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Before You Go
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Before you take off on vacation with your Scamp there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Here is a good checklist to run through each time before you tow your Scamp trailer:
First, you need to securely hitch your Scamp to the towing vehicle. You should have a 2 inch ball hitch for towing your Scamp. Prior to 2005, most 13 foot trailers used a 1 and 7/8 inch ball. The ball hitch height on the tow vehicle should be about 18 inches high for the 13 foot trailer and 21 inches high for the 16 foot trailer.
With help from someone standing near the trailer, yet clear of where your vehicle will travel, back the towing vehicle up to the Scamp hitch. In the case of the Scamp 5th wheel, this often requires the tailgate to be lowered in order to avoid hitting the hitch, and then closed again before it makes contact with the front of the camper.
Be certain that the hitch is seated all the way down on the ball, and that the latch is locked in place. It is a good idea to use either a trailer hitch lock or a bolt to secure the hitch down and in place. Then attach the safety chains and connect the wire harness. When connecting the wire harness, make sure the tab on the trailer connector lines up with the notch on the car connector. Next, raise the center mount jack as far as it goes. On the 13 foot Scamps made prior to 2006, tip the jack up to the horizontal position. For the 5th wheel jacks, after raising them as high as they go, remove the height adjustment pin, lift the lower member all the way up, and then re-insert and latch the pin to lock the jacks all the way up.
Finally, while at the front of the trailer, make sure that the LP tank is turned all the way off. If you have a dual tank setup, make sure you check both tanks.
Next, make a quick check of the trailer lights to confirm that they are working, checking left turn, right turn, brake lights, and tail lights. Check the marker lights on both sides as well.
The last step before you travel is to take one final look around the camper, looking for any issues like low tires, rear stabilizer jacks that must be raised, and water or electrical connections that need to be properly stowed. If this is the first time you have towed your Scamp in several weeks, check the tire pressure with a tire gauge. Don’t forget to check the pressure on your spare tire. This is also a good time to check for any abnormal tire wear.
Finally take a look inside the Scamp, confirming that all the windows are latched, all loose items are properly put away, all faucets and valves are off, and the vents are securely closed. Your refrigerator should be put into the proper power mode for towing (more on this in the Interior Operation section). If you have a screen door, make sure it is strapped and secure. Lock the door as you close it, and your Scamp is ready to tow.
It’s a good habit to run through this checklist each time you tow your Scamp. It only takes a couple of minutes, and assures that your Scamp is ready to travel.
Next, let’s take a look at proper loading and weight distribution.
How you load your Scamp can have a big impact on how well it tows as you travel down the road. Weight needs to be distributed evenly side to side, and front to rear. Keep in mind that your LP tank or tanks will impact the weight, depending on how much gas you have in them. Ideally you will want enough weight on the hitch to keep the trailer from floating up in the front, but not so much that the towing vehicle is carrying too much weight causing the rear suspension to sag. Ideally you want from 100 to 200 pounds of weight on the hitch when your Scamp is fully packed. The best method to determine the proper tongue weight for your Scamp is this - approximately 10% of the total weight of the trailer should be on the hitch for correct trailing.
Also consider how much water you have in your holding tanks. Every gallon of water adds 8 pounds. Traveling with full tanks will add several hundred pounds to the weight of your Scamp. If all tanks were completely full you may add over 400 pounds to the travel weight of the trailer.
Don’t forget to distribute your supplies among the various storage areas under the bunks and rear dinette. Place any heavy items low in the trailer to reduce swaying, and as close to the axle as possible to maintain trailer balance.
The power converter, located under the right rear bunk, should not be covered with items that will cause it to overheat, such as blankets.
Note that your Scamp is not designed to be a utility trailer. You should not pack excessive amounts of supplies in it while you are traveling. This will cause unnecessary wear on the axle, and shorten the life of your Scamp.
Pack items in a manner that will prevent them from moving around during travel. Any breakable items should be securely packed, as some bouncing may occur. When ever possible use non-breakable items, such as plastic plates and cups instead of glass.
Finally, let’s consider at the brake controller. All trailers with electric brakes will require a brake control mounted in the tow vehicle. If you have a trailer with electric brakes you will need to set the controls properly. For instructions on how to do this we refer you to the instruction manual for your specific brake controller. When your brakes are set properly your vehicle should not feel as though the trailer is pushing it when you are trying to stop. At the same time, do not set your trailer brakes so aggressively that that are stopping the car and trailer both with the trailer brakes. The goal is a smooth braking action, where the trailer brakes are stopping the trailer, and the auto brakes are stopping the tow vehicle.
The last thing to check before you tow your Scamp is your mirrors. Once in the driver’s seat, make any mirror adjustments that are needed to see around your Scamp as you drive.
And then you are set to go…
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Towing Your Scamp
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Your Scamp is designed to tow well behind nearly all vehicles, and should be a pleasure to tow.
A few words of caution – first, you should never allow passengers to ride in your Scamp while you are towing.
Make sure you obey posted speed limits, and note that some states have different speed limits for vehicles towing a trailer. Excessive speeds can cause the trailer to sway, and are not advised. Also, if driving in very windy conditions sway can become prevalent.
In slippery conditions your trailer brakes will not be as effective, similar to your automobile brakes. Plan extra space to stop in icy or wet conditions.
When backing the trailer up, use caution to avoid jackknifing the trailer. This is a condition where the side of the trailer and the side of the car get too close, and touch, almost always causing damage. As you back the trailer up, attempt to keep the trailer going backwards as straight with the tow vehicle as possible. With a little practice you will find it gets easier.
If you are towing your Scamp a long distance you will want to grease the wheel bearings from time to time. You can learn more about this in the section on Exterior Maintenance called Tires and Bearings.
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At the Campground
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When you are choosing a camping spot there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the area should be fairly level. It is difficult to set up your Scamp properly in an area that is not level. The area should have enough room to allow entrance to the various outer access panels. The ground should also be solid enough to support the trailer properly.
Your next step is to level the trailer. Start this process by lowering the front jack, or in the case of the Scamp 5th wheel, lower both front jacks to the ground, insert the pins, and jack up the trailer until the hitch is clear of the ball. If the ground is soft you may need to place a 2x6 under the jack foot to distribute the weight. It is a good idea to keep several 2x6s about 10 – 12 inches long to assist in leveling your Scamp in less-than-desirable spots. Remember to disconnect the wiring harness and chains from the tow vehicle.
Move the tow vehicle forward out of the way, and then raise or lower the jack until your Scamp sits level. Next, use the rear bumper jacks to stabilize the camper. To do this, pull the body of the jack towards the center of the trailer and rotate down until it locks into position. Next insert the jack handle in the hole just above the release lever, and push down to jack the camper up one notch on each side.
Finally use the rear jacks to level the trailer in the side to side axis. Your Scamp is now properly leveled.
Once your Scamp is level, you may want to connect your power and water, and turn on your LP gas. For more information on these topics and more, check out the sections on Interior Operation and Maintenance and Exterior Operation and Maintenance.
Please note that you do not need to lower the stabilizer jacks to go inside your Scamp if it will remain connected to your tow vehicle, such as stopping at a rest stop to get something from the fridge or take a nap.
Some additional things to consider when looking for a camp site:
- Look for areas where water does not pool when it rains.
- Consider trees for shade.
- Decide how far you wish to walk to the rest rooms.
- If you plan to use water and power make sure you are close enough to the source.
- If children are along, note how accessible the play areas are, and if they are clearly visible from the camping spot.
- If pets need to be tied up or staked out, look for an area with shade that interferes with no other campsites.
- Beware of poison ivy or other such plants.
- Make sure that campfire spots are a safe distance from your Scamp
There are almost no perfect camping spots. Usually a site is what you make it.
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