|
|
06-22-2021, 09:36 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Name: Don
Trailer: Currently Shopping
NJ
Posts: 1
|
Hello -- New Member Scamp Question
Hello, I am Don (aka RestingMyEyes). I am considering a 16' Scamp purchase and would welcome any and all advice, recommendations and cautions.
Best,
RestingMyEyes
|
|
|
06-22-2021, 10:12 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RestingMyEyes
Hello, I am Don (aka RestingMyEyes). I am considering a 16' Scamp purchase and would welcome any and all advice, recommendations and cautions.
Best,
RestingMyEyes
|
Would you like us to choose a wife for you as well?
We know nothing about you or your camping style. You have to make some effort.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
06-23-2021, 05:50 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,912
|
Welcome, Don!
Biggest drawback is the small rear dinette bed on 16’ standards. At 45” wide, it’s pretty cozy for two adults. Deluxe models have a true double at 54” wide.
We have the smaller bed in our 13' Scamp, and while we share the bed for couple time in the evenings, when it's lights out, I move to the front bunk. Separate beds accommodates our different sleep patterns (night owl vs. early bird) and facilitates nighttime potty visits.
As Glenn suggests, some information about how you plan to use the trailer would be helpful: how many people, long or short trips, with or without hookups, all-season or warm weather only, tow vehicle…
Are you thinking new or used?
|
|
|
06-23-2021, 06:10 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,136
|
Take a tape measure with you. Camper manufacturers use obscure terms to describe beds like “big bed” or they redefine bed sizes making a twin size a full and so on. It’s not just width either. Beds are shorter than residential beds so taller people can have issues.
Despite the small beds people make it work! In my small bed Trillium, my wife and I sleep in opposite directions.
Like any used RV, don’t go on what the seller tells you, YOU are the inspector and it will be yours as soon as you buy it.
These molded fiberglass trailers are much more durable than other trailers. Still every brand has its shortcomings and some prior research is prudent.
As trailers go, I’m a fan of the Scamp 16! I prefer floorplans with windows front and rear so you get more light into the trailer (layout 4). But that makes the bathroom smaller. Realize in the world of molded FG, trailers are measured end to end. So a Scamp 16, the trailer section is only 13 feet long. And FG trailers tend to be narrower than traditional trailers. So they are both shorter and narrower (and ceiling height can be lower too). Windows that open front and rear for the WIN, but thats a Trillium. My 13 foot Trillium has more windows that open than my 19 foot Escape.
|
|
|
06-23-2021, 09:14 AM
|
#5
|
Member
Name: William
Trailer: 13' Perris Pacer
California
Posts: 46
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo
Would you like us to choose a wife for you as well?
We know nothing about you or your camping style. You have to make some effort.
|
C'mon, Glenn! That comment is neither humorous nor helpful. Didn't your mom teach you "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!"?
|
|
|
06-23-2021, 11:05 AM
|
#6
|
Member
Name: Larry and Pat
Trailer: Scamp
Wisconsin
Posts: 35
|
People on here are not normally rude....
Welcome Restingmyeyes....There is a lot of good information here, also occasionally poor advice, so keep an open mind.....
|
|
|
06-23-2021, 11:17 AM
|
#7
|
Junior Member
Name: Mick M
Trailer: Scamp
Washington
Posts: 25
|
Scamp Purchase
Are you considering new or used? If new, you have more options. If used, there are some key factors often over looked when purchasing.
I purchased a used Scamp 16 and really enjoy the trailer. It is cozy and my wife and I enjoy it all four seasons. It is easy to tow, easy to heat and cool, and easy to maintain. That said, here are some issues that I had to address shortly after my purchased:
1. Unit was 20 years old and the axle needed to be replaced.
2. Frame was not maintained. Was not damage but needed a good cleaning, sealing, and painting.
3. Battery was poor condition.
4. Some of the door hinges and latches were loose and had to be replaced/repaired. This was likely due to the jarring caused by a poor axle.
5. Brakes and bearing were in poor condition. This was address when a new axle was installed with new wheel assembly.
6. Tail light and side light covers were damaged. This are not replaceable on my model. Have installed updated LED units.
7. Some rivets where missing. Replace missing and potential problem rivets.
8. It did not have a shore charging unit. Have installed a smart unit.
9. Needed to replace door seal and seal chalking.
10. Replaced all lights to LED.
11. Gelcoat was fully oxidized.
There were other minor items as well but had I been more diligent in my inspection at purchase, I may have been able to make a better decision if this was the best approach over new. In brief, I purchase the trailer for $10k, put in roughly 100 hours of labor to get the trailer up to great condition, and have spent around $3.5k. In contrast, there was another 16 foot for $15k that we were looking at that had air conditioning, full bath, a fantastic fan, and was 12 years old. Might have been a better decision to spend the $5k more.
However, I have enjoyed doing the work and love my Scamp. So, I guess I had made the best decision for me.
Good luck on you venture.
|
|
|
06-23-2021, 11:34 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Name: Karin & Don
Trailer: 2012 Scamp 13Ft
Maine
Posts: 159
|
[QUOTE=thrifty bill;817680]Take a tape measure with you. Camper manufacturers use obscure terms to describe beds like “big bed” or they redefine bed sizes making a twin size a full and so on. It’s not just width either. Beds are shorter than residential beds so taller people can have issues.
That didn't sound right to me so I took a tape measure out to my Scamp 13 (2012) The standard bed mattress is wall to wall at 76". My standard double at home is 74" long. My 6'2" husband sleeps comfortably on both. Karin
|
|
|
06-23-2021, 11:53 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,912
|
If you're shopping used, Mick has listed some common repairs you might be looking at. Most are pretty routine for a 20 year old unit.
It looks like he avoided the biggie, which is a rotted subfloor, caused by neglected leaks from windows, vents, plumbing, sometime even running lights and the spare tire mount. All are potential leak points requiring periodic maintenance. Do a careful inspection of the floor from above and below, paying special attention inside benches and cabinets around the outer perimeter of the floor where it meets the shell. Probe gently with a screwdriver and feel for any softness where it's covered with vinyl or carpet.
Replacing the floor is a big project requiring removal of much of the interior. It would be a deal-killer for me. If the price were right and you are up for a project with time, tools, skills, and a covered workspace, then maybe. But as Mike says, it's often cheaper in the long run to pay more for one in good condition.
Here's a link to a helpful Buyer's Checklist.
|
|
|
06-25-2021, 05:54 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Name: John
Trailer: 2000 16ft Scamp
Minnesota
Posts: 189
|
Eleven years of joy
My lovely assistant and I purchased our 16 ft Scamp used in good shape in 2010. New axle with brakes last year, fiamma awning and AC installed at Backus. This year we added a new king antenna, new vent cap. Added a new ‘miracle mattress’, amazing.The cost the factory installed additions along with my original purchase price our camper is doing better than most of my stocks. Saw the new flat doors on my last visit, looks like a good change, you’d get that on a new trailer! Good Luck
John
__________________
The earth without art is just eh....
|
|
|
06-25-2021, 11:08 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Name: Lynn
Trailer: '06 Scamp 16
Rochester, New York
Posts: 285
|
See one in person. Now that things are opening up, look for a Scamp/fiberglass gathering and see for yourself what the inside is like. Scamp maintains a list of owners who are willing to show their trailers (most of us are) and will provide names and locations without any pressure. Good luck finding a trailer you'll be happy with.
|
|
|
06-26-2021, 10:25 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Name: Carl
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA
Florida
Posts: 1,689
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by lpdolan
Welcome Restingmyeyes....There is a lot of good information here, also occasionally poor advice, so keep an open mind.....
|
Per your title (people here not normally rude) there are a few who are not always rude, but are consistently rude and unhelpful. It is unfortunate, but there is nothing one can do other than complain to the site team who, if they determine a post is inappropriate, will delete it.
|
|
|
06-30-2021, 10:20 AM
|
#13
|
Junior Member
Name: Bob
Trailer: 2019 16' Scamp; tow vehicle: 2010 Ford Escape V6
Michigan
Posts: 28
|
New or used
If you're looking for a new one the wait time is currently 20 months and they are accepting orders for 2023 models.
If you're interested in a used 2019 16' layout 4 with the utility room instead of the bathroom (has NO bathroom) let me know. I'm in Calumet Michigan and will probably be selling ours in a couple of months or so. Will be asking $19,500.
In any case if you can get to the factory they usually have several on the lot that you could look at.
|
|
|
06-30-2021, 10:41 AM
|
#14
|
Junior Member
Trailer: Scamp 16 ft
Posts: 10
|
Love our Scamp 16.
We have a 2005 Scamp 16 side dinette with the front bathroom and big refrigerator. There are just the two of us, so we never take down the rear bed. We sleep facing opposite ways which seems strange, but gives us more room. We added a foam mattress to the bed as it is too firm otherwise. Bought used, with only repairs needed has been the furnace thermostat and the ac converter had the toroid coils break loose which needing resoldering and hot gluing.
|
|
|
06-30-2021, 10:47 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Name: Ray
Trailer: scamp
Indiana
Posts: 811
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mchalewj
C'mon, Glenn! That comment is neither humorous nor helpful. Didn't your mom teach you "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!"?
|
Well he had something to say there. But he said it very badly. And I think any useful information got lost in his being nasty.
On the other hand the reference to the wife might be useful information. It's not only what does he want to do with these camping cuz he's married what's who's his wife want. There's probably even more important does household are usually wifey things.
|
|
|
06-30-2021, 10:56 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Name: Ray
Trailer: scamp
Indiana
Posts: 811
|
These units can pretty tight especially if you got more than one person. I'm single oh, and mostly by myself. Mostly doing things that would be called boondocking except a lot of times it's for work. I'm an amateur radio operator and it works great as a portable ham Shack. That did take some rewiring to make work.
There is a kid in my life regularly and we've camped in it that's worked pretty well. Had a friend staying with me when we lost power for 3 days in extremely hot weather. My generator wouldn't handle the house that handles the air conditioning for the camper and so we stayed in the camper for those 3 days with three of us, two adults and a kid. That was really extra "cozy". Not sure that would have worked very well for a vacation activity.
So what do you intend to do with it.
|
|
|
06-30-2021, 11:36 AM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by computerspook
Well he had something to say there. But he said it very badly. And I think any useful information got lost in his being nasty.
|
It's what I get for trying to be humorous.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
06-30-2021, 11:41 AM
|
#18
|
Member
Name: Kevin
Trailer: Scamp
Texas
Posts: 51
|
We have a 16’ Scamp. It’s perfect for us (3 people + 2 small dogs). Got back from a 4500-mile trip last night. Wouldn’t leave home without it. Hope it all works out for you! Good luck, have fun.
|
|
|
06-30-2021, 12:07 PM
|
#19
|
Junior Member
Name: Gail
Trailer: 2020 Scamp 16 ft
Washington
Posts: 5
|
Don’t travel with a full water tank (too much weight in the rear) and don’t let your speed creep up past 60 mph - which I learned after a heart stopping episode of trailer sway! I am a single woman with layout four, picked up my new Scamp last year at the factory and drove it to NW Washington State during the pandemic. Had a great time - no crowds and easy to be safe ! The thing that irritated me most about my new trailer was the 7 pound cover for the two burner stove! You might want to tell the factory that you want a stove with a lighter cover. I also got a foam topper for the almost double mattress, which stays in place as I use the side dinette. I also wish I had different window coverings that will darken the room. The curtains they give you are pretty chintsy. A previous trailer I had used pleated shades that worked great! All told, I love my Scamp!
|
|
|
06-30-2021, 01:30 PM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Name: Ray
Trailer: scamp
Indiana
Posts: 811
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo
It's what I get for trying to be humorous.
|
I can think of a lot of funny responses which would communicate the same information and actually be funny. OK I have the same problem at times.
I would think that something about fiberglass trailers are probably not for people who think everyone is a cookie cutter duplicate of everyone else. How about telling us what kind of special cookie you are?
That would be funny and really communicate what you wanted to communicate. (PS you have my permission to steal that if you want to)
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Upcoming Events |
No events scheduled in the next 465 days.
|
|