We're looking at the Scamp 13 and it looks like they released a Lite version this year - deletes the kitchen, water tank, and front window. Any thouhts on going this route? We were looking at tear-drops, but this might win out - standing room inside, affordable (some of the teardrops are WAY more money), and simple maintenance.
Concerns for us...
- Food storage. We'd have to keep using our big cooler - not a deal breaker, but maybe annoying (no real place to put it inside the trailer, I guess it would just go in the truck bed as it does today).
- No overhead cabinets - not sure there's enough enclosed storage for whatever items we want to leave in the trailer. That said, I doubt we'll use it for more than a week at a time, as we both work full-time for the foreseeable future. Will be mostly long weekends in the mid-Atlantic/Blue Ridge.
Looks like fully optioned, the Lite would be ~$20k+taxes (base price is $16). VS a Base at $27-$30+taxes?
Alistair
We have a '22 Scamp 13 with the front bunks. We ordered extra overhead bins, but honestly we really don't get that much use out of them because they're so small. We got things fixed to where it's safe to leave the bunks set up all the time, and use storage bins on the bottom bunk and put other stuff on the upper bunk. We rarely bother taking the rock shield off the front window--since it doesn't open, it offers light but no extra ventilation. The model with the front bath has no window there either. The big bed is a great feature. We don't cook inside, so missing the stove and sink would be no problem. Having the extra storage space from lack of water tank would probably more than make up for the lack of overhead storage. The more stuff that's missing from the standard Scamps, the more storage you gain.
I would miss the refrigerator, but I carry a freestanding 12v fridge anyway, and that's where most of our stuff goes. The built in fridge isn't really big enough to make that much of a difference.
We have the external shower and the on demand water heater--great for washing dishes, but we never use the inside water tank. It's just something you have to winterize.
Anyway, I suspect that had the Lite been available when we bought ours, we would probably have bought it.
Hope these rambling thoughts are of some value!
Dave
Thanks! Yeah, that's kind of where my mind is right now.
I just can't decide if I want AC. We have a dog, so it would allow us to leave him if we go on a more technical hike or bike ride. I guess I can always add it later.
WRT to water - I'm also trying to work out what we'd do when boondocking? Right now (tent camping), we use a 5 gallon jerry can - that'll get us through a 3-4 day weekend (drinking/cooking only, not showers). Just worried I'll end up needing to manually add a water system later.
Alistair
I've never had an RV but after camping in some thunderstorms I decided it may be a good idea to have a bit more of a protection option. I was looking at the used fiberglass RV market and astonished at how well they keep their value, which got me looking at the new market. I almost missed that there was a new LITE version because I thought it was just a menu label on the site.
I drive a hybrid so the lighter weight is ideal. I am used to camping in the bed of my truck (with a cap and because I'm short/small enough to do so in a Ford Maverick), so I've already got portable supplies that I wouldn't need in a camper. A toilet might be nice but not for the weight trade-off when there are other options (5gal bucket with the bags and waste powder agent). Solar panel & battery pack should take care of any electric needs I absolutely must have (and that's not even really a must). All this to say I guess that I agree with your take- there's a lot of nice to haves in the standard 13' but I think the lite fits a niche for most of us that don't need/want the extras built in.
I would add that I also didn't want to have components that I'd need to singuarly upgrade later (AC & Fridge units for example). Keeping it all to portable components means I can upgrade as I want with technology and not have to worry about anything being compatible with the scamp itself.
Even with the water system built in, we end up using jerry cans instead. A full water tank is really heavy, so I don't like to travel with the tank full. That kind of eliminates its usefulness for boondocking in our case.
We have an AC on ours. They're all built "prepped" for AC nowadays. We rarely use it, and when we do it's just to cool the camper down quickly when the sun goes down. We run the Maxx Fan pretty much all the time and it's great. RV AC units are always pretty loud, but in a little fiberglass camper it's EXTREMELY loud! Of course if it's hot enough, I can put up with it.
Dave
Thanks for your honesty, Dave. Your use is kinda what we were thinking as well when we chose the Lite we ordered last week that we will pick up next month. Just the two of us recently retired folks and neither of us wanted the extra work or related expenses of maintaining nor extra weight of the water, refrigerator or even a/c that goes with the standard model. We understand it is more like a glorified hard sided tent and think that is what we wanted. We also prefer less cutouts and punctures in the fiberglass hoping for less chances for leaks and a sleeker look. Wife thinks we should've spec'd the awning, but I thought that also invites more trouble and weight than it's worth and might be as well served by a pop up shelter with screens. I may regret that one, but I hope not as I know I won't add one later even if I decide I want one.
I didn't even look to see how much weight the awning is, but I figured if I find that I really wish I'd had it, it'll be a later add on when I'm done recouping from the purchase. I hope you upload pics of yours when you pick it up. Mine arrives tomorrow and I'm chompin' for it!