Thinking about buying a Scamp

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morganp107
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Joined: 07/02/2017 - 19:54
Thinking about buying a Scamp

My wife and I are currently considering buying a new Scamp, but are a bit unsure of making an investment in something we can't see in person. We live in a rural part of upstate NY (Adirondack Park region) and I have contacted Scamp, but it seems there are no Scamps close to where we live. I was wondering if anyone can speak to their experience buying a Scamp before seeing it? Were there any things you wish you had known ahead of time? At this point, we are also wavering between a Scamp 13 and a Scamp 16. The Scamp 13 fits our budget a bit better, and as of now, we only have 1 child (however that may change in the future). Is the space difference in the 16 significant over the 13? Any 13 owners wish they had gotten a 16 as the family grew? Thanks for your time. 

Greg A
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Joined: 11/02/2013 - 20:45
Upstate NY

Hello and welcome to the clubhouse. We do have several SOI members in your area so hopefully one will come on here and get you through their Scamp.

Just our personal experience starting out years ago with an 81 13 Scamp and two toddlers, in hindsight we would have pursued a 16 with the bathroom initially. We knew very little about the hobby or much about the trailers and when that trailer became available an hour from our house, we took it. No regrets, we did love it and did half the country in it over 5 years. Every personal trailer we've had since we have had the full-bath. There isn't much difference in the 13 layout with the bunks and the 16 layout with the bunks except you add the space for a bath and for us that has become a nice room to have. Lots of folks don't care about the bath or use the shower in it, but we do shower (even when boondocking) and use the full bath quite a bit. We've found over the years the campground facilities run more to the "iffy" side than not and occasionally when we hit a campground with good facilities we will use those some, but it's sure nice not to have to worry about it.

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Flyboyscamp
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Your Scamp Search

Well, we sold our Scamp last year but so loved it. We made many mods to it and truly loved it. I shall say a 16 ft. Scamp is the choice for room. With just one child and maybe more on the way, don't fence yourself in to a trailer with no room. And I shall echo Greg's statement too, a bathroom shower is essential. I don't care that others nevr used theirs. Why have it and not use it! We sure used ours and you shall too. Get a 16 for sure.

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Paul O.
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We are in VT, east of the

We are in VT, east of the Green Mountains, near Rt. 4 (between Killington and White river Junction). From Plattsburg it might only be a couple of hours. Ours is the 5th wheel, but except for the loft, it is like the front bathroom 16' Scamp. If you want to make a trip, you could see it. Send a PM if interested.

-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado

tonyjanet
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Joined: 07/11/2016 - 18:44
Your Scamp Decision

My wife and I picked up our new Scamp 13 no bath / toilet, at the factory in May. We love it!

We typically camp in state parks and use their bathroom facilities.

That being said, it is a bit tight when we have our 70 Lb dog with us.

A 16 would probably be better for a couple with one or two pre-teen children.

In my opinion having the appropriate tow vehicle for a 16 would be the biggest factor to be considered. And that opens up a whole other can of worms of varying opinions on what is a good tow vehicle.

Camper to Scamper
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Joined: 05/16/2015 - 17:41
Still happy with the 13' - no toilet

Hi there. I don't know if you will see this (thread is 3 1/2 years old), but I would really appreciate your opinion on the Scamp 13 at this point in time. We have a 13' Standard on order and I curious to know! Thanks. :) 

gwander
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Joined: 08/07/2016 - 16:01
Scamp choice

I think it is important to think about what is perfect for you when deciding to buy a Scamp or any other trailer, what one of us thinks is a must-have, others will say is an absolutely not option. The good things on Scamps is that first, most options are pretty cheap to add, at least the "small" ones like vinyl instead of carpet, backsplash behind the stove, an extra cabinet/lights/outlet. Those I think personally it's good to load up on. Then you have to just think on the big ones if it makes a real difference or not - awning, bathroom, size of Scamp, etc. And we are all different.

For us - I didn't want to buy a travel trailer for $7K - $15K (my budget) and then have to pay $1,000 a year to store it somewhere outside, and pay that every year as within several years I have more paid for storage than paid for the trailer. So I started there and found all the varieties - popups, teardrops, etc. that fit in my garage. The Scamp 13 was one of those.

Then I thought about what I wanted. We are a tent camping family so moving to anything with a dry indoors and a couple amenities was like staying at the Ritz Carlton instead of Motel 6!!!! So all I wanted was something small with a couple basic options. I have 3 daughters (ages 4, 4, and 7). I ended up buying a 13' Scamp with the bunk beds in the front. Almost everywhere we go there is a toilet or vault toilet and that's good enough, I can save the hassle of having one in my trailer. I don't have a shower but don't care - I can find a shower if I really need it, and a lot of the campgrounds we are at now have shower facilities. We have the front bunk in the Scamp and the Big Bed. Is it tight when we are all in there - heck yeah!!!! But it's WAY better than being in a tent, if it's raining we fire up the stove and cook our dinner there - if it's not we cook it on the campfire. And yes we all cramp in to sleep in it, again, it's not like being in a house, but we can put 2 on the big bed, 2 on the bunks and one throws a little mattress on the floor. Tight, but as I said - WAY better than being in a tent. I have a water system, pump, and hot water heater but have never used any of them - added them just for re-sale.

So I guess just trying to give an alternate viewpoint here. Many of the folks who are talking trailers on this site have been owners of trailers for years and years so the standard has become comparing a trailer vs another trailer, and you'll always find a trailer that is better than the one you have. For us tent campers the change from tent to super basic travel trailer is immense. I can tell you this - every where I go - I have people follow me to look at the Scamp or come over to see it in the campground, and they aren't doing that to the folks who have 30 foot fifth wheels!!! You can make anything work so you just have to decide what you are going to do - do you want to go to a campground and then sit in the trailer and watch TV? If so, then your choice is different than someone like us - we like to go to a campground, then do a lot of hiking, playing outside, driving around to see and explore the area, cook on the fire when we can, etc., and the trailer is there when we sleep or when it's raining!

Camper to Scamper
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Scamp choice!

I so appreciate your sharing your thoughts! They reinforce what we have been thinking (after 30 years of marriage and five children who all grew up tent camping with us). To me, a 13' would be just sweet and secure enough to make all the fun of camping (and hiking...and dog walking...and sight seeing...) that much easier. 

C2B2
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Shop smart

Take a step back and look at why you want to buy a Scamp. Do not buy one because it is cute.  There are lots of less cute but very serviceable trailers  

Are you looking for an alternative to a tent or an alternative to a motel. One implies roughing it, the other puts a premium on comfort. A 13 is an OK tent for three, but it will be crowded. The 13 works very well for singles and empty nester couples like us. 

What is your tow vehicle? We chose the 13 in part because that is all our Outback would tow. If you have a truck, go bigger (Scamp or something else). 

I think it is foolish to buy a trailer without seeing one first. I love our 13 but it would be a miserable place to be with an unhappy kid in a protracted rain storm. 

Clyde & Cecile Bentley - C2B2

  • Columbia, MO
  • 2017 13-foot Scamp
  • Hit the retirement road May 2017
k0wtz
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Joined: 08/15/2017 - 08:11
hello c2b2

hello folks bob here we live in auxvasse just up the road from you. I have a A-Liner Scout but due to back surgery just purchased a 13f scamper we pick it up in a couple of weeks.  be nice to visit sometime and compare notes we have tented for 41 years all over the world and now slowing down due to our age.

 

Camper to Scamper
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Joined: 05/16/2015 - 17:41
Shop smart - LOL

So true! Then again...we have had a grouchy kid or two in tents that collapsed in rain storms...memories. 

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