Hi everyone,
Given up on trying to find a nice, used 13' Scamper and finally just ordered one (to be ready October 2023).
Considering all the options was a lot to think about. I would be grateful to hear your opinions on various options...
AWNING - Do they last? Are they worth the added $1,050? Are there easy portable options? Do they detract from the cute, sleek egg, look?
AIR CONDITIONER - Does the Scamp get as hot as a car on a summer day? No windshield...curtains blocking a lot of the sun...? Do they air out nicely with just the roof vent?
PROPANE STOVE - This sounds silly, I know, but why not use a $10 portable electric burner that can be stowed away for additional, precious, counter space?
OUTSIDE SHOWER - $400. Sounds super convenient but is it one more thing to maintain and that could leak? Also, do they bonk and scratch the egg shell? (I am careful but hubby and teens...and grandchildren...not so much.)
Welcome your opinions and any and all Scamp staples and/or accessories.
Awning: Personal preference. If you do lots of traveling and little sitting in one place, you may not need an awning. If you stay in one place, an awning is nice. Is it worth over $1000? Depends on your use. Does it detract from the looks of the trailer or add significant wind resistance. I don't think so. A good alternative is a screened-in canopy/tent, which is cheaper. The disadvantage of a canopy/tent is that it needs to be carried in the Scamp or towing vehicle where space can be a premium. Although we do not use our awning much, I think it will last a long time with proper care.
A/C: Yes, Scamps can get as almost as hot as a car. A/C provides good comfort and sleep. I feel safer if we have to leave the pets in the Scamp for a short time. The ceiling fan can do a good job in moderate temperatures. The A/C will improve the resale value of the Scamp. I would get one.
Stove: Personal preference. Some people use a microwave or cook outside, and don't use the Scamp propane stove. We have the Scamp wooden cover over our propane cook stove, which gives more functional counter space. Furthermore, the cat thinks the cover is his personal space.
Outside shower: Personal. Space tradeoffs. You could do without a shower if you camp in Parks and use their shower all the time. An outside shower would save space. It shouldn't cause more wear and tear or leak more than anything else. Scuffs and dings on the outside of the Scamp can be repaired fairly easily. We have used the shower in our 16-footer the past 18 months because some showers at campgrounds were closed due to Covid and we feel comfortable using our shower.
Other: The furnace can be a good option. It is direct vent and quite safe. We also carry a small electric heater and use it more than the furnace and save on propane. It doesn't take much to warm a Scamp because they are tight and well insulated.
I hope this helps you make your choices.
I appreciate all your thoughts and examples of how you use your awning, a/c, stove top (I can just see the cat perched on the cover;), shower and furnace/heater. These are all things that I have been daydreaming about but now have better information to really be thinking seriously about...
AWNING - I have a 1987 and still have the factory awning working, i would say they last. They are nice for shade to enter/exit and to stop the rain.
AIR CONDITIONER - Depends on where you live but I would recommend getting the AC. I live in the midwest and camping in the summer gets HOT. Scamp is well insulated and closed up so it gets hot quickly.
PROPANE STOVE - If i could remove mine i would, we cook outside on a Coleman 2 burner stove. More space and i like being outside (we are camping after all). Extra counter space we get because we put a cutting board overtop of the stove and so we have the whole counter. but if i could rip it out and put in a new counter i would.
OUTSIDE SHOWER - I would love to have this option, i think it's great to rinse off dirty kids, or after the beach.
1987 Scamp 16
I appreciate all your advice Mark! (My son is a jazz pianist, so I just have to take your thoughts to heart.)
Wow. I would say a working 1987 awning is a testimonial to their quality - at least for the 80's models! Hoping they have kept the same quality standards.
We have family in the midwest and it sounds as if the a/c is a must-have.
Interesting thoughts on the propane stove...we cook on a Coleman 2-burner as well...I was even thinking of getting an inverted hot plate and keeping that as a back up as needed. With an extra large (54") bed, the counter space is really just non-existent in the 13'. (I am just guessing by the pictures...have yet to step in one!)
Okay, I need to give the outside shower more serious thought. I was looking at it from a pessimistic ("It will probably leak at some point...when someone tugs on it too hard...") stand-point, not true convenience mindset.
Awning: We eventually decided against it. Too many bad experiences with unexpected wind gusts over the years with similar stuff. Didn't care for the non-aerodynamic look either, but shade is great if the cost vs benefit ratio is right.
A/C: The weight and wind resistance are negatives, but we had to have it to cope with the heat. Just back from a 3 week trip in the Death Valley area and it's pretty much a necessity for us.
Propane Stove: We never gave it much thought, it was like standard equipment to us. With the glass top down, the counter space is essentially the same. The hinged glass top was a big improvement, it was an option on ours but I think it's standard now.
Outside Shower: I didn't want it, the wife did. We got it. Only used it once, and we're still split on whether it was worth it. Maybe I'll change my mind if we use it more, which could happen depending on the circumstances. No issues using it, but it is one more thing to winterize.
We've lost free-standing tent awnings in gusts over the years (saw a pile of them in one camp trash spot in CO), and I finally made my husband swear he would not buy another one.
How fun to be in Death Valley (WITH air)! How did the a/c unit perform? Is it a Scamp factory installed unit or one you placed yourselves?
I was told the glass-top stove is an additional $350 upgrade, and I've yet to see a picture of one placed in a 13' Scamp. I'm glad to know you are happy with yours.
I hadn't even thought of needing to winterize the outside shower! Good point. (We are tent campers and I honestly had not even thought of winterizing until you mentioned that!)
It's the factory A/C unit, and it worked great even in 115F temperatures. Most of the time it was on all day and night, even when we were gone all day. The fridge can't keep up if indoor temperatures get over about 90F, and it's just nice to come home to a cool trailer.
On a side note, there is an intake filter screen on the A/C that probably should be cleaned (takes about 5 minutes) every week or so of continuous use -- We failed, and the condensation doesn't drain properly if the filter screen is dirty, and an occasional drop of water in the air is the symptom.
Just ordered our Scamp and added the outdoor shower after watching a video . . . definitely a great option if you have kids, washing dishes, etc. I'm hoping I like it as much as the people in the video.
darbar
Hi. I have to ask when you ordered and what your projected "may be ready then" date is. Did you go with a 13, 16 or 19'.
I just watched a Youtube video of a family using the outside shower. I can see how that would be very handy! :)
p.s. Please share outdoor shower video link!
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