I have never disconnected the battery on my 13 footer.
When I got my Scamp I tended to go out to it because it was so cute and new. It's nice to have the 12v lights available if the trailer is not plugged into the house.
Having said that my Scamp sits outside and after a few years I began plugging it into the house running a cube heater to keep the chill off in the winter. I have the front overhead cabinet and put a 12v light under it near the door. Before stepping in I reach up and turn that light on because the 110 light is across the trailer over the sink.
Jerry, glad it all went well. If you have time can you tell us, still waiting fo PU, about your experience once you got to the Scamp factory, facility?
What TV did you drive back in?
mark
Thanks for making us feel so welcome.
If you have a choice, Please buy, "Made in America"
Hey Mark - when is your delivery date again? You'll love it - we cannot wait to get ours up to the mountains in just a couple months!
On tow vehicle, I had up until about 3 months ago a 2000 Ford Expedition that I planned to use. I'd had it since brand new and it had taken a bit of a beating with some rough roads I'd taken it on through the years. The mechanic told me to get it all back in shape was about $5,000 so back in January, rather than trying to make it to and from Minnesota in that, and hoping it continued to hold out, I traded it in on a Ford F150. The F150 pulled that trailer like nothing and it is a great fit with the trailer. I just need to learn to back up now correctly!!!!!
The experience with Scamp, well. On the good side - I actually made it to the factory a day early and they still hussled to get it ready and get me out of there. Fantastic folks to work with, all so friendly and nice, very helpful. The guy who did my walk through was awesome. I think the one thing I really had probably over-stressed about was how complicated it would be - as I am brand new to any travel trailer, so I didn't know anything. But the walk through at the factory took maybe 20 minutes??? He was great, answered every question I have - but in reality, driving home I realized I had over-stressed on it. There are really only a couple things to know:
1) Be sure you have a hitch, ball, electric brakes, etc. so you can tow it home, and a place to put it when you get it there.
2) The scamp is so basic, I mean 70% of it is very self explanatory to use. The 30% you have to learn - how to lock the fridge, grease bearings, how the different power sources work (propane, camp power, battery), how the water system works, how to light the stove, etc. You aren't going to learn and remember that from the 20 minute walk through, but you get manuals, a owners CD, and of course this forum which will help with all that.
I did not take the factory "tour" - I just wanted to get headed home. But in retrospect I think instead of driving long long days for 3 full days - 2,000 miles roundtrip, I might instead have opted for them to ship it - I think that was $1,500 to Colorado which is probably more than 2X what I spent on hotels, food, gas, and an oil change - but so much easier than the long drive. The factory is cool and interesting and those guys were great, but again - not sure at least for me that it was worth all the hassle to do it myself. If you were picking up in the late spring through early fall time and could stay near Backus for a couple days camping and testing out all the Scamp systems than that would likely make it worth it as well to do the drive.
Jerry, thanks for that GREAT report. Our PU date is 9/25/17. We have booked 2 or three nights at Ruttgers RV park in Backus. We, Cheryl and I , will head back the southern route. Cheryl's sister lives in Lafayette , Ind. so a night or two there. Then back thru some states we have never been to, my wife needs to collect fridge magnets in all 50 states we have visited. After Sept she will only need 8 or 9 more.
Like you, well, kinda..... I just changed TVs the other day in prep for the tow. 2017 Subie Outbac 4cyl , for 2016 Highlander v6 with tow pkg.
Thanks for the list of needed stuff. I got all that and starting to collect accessories for the Scamp.
Can't remember, did you get the standard or deluxe? Now that I don't have a weight concern, I am strongly thinking, deluxe.
I know you will enjoy , please send reports in a couple months. Hope you are far from the current fires near Bolder!
Mark
Thanks for making us feel so welcome.
If you have a choice, Please buy, "Made in America"
Mark, If you are wanting the deluxe it puts you at a different delivery date. I pondered it at one point and mentioned it to my salesman, Nick, and at that time it would have put me from Sept 5th into October. Just a heads up!
Hoping your adventures are wonderful,
Sue
2017 13' Bunk Bed/Big Bed
Subaru Outback 2011
Interesting! When we ordered our 13' standard in Nov. I was told we could have the deluxe by April/May but would get the standard July/Aug. I assumed that was because they make more standard than deluxe models.
I have never disconnected the battery on my 13 footer.
When I got my Scamp I tended to go out to it because it was so cute and new. It's nice to have the 12v lights available if the trailer is not plugged into the house.
Having said that my Scamp sits outside and after a few years I began plugging it into the house running a cube heater to keep the chill off in the winter. I have the front overhead cabinet and put a 12v light under it near the door. Before stepping in I reach up and turn that light on because the 110 light is across the trailer over the sink.
Joy A. & Olive
2001 13 Scamp "Puff"
Full-timer
2019 1500 Ram Longhorn
SOI #168
Jerry, glad it all went well. If you have time can you tell us, still waiting fo PU, about your experience once you got to the Scamp factory, facility?
What TV did you drive back in?
mark
Thanks for making us feel so welcome.
If you have a choice, Please buy, "Made in America"
Hey Mark - when is your delivery date again? You'll love it - we cannot wait to get ours up to the mountains in just a couple months!
On tow vehicle, I had up until about 3 months ago a 2000 Ford Expedition that I planned to use. I'd had it since brand new and it had taken a bit of a beating with some rough roads I'd taken it on through the years. The mechanic told me to get it all back in shape was about $5,000 so back in January, rather than trying to make it to and from Minnesota in that, and hoping it continued to hold out, I traded it in on a Ford F150. The F150 pulled that trailer like nothing and it is a great fit with the trailer. I just need to learn to back up now correctly!!!!!
The experience with Scamp, well. On the good side - I actually made it to the factory a day early and they still hussled to get it ready and get me out of there. Fantastic folks to work with, all so friendly and nice, very helpful. The guy who did my walk through was awesome. I think the one thing I really had probably over-stressed about was how complicated it would be - as I am brand new to any travel trailer, so I didn't know anything. But the walk through at the factory took maybe 20 minutes??? He was great, answered every question I have - but in reality, driving home I realized I had over-stressed on it. There are really only a couple things to know:
1) Be sure you have a hitch, ball, electric brakes, etc. so you can tow it home, and a place to put it when you get it there.
2) The scamp is so basic, I mean 70% of it is very self explanatory to use. The 30% you have to learn - how to lock the fridge, grease bearings, how the different power sources work (propane, camp power, battery), how the water system works, how to light the stove, etc. You aren't going to learn and remember that from the 20 minute walk through, but you get manuals, a owners CD, and of course this forum which will help with all that.
I did not take the factory "tour" - I just wanted to get headed home. But in retrospect I think instead of driving long long days for 3 full days - 2,000 miles roundtrip, I might instead have opted for them to ship it - I think that was $1,500 to Colorado which is probably more than 2X what I spent on hotels, food, gas, and an oil change - but so much easier than the long drive. The factory is cool and interesting and those guys were great, but again - not sure at least for me that it was worth all the hassle to do it myself. If you were picking up in the late spring through early fall time and could stay near Backus for a couple days camping and testing out all the Scamp systems than that would likely make it worth it as well to do the drive.
Jerry, thanks for that GREAT report. Our PU date is 9/25/17. We have booked 2 or three nights at Ruttgers RV park in Backus. We, Cheryl and I , will head back the southern route. Cheryl's sister lives in Lafayette , Ind. so a night or two there. Then back thru some states we have never been to, my wife needs to collect fridge magnets in all 50 states we have visited. After Sept she will only need 8 or 9 more.
Like you, well, kinda..... I just changed TVs the other day in prep for the tow. 2017 Subie Outbac 4cyl , for 2016 Highlander v6 with tow pkg.
Thanks for the list of needed stuff. I got all that and starting to collect accessories for the Scamp.
Can't remember, did you get the standard or deluxe? Now that I don't have a weight concern, I am strongly thinking, deluxe.
I know you will enjoy , please send reports in a couple months. Hope you are far from the current fires near Bolder!
Mark
Thanks for making us feel so welcome.
If you have a choice, Please buy, "Made in America"
Mark, If you are wanting the deluxe it puts you at a different delivery date. I pondered it at one point and mentioned it to my salesman, Nick, and at that time it would have put me from Sept 5th into October. Just a heads up!
Hoping your adventures are wonderful,
Sue
2017 13' Bunk Bed/Big Bed
Subaru Outback 2011
Interesting! When we ordered our 13' standard in Nov. I was told we could have the deluxe by April/May but would get the standard July/Aug. I assumed that was because they make more standard than deluxe models.
Anthony Memoli
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