Hello again everyone, here is your favorite PAI with a question I hope those picking up their new scamps will think of. If you read my SOI Trip to Alaska last year you will see that I lost a bearing on the left side of my Scamp and it was a mess for a couple of days getting fixed, had to be towed etc. but anyhow here is a question for those picking up their new scamps very soon.
I can see how excited some are the date they go get their campers, we had ours delivererd and got only about 10 minutes of walk through. Well anyhow that was not the problems I am discussing. But here is what I wish you to all ask at the time of picking up your new EGG or wonderful camper.
1) Does Scamp make sure the wheel bearings are all properly (SET) with the adjustment made properly at the time of pick up at the factory to eliminate the problem I believe I had because of loose bearing and inproper adjustment. Have Scamp put this in writing before driving 1400 miles home with your new egg. Only a suggestion here now. I do not believe in any way the fellow that delivered our new scamp took the time to drive over 1400 to deliver our camper and on the way he stopped to check the adjustment of the wheel bearings and regrease the bearings, DO YOU!!?? I have purchased new cars and never ever had to re-adjust my wheel bearings on any of them after a break in period. But keep this in your mind on delivery or pick up by you to ask if this had been done.
2) Is the new owner expected to stop on their trip after pick up at Backus, MN and readjust the bearings after only 200 miles?
3) I don't mean to be a downer here to the new owner, but I do want to make your trip much happier as a new owner and you will only have to expect the screws to back out on the bathroom frame and cabinet under the sink! I can't believe this happens no matter how insignificant it sounds. It doesn't on a Fiat!!
Hope you all had a great weekend, scamping time is here now. Go get your new Scamper and enjoy with a few tips to think about.
Garylee
Gary,
Your experience is the what I had in mind when deciding to pickup the Scamp myself. I could not imagine an unconcerned driver giving the trailer the attention needed on a 1450 mile ttrip. I believe it is also well advised for a new owner to take delivery on a new Scamp at the factory in order to receive the orientation. I'm sorry you had to report a bad experience with your new Scamp.
Bill
Have a safe and enjoyable trip home with your new Scamp. Take precautions mentioned and try to be worry free on your way home. Stay below 60 mph, and enjoy your adventure. If I can be of any help in any way just ask. Keep us informed of your trip, take photos for us all to enjoy.
Garylee
Garylee
Thanks Gary, I've stayed in touch with the guys at Scamp with the hope that they give my Scamp the attention that will turn out a trouble free trailer.
I've started a blog. It's tagged in 'The Travel Corner'. Hope I can make it interesting!
Happy trails
Bill
Gary, in hindsight then, what would you suggest a new owner do when picking up a brand new unit at the factory and in the following weeks and months to avoid the bearing problem you had?
With regard to Scamp wheels, I think you need to separate two items: 1. The axle is a component that Scamp buys and I would not expect them to touch the bearings at all. 2. The wheels are assembled to the axle by Scamp, and they recommend the lug nuts should be checked after a couple hundred miles or so. Same if you ever have to mount the spare.
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
This is a great topic for trailer owners in general.
As Paul states the axles come in fully assembled to Scamp, and then they mount them to the trailer and bolt on the rims/tires. When I replaced my axle on my 81 13 Scamp years ago it came from the vendor fully assembled and never thought to check the bearings on the new axle unit. I'm sure, as in anything, an axle can come in from the vendor assembled poorly but probably doesn't happen very often.
As a usual precaution I always keep a hand check on the hubs when stopping on trips and would discover hot bearings fairly early. I'd recommend everyone, new or old trailer, adopt that practice when pulling. Many folks use an infrared thermometer to check hub temps when hauling rather than the touch method.
Nubee Temperature Gun Non-contact Infrared Thermometer, Yellow/Black
Whatever method you choose, this is something that should be incorporated into your trailering routine. If you don't spot this in time when you're hauling, it can lead to a very expensive repair in an out of the way place.
We do have a pretty good post in the Trailer Maintenance forum on Bearings as well.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
I have a thermometer similar to the one in Greg's post above. I keep it in a basket between the seats and pull it out at rest stops. It only takes a minute to walk around the rig and check all the tires and hubs.
As Always,
Happy Scamping !!!
I have taken a few days off before we go on our two week vacation to NY to consider response to information above about our Scamp axel assemblies. I do realize now that I was overzelious in my comment about the adjustment of the bearings after a few hundred miles and this I admit was confusion on my part with the torque of the wheel lugs and not the bearings. For this I do apologize in my confusion, turning 70 years old in two days may have had something to do with it. But the importance of accountability of the assembly of the wheel bearings, (only parts on the camper that moves) is quite important to ME and I hope to newbies paying $15,000 for a new camper.
No matter what anyone says about this issue I will never agree that responsibility for my bearing failure should not fall on either Scamp or the Axel supplier if my trailer had been destroyed from fire (I) feel caused by improper bearing assembly. I have no idea if this had happened and nearly did, who would have the burden of responsibility for insurance purposes and payment for our Scamp? My Insurance company, Scamp Insurance (Warranaty) or the Axel supplier (Warranty)? I have no idea if anything like this has happened before to any other Scamp owners. With age in a camper I can agree from maintenance neglect this can happen or the possibility of it happening exists. Then that is the responsibility of the owner!
Our camper was used extensively from birth. It was pulled 1400 miles to our home for delivery. Then we immediately went on a longer than normal camping trip to Alaska as you know. We drove 11,500 + the 1400 miles for delivery which adds up to 12,900 miles total in less two months before the failure occured. As I also reported about our Alaska Trip that the roads were terrible at times and this too may have had a factor in the bearing failure?? Who knows?? Another reason I tried in vane to convince those wishing to do this trip with their (Scamp) not to do so. Did this Trip to Alaska cause the bearing failure? I am no expert but I am not stupid either. Failures similar to this (ONE) happen to cars and sooner or later are the cause of (Recall Notice) as notice to other owners. My incident may have been an isolated one and hope it was. BUT, if this happens to any other new owners and you are suspecious there has been enough documentation here on this issue to have basis for argument. I hope my incident is the only one and any fear of this happening goes away such as propably I should.
My suggestion here now that I have been corrected as to the fact that Scamp (does not) touch the bearing assemblies of the axels as received from the axel manufacturer is simply this: (Have the Axel Manufacturer issue a "CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE" for each and every axel assembled) for proof of proper assembly and sold to Scamp for new owners records. This Certificate would make the manufacturer responsible for the assembly of the bearings if they should fail during the warranty period and place responsibility to the Axel Manufacturer and release any responsibility to Scamp! It is as simple as that. I have all our camper documentation of parts installed to our scamp, and their warranties incase of failures, my refer, air conditioner, furnace, Inverter / converter, fantastic fan, toilet etc. Why can't we have a certificate stating that the assemblies of the only parts that move on our campers are warrantied against failures for a time period that the owners take over the responsibilities of maintenance of them entirely?
I sure appreciate all the information that Greg offered on (http://www.scampcamper.com/forums/wheel-bearings) which will become my personal responsibility to maintain as my camper is now 1 year old. I will now have a proper guide on my maintanance of my wheel bearings thanks to Greg whom I know we all appreciate.
The decision to make the axel manufacturer issue (Certificate of Compliance for their bearing assembly) lies on your desire as a new owner to have this for proof in the future. Again, I hope my incident is isolated to just me.
This Bearing issue is done as of now with any comments from me, I have placed my self in the firing zone long enough in my desire to make sure any information I document here is truthful and any inaccuracies I take full responsibility for such as the one about torquing the bearings which I did get confused about in my earlier posts.
The saddest part of any documentation of this type is easily misconscrewed by a manufacture as an attack which is further from the truth on my part personally. My desire for the Scamp product is not to be (One of the Best Campers on the market, but to be (THE BEST) camper product on the market. Incorporation and consideration of Scamp designer engineers of improvements other owners have all done should be considered and incorporated into upgrading their great product to surely make it the best made and with due respect to all those contributing information to reach this goal. If personal owners of Scamp make improvements for the safety and comfort of all Scamp trailer owners continue to post those issues on this board we can all continue to use this information to our advantage on our own. Thanks to all those that have given me direction of improvements on our personal camper through this website of Gregs that I have copied or had a starting point to work with for our trailer.
With all due respect,
Garylee
Garylee