Scamp 19 anyone modified to tow behind an SUV?

[DonDeutsch]

Why not just get a bigger trailer?

[Kevin K]

Just buy a rig like this you would be the talk of the camp ground.

[Wayne Hill]

Kevin K;
Take that fancy wing off and put on a scamp hitch and you would be the talk of the campground. LOL
Wayne

[mikedup]

good lord!
Not only does this sound incredibly dangerous, but looking at the SUV in the pictures (is that a Jimmy or Bronco?) it can't be that good for the vehicle either.

That being said, I'm sure this is done a lot more than we think. Everyone knows someone who "rigs" something up... it doesn't matter where you are

[Jerryscamping]

Hello Wayne, I converted my 19 fifth wheel Scamp to a bumper hitch boy does it pull wonderful.

It's listed for sale under Jerryscamping

you have to look it up because I can not figure how to ad a picture.

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by Lizbeth

Because not everyone loves having the bed of the truck taken up by the hitch but still wants a 5th wheel.

Just to point out, 5th Wheel refers to the type of connection, not the style of trailer. And the Scamp 19 actually isn’t a 5th wheel; it uses a proprietary hitch in the bed of the truck similar to a 5th Wheel but requires safety chains. Once converted to bumper pull, it is a bumper pull trailer.

[Jerryscamping]

I stand corrected thanks

[Jerryscamping]

I did install a bumper hitch on my 2014 19ft scamp. It can be seen in the
classifieds located in Twentynine Palms Ca. Jerryscamp is my username
It tows like a dream, I can remove it in 20 minutes just un bolts. The tongue weight is exactly what Scamp said it is-500 Lbs.Towes right along with the heavy truck traffic no wind sway. Have a 2019 Honda Ridgeline with a plastic bed and trunk, so had to go that route. Check it out.

[patrick crawford]

i posted a photo of a bumper pull conversion of the scamp 5'er a while back here... https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...ull-37358.html

p@

[dblcola]

Or how about this?

[Seacap10]

I just bought a 2015 19 Deluxe after selling my S-16 deluxe...
I had to get it home and built this bumper tow rig "Just to get it home"

Definitely Not Recommended and likely not legal anywhere LOL.
(But it Worked fine with my F250 Super Duty Diesel)

Its home now and I am cutting off the Scamp towing system and installing a removable 2 5/16" Gooseneck that will connect directly onto my Fords removable
Factory ball.

[dblcola]

Originally Posted by Seacap10

I just bought a 2015 19 Deluxe after selling my S-16 deluxe...
I had to get it home and built this bumper tow rig "Just to get it home"

Definitely Not Recommended and likely not legal anywhere LOL.
(But it Worked fine with my F250 Super Duty Diesel)

Its home now and I am cutting off the Scamp towing system and installing a removable 2 5/16" Gooseneck that will directly onto my Fords removable
Factory removable ball system.

Just curious how far did you tow it?

[Seacap10]

About 50 miles on good roads...

[Seacap10]

I love guys with an imagination...

https://images.app.goo.gl/k9juepNiJEyeLK5C8

[Ceceoh]

Can I ask - and I’m not trying to blow things up here - but what are the reasons for the conversion? Is it just to avoid drilling holes in the truck bed? Easier hook- up? Or safer towing? I had always heard that fifth wheels were more stable and easier to tow, but is this debatable?

I am planning on purchasing a Scamp 19’, new or used, very soon, and will also be buying the appropriate tow vehicle. While I’m excited about my plans for RVing, I’ll admit that my greatest fear is that I will totally botch hooking up the gooseneck, while a bunch of old-timers stand around laughing.

[Seacap10]

Lots of ways to accomplish this safely provided your vehicle is up to the job.

[Joe MacDonald]

something like this would possibly be legal

[jwcolby123]

Originally Posted by Wayne Hill

Good morning,
I was wondering if anyone has modified their 19 ft Scamp to enable it to become a bumper pull?
Wayne

I have seen it several times. Unless you can get the factory to mod it (doubtful) I strongly recommend against it. Several serious issues.

A bumper hitch causes a cantilever. Pressing down on the hitch causes an upward vector on the front of the vehicle which reduces steering. The 19' was purpose built for a ball directly over the back axle eliminating that.

When trailers are designed for bumper mounts the weight distribution is designed by the manufacturer around the placement of the axle i.e. A precise dry weight is placed on the ball. Too much or too little causes bouncing up and down on the hitch which causes bouncing up and down on the steers. See point one.

And finally, jury rigging a new mechanical doohicky to adapt a mount purpose built to place a specific weight directly over the axle, in order to shift that weight onto a ball hitch is a spectacularly bad idea. As the doohicky flexes in directions unknown, that ball is being dragged in directions unknow.

Have you ever been behind a trailer whipping back and forth behind it's tow vehicle? You do NOT want to be that tow vehicle. Your insurer does not want you to be that tow vehicle. The vehicles around you...

[jwcolby123]

Originally Posted by Joe MacDonald

something like this would possibly be legal

This looks like a fine idea. Perhaps a tad expensive. Done correctly you could even put fuel cans, propane tanks and batteries on it.

[parmm]

Originally Posted by CPW

Just to point out, 5th Wheel refers to the type of connection, not the style of trailer. And the Scamp 19 actually isn’t a 5th wheel; it uses a proprietary hitch in the bed of the truck similar to a 5th Wheel but requires safety chains. Once converted to bumper pull, it is a bumper pull trailer.

I missed one question on my Class 1 driving test way back in 1970. How is a tractor connected to a trailer? I said fifth wheel and got it wrong!!! The proper answer was "coupling device". Back then, fifth wheel was a trucker nick name for the "coupling device". I don't remember what they called if for the CDL test when I had to take that. Official nomenclature changes over time, so today it might be "fifth wheel". I've always called it a fifth wheel, but when I took my first commercial test - fifth wheel was wrong!!! And if Scamp wants to call their Scamp 19 a fifth wheel, I think they have every right to it. They have been building their "Scamp Fifth Wheel", also known as the "Scamp 19", since 1981!! To my knowledge, no one has taken them to court over the name yet!