What's the smallest car or truck that any of you have used to safely tow a Scamp 13 which I understand weighs between 1300 and 1500 lbs. depending on configuration? Would a Ford Ranger truck with 2.3 L 4 cyl. engine be enough to do the job? TIA,
Bill in Seattle
We tow with a Nissan Frontier. The engine in it is 2.5L. We feel that we have barely enough power for the interstate highways in mountainous areas. We have often had to shift into third gear to maintain the required 40 mph minimum speed. Our Frontier does fine in flatter areas like Georgia and Florida. The Ranger would do fine in and around Seattle but as you know you can't get very far out of Seattle without getting into some pretty big hills. If you are going to change tow vehicles for better towing you could wait until you have tried the Ranger. If it fits your needs keep it. Good luck.
We hauler a 2003 13 all over the north cascades for 12 years with a Ranger 4 cyl stick. The key is you need the stick shift model with the 16 valve engine ,and the hitch receiver that bolts to the frame. this equipment was standard on most base models after 2003 Check your manual, your max.towing weight should be 3500 lb.
I've been towing a 13' w/shower and potty with my 2015 Kia Soul. I go up and down mountains with ease. I did get electric brakes, but I have not had to downshift either going up or going down.
I towed my Trillium 1300 with a VW Jetta Station Wagon, with trailer brakes, from Alaska to North Carolina via the ALCAN (one of the worst roads you will ever encounter). It has about 120 hp and is a 5 speed. It is rated to tow 1500 to 2000 lbs, if you can find a tow rating at all.
I have on order a 13' Scamp and will be picking it up this December. My tow vehicle is a 2012 Chevy Sonic LTZ Hatchback 1.4L Turbo 6-speed manual transmission. It produces 138hp at 4,900 rpm and the torque is 148 lb-ft at 1,850 rpm.
With the Scamp being fiberglass and a weight of the 13' at 1,200 to 1,500 lbs and a hitch weight of 100 lbs, I'll be well within my limits of 2,000 lbs towing capacity and 200 lbs tongue weight capacity. Plus, I've ordered it with Trailer Brakes.
My wife and I just plan on taking our 13' Scamp on relative short weekend trips to the coast inside our home state of Oregon.
Is anyone pulling the 13 scamp at around 1500 lb with a 2018 subaru crosstrek with the 6 spd manual. 150+ hp. 1500 tow rated.. Electric brakes a must for me.
2019 Scamp 13 standard
We used to tow our scamp 13 with a 4 cyl Toyota Highlander at about 55 to 60 mph. It was rated to tow about 3000 lb I think and the trailer was basic....No a/c, no propane, no water tanks, no shower or toilet and still weighed in at 1550 lb ready to camp. We now have the 6 cyl. Highlander with 3.3 ltr engine and are much happier not having the engine rev and downshift as much. We have trailer brakes but still have had a brake job on the Highlander.
all please check your hitches as mine on 2008 kia sorrento was lose after coming from mountains after trip found out by removing hitch receiver the whole thing moved up and down after checking out found factory htiches only have 4 bolts holding it on will get it welded now most people do not remove receivers please all check for this problem
We have a Chevy pickup nothing fancy two wheel drive 4.3 and have had two big trip with it mountains desert flat land it all worked out great. we are pulling a 13' Scamp no bathroom.
Have Scamp will travel !
Believe it or not...many years ago, we pulled our 1974 13' SCAMP from Portland, OR to Indianapolis, IN (over the Rockies) with a 1970 VW squareback (= 65 hp rear air-cooled engine). (This older SCAMP is a basic unit with no add-ons, and actually weighs 950#.) We still own this trailer, which we completely refurbished in 2016. Subsequent to the VW, we towed it with numerous other vehicles, including a Cadillac Seville!