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Old 05-02-2021, 06:42 PM   #1
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Towing vehicle for 5th wheel Scamp

Has anyone towed a 5th wheel Scamp with a newer (2020/2021) Ford F150? Our Nissan Frontier just died and we were looking at the F150's but they all seem to be lifted much higher than our Frontier, so it makes it almost impossible to be used with our hitch. We are looking for more interior room in a truck but it looks as though the Frontier is the only alternative. We looked at the Ford F150, Ram, Tundra and Titan, all of which are also much higher. Thanks, Jim
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Old 05-02-2021, 08:21 PM   #2
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Go drive a Ford Ranger its only a little bigger that your Frontier and it is Well over qualified for the job.
It is by some margin the most capable Ranger Ford has made yet.
Scamp has depended on Rangers for delivering "5th wheel" Scamps for more than 25Years.
The 3.0L they used in the 90's and 00"s had about half the capability of the current 2.3L EB version.
The new Ranger is far more comfortable, efficient, and capable.


Mine has 1860# payload, 7500# tow weight, and 750# tongue weight.
Properly configured it can serve a couple or a family of four, for towing vacations or everyday driving.


I tow my Scamp13D (about 9000 miles so far) and it has been flawless with mileage in the low 20s.

The fiver may have a slight fuel penalty due to aerodynamics, but it will provide great control, power, and efficiency.
It is available as a SuperCab or a SuperCrew...
(love my SuperCab, but your needs may vary.)
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Old 05-03-2021, 09:32 AM   #3
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Scamp offers two suspension heights on the 19’ model, standard and raised (3” lift). Each will work with a range of bed rail heights, and Scamp will provide that information.

The new Rangers are taller than the old, but they might still fall within the height range for your current suspension. If so, I agree it’d make a good combination.

If you’re set on a new full-size truck, you’ll need to look into raising the Scamp suspension. How easy that is depends on whether your axle is welded or bolted. As you are finding, the majority of new trucks today require the raised suspension. The Frontier is an older design and a bit of an outlier.

Do you have the old-style fixed Scamp hitch or the newer removable style that mounts to standard fifth wheel rails?
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Old 05-03-2021, 03:46 PM   #4
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Name: Pat
Trailer: 2006 Scamp 19 Deluxe
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there are several members towing with Chevy Colorado's.
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Old 05-05-2021, 01:27 AM   #5
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Name: Tony
Trailer: 2015 19 Scamp DLX
British Columbia
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Scamp 19 Full size pickup

Building a gooseneck or bumper hitch for my 19 right now many beers spent "Thrinking" about which way to go ...
One easy way I may get three inches is to weld on an extension right off the 12" square mount and cut a 3.5" square hole at the front of the FRP fairing at the forward centerline at the bottom which has no structural value or interferes with the inner cabins integrity.
It will be up and down adjustable and forward and aft adjustable. The whole thing will be bolted onto the 12" plate so it can be put back to "Scamps Factory Hitch" in about 10 minutes.

I will be towing it with an 2015 F250
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Old 05-11-2021, 07:55 AM   #6
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Trailer: 2006 Scamp 19 Deluxe
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Seacap10 View Post
Building a gooseneck or bumper hitch for my 19 right now many beers spent "Thrinking" about which way to go ...
One easy way I may get three inches is to weld on an extension right off the 12" square mount and cut a 3.5" square hole at the front of the FRP fairing at the forward centerline at the bottom which has no structural value or interferes with the inner cabins integrity.
It will be up and down adjustable and forward and aft adjustable. The whole thing will be bolted onto the 12" plate so it can be put back to "Scamps Factory Hitch" in about 10 minutes.

I will be towing it with an 2015 F250
And just where did you get your automotive engineering degree?
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Old 05-11-2021, 08:17 AM   #7
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We had a 3” lift installed on our Scamp at the Scamp factory
( Removed old axle , welded on 3” spacers , installed new axle - Cost was $600
Makes more sense than buying a new truck you don’t want to avoid a simple modification
The Ford Ranger is a great compromise between a full size truck and a mini truck
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Old 05-15-2021, 10:36 AM   #8
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I use 2018 canyon v6, new hitch 3” riser on trailer. Pulls great, Rockies present no problem! Long bed and long cab.
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Old 05-18-2021, 01:30 AM   #9
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Name: Tony
Trailer: 2015 19 Scamp DLX
British Columbia
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My Gooseneck 19 fifth project

You caught me Parmm, no engineering degree...
Hitch is almost done though...
Cut off the "Scamp Hitch" thingy which didnt appear to be designed by an engineer or decent welder in my opinion. I cut most of the cold weld off with a cold chisel and ball peen hammer before I got out the gas wrench.
I have a full size Ford pickup with a high tailgate and sides so I had to come up with something that would work with the factory "Puck" system or build a bumper tow system which I didn't fancy.
I'll post a bunch of pics when I am done...
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Old 05-18-2021, 01:39 AM   #10
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Name: Tony
Trailer: 2015 19 Scamp DLX
British Columbia
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My Gooseneck 19 fifth project

cut off the Scamp hitch and building a "Universal mount" so you can put the old hitch back on? Or easily build a hitch for whatever kind of tow you want...
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Old 05-18-2021, 01:59 AM   #11
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Trailer: 2015 19 Scamp DLX
British Columbia
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My Gooseneck 19 fifth project

Ford "puck" towing system is pops right out when you don't need it so your truck box is clean
Machined my own 2 5/16" hitch, its overkill but weight is not an issue for this truck.
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Old 05-18-2021, 06:54 AM   #12
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Where will you attach the safety chains?
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Old 05-18-2021, 08:46 AM   #13
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Chains

The "puck" towing system has two holes in the Trucks bed for that, see the place plugs in the trucks bed...
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Old 05-18-2021, 10:25 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Seacap10 View Post
The "puck" towing system has two holes in the Trucks bed for that, see the place plugs in the trucks bed...
Saw those and wondered. Thanks!
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Old 05-24-2021, 09:46 PM   #15
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Name: Keith
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Find a local welder or trailer shop. Axle lift is no big deal on a scamp and even the small eco boost f150 tows it no problem.
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Old 05-26-2021, 10:22 AM   #16
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Ideal solution.

IMHO I would consider putting a lowering kit on the 250. Then you could use a proper 5th wheel connection and the 250 being lowered would overall handle the combo much better.
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Old 05-30-2021, 08:14 AM   #17
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Name: John
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I can't see my Insurance company agreeing to insure a home grown hitch replacement. Plus million dollar lawsuits when... Not if... It fails.

Which doesn't even address deaths of folks around me when it fails.
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Old 05-30-2021, 09:37 AM   #18
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King of the wild Frontier!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim RS View Post
Has anyone towed a 5th wheel Scamp with a newer (2020/2021) Ford F150? Our Nissan Frontier just died and we were looking at the F150's but they all seem to be lifted much higher than our Frontier, so it makes it almost impossible to be used with our hitch. We are looking for more interior room in a truck but it looks as though the Frontier is the only alternative. We looked at the Ford F150, Ram, Tundra and Titan, all of which are also much higher. Thanks, Jim
Hi: Jim RS... Here's a pix of our former Fronty at work!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie
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Old 06-12-2021, 09:14 AM   #19
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Trailer: Scamp
Minnesota
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Two weeks ago, I rolled my 2014 Frontier and 2019 19' Airstream. Both were totaled. I have replaced the Truck with a new Frontier, and am ready to place an order for a new Scamp 19'. I pulled a 1999 Scamp 19' for 15 years with a 2003 Tacoma, then my Blue wonder. The Frontier.
__________________
2021 Nissan Pro 4X. 2020 Scamp 19’ Deluxe.
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Old 06-12-2021, 10:24 AM   #20
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Always used GENERAL MOTORS products assembled by the UAW. No issues and no regrets.
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