Scamp 13' Hitch Question

[Matthew Lyon]

Howdy all... it looks as if we may have found a trailer! Woohoo! It's a 1994 Scamp 13'. It belongs to friends of my parents and is only 200 miles away (right next door for us Montanans!) I'm going over to look at it tomorrow afternoon... looks promising!

The question I have is this: does anyone know if it takes a 2" or 1 7/8 ball? Scamp's literature seems to suggest that they are all 2" now, but I take it that in the past the smaller size was used on the 13 footers. When did Scamp switch?

Thanks!

[John Perry]

The question I have is this: does anyone know if it takes a 2" or 1 7/8 ball? Scamp's literature seems to suggest that they are all 2" now, but I take it that in the past the smaller size was used on the 13 footers. When did Scamp switch?

Thanks!

My 1990 13' is an 1"7/8.
Hope it works out for you. I just bought my 1990 2 days ago, it is in very good shape. I also have an 86 that I am restoring. It used to belong to the Navy and they did not take very good care of it. All of the parts that I have been needed have been available from Scamp and their prces are reasonable. You probably live it the boonies as I do, so if you need parts Scamp will ship then to you.

Good luck,
John

[Matthew Lyon]

Thanks for the info... I saw in another post that 91's also had 1 7/8 hitches.

I wonder what the Navy was doing with a Scamp? I hear you on the condition of it... I saw a "vintage" Airstream for sale here recently... $2000 OBO. It looked pretty good on the outside. BUT...on the door were stenciled the letters U.S.G.S. The interior looked as if someone had been using it to transport dirt and rocks and maybe a sheep or two for the last 25 years.

[Donna D.]

Matthew if in doubt about the needed ball size...take both and return the one to the store that you don't use!

[Roger H]

I wonder what the Navy was doing with a Scamp?

The Navy has a unit called "Special Services" (or at least that's what it was called when I was in. Ships were made of wood then, and airplanes were cloth, wire and wood.) Anyway, special services run all of the recreational kinds of things for sailors. They had an auto hobby shop where you could work on your cars, darkrooms for photography, sports equipment for loan, and you could rent campers for a weekend. After I got out in the late '70s, apparently they bought a number of Scamps for several years and had them in their fleet of "rental" campers. I have no idea what they use today.

Roger

[Tom Trostel]

Roger is exactly right. The service is now called MWR for 'morale, welfare,and recreation'. Most large bases rent some type trailers. NAS Fort Worth used to rent 16' Casitas, but now rents 19' Aerolites. I was recently on Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and they rent 13' Scamps. These trailers are heavily used and while they can be bought at auction cheaply; I'm sure most would need alot of repair.

Tom Trostel, retired US Army

[Matthew Lyon]

Matthew if in doubt about the needed ball size...take both and return the one to the store that you don't use!

Definitely a good idea, Donna... just trying to avoid a side trip if anyone knows for sure about the '94s. I've got a 2" on hand already. I think I know the answer though... take both!

[Dick I.]

Howdy all... it looks as if we may have found a trailer! Woohoo! It's a 1994 Scamp 13'. It belongs to friends of my parents and is only 200 miles away (right next door for us Montanans!) I'm going over to look at it tomorrow afternoon... looks promising!

The question I have is this: does anyone know if it takes a 2" or 1 7/8 ball? Scamp's literature seems to suggest that they are all 2" now, but I take it that in the past the smaller size was used on the 13 footers. When did Scamp switch?

Thanks!

My 2004 has 1 7/8 and 06 has 2". 05 size ???

If you take two sizes take big wrench in case you need to change it, just had this problem with another change over.

Hope this helps,

Dick

[Matthew Lyon]

My 2004 has 1 7/8 and 06 has 2". 05 size ???

If you take two sizes take big wrench in case you need to change it, just had this problem with another change over.

Hope this helps,

Dick

Thanks Dick... I'm headed out the door soon and will sort things out on the other end. My folks live 4 blocks away from the trailer in question and Dad's got wrenches galore (retired hardware store guy).

[Byron Kinnaman]

My 2004 has 1 7/8 and 06 has 2". 05 size ???

If you take two sizes take big wrench in case you need to change it, just had this problem with another change over.

Hope this helps,

Dick

My 06 13' has a 1 7/8".

[John & Sandy M]

The question I have is this: does anyone know if it takes a 2" or 1 7/8 ball? Scamp's literature seems to suggest that they are all 2" now, but I take it that in the past the smaller size was used on the 13 footers. When did Scamp switch?

Thanks!

The manual for our '99 Scamp 16 lists a 1 7/8 ball for the 13' Scamp. Perhaps just as important... what wiring connector is used? While the "standard" connection for the Scamp 13' is a flat 4 pin connector an option is the 7-pin connector and trailer brakes. To make matters worse, Scamp changed the type of 7 pin connector some time in the mid-late 90's. When I went to pick up our 99 Scamp in the Washington DC metro area (about 500 miles away for us) I came prepared to rewire the trailer connector when I got there. By the way, be sure to bring along one of the 12V air pumps as tire pressure is pretty important. Also bring along a scissor jack as the trailer does not come with a jack.

I'm sure you will enjoy the little egg!

[RonMayo]

My 2005 13' Scamp has 1-7/8" Ball. Ron Mayo

My 2004 has 1 7/8 and 06 has 2". 05 size ???

If you take two sizes take big wrench in case you need to change it, just had this problem with another change over.

Hope this helps,

Dick

[Byron Kinnaman]

I asked for and received the latest brochures from Scamp. It appears that they's changed to 2". My guess is that pre-fire they were 1 7/8" and post fire 2".

[DonInChatt]

Thanks for the info... I saw in another post that 91's also had 1 7/8 hitches.

I wonder what the Navy was doing with a Scamp? I hear you on the condition of it... I saw a "vintage" Airstream for sale here recently... $2000 OBO. It looked pretty good on the outside. BUT...on the door were stenciled the letters U.S.G.S. The interior looked as if someone had been using it to transport dirt and rocks and maybe a sheep or two for the last 25 years.

USGS is the U.S. Geological Survey www.usgs.gov That may explain all the dirt!

Don

[Byron Kinnaman]

NOT HITCH RELATED.

But I notice another thing about the post fire 13' Scamps. There's another 2" of interior head room. The interior height went from 6' 1" to 6' 3".

[Brian B-P]

...But I notice another thing about the post fire 13' Scamps. There's another 2" of interior head room. The interior height went from 6' 1" to 6' 3".

Yes, I recall reading a report of that in one of the Scamp post-fire rebuild topics. They had to build all new moulds from existing trailer shells, and while the 16' is a straight copy, it was said that they took the opportunity to stretch the 13' model taller. It's nice to see that the people at Scamp are still trying to improve their product, even in ways which require much more effort than just switching coupler sizes.

[Pete Dumbleton]

Here's what I would do if I were picking up a used trailer with unknowns -- I'd go to Wally and buy both sizes of hitch balls -- Based on what I had on my tow vehicle for trailer light wiring, I'd buy the adapters to change my TV to the three standard Scamp connectors (Flat4, Bargman/Pollock7 and the Round 6-pin), plus I'd also get one of those kits with a set of lights and a long wiring harness, intended for use on boat trailers.

I'd leave all the stuf in the orig packaging and save the receipts so that I could return the stuf that I didn't use.

BTW, anyone getting one of those new receiver ball mount bars made by Reese with the impression inside to hold the ball while tightening should also check to see if the hitch balls they have will fit without a washer (on a long ball shank, the threads may stop too soon because the ball base may drop down into the bar unless it is one of the new Reese ball mounts intended for the purpose.

BTW, altho the new 13' has the higher headroom, that also means that it is even less likely to fit into low garages -- My researches show that a Scamp 13' is maybe the lowest non-folding camping trailer available, except some of the actual teardrop trailers (not the T@B, however).

[Matthew Lyon]

Well all... thanks for the replies. It's indeed a 1 7/8" and everything looks good to go! We'll probably go back and pick it up in early December, just in time to use as housing for Christine and I when the whole family gathers near Flathead Lake for Christmas... should be a good test of the furnace! Thanks again for all the help... what a fine bunch of people on this forum!

[Pat R]

Howdy all... it looks as if we may have found a trailer! Woohoo! It's a 1994 Scamp 13'. It belongs to friends of my parents and is only 200 miles away (right next door for us Montanans!) I'm going over to look at it tomorrow afternoon... looks promising!

The question I have is this: does anyone know if it takes a 2" or 1 7/8 ball? Scamp's literature seems to suggest that they are all 2" now, but I take it that in the past the smaller size was used on the 13 footers. When did Scamp switch?

Thanks!

Matthew, you are right about 200 miles being only right next door here in Montana... What part are you from? There are not a whole of Fiberglasss Owners here in Montana... Hope all went well for you.

[Matthew Lyon]

Matthew, you are right about 200 miles being only right next door here in Montana... What part are you from? There are not a whole of Fiberglasss Owners here in Montana... Hope all went well for you.

Hi Pat... We're in St Ignatius, whereabouts are you?