tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45673132445424431762026-06-08T23:38:36.456-07:00Several years ago I got it in my head that I wanted a small fiberglass RV. An Eriba Puck was my dream camper. The realities of finding one here in the USA opened my eyes to other possibilities...Scamp 1013gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-51103259332288775622019-12-03T07:08:00.000-08:002019-12-03T07:08:43.021-08:00

When the original owner purchased my Scamp he paid $40.00 extra to add a crank out vent window over the cooktop. He ended up costing me a lot more than that. Apparently these windows are notorious leakers, allowing rain water to run down between the rat fur and the fiberglass shell. A waterfall may be Madrigal, but not inside your Scamp. This water makes its way under the fiberglass and soaks

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-76910144481357505412019-07-21T09:04:00.000-07:002020-03-01T05:25:55.135-08:00

So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, Good bye. Camping frequency is now down to once per year, and maybe twice IF I can convince some people to come and explore the Wilderness that is Northern Massachusetts. UPDATE: SOLD.  Here is the listing for the sake of comparing to other scamps out there: Listed in July 2019. Relisted 11/15 after some minor repairs and replacing the cooktop. 1987

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-76446341918310813442017-07-31T14:02:00.004-07:002020-03-01T05:21:33.087-08:00

When is a Scamp door not a door? When it is ajar. Since the day I purchased it, the door on my 1987 Scamp 13 has had a huge gap at the bottom. It is about 3 inches between the bottom of the door and the floor of the camper. I have been told that this is because the fiberglass door relaxes over time, and it can be solved by cutting a series of kerfs into the wood and pouring some epoxy or resin

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-10531876571434540842016-01-02T06:05:00.000-08:002017-08-01T13:03:16.692-07:00

What to do if your trailer is stolen. Spread The Word. Remember that old shampoo commercial where she told two people and she told two people and so on and so on? One often hears about vintage campers being stolen. Breaks my heart when I see people listing theirs as stolen, and it doesn't seem to matter whether the camper was in their driveway, at a campground, or in a public storage

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-73583054557123926912015-08-14T12:14:00.003-07:002017-08-22T13:21:33.407-07:00

In the past I have detailed my electrical upgrades; adding outlets, LED lights, new converter, etc. Well it seemed odd that after a season where everything worked as it should that this year the 110v system kept tripping breakers and snapping GFCI triggers. So I thought I'd try and isolate the problem by eliminating the GFCI. Lo and behold the 110v system worked again, Yay! Then when I put the

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-90535838340001805882014-07-05T11:18:00.001-07:002014-07-05T11:18:27.007-07:00

They say that backing up is hard to do... Well Neil Sedaka must have had a Scamp 13. I still can't back up to save my life, but my new 2014 Mazda CX5 has a nifty feature that makes hitching up a breeze. A rear view camera. I can easily see the hitch ball in the camera. Now no more trial and error.

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-63359190776761334652013-06-11T13:17:00.004-07:002019-01-08T13:26:32.661-08:00

Refurbishing a fiberglass Scamp 13. After overhearing a friend tell his wife that "Gary has a cool little camper, but boy does it need a bath." I decided it needed more than a bath. The gelcoat of the Scamp's fiberglass shell had become dull and caked with dirt and grime and tree sap etc. I have been following various threads on restoring the shine to a fiberglass boat or camper, and the

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-25146452627943363802013-04-16T07:39:00.001-07:002015-08-30T07:28:44.833-07:00

Nothing is more exciting than opening day. Whether it be baseball season or hockey season or camping season, opening day is often a rush. Rush to get tickets, rush to get a campsite. I will be camping in August. I know that because I had to make reservations in February. My June trip will be booked this week, but a friend tells tales of calling at least 50 times on opening day for reservations

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-80494006935716894252013-01-26T08:34:00.000-08:002018-05-08T14:00:11.119-07:00

Look familiar? Not the iPad, the USB plug and that little adapter that you can use to power and charge USB devices from 110V outlets. USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices are more numerous now than 12v devices. You can get anything from a USB powered coffee maker to a USB powered Christmas tree. I'll bet you have a phone, tablet, or other device that requires USB either to run or to charge. In

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-23998444734001159362012-12-11T11:27:00.002-08:002017-08-01T13:12:01.924-07:00

Battery Maintenance 101. Winter once again and time to button up for that long winter's nap. This year I have an extra duty to perform. Besides covering the Scamp (which didn't work out so well last year) I will need to remove the battery and maintain its charge for the next few months. I checked the Voltage just before removing the battery, and it was reading 11.4V. It had been sitting since

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-6929967782117721862012-10-25T13:56:00.002-07:002017-08-02T10:49:34.424-07:00

Before I put her to bed for a long Winter's nap. One full season complete, and I think I have most of the bugs worked out. I spent my last camping trip of the season split between New Hampshire and Maine; Plugs out in NH for two nights, and plugged in (with an electric heater!) for two nights in my brother's summer place in Maine. I still have great difficulty backing up, but luckily the trailer

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-41063727745515726122012-07-08T06:01:00.000-07:002012-07-16T11:50:53.965-07:00

For those times when I am able to connect to shore power I was thinking I would purchase one of those little Dormitory fridges. At $25.00 and most likely only a year old they can easily be found in thrift shops shortly after the colleges close for the summer.  Finding one was not a problem. Fitting one is. The Cabinet under the stove has an opening of 17.5" wide, and 19"deep. While it is

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-86372796576381663572012-05-21T11:04:00.002-07:002012-05-21T11:04:49.109-07:00

Sorry Emma: I have to apologize to my niece Emma who was trying to help me while I filled the fresh water tank on my Scamp before I headed out on my first plugs-out test ( battery only ) camping trip. I grabbed the hose and turned the water on, then went to fill the tank. Emma is three, and about three feet tall and got a face full of water as it splashed back out of the fresh water filler.

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-21702863380457549862012-04-28T05:45:00.001-07:002018-09-02T06:50:46.941-07:00

It has been a while since my last post. This is what happens when work gets in the way of play. However busy I may be I can't ignore the fact that camping season is nearly here. I know that some people will say that they camp year-round, but in New England most campgrounds do not open until mid May. So with that in mind there are still a few things I want to do before heading out. Tops on my list

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-6863319664472177612012-03-15T10:42:00.001-07:002012-03-15T10:43:16.333-07:00

Finding a location for the WFCO power converter in a 10ft camper is not an easy task. There are certain requirements: A flat vertical space at least 7" tall by 11" wide,with a depth of at least 8". It must be easily accessible in case of a tripped breaker or a blown fuse. It must be near the majority of existing electrical wiring. That left me with really only one choice. the left side of the

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-19872275489629503452012-03-14T06:54:00.001-07:002012-03-14T07:01:10.191-07:00

Batteries have become a passion of late. I have become an instant expert on battery types, relative costs, pros and cons, and the problems that arise when you have no clue how big a battery really is. After months of research and advice from fellow RV owners I decided to go on a gut hunch and ordered the Exide Orbital 34XCD Sealed Maintenance-Free (AGM) Deep-Cycle Automotive Battery. Available

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-31839329455394864072012-03-09T06:21:00.000-08:002017-08-02T10:42:55.340-07:00

Yesterday it hit 65 F. so I went to uncover the Scamp and start work on some of the electrical and other minor things. This led to a series of failures and facepalms. My first discovery: Blue tarps are not waterproof. I had all good intentions last Fall and purchased a canvas drop cloth and blue tarp to cover the Scamp. The idea was that the canvas would prevent any scuffing of the fiberglass

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-20025560796962668162012-02-27T12:38:00.000-08:002012-04-28T06:17:46.972-07:00

Like The Tittle Engine that could I am approaching the long hill climb to the RMV. Round Two: Preparing for the upcoming season I am now in the process of re-registering the trailer. Two things have happened , well three really. (1) I lost the license plate. It probably fell off 5 minutes after I left Rome. I'm not really sure if it matters, since (2) all trailer registrations have to be renewed

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-56825505431507511792012-02-13T08:19:00.000-08:002017-08-01T13:06:14.767-07:00

A waste of an opportunity. Remember a few posts ago I mentioned that I was purchasing a 15 gallon Barker waste water tank? Well it arrived, and quite frankly I am underwhelmed. The cost of these units seems extraordinarily high compared to the amount of thought that actually went into the design of the unit. Please understand this is not a complaint about quality, the tank and the components are

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-35983496401293408852012-02-05T06:29:00.000-08:002012-02-10T11:44:23.585-08:00

Yesterday I went to the Boston RV show with a few camper buddies. I knew going in that Scamp would not be an exhibitor, I was there to tag along as one couple decided whether and when to upgrade their own RV, and to see some parts dealers. I had a shopping list, but was disappointed to find only one parts dealer at the show. Also disappointed to see that his prices were not so show special. I

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-50967723100225877842012-02-02T07:00:00.000-08:002012-02-02T07:00:57.826-08:00

A 59 degree day in February gives cabin fever a whole new meaning. So today I unwrapped my Scamp and ventured inside to begin the installation of the new LED lights. Part one is simple enough, replace the two existing OEM incandescant fixtures with the new LED ones. The OEM lights are riveted onto the fibeglass cabinet above the sink and stove. It became a matter of drilling out the old rivets

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-91163483960013436302012-01-29T07:13:00.000-08:002012-01-30T06:53:20.969-08:00

I'm a big fan of Bob Thomson's book The New Victory Garden. In it he displays a child-like enthusiasm waiting in the early weeks of January for the seed catalogs to arrive so he can start planning his garden. When they arrive he sits and sorts and plots and plans until his entire garden is completely planted in his head. He knows to the day when he will be able to pick that first tomato. Up

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-70136233427261776742012-01-22T07:01:00.000-08:002012-01-22T07:03:01.602-08:00

I think I am starting to get a handle on some of the minor repairs that my Scamp needs. The previous owner managed to mangle the handle of the tongue jack which is used to level the trailer.  I thought in this disposable world I would have to replace the entire jack. Easier said than done, because it is welded onto the frame of the trailer. Problem solved. Instead of replacing the welded on

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-65105429566036579572012-01-18T08:31:00.000-08:002012-01-18T08:33:06.416-08:00

Since buying my scamp I have been downsizing other hobbies to fund some of the improvements I want to incorporate into the scamp. I've mentioned new lighting, a revamped 12 volt system, cooktop and others. I've been selling some old collectibles and vintage toys, but yesterday I sold my first hobby...photography. I've been shooting since I was seven or eight years old. My first camera used 120

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567313244542443176.post-52002994959563843292012-01-13T09:06:00.000-08:002020-03-01T05:27:56.110-08:00

So I've determined that all of these side cabinets mentioned in a previous post are home made. For the 13 foot model Scamp only ever made a rear cabinet over the dinette, and a front cabinet that hangs over the bunk beds*. I think the one over the bunks would be a bit intrusive on headroom. The Over the dinette cabinet can be ordered from Scamp for $150.00 and about the same in shipping costs. A

gquintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14949336374202439422noreply@blogger.com9