The correct tire pressure depends on the tire and it's load, not the brand of the trailer. Most Scamps in recent years come with tires that support their max rated load at 50 PSI. YMMV.
Some people argue that you should inflate to less than max pressure if the load is less than max load, and you should use an inflation chart for varying loads that is supplied by the tire manufacturer. This presupposes that you know the real weight on each individual wheel and update that anytime changes are made (including something as simple as filling a on-board water tank). Therefore, IMHO, as long as the tires are appropriate for the trailer's expected weight, just inflate to the max pressure for the tire. Again, on a Scamp that is likely to be 50 psi but don't automatically assume that.
Check tire pressure every time before departing. And use a TPMS to monitor the pressure on your trip. Expect an average rise of about 10% when on the road. Use metal valve stems, esp. if using stem mounted sensors.
When I picked up our 13 footer in Backus last year, I was told the new tires were rated at 68 psi but they inflated them to 64 psi! I run them between 60 and 64 psi!
A friend and I learned a hard lesson this weekend. She bought a bike rack from an accessories dealer and had it installed on her 16' Scamp. She loaded some heavy stuff in the front of the trailer, and two bikes on the rack. I was camping with my own Scamp, and she said it had swayed on the way to meet me. I followed her...holy cow was that a scary experience! I had read that you MUST buy a bike rack designed for RVs, as they move around much more than a vehicle. So...I watched a potential disaster unfold as I was following her. If she changed lanes, or hit an uneven part of the highway the bike rack started rocking back and forth like a pendulum. This in turn got the trailer swaying, which made the rack swing more. I made her stop, we took the bikes off and no more sway. She is going to return the rack and educate the person who sold it to her! I read a description of an inexpensive bike rack online, and kudos to the manufacturer for pointing out that the rack was NOT designed for RVs. I sure didn't know there was a difference, and probably most people wouldn't either. And if you don't have someone following you might not know that the rack is the problem, not necessarily the extra weight on the back of the trailer.
What is the recommended tire pressure for the Scamp 16 ft trailer and does the tire pressure affect trailer sway?
Thanks
The correct tire pressure depends on the tire and it's load, not the brand of the trailer. Most Scamps in recent years come with tires that support their max rated load at 50 PSI. YMMV.
Some people argue that you should inflate to less than max pressure if the load is less than max load, and you should use an inflation chart for varying loads that is supplied by the tire manufacturer. This presupposes that you know the real weight on each individual wheel and update that anytime changes are made (including something as simple as filling a on-board water tank). Therefore, IMHO, as long as the tires are appropriate for the trailer's expected weight, just inflate to the max pressure for the tire. Again, on a Scamp that is likely to be 50 psi but don't automatically assume that.
Check tire pressure every time before departing. And use a TPMS to monitor the pressure on your trip. Expect an average rise of about 10% when on the road. Use metal valve stems, esp. if using stem mounted sensors.
The recommended max PSI can be found imprinted on the tire itself. I just checked my tires a few days ago and the recommended pressure was 68 psi.
When I picked up our 13 footer in Backus last year, I was told the new tires were rated at 68 psi but they inflated them to 64 psi! I run them between 60 and 64 psi!
Anthony Memoli
A friend and I learned a hard lesson this weekend. She bought a bike rack from an accessories dealer and had it installed on her 16' Scamp. She loaded some heavy stuff in the front of the trailer, and two bikes on the rack. I was camping with my own Scamp, and she said it had swayed on the way to meet me. I followed her...holy cow was that a scary experience! I had read that you MUST buy a bike rack designed for RVs, as they move around much more than a vehicle. So...I watched a potential disaster unfold as I was following her. If she changed lanes, or hit an uneven part of the highway the bike rack started rocking back and forth like a pendulum. This in turn got the trailer swaying, which made the rack swing more. I made her stop, we took the bikes off and no more sway. She is going to return the rack and educate the person who sold it to her! I read a description of an inexpensive bike rack online, and kudos to the manufacturer for pointing out that the rack was NOT designed for RVs. I sure didn't know there was a difference, and probably most people wouldn't either. And if you don't have someone following you might not know that the rack is the problem, not necessarily the extra weight on the back of the trailer.
Rhonda Riebow
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