Just a quick intro. Been Tenting and RVing for 25 years in class "C" and usually tow'd a car too. So to flip and go on the minimal path will be new. We have a 2018 subaru crosstrek 6SPD manual trans and are considering a 13 foot with the shower/bath for the fun of it. This way not sleeping on ground and no wet sides when it rains. Is anyone else pulling the 13 foot with a crosstrek. The max trailer rated is 1,500 and electric brakes a must for me. Just my Wife and I and we have always spent the time outside anyway. Thoughts and opinions welcome and wanted
Thanks
Bob
Hi Bob,
We purchased a 2017 Scamp 13' last year and I drove out to MN to pick it up with my 2015 Subaru Forester, 6 speed manual transmission, which has a 2.5L 174 hp engine. It pulled fine coming home, 1,300 miles. Lots of shifting on hills but it worked out and I was generally pleased with the way the Forester pulled the camper. Gas mileage was down to 17 - 19 mpg pulling the Scamp. Your vehicle I believe has a 2.0L engine with 145 hp. The first problem occurred camping in Mass. We were down a steep paved driveway. When it was time to leave I pulled the camper onto the driveway slowly to avoid the rough transition where the dirt met the pavement, so vehicle and camper were both on a relatively steep incline. Iet out the clutch, hit the gas pedal and nothing!! I could not move the camper. Clutch burning!! I had to back up to a flat spot on the gravel, get a running start, crash over the rough transition from gravel to pavement and pulled the Scamp out. That was the first time.
Last month we pulled the camper to Prince Edward Island. Again, lots of shifting on hills but we were fine. Gas mileage down to about 15 - 17 mpg. Had to put in a quart of oil after having changed the oil 1500 miles earlier. On the way home we were driving through St Johnsbury VT. We were traveling up a fairly steep hill and had to stop behind another vehicle which had stopped at the stop sign at the top of the hill. When I moved forward, burning clutch, up to the stop sign. Stopped at the sign. Burning clutch accelerating from the stop sign. My wife asked, " what's that smell?" I said, " that's the clutch Darlin, and this week I am trading this car in!!" I had always thought that pulling a trailer with a standard transmission vehicle was an advantage. I have found that not to be true and realized that if we were stuck in traffic on a steep hill, pulling the Scamp, we would be in trouble. I think if the car was equipped with an automatic, I would not have had an issue on the hills. I traded the Forester in for a 2019 Honda ridgeline, 3.5 liter V6, automatic transmission which pulls the camper effortlessly.
I know this is not what you would like to hear, but it is what it is! If you live where it is flat, you may be O.K. In mountainous areas, I don't think so! One more thing. We have a front bunk model which I believe is lighter than the camper you are considering.Good luck with your decision. Anthony
Anthony Memoli
I appreciate any thoughts and opinions and expierence. I choose to learn from others and not always the hard way Thanks
2019 Scamp 13 standard
In my opinion the newer stick shift vehicles including our Nissan Frontier are geared too high.
They would be easier to drive especially while towing with lower first and second gears.
Yes, the transfer of power is much more efficient with an automatic tranny. Check the tow rating of a pickup/suv with an auto vs. a standard. Pulling a trailer with an underpowered vehicle with a standard trans is a recipe for tow vehicle trouble. I found that using an underpowered vehicle reduces gas mileage to the point where it makes sense to buy a vehicle that will pull the Scamp with no effort. I bought a V8 Silverado and it is much better than the V6 Ford Escape I used at first.