. I couldn't find the serial number. When I bought it I was told (by 2nd owner) that it was either a 72 or a 77. He registered it as a 77. The build was done pretty well, couple of things I wouldn't do, but everyone is like that. It is still a work in progress. I've put lots of miles on it, it does what I need.
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05-09-2020, 01:25 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
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Thanks Donna for the picture. I'll put it with my records.
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05-09-2020, 02:25 PM
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#15
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Member
Name: Darryl
Trailer: Bigfoot
Wisconsin
Posts: 48
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In early August 1978 I received delivery of my Scamp kit. Unfortunately, Scamp had not properly packed the fiberglass “furniture” inside and it was a mess. I refused the first shipment and had Scamp come pick it up. I elected to drive to Backus to pickup my Scamp kit, inspecting it as packed for me to haul back to northern Wisconsin. Within three weeks of long work days I had a high quality competed Scamp for about 30% under retail cost. It was NOT easy as the Scamp Kit assembly manual was the size and usefulness of a comic book (not professionally written). The phone calls to Harold at Scamp, arranging tech call backs ran to many dozens - a secondary cost in those days of long distance charges.
But, as the kid of a perfectionist wood shop teacher, I made many upgrades such as cutting all cabinetry openings with radius corners rather than crude over-cut 90° corners. All the acorn nuts (to receive pop rivets) were pre metal etched, primed and painted matching white. They never rusted. I distinctly remember installing/glueing the huge piece of Ensolite to the ceiling, with help of my wife - not fun. That Scamp has been to both Coasts, Canada many times and every camping season from the northern woods to White Sands of New Mexico. My son now proudly owns it, with refit solid oak cabinetry doors, remade cushions and curtains, new door, new plexiglass windows, new axle with brakes ...
So, the Scamp kit is my gift to our family that keeps on giving these many years of camping. The Scamp was an important part of our family’s outdoors camping culture.
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05-09-2020, 03:09 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Name: Carl
Trailer: LiL Hauley
Syracuse, NY
Posts: 656
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If you are really interested in building your own camper, you might give Snoozy ll a call and see if they are selling empty shells. It is all fiberglass, including the floor and a great platform to build on. I built my own from a LiL Snoozy shell. It was not a kit except for the molded fiberglass wet bath area. I had to source all the components myself, but we got exactly what we wanted.
__________________
Your heirs will inherit money and stuff when you are gone. You can only save or spend money, but you can do things with stuff, so they are going to inherit stuff!
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05-09-2020, 03:39 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: Eric
Trailer: Boler
TN
Posts: 190
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If you really want to build one yourself look for a "project" that stalled. There is always someone who has a fixer upper that loose motivation once it is time to put things back. When I sold my Scamp I took one of those projects as trade. For basically a $1000.00 (I allowed too much) I got a 17' Boler shell on a frame. Now I am only limited by my imagination. That's right my imagination, and my wallet. Yep my imagination and my wallet well and my skill. That's all I'm limited by, my imagination, my wallet and my skill, and well my tools. I'm only limited my my imagination, my wallet, my skills, and my tools, and.........I'm screwed.
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05-09-2020, 05:38 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Name: Robert
Trailer: In the market
NSW
Posts: 151
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They get a bit more adventurous in Australia. Companies supply plans if you want to build your own, or some just design and build their own " dream" example attached
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05-09-2020, 05:41 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Name: Harold
Trailer: 1975 Scamp, 13-foot
Redding, California
Posts: 390
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05-09-2020, 07:34 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
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Burro sold kits too. I scooped this from the Wayback Machine.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
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