When did Scamp add propane leak detector and Break breakaway switch?

[John DL]

I have a 2017 Scamp 13 which I bought new. It came without a propane leak detector. It does have a co detector. It also came without a break breakaway switch. My Scamp was fitted with breaks as part of the factory build. I owned a pop up for many years before the Scamp and it had both these safety features. I was surprised the Scamp did not. They were not even available as an extra cost option at the time. So anyone know when these were added? Was it just the 13 footer that did not have them? There has been a lot of discussion about propane detectors recently which has me thinking of adding one.

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by John DL

I have a 2017 Scamp 13 which I bought new. It came without a propane leak detector. It does have a co detector. It also came without a break breakaway switch. My Scamp was fitted with breaks as part of the factory build. I owned a pop up for many years before the Scamp and it had both these safety features. I was surprised the Scamp did not. They were not even available as an extra cost option at the time. So anyone know when these were added? Was it just the 13 footer that did not have them? There has been a lot of discussion about propane detectors recently which has me thinking of adding one.

When I ordered my 2017 16 foot they would not add the breakaway switch at any price. (It also has the Co detector only.)

[Jon in AZ]

I’m going to guess after the 2021 redesign. They added quite a few features around that time. They had a lot of catching up to do!

My 2008 didn’t come with any safety detectors, not even a smoke alarm.

[Meadowlark]

That doesn't sound right..no breakaway? On our maiden voyage back from Rice, we had an opportunity...yes, I'll use that word instead of "brain fart"..to test the breakaway and it worked perfectly. I think I'd be afraid to NOT have it..


As for the propane gas alarm, Casita doesn't put one in, although it does install a carbon monoxide detector. It would be nice if someone combined the two...both carbon monoxide and propane detectors are said to use infrared light.

[Jallen]

In Washington state, a breakaway switch is only required for trailers above a certain weight (3000 lbs?). They are a good idea and relatively easy to install if you have a power source on the trailer. Travel trailers do, with their 12 v batteries. Utility trailers probably not.

[sunnyone]

My 2020 Scamp 13 came equipped with the propane detector and the break-away brake.

[StevenMaria]

I’ve got the breakaway device on my 2016 Casita. Frankly the thing scares me. Should it deploy on a freeway and the trailer brakes lock, I can just imagine what that would be like.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by StevenMaria

I’ve got the breakaway device on my 2016 Casita. Frankly the thing scares me. Should it deploy on a freeway and the trailer brakes lock, I can just imagine what that would be like.

I would think that it would be hard for it to accidentally deploy when not needed. Now I do know one place I worked that they did duct tape the cable to the frame all the way to the hitch point so that it could not catch on anything. But obviously if it was needed the tape would almost not exist in the sequence of deploying. Now these were flat beds and we were going in and out of construction sites and the cables did catch in the site at times. Which was darned annoying. Never had a problem on the road and I have not heard of that.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by Meadowlark

That doesn't sound right..no breakaway? On our maiden voyage back from Rice, we had an opportunity...yes, I'll use that word instead of "brain fart"..to test the breakaway and it worked perfectly. I think I'd be afraid to NOT have it..


As for the propane gas alarm, Casita doesn't put one in, although it does install a carbon monoxide detector. It would be nice if someone combined the two...both carbon monoxide and propane detectors are said to use infrared light.

But if you had it would the brain fart have kept that from getting properly connected so that it would trigger.

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by StevenMaria

I’ve got the breakaway device on my 2016 Casita. Frankly the thing scares me. Should it deploy on a freeway and the trailer brakes lock, I can just imagine what that would be like.

The breakaway is more for the safety of others than the RV owner. Especially on a two lane road, a loose RV can easily cross into oncoming traffic and kill some one. Most RVs cannot "lock up" on a paved surface anyway.