ISO 13' Scamp

21 posts / 0 new
Last post
Greg A
Greg A's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 days 12 hours ago
SOI-AdministratorLifetime Member
Joined: 11/02/2013 - 20:45
Rust

I just can't see enough detail on some of these to tell, but it looks like the frame has been repaired on Pic 1. It looks like an added reinforcement on the drivers side tongue right below the wiring entry into the Scamp. Most of this is surface rust and can be wire brushed and treated to prevent any further damage, but it definitely looks like it hasn't been something that they've maintained on this trailer over the years which could mean there is internal rust in the frame members.  Pic 2 and 3 are the most concerning and it seems like they are showing you where the frame repair was done. I'd have to know a bit more from the seller on the details if the frame was repaired, who did it, etc. and have to inspect the trailer personally to really give you any answer as to what I'd do.

 

Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape

Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:

Fiberglass-RV-4Sale

wanderer
Offline
Last seen: 6 years 9 months ago
Joined: 03/01/2017 - 14:01
Thanks Greg, we decided to

Thanks Greg, we decided to pass on that one due to the rust coupled with travel distance and being further down the line than we were originally told! I appreciate your insight.

Greg A
Greg A's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 days 12 hours ago
SOI-AdministratorLifetime Member
Joined: 11/02/2013 - 20:45
Deterrent

Yes, Mark, it is a deterrent. You have to remember we've been buying and selling and advertising these trailers for way over a decade and nothing is more heartbreaking than when we hear of someone that sent the money for a sight unseen trailer and got taken. We scrub our ads on fiberglass-RV-4sale very thoroughly and there are few Scam ads that we don't recognize, but occasionally one gets past us. Craigslist has always been loaded with Scams on these trailers, so we do recommend a high degree of caution. We never want to hear of someone being taken trying to buy one of these.

Honest sellers will hold the trailer for you with no $$$ if they know ur enroute to get it and keep communicating with them on ur way. I am sure if ur 2 sellers knew you were getting in the car to come get it they would have held it for you to get there, if not, then it wasn't the right deal. I've sold almost all my trailers in that fashion. There are some bad stories of being enroute and seller sold the trailer out from under you, but that is a better bad outcome than losing thousands.

The guidelines are only recommendations based on experience, and one can follow them or ignore them as they see fit.

Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape

Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:

Fiberglass-RV-4Sale

wanderer
Offline
Last seen: 6 years 9 months ago
Joined: 03/01/2017 - 14:01
Thanks for all the tips! Yes,

Thanks for all the tips! Yes, we have cash in hand, well- in the bank- I'm hoping to buy with a cashier's check if possible. Ready to pounce. I have spoken to 5 owners on the phone within hours of their listings. There was always one person ahead of me, and each time that person ended up buying. Also, each time has been a 5-10 hour drive from me, so I could get there within a day, but not immediately. Almost all of the owners sounded very honest, except for one, which did not seem worth making the drive. Will definitely not put money down before we (or a friend) have viewed the camper.

So... we've been close, but not close enough. We've been checking http://www.fiberglass-rv-4sale.com/scamp-trailers-for-sale and craigslist almost hourly.

rriebow
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 4 months ago
Joined: 07/07/2016 - 07:06
One more thing...

When we bought our Scamp, they absolutely refused anything but cash--no cashier's check, no direct bank-to-bank transfer (our CU had a sister CU not 15 minutes from their house!).  The other thing is to absolutely make sure they have a clear title.  I had a nightmare trip to KY to buy a vintage trailer before deciding a Scamp was a much better choice.  The seller of that thing had the clear title, but as she had bought it in Ohio, for some reason it could not be retitled (or licensed) until it had a safety inspection.  She found that out the night before I spent 12 hours lost in the hills of KY.  She could have told me before I started out but noooooo.  Live and learn, it was not a pleasant trip.  And not a pleasant conversation once I got there.  But, a happy ending after all.  I have a Scamp!!!! 

Rhonda Riebow

wanderer
Offline
Last seen: 6 years 9 months ago
Joined: 03/01/2017 - 14:01
Rhonda, I noticed that when

Rhonda, I noticed that when speaking to a couple of sellers. I understand it, just nervous to carry that much cash in hand. Thanks for the advice on the title. When and how did you find your scamp?

rriebow
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 4 months ago
Joined: 07/07/2016 - 07:06
Carrying cash

My husband was NOT happy carrying that much cash.  The CU would have been the best way to go for both parties, they could have received cash at the sister CU if they had wanted.  When he went to our CU to get the cash, they didn't like the idea either, and said he might make the point that people pass fake money too (the sellers were afraid of a fake cashier's check, which I guess does happen).  I took cash on the ill-fated KY trip too, a smaller quantity but still.  Not a good area though once I got down there, I was really nervous about it.  We actually looked at the Scamp seller's house on Google Earth before he went down there, a nice neighborhood so a bit more reassuring.  My husband is retired, so he was prepared to drive 500 miles to get a Scamp--we had found one in Wisconsin but the seller's story was just a little iffy.  He sounded like a nice guy and probably was, who knows.  Anyway, we really lucked out.  Our Scamp was only 100 miles away, and the transaction went smoothly.  We found it on the Fiberglass-RV website.  

Good luck!  The right one will pop up when you least expect it.    

Rhonda Riebow

wanderer
Offline
Last seen: 6 years 9 months ago
Joined: 03/01/2017 - 14:01
Greg- good to know how

Greg- good to know how careful you are with postings on the site. It has been my go to for searching/ researching/ learning.

Greg A
Greg A's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 days 12 hours ago
SOI-AdministratorLifetime Member
Joined: 11/02/2013 - 20:45
On the way

Wanderer, you are definitely doing the due diligence you need and will find a Scamp if you persist. It is a good time of year to be looking as it's not quite season yet, it get's tougher in April/May and pricing will go up some.

You're absolutely right to follow your instinct when a situation doesn't feel right. When it's right it will all come together for you. We're still in touch with several of the buyers our previous trailers and they are very nice people and are enjoying their trailers.

Keep us posted and can't wait to see what you ultimately find.

Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape

Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:

Fiberglass-RV-4Sale

Old Man in the Cave
Old Man in the Cave's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 9 months ago
Joined: 04/14/2017 - 13:47
Carrying cash and other thoughts.

Hello, I am a new to Scamp owner -- I just bought mine a week ago, a 1975 13-footer in fairly good condition. I saw it on a car lot and stopped in, looked it over and bought it. I didn't have cash, although I could have gone home and raided the piggy bank, but since it was a car lot I was able to put it on a credit card. Those here who say that if you find a good deal you should pounce are absolutely correct.

As an example, a few years ago I saw a 1971 Volvo 1800e advertised in the newspaper for $600. I called and a woman answered and she said I couldn't look at it until her husband got home, and there were two people ahead of me. I asked her if I paid her $50 cash could I be first in line whether or not I bought the car. She said I could come down and see it immediately. I paid her the $50 and then bought the car for $600. It turned out there was a parts car that went with it that I ended up selling for $450. Did some repairs and maintenance (maybe $300) and drove it for several years before selling it for $4,200. I loved the car, but had no place to store it indoors. The moral is: know as much as you can about what you want to buy, and pounce when you find it. If you are hesitant, listen ot your gut and walk away. Every time I've ignored my gut, I was sorry. (Although there have been times my gut didn't warn me and I got burned. Such is life.)

Carrying cash doesn't bother me, but then I carry CCW. You just can't let anyone know about it. Especially the cops! Because of a law called civil asset forfeiture your cash can be confiscated. If you are stopped by law enforcement for any reason, and are asked if you have any large amounts of cash on you DO NOT ADMIT THAT YOU HAVE CASH. Unscrupulous officers will take your money and you will never get it back. I don't like lying, but if some officer asks me if I am carrying any cash, my answer will always be: "only a few dollars." (and remember to smile pleasantly) Hey, compared to the national dept, $20 thousand dollars is absolutely minute. Of course, I don't do the kind of stuff that gets a person and their vehicle searched, and I'm always polite, so there's no need to worry.

​rriebow - looking on Google Earth for the seller's house was absolutely brilliant!!!

 

1975 13ft Scamp purchased April 2017
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.

Pages