Modified gooseneck & 19' Scamp

The link I provided has a classifieds section but https://www.fiberglass-rv-4sale.com/ is the best site I've found for used molded fiberglass trailers. Be aware, these things hold their value much better than campers of any other construction and they usually sell quickly. Condition is much more important than age as Scamp doesn't change much from year to year - my 01 looks pretty much like a current model.

 

I finally got my Hitch done after i decide to get rid of the Scamp factories Hitch cause it was not possible to get my trailer level whit it. I also like the point that i can get my quad in my box without braking my back evrytime by removing that heavy hitch.

 

Clean looking install. Tacoma & Scamp fiver make a great combination. How long have you had your trailer and where's home?

We just returned to NC after a five week trip to southern Utah and saw only one other 19' Scamp the entire time. Anyone who lives in the Four Corners area is indeed fortunate. We mostly boondocked in the National Forests and on BLM lands and had a great time. Incredible scenery, trails and wildlife.

 

Zummie, where did you get that hitch set up?

 

I made it my self from a gooseneck hitch plate i bought on eBay and did some little mod on it.

 

Does anyone have any experience to offer with a 3rd generation Tacoma and the 5th wheel Scamp trailer? The trailer looks great and it seems from the previous entries that putting the hitch in the truck bed is not a huge problem, but all of these examples are for the earlier versions of the Tacoma. I have heard that there is may be a clearance problem with the bed sidewalls, 50" to the top and no more than 48" will work, or so I have heard. Does anyone know for sure?

thanks

 

If the bed sides are too high, then your only option would be to raise the hitch higher with respect to the floor of the bed. If this results in the hitch being too tall for the trailer, then there is not a lot you can do, the trailer will tow on an angle.

 

I know with some full size trucks, owners have both raised the hitch mount in the bed and added blocks under the axle to keep the trailer level.

 

Scamp offers a 3" 'raise' as a factory option on all models (https://www.scamptrailers.com/showroom/19-deluxe-trailers/19-deluxe-trailer-layout-a.html). My 01 doesn't have this and I still have plenty of clearance between the hitch and the top of the tailgate and bed sides on my 12 (48.5" from the ground to the highest point).

Best advice would be to call the 800 number in the above link and ask Scamp directly. They're good folks to work with.

 

Hi folks. I'm new to this forum....sure do appreciate the information out here. I have a 2004 19 ft Scamp. My current tow vehicle is a 2006 Dakota but I am transitioning to a 2016 Tacoma TRD Sport. The Tacoma's bed sides are just about 4 inches higher than the Dakota.
Because of this, and because the axle was 15 years old, with 13 inch wheels, I went up to Backus and had Scamp put in a new axle with 3 inches of lift and 15 inch wheels. Parts, labor, three new wheels and tires were just about 1200 dollars.
I was able to tow the camper home with the existing tow vehicle. The front of the camper tilted down a bit but no problem. Now I'm in the process of setting up the hitch in the Tacoma. I want to use the same setup that Al (huachuca) has. (Very good pictures and descriptions by the way. Thank you Al.)
I have a question though. Are the bed bolts long enough to connect solidly since you are now going through that flat stock....I'm guessing that adds about an inch. ? Or removes about an inch of connection. Hope that question makes sense. Did you have to get longer bed bolts are did you reuse the stock bolts?
Thanks in advance!
Al in Nebraska (obviously, my name is also Al)

 

Al, good choice on camper and tow. Thanks for the good words - glad to be of some help. I used the stock bed bolts in the front and center. IIRC, the threads on these extended below the mounting tabs even after installing the flat stock so no worries. I did go aftermarket on the rear though, Mcmaster-Carr I think. I couldn't find a longer bolt with a torx head and had to settle for hex there. Sorry, I don't recall the diameter or pitch - I pulled one out and took it to Lowe's to get those dimensions. Note, this applies to my 05 and 12 - not sure if the same in 16.

Good price on the axle/tire/lift upgrade. I've found the folks at Scamp to be very competitive on pricing - just have to watch them on shipping charges. I don't have a lift but trimmed out the wheel wells a bit to get 205/14's on. Will probably go the same route as you when I replace the axle in the not too distant future. Where's home in Nebraska if you don't mind my asking?

 

Hi Al. Thanks for the quick response. Much appreciated. Omaha, on the eastern edge of the state.
You know, something I'll have to deal with since I did the lift......getting in and out of the camper. We've been using a stand alone platform step. I forgot about the extra height the other day and just darn near took a tumble. My reactions aren't quite what they used to be.

 

I figure the lift, if we add one, will be a problem for us as well. I did some work in Omaha many years ago with an automotive parts warehouse. Can't remember the name of the business but think the owner's last name was Wolke or something similar. Also fell in love with a sweet young thing from Lincoln back when I was pretty sure I was headed for Nam. If those orders had gone through, I might be a Cornhusker today.

Stay in touch and let me know how the hitch turns out. I'm interested in how the 3.5 does with the Scamp as my 12 is getting a bit long in the tooth and I'll need to find a replacement within the next year or so.

 

Hi Al, sorry to be late responding. The story about the young lady in Lincoln touches a heart string. Hope it all worked out for you. I went off on a senior trip to Germany (Army) about that time. Came back, married my girl, and we ended up in Lincoln a few times over the years. My boy is there now.
Anyway, on the hitch. Thank you for the pictures! Very helpful. I repeat. Very helpful.
I had to modify an original Scamp hitch that someone else had already modified. I didn't realize how much. Whew. My goal was to try to keep as much of what they had done as possible. It just caused me heartache. I ended up cutting and sanding and getting back to original and copying your template. With a few exceptions.
I used 1/4 inch flat stock rather than 3/8 ths. Grade 8 bolts. It became complicated when I discovered that the previous fabricator had shortened the cross piece with the ball on it. Man, getting the holes to match was a true headache. But they did in the end. Along the way I almost went to a welder but my gut said bolts.
Getting those bolt heads to drop in between the high ridges on the bed....well, I had to think about that. But they did.
Going to test it all out tomorrow. I'll give you a status report then.

 

Did my test drive today. Worked like a champ. I'll pull it out and disassemble in a few days and paint it up. Thanks again to Al for the idea. 2016 Tacoma pulling a 2004 Scamp fifth wheel.

 

Hope those are grade 8 bolts or better!

 

Nice looking work there and thanks for the kind words. I hope you’ll enjoy your Tacoma/Scamp combo as much as we have ours.

 

Toyko Joe, yes on the grade 8's. Fastenal was a good resource. We have a local outlet but I had to special order.

 

So we bought a 1988 scamp 19foot as a project back in April. Working through a bunch of the configuration issues I currently have with mating the trailer to the truck. I did buy a 2 camera system with 7" display to assist in mating the trailer in the bed and then for the rear of the trailer on the road.