Hello Fellow Forum Members,
This is the first time I have posted, and am sure it will not be my last.
I will be picking up my 16' Scamp #6 in May.
I have read and watched most all Scamp videos on U Tube, wanting to be as prepared as I can.
I will be traveling from W to E, and places in between, visa versa, usually in May and Oct.
1. Do any of you only use an air compressor to winterize your water lines?
I want to be traveling self contained and would like to have 2-3 gals of water in the Scamp for 2-3 days if weather permits. Knowing the weather can get down to freezing in May and Oct, I would like to be able to use an air compressor to empty my lines and tanks. I would prefer not using the rv anti freeze.
2. Do any of you know if the Ryobi 18v cordless 1 gal portable air compressor would be good for this job?
3. If anyone will be visiting their 16' Scamp in the near future, would you please measure the length, width, and depth of the shower well for me? I would like to build my own platform for the shower well.
Thank you,
Wanda
Hi Wanda,
Glad you will be getting your Scamp in a few weeks. Even though you are going to the Great Frozen North, the average number of days in May in Brainerd, MN when the temperature falls below freezing is 2.3 days. You probably won't have to worry about freezing starting out--watch the weather report before you pick up your trailer. I have used a portable air pump to blow out the water lines. You can buy a Blow Out Plug/adapter at Lowes or RV places ($3.50-$12.00). I recommend draining as much water as you can before using an air pump then you don't have to use the pump much. Open your faucets first and then use your pump. Your pump should work because you don't need much air pressure. You do not want to loosen fittings.
The shower well in my 16-ft deluxe is 20 inches long x 18 inches wide x 6 3/4 in deep. I built a platform from poplar wood from Home Depot that matched the Scamp interior well. I made it 19 1/4 inch long x 16 inches wide x 3 inches high so that I can take the platform out easily for showers and so I didn't waste wood. I used two base board (ends) that were 16 inches x 2 9/16 inches wide (probably sold as 3 inch boards) x 3/4 inches thick. I used three boards as sides and middle support (17 1/2 in L x 2 9/16 in W x 3/4 T). The top was made from 5 boards: 16 in L x 3 5/8 in W (4" boards) x 1/2 in T). I used brass screws and counter sunk them. The height is great for short people (< 5 1/2 ft) because you don't hit your head on the ceiling and it is easy to get on/off the toilet. I might add some short plastic spacers on the bottom so that the wood can dry out easier.
Hi Sunfish,
Thank you so much for your reply. This is great information.
The platform you made looks real nice, and it doesn't sound difficult to make.
'And it is good to know an air compressor will work at clearing out the waterlines.
Sunfish, just so I am clear on this, by using an air compressor to clear out the water in my lines, I won't have to worry about my lines being damaged by a good freeze?
Thank you again, Sunfish for your help!
Wanda
Wanda PNW
Hi Wanda. It is not difficult to blow out the water lines. A common portable electric tire pump and a blow out connector will work fine. You do not need much pressure and probably shouldn't go over 50 lbs pressure. Open up faucets and the gray water port outside the trailer so that water has a place to go. Do not worry if you do not get every drop. If water has room to expand when it freezes, it won't crack pipes or fittings. The last few drops may dry out also. There are some spots to check. One is the hot water heater. There is a valve in the bay outside the trailer to drain the heater. Also, there is a filter bowl on the drain line under the trailer and below the shower. It twists off and it would be good to check that there is not standing water in it. If you are camping and using the furnace or an electric heater, you will probably be OK if the temperature dips down to freezing because of the warm trailer and escaping heat. If the temperature is going to be consistently below freezing, you shouldn't carry water in your tank and lines. A small container in the trailer would be safer.
Thank you from this newbie also. That detailed advice was very helpful.
Thank you Sunfish for the more detailed description of what is involved here. It is becoming clearer in this brain of mine.
This has been so helpful. Thank You!
Wanda
Wanda PNW