I know this type of question has been around forums on here but I cannot find a direct answer. I have a 2013 13' Scamp that I'm planning on installing the 3 1/2" lift on that E-trailer sells. I'm wondering if anyone else with a 13' Scamp has installed the lift and successfully fit 14" tires without any further modifications. Thanks for reading! Happy Scamping!
Fri, 02/17/2023 - 17:47
#1
13' Scamp lift
I'd like to know the same thing that Z asked about. I have a 13' 2013 I bought last year and although the tires are only a year old I'm looking to at least upgrade from the Class C to D radial. The previous owner put new tires, the same as are stock from Scamp, on just before I bought the trailer. It has the standard wheels as well. I want to upgrade the wheels to something nicer there too. So since I'm replacing both the tires and wheels I'm wondering if it's an advantage to fo to a 14" wheel? If not, what about using a wider tire even though still the 13"? Also, any suggestions on a nice looking wheel?
Last year after buying the Scamp I called the factory and ask a tech there if it's okay to do a lift. He told me it's fine but not over 1&1/2 inches. Anyone else have experiences doing a lift and how much? Would the 3&1/2" the OP mentioned be to much? Or necessary? I'm not doing rough off road camping, but I think the appearance would be nicer with some lift. Exposing more of the new wheels and tires too. I don't want to go to high, my wife is a shorty.
asfizer
asfizer If the guy at Scamp said not to lift greater than 1-1/2" there must be a reason. I too want to go to a bigger tire size on my 16 STD. If you consider the weight of the trailer that is above the center band especially with an AC unit and awning, the effects of a hard turn causing the top to lean to the outboard side can in some cases put you in jeopardy. In particularly when going into a turn with a little too much speed and or crossing over RR tracks on the bend.
Yes I think if the wheel wells hade been designed to accept a 15" wheel we could have had less wear and tear on bearings, more choices in tire manufactures and slightly higher freeway speeds.
Here is a picture of the 14" wheel I put on my 19' Deluxe ten years ago.
I like that wheel very much. Thanks for posting it. Any idea what it is and where you got it? I feel if I'm going to get new tires and new wheels I may as well go to the 14". You're probably correct about the lift, there's a reason the guy at Scamp told me that. I should take an experts advice.
asfizer
I got it at etrailer.com . I bought mine with tire. Make sure you get the correct lug hole spacing I can't remember what it is off the top of my head. Look at the other options and you'll see the type I got.
Karrier ST175/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire with 13" Aluminum Wheel - 5 on 4-1/2 - Load Range D Kenda Trailer Tires and Wheels AM31998 (etrailer.com)
Thanks for the link to the wheels and tires kilovictor.
Did you use the 14" or the 13" you sent me the link to? I like both the wheels and the tires. I've bought many items from etrailer in the past. They are great.
asfizer
I can't remember but I think they were 14" for the 1995 19' deluxe. I see now they offer 15" wheels probably for the newer 19'.
I linked the 13" because I knew you had a 13' Scamp.
Okay, thanks a lot.
asfizer
So when I bought my Scamp 4 years ago, the fella I bought it from told me he had it lowered for easier access in and out of it. Being new to small trailers it didn't mean much to me. Seemed to be okay; I had a short girlfriend at the time and she liked it. I was able to get it in and out of some moderately rough roads - basically I can't think of any place I would have wanted to go that I couldn't take it.
Last fall I needed to replace the axle on it. Bought one recommended by Scamp (I suppose I could dig up the name if I had to). The trailer is a '77 and it came to me with 4 lug axle/wheels (definitely not the original). Can't get them any more so I had to get the 5 lug, 13" wheels.
My friend Tom was getting ready to do the welding for me and gave me a call. Apparently, the "lowering" consisted of installing the previous axle upside down. Tom didn't see any reason it shouldn't be that way and asked if I wanted to install the new one with the same orientation. After pondering it a bit, I decided to install the new axle right side up (more clearance can't be bad, right?). I "raised" it a bit more than 3".
Yeah, well, now I have a step up of 18" to the floor and I have to use a step to do it. So I'm wondering why on earth would you need, or even want, to lift it further. Or am I missing something here?
Please excuse me...I need to go camping now
Thanks for your input Sir David.
I have a little used 2013 13' with the original axil and wheels I bought last summer. I just went outside and did the measurement with the door open, and from the pavement to the floor level is 12". In fact that's to the top of the bottom door trim/threshold. That's why I thought of using 14" wheels, which would lift the height approximately 1/2", and with the 1&1/2" lift the Scamp tech suggested, the overall height at the bottom of the door would still only be around 14". Which is 4" lower than what you have. Maybe turning the axil over adds a lot of height. I'm surprised yours is that high.
I too have a wife that isn't tall, she's 5' tall in here slippers. I'm 5'10". So I like not having to use a step, but realize with only adding 2" to the height I may need to use a step away for my wife. The present level is all she's comfortable with. My main reason to add a little height is not to scrap the rear of the trailer that has new welded on stabilizers attached to the cross member I had added just behind the bumper for those jacks. I got that cross member from Scamp. I don't want the rear to be scrapped like when going over a curb or bit of a hump on a unpaved road.
asfizer
I've been thinking about lifting our 13 footer ever since ordering it, but so far all I've done is put slightly larger tires (185/80-13) on -- See https://scampowners.com/comment/15013#comment-15013
Scamp told me they were concerned about stability with lifting. It's a given that raising the CG makes stability worse, but how significant the change is a crapshoot that might depend on the tow vehicle.
Similar to asfizer above, pavement to floor distance is 12" and for reference the bottom of the rear bumper is 14" to the pavement. The trailer is so short that clearance hasn't been a problem on average dirt roads, plus adding more wind resistance with a lift would take more power and fuel. At 12" it's at a nice height to get in and out of too. So for me, I think the slightly larger tires is as far as I'm going with it for now.
On a side note, other than a different axle swing arm angle I haven't figured out a way to get a smallish 1" or so lift because of the way the axle attaches, hence the Lippert 3.5" lift is the smallest I've seen.
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