We've had our Scamp for a few years now, and I've yet to tow her with the fresh water tank full. With it being located at the back, I assume it would seriously affect tongue weight. Having learned that lesson many years ago pulling a badly loaded U-Haul, I'm nervous about doing so. I'm thinking of filling her up, and using our bathroom scale to measure the tongue weight. but I figure there is a wealth of info out here to tap ...
Do you tow with a full water tank? Hard to boondock without doing so ... Ever experience sway?
Thanks,
Bil & Mary
We have a 2019 13 with bath. And after pretty good weight checks we found that we are 180lb empty adding full tank of water it is closer to 140 and every pound added to the rear at the bumper takes 1 lb from the front. at 180 it is very stable and under 150 it starts to deteriorate two bikes on a heavy yakama rack cross tied to the bumper is sketchy if you make a quick move. any slack on the bikes and things get worse. But we tow it with a under rated Subaru crosstrek. so we carry a medium sizedtote on the floor as dar forward as possible to get a safety margin. With the subaro it is more sensitive than with my F250 ford because of themore solid platform and weight difference. Filling locally when close to the boondock place if possible??
2019 Scamp 13 standard
Thanks! That's good info. Kinda confirms my suspicions. I'll have to take some weights and see how it works out for us in our 16 footer.
Take care,
Bill & Mary
I forgot to mention those numbers were with group 27 battery and full 20 lb propane tank on single tank mount. To target 10% is a good start
2019 Scamp 13 standard
Pardon my ignorance, but 10% of what?
As a general guide the tongue weight should be approx 10% of the total weight of the trailer. So if loaded for your trip your rig weighs in at 2600lb you want your tongue weight to not be below 260lb. That's why it's important to get the trailer weighed packed for an average trip, including the measured weight for the tongue. If you go to any commercial scale they will weigh for you, some are free and some charge a fee.
Hope that helps make some sense.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
Makes perfect sense, thanks
Bill G
Your 16 Chevy Colorado is showing a 3500 tow capacity w/ 2.5 or 3.6 engine. If you have the 3.6 w/ factory trailer package it goes to 7700lb. The 3500 rating is not great for a Mid size pu, I.E Frontier and Tacoma are both rated for over 6000lb. The 3500 should be enough if that is the model you have and I doubt you'd experience sway towing with that wheelbase. The 10% figure as mentioned is a good guide for tongue weight and with the 16 Deluxe you'll want to come in around 250+.
I always pulled with full water tank on our 13's and never had an issue, but my tow does have higher ratings.
Twin full propane tanks and dual 6v batteries on the tongue would be a great configuration for you to boondock and would make sure your tongue weight is where it needs to be.
You need to get your trailer/tongue weights measured packed for a trip so you know where you're at. Weigh in with a full water tank so you'll know where your tongue weight is at with that.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
Thanks Greg!
I do have the 3.6 w/ factory trailer package, so I'll figure out what that means to me for a target tongue weight. May have to upgrade my battery system tho ...
Bill G
Bill,
Oohh, you've got the good setup. 7700lbs is your tow specs which leaves a very good margin over your Scamp 16 weight. I would not think you'll have many issues towing or having sway with that beefy truck. Per the above posts, you do want to get the trailer weighed so you know what you're working with.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale