Thoughts on various Scamp options

8 posts / 0 new
Last post
Lmitc210
Lmitc210's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 6 months ago
Joined: 01/27/2018 - 21:46
Thoughts on various Scamp options

After almost 40 years of tent camping, my wife and I are looking to get off the ground with a small RV. We're currently looking at a 16' Scamp (we're in MN), either a Layout 6 with the side dinette option package, or the 16' Deluxe-B. Our plan is to do most of our camping at campgrounds with limited services (i.e., Forest Service campgrounds, the tent-site campgrounds, and avoiding the large RV crowd), and think the Scamp will fit our needs nicely. I've read many, many posts on SOI forums, and find it to be a wealth of excellent information as we narrow down our search!

At this stage, I'm curious about what current Scamp owners think about a couple of the options available, namely:

1.  Gas & electric hot water heater vs. gas-only: I'm guessing the gas/electric requires shore-power for the electric use? If so, I'm wondering if it's worth the extra $ to have the "dual-fuel" capability since we're planning on doing a lot of camping without shore power?

2.  Propane gauge - I think it would be advantageous to have some sort of gauge; the optional gauge from Scamp is a color indicator on the tank regulator. Are there better, aftermarket solutions?

3. 12V interior plug - Is this like a cigarette lighter socket in a car? If so, I'm thinking it would be good to have at least one, to charge USB-devices from the 12V system?

4.  Backsplash: on the Deluxe models, I'm thinking this might be useful to prtect the wall covering rearward of the stove, but on the non-Deluxe models it looks like the fiberglass cabinet already features a backsplash of sorts due to the way the cabinet is constructed?

Thanks!

carl
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 3 weeks ago
Joined: 06/19/2014 - 20:29
I bought a 2014 16' standard

I bought a 2014 16' standard Pkg. with most options. The HWH gas only was standard and the gas/Elec. dual was an option. Dummy me thought the dual unit was to much, little did i know that the standard price was deducted from the dual price which would have been very little of a  price to pay. I would have sprung for that price just so i would not have fool around with the pilot light. Needless to say i have not yet used the HWH since i bought it. If we want HW we just heat up with an electric pot, or with the gas stove. We do not Boon dock but use camp sites with or with out elec. We use most of the time campsites shower facilities, but like our full bath even if we do not shower in it. It is nothing to heat up a little HW to do dishes and wash up face and hands till we get to campsite showers. We have the small 3 way fridge. we never used it on gas just 12 volt while in tow and elec. at camp sites. For the 2 of us and the pup is plenty of room, we always need to go to the store for something and is no problem to re-supply the fridge.good luck .. Carl

Lmitc210
Lmitc210's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 6 months ago
Joined: 01/27/2018 - 21:46
I bought a 2014 16' standard

Thanks for the insight, Carl! Not ever having had a travel trailer, I'm thinking we would be using the HWH a bit, but maybe not? I'm leaning toward getting the dual-energy source option, if for nothing else but increasing the resale value. Since I posed my original questions, my wife and I have shifted thought gears a bit and are leaning toward a 13-foot to get started, then upgrading if we feel like it in a few years. The 13' Scamps seem to have a pretty good resale potential, from what I've seen.

2016 13 Scamp Deluxe
TV: 2020 Subaru Ascent Premium
Minnesota

JTST_Scamper
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 2 months ago
Joined: 08/27/2016 - 14:25
Ideas

As an owner of a 16 Deluxe .........

1. Gas/Electric hot water heater is worth the extra cost. (side note: The unit we have came with an interior switch panel to either lite the gas or activate the electric or both. Other than routine maintenance you don't have to deal with anything on the outside of the trailer.) 

2. A lot of discussion threads on propane, hookup and gauges. We have dual tanks with the auto switchover regulator. With the dual tanks its easy to know when one is empty and you have plenty of time to fill that tank while working on the 2nd one.

3. Yes, the 12 volt plug is just like in a car. I think its a good idea especially if you are not planning a shoreline RV hookup for power. Ours is under the side dinette near the floor but you can ask Scamp to place it somewhere else. In fact for the 110 volt outlets you can, within reason, move or add in that respect as well. 

4. We added the backsplash in ours. Glad we did as we enjoy cooking.

Your post says you are from MN. I would go by the factory for a tour (we drove from Illinois to do this before our purchase) and as you walk and get a chance to talk with the staff ask them about what is important to you. If your thinking of adding or moving 110 volt outlets or adding 12 volt and want the bed setup full time where should those outlets best go? We stepped into the front bathroom in a newly finished 16 Deluxe and decided to delete the bathroom sink in favor of having more room. (We have the shower handset on the bathroom wall.) The sales staff are really friendly and the factory staff enjoy the conversation. 

Some items we added were simply for resale down the road. Do you have a furnace? yes but realistic use of a small electric heater works fine for us. We don't really like a/c and prefer the windows open but yes we added that as well. Each to his own and something to ponder.

Enjoy and wishing you lots of fun with your perfect trailer....

BTW; For safety I would suggest adding the 2nd set of rear tail lights for added visibility. 

Lmitc210
Lmitc210's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 6 months ago
Joined: 01/27/2018 - 21:46
Ideas

Thanks for the feedback, JTST_Scamper. I think we will opt for the gas/electric HWH. And, I was planning on the second set of tailights, especially since we're planning on carrying a bike rack on the optional 2" receiver.

We did go up to Backus last weekend to tour the factory. Nick Swenson helped us out and I was very impressed with his no-pressure approach and thorough answers to all our questions. Reflects what I've read in other posts in this forum.

We're still considering our options and desires. At present we're thinking of starting off with a used 13' as a Scamp "break-in" then evaluating in a couple of years about moving to a 16'. We really like the idea of the wider 54" bed available in either the 13' or the 16' Deluxe, but the budget in order to get that feature may push us right now toward the 13'

2016 13 Scamp Deluxe
TV: 2020 Subaru Ascent Premium
Minnesota

C2B2
C2B2's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 4 months ago
Joined: 08/03/2016 - 23:51
Big bed

The wider bed is worth whatever it takes to get it. The new foam is pretty comfortable, also. I would like to have the back cushions reformatted so when they are in the center over the table/bed, you could take out the section that goes over the add-on board that extends the table for the wider bed.  Then I would put a post on that smaller board and use it as a two-person breakfast table while leaving the rest of the bed down as a couch.

Clyde & Cecile Bentley - C2B2

  • Columbia, MO
  • 2017 13-foot Scamp
  • Hit the retirement road May 2017
carl
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 3 weeks ago
Joined: 06/19/2014 - 20:29
Just fold up the flaps of the

Just fold up the flaps of the back cushions, i sometimes put the filler board on top of the folded cushion and use that as a table. Carl 

eastbaygal123
Offline
Last seen: 3 months 6 days ago
Joined: 11/06/2016 - 09:15
2018 16ft Scamp no. 6 floorplan

Just got our Scamp from Minnesota and are getting it ready for our first trip.   We really liked the small dinette option so that we weren't putting the bed up and down.  And I wanted to have a bathroom with a shower - nothing like coming back from a long hike and taking a ( very quick! ) shower in your own, cozy trailer.  But we have always had much bigger trailers, so it will be interesting how we adjust!  Looking forward to our first Scamp Gathering in Pine Grove.  Want to see all the creative ways folks have made their space more useable.  Kathy