I bought a Scamp and no longer feel like an Overlander

[ImChris]

Sharing my deepest, darkest secret with everyone in the title! After years of running a couple different setups in my Toyotas (rooftop tent for 5 years, truck camper for 2 years), while on the search for a newer truck camper we came across a Scamp. After some chatting and a lot of convincing from my wife, we now have a little 13ft guy to pull around everywhere!

To add a little seriousness to this post, I'd never considered a trailer as an option because I spend a good majority of time on offroad trails when camping. Rustic, dispersed sites are usually as close as I get to a campground and I figured a trailer would hold me back. Plus it would add a little inconvenience if I needed to back down something narrow.

Here is where we landed and some talking points if anyone is curious:

• For the majority of time(s) that I'm camping with my wife and dogs, we're on tame, two-track type trails. We're not trying to push it or risk-it-all and possibly break something on the truck that could ruin our trip or get us stuck someplace. For this, a small trailer isn't much of a hold-back.
• I'm based in Wisconsin and 'free camping' is limited, mostly in the UP of Michigan. Since those off-grid areas are hard to come by, when you get a good one you want to keep it. We've ran into a few scenarios where we've wanted, or needed to head back into town after a couple days off-grid and knew if we left our spot would be gone when we returned. A trailer allows us to unhook and keep the spot. (We've previously brought a single person tent to 'hold' spots but onetime we came back and it was missing! ha)
• IF we want to explore more rugged trails, the Scamp can act as a basecamp of sorts and we can venture out from there, without the trailer.
• When I'm solo camping, which I do often for work which brings me around the country a lot, I'll do a very mild buildout in the bed and sleep in there. I'm selling my softopper and going for a SmartCap to start this solo build out.

Now onto the fun stuff!

You can probably see from the photo the Scamp is VERY low. I actually took it down some two-track for the video you see below and we hit some things often (but no damage). They use a torsion bar setup and ours is totally worn out. I have a new, adjustable torsion axle in the garage and larger tires that should give me a solid 6+ inches of lift. The torsion is also 'leading arm' and I'm changing it to a trailing arm setup which should smooth out pulling over rough terrain a lot. The nice thing about a torsion setup is the main axle is mounted almost up next to the body and the 'arms' extend down right next to the wheels (almost like a portal axle kind of) so you don't have an axle hanging low across the body to get caught on things.

I'll update the build progress on the scamp and my bed build out here as things get moving! Here is a rough idea of where I'm heading

• New Scamp suspension + light frame reinforcement + changing to 2in ball
• Scamp exterior work (new seals, replace some windows, caulking, replacing rivets, paint, etc)
• Scamp interior revamp (floor is solid, this is all cosmetic upgrades to replace a lot of worn out interior pieces)
• Truck bed build out: SmartCap, single side full length drawer, sleeping platform/cot
  • Update is post 22: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...l-like-an-overlander.18592/page-2#post-380879

Here are some details on my truck and the scamp if you're curious:

• 22 Powerboost
• Bilstein Ford Performance full coilovers (set at 2.5)
• KMC Impact 17x8.5 +18 wheels on 285/75/17 Open Country ATIIIs
• ^^^ Now on 285/75/18 Falken Wildpeaks w/ 18x9 +12 Black Rhino Chamber
• Ford Performance Blackout Lariat Grill
• SCAMP
• 1982 Scamp 13ft, weighs around 1200lbs
• I have a EcoFlo Delta Max with 400 watts of deployable solar. I plug this into my truck and if it ever gets low, quick charge it up!
• The EcoFlow runs all things in the camper, charges all devices (I'm a commercial photographer, I charge a lot of stuff!), and runs our two electric fridge coolers

Thanks for reading my novel /

-Chris

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[SpaceWhiteF150]

We need some pics of the truck!!

 

[Snakebitten]

Powerboost + that Lifted Scamp = Boondocking nirvana.

You are going to love the conveniences that I believe will far outweigh the inconveniences compared to tent camping.

Congrats!

 

[WD8CXB]

Looks like a really nice trailer! I have been thinking about converting my 8' cargo trailer but I think it might be a better idea to go the route you have chosen and look for a small used trailer.

Would love to see more pictures of the inside as well as your truck.

 

[HammaMan]

Nice little upgrade. I'm looking into pneumatic control systems right now as well as tinkering with manufacturing electronic control systems for the many products I'd like to eventually offer. One of the ideas is being able to have a modular air manifold for multiple channels for various things including the ability to control air suspension on a trailer. While mine was more for upgrading one of a spread axle to a higher rating and using airbags to essentially go from 50/50 to a front axle 75/25 bias for maneuvering, another option is to control trailer height for highway towing vs 'trail' pulling when more clearance is required (or driveway entry, hence the in-cab control) . It could also assist in a parked leveling capacity as well.

Given your wise choice of powertrain, you could even add yourself a little AC unit with ease. For silent overnight usage, if you've got ~120lbs of cargo capacity to spare, you could add a 5kWh LFP batt and inverter.

 

[Buyer2021]

Congrats on the molded fiberglass Scamp, lotsa very satisfied long-term owners out there

I towed a molded fiberglass Casita from 2005 to 2021 and now a molded fiberglass Escape, based on experience I'll never go with any other trailer RV construction .

Just curious, is yours with the front wet-bath or the front seating?

Either way, Have Fun!

Edit / Tips:

1. Take a close look at the point where the straight frame rails angle to make the front A-frame to the hitch coupler; IF there's a 'weak point' (not saying there is, but in consideration of your serious off-road adventuring) that's likely the place to consider some additional frame reinforcement when you do your axle / coupler upgrade.

2. When upgrading to the 2" coupler, give consideration to the Bulldog Collar Lock type. As you know any 2" ball is overkill for that trailer (no worries!), but IMO / IME the Bulldog cast coupler is much more trouble-free than 'atwood type' couplers that use a 'lever and fork' mechanism to grip under the ball.

Just for your consideration.

 

[ImChris]

We need some pics of the truck!!

I'll share more when I have them! Funny i went all the way to Moab a few weeks ago and don't even have a photo to show for it ?

Powerboost + that Lifted Scamp = Boondocking nirvana. **trimmed***

Thank you! And I agree, seeing a lot of positives at the moment.

Looks like a really nice trailer! I have been thinking about converting my 8' cargo trailer but I think it might be a better idea to go the route you have chosen and look for a small used trailer.

Would love to see more pictures of the inside as well as your truck.

Will update soon! And I thought about a cargo option as well, but found this local which ultimately swayed the decision.

Nice little upgrade. I'm looking into pneumatic control systems right now as well as tinkering with manufacturing electronic control systems for the many products I'd like to eventually offer. ***trimmed***

Sounds incredible!! Love thinking outside the box like that. And yes, have thought about the AC option too. Gets pretty humid here and if you know humidity, it can really make it hard to sleep.

Congrats on the molded fiberglass Scamp, lotsa very satisfied long-term owners out there
***Trimmed***

Another fiberglass friend! Those are incredible tips, thanks for sharing. I've been neck deep in the fiberglass RV forum trying to learn as much as I can. Love the knowledge share.

-Chris

 

[powerboatr]

i spent a long weekend roughing it in a SCAMP back in 1997, 5 people at Darlington in-field race track
1 slept in my f250, it was interesting

thanks for bringing back a COOL memory
it was a tough little camper .
enjoy it and lift it, make it you new overlander

 

[Henfield]

Ignoring the posting of Toyota pictures... (without F150 pictures) the Scamp is probably a really good cheap starting point. I don't know if the chassis is enclosed by the bodywork, but if you intend to use it off road, perhaps some chassis strengthening might come in handy

 

[Rjschatts]

Great find and starting point for the customization. Good scamps are hard to find here and they are made here in Minnesota. Seems like people that buy them don’t get rid of them unless there’s something wrong with them typically (at least around here). Always wanted to try one but they don’t sleep 5 people plus two 2 4legged family members. Lifting one would be awesome for “light” backcountry camping especially with the PowerBoost.

 

[ImChris]

i spent a long weekend roughing it in a SCAMP back in 1997, 5 people at Darlington in-field race track *trimmed

FIVE!? This little guy barely fits me (i'm 6ft 1) and my wife. Our dogs take up the entire floor! I couldn't imagine 5...ha

Ignoring the posting of Toyota pictures... (without F150 pictures) the Scamp is probably a really good cheap starting point. I don't know if the chassis is enclosed by the bodywork, but if you intend to use it off road, perhaps some chassis strengthening might come in handy

I don't have many F150 photos yet! ? And the frame sits under the body/floor (mostly) so some reinforcement is for sure on the way. It's a pretty thin frame to keep weight down and there are a few known problem areas (someone above already pointed out). I think it'll be good when finished!

Great find and starting point for the customization. Good scamps are hard to find here and they are made here in Minnesota. Seems like people that buy them don’t get rid of them unless there’s something wrong with them typically (at least around here). Always wanted to try one but they don’t sleep 5 people plus two 2 4legged family members. Lifting one would be awesome for “light” backcountry camping especially with the PowerBoost.

I've noticed the same thing. This one had some issues with popped rivets and the blown suspension which is why we snagged it and the (retired) owners didn't want to go through the service to get it back to good. I'm pretty handy so bringing it back shouldn't be too big of an issue.

Apparently Scamp in MN has some pretty awesome factory repair prices. Plus if I order parts from the factory they get to me in WI in 2 days which is nice!

-Chris

 

[powerboatr]

FIVE!? This little guy barely fits me (i'm 6ft 1) and my wife. Our dogs take up the entire floor! I couldn't imagine 5...ha



I don't have many F150 photos yet! ? And the frame sits under the body/floor (mostly) so some reinforcement is for sure on the way. It's a pretty thin frame to keep weight down and there are a few known problem areas (someone above already pointed out). I think it'll be good when finished!



I've noticed the same thing. This one had some issues with popped rivets and the blown suspension which is why we snagged it and the (retired) owners didn't want to go through the service to get it back to good. I'm pretty handy so bringing it back shouldn't be too big of an issue.

Apparently Scamp in MN has some pretty awesome factory repair prices. Plus if I order parts from the factory they get to me in WI in 2 days which is nice!

-Chris

yup five we were all over 6 feet except the guy that had to sleep on the floor
it was hmmmmm tight

 

[scuba]

@ImChris : Good conclusions on your use-case.

I spent a lot of effort building the perfect off-road camping vehicle for our family of 5, only to realize that there are arguably zero places you can disperse camp with a vehicle in TX. (I built the thing after 3 trips to Moab and some boondocking in CO and SD). In retrospect, a non-4wd set-up that'd stay on the pavement of the average state park / KOA / Walmart would have been a lot easier (and potentially more comfortable if it was the right trailer). I guess if the zombies come, I'll have more of a mixed reaction than others.

 

[DT400]

You can't always be an overlander...But depends on the definition you use I suppose.
I use a tent, pop-up camper or hardside camper depending on circumstances.
As long as your getting out and enjoying the outdoors responsibly it's all good.

Darrell

 

[Snakebitten]

I live in one RV full time. (7 years)
I have 3 others that I can tow, or just use a bed tent.

Each option fits a mission.

Anything from glamping for a week in one place, to an impulse run down to Padre Island for a sleep on the beach and return to "base camp" the next day.

So I agree with @DT400

You can still an overlander if you are yanking that Scamp behind you. I love that option. Especially with a Powerboost!

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