Hello, all. My name is Andy, just snagged a 1998 16' Scamp from the Greensboro, NC area. Thanks for letting me into the group. I've been backpacking for many years, but with a bad knee now and a wife who would NEVER hike/camp, I had started looking at campers as a means of getting my "Wilderness Fix" and still have my wife accompany me. Will also use it for business trips to reduce hotel costs, etc. Just took the Scamp out on a first trip, a short 300 mile hike up to the New River area in NC/VA.
PO's had told me that they used it a bit, but I believe they lied. First problem was a burst hot water heater. Not sure if a freeze or a heat burst, I am betting on a freeze burst. Bypassed the tank, but now am pondering pulling the tank and going with a demand heater. There are some models out there that break the budget, but the CAMPLUX models seem worth looking at. Anyone using such a heater? Apart from that, the little camper pulled great with newly greased bearings, handled well and did fine at the small campground I chose. Lots of questions and comments on the Scamp. Will have to update the interior and fabrics to keep the wife happy, think new tires are on the list as well. Walmart seems to have a set of tires on rims, which I may look at. I don't trust old tires.
On towing, I was VERY pleased with the camper. I have a 4 cyl Ford Ranger, which did fine. Lost a bit of speed on hills, but made it up all the hills. Would not try Black Mountain with that combo, but was happy with the performance. My Ranger is a manual, and with excellent brakes. With the price that I paid for it, I am a quite happy Scamper. Solar panels, dual battery and an amateur radio rig for me, a TV for the wife and some interesting electronics will soon be added. No stove, so will go with a convection oven/ microwave and a riser to get it off the counter and regain some counter space for food prep. One problem for me is the shower...at 6'2", I am scraping the ceiling.
Derswede
I would never buy cheap tires on a rim from Walmart or anywhere.. a blow out can do a lot of damage to the fiberglass body, not to mention the plumbing and gas lines that typically run over the wheel well. I bought Carlise load range D (Scamp 16). Maxxis or Goodyear would have been accepted by me also. If they were premounted then OK but if wheels are OK, I just get the tires and have them mounted and balanced. Oh, PM sent also (or will be in a hour or so).
Sounds like you made a good find on the Scamp. Not understanding the burst water heater. Is the tank split or just a hose/coupling. The on-demand water heater in trailers get so so reviews. If you went that route, I’d really research and buy one of the top ones.
You can date your tires. https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/how-to-determine-the-age-of-your-tires
Over 5 years old regardless of tread, I’d definitely replace them. I agree to not buy cheap tires, but there are good tire brands that can be purchased mounted on rims. Check out eTrailer for one of the better sources: https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Tires_and_Wheels-sf-Tire_with_Wheel.aspx
The Goodyear Endurance are one of the top trailer tires to consider, especially for highway speeds.
Enjoy the new to you Scamp
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
Where ever you get tires spend the extra and have them balanced. I just had mine done two weeks ago and one needed no correction and the other was 3 ounces. they even dismounted and tried rotating on the rim but still ended up with 2.5 oz and at 65 MPH that can be a lot of vibration. I have never done trailer tires before but I am a believer now.
I have seen two water heaters that burst from freezing and there is a temp/pressure safety valve so it was not likely heat related. The tank its self may be replaceable for reasonable and is nice addition
Congratulations on your new egg
2019 Scamp 13 standard
If it was left full of water then I could see a hard freeze damaging it but if it is drained as it should have been then freezing should not be a problem. At least that is what it says in the manual.
You are absolutely correct and if drained it is never an issue but sometimes that gets over looked by accident or accidently refilled while flushing. Now I leave the drain out until I am done then put in loosely to keep critters from moving in. I hate the smell and taste of the RV antifreeze but use it anyway to eliminate the chance of water freezing in faucets and "P" traps, lines, toilet valves and both pumps. then lots of flushing needed to eliminate in the spring. I have not looked at our system yet to determine how best to keep the antifreeze out of the w-heater when winterizing.
2019 Scamp 13 standard
I think Scamp typically uses a cold water supply shutoff valve near the water heater, and not a full bypass that re-routes the water, but how to winterize the valve without passing a least a little antifreeze to the water heater is something I have not figured out. Since its above the low point, draining the water from the plumbing at the low point might be good enough. I guess you would have to open the safety valve on the water heater or remove the plug to allow air to enter to get the water to drain from the cold water supply pipe at the water heater.
As for spring flushing, I find a single flush is plenty.. but that is because I know just enough to have doubts about the water from the tank being safe for consumption, so I only drink and cook from bottled water (or water I know is safe). Any small amount of antifreeze left after a single flush does not bother me at all when the water is used for everything else.
We too use water bottled from home or the drinking fountain for cooking and drinking so the antifreeze is more of an annoyance and stains the plastic if not careful. Besides draining some use air pressure to blow out remaining water in the lines and valves and maybe just enough RV antifreeze to be safe
2019 Scamp 13 standard
We learned our lesson with RV tires last year, and we upgraded all of them on both our big fifth wheel and our Scamp. We had THREE flats on the fifth wheel hauling at the correct speed during a heat wave. One blowout and two others went flat. The tires were only 3 years old. We also bought the best tires we could for the Scamp. We will be replacing tires faithfully every three years! I have seen a couple Scamps with blowout damage, and it is extensive. New tires are cheap compared to fiberglass repair.
Rhonda Riebow