Scamp Trailer Review: Why We Love It And What Needs To Change

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Last Updated on February 6, 2025 by Paul Clayton

Scamp Trailer Review: Why We Love It And What Needs To Change

The Scamp Trailer is not a new trailer on the market; it has been around since the early 1970s, with some of those original trailers still in use by very proud owners.  

Key Takeaways

1. 1. Timeless Durability and Craftsmanship:
      The Scamp Trailer, first introduced in the 1970s, remains a highly regarded camper known for its durable fiberglass construction and long lifespan. Even older models from the early production years are still operational and well-loved.
   2. Personalization and Made-to-Order Design:
      Scamp offers various size options (13′, 16′, and 19′) with customizable interiors, layouts, and luxury upgrades, including hardwood finishes, air conditioning, and electronic connections. Customers can tailor their Scamp experience to match their camping needs.
   3. Lightweight and Easy Towing:
      Weighing less than traditional campers, the Scamp Trailer can be towed by small cars, making it accessible to a broader audience. Its aerodynamic design ensures better fuel efficiency during trips.
   4. Flexible Camping Options:
      The compact size allows Scamp owners to camp in more remote and unconventional locations, increasing available campsite choices compared to bulkier RVs.
   5. Full-Time Living Capabilities:
      With thoughtful design, insulation, and essential amenities, some owners have adopted full-time living in Scamp Trailers, benefiting from minimalism and mobile freedom.
   6. Creative Personalization by Owners:
      Scamp owners often enhance their trailers with unique internal and external customizations, transforming them into colorful, creative spaces for joyous living and travel.

It has always been made in the United States and is still made at a plant in Minnesota. The plant prides itself on its unique Scamp, an addition to the camping world.

The plant in Minnesota offers all trailers for order. The employees are dedicated to working with customers and offering a personalized experience.

The employees are familiar with all the layouts available for the Scamp and what can be tweaked and adjusted. Working with them allows everyone to have a personalized Scamp Trailer.

Their intimate knowledge of their product range creates a unique experience for the customer in the RV world.

Brochures detail a wide range of layouts for each Scamp. They are followed by a list of internal and external items. Many are standard, but other options can be added to personalize the Scamp even more.

The Scamp Trailers are not made with one type of camper in mind but are pretty open to fit the user well, whether short-trip travelers or those with a more extended plan.

When all the decisions are made, the plans are delivered to the production staff at the plant in Minnesota.  

The Scamp is known for its long-lasting status, and great care is taken in each step of the production process.

Once the finished product comes off the production line, the factory notes that the proud new owners can claim their Scamp Trailer there at the factory if they like. This personal sense of ownership and creation begins with the factory, which is why owners love the Scamp Trailer.

If the owners cannot pick up the trailer at the factory, the Scamp Trailers can be delivered anywhere in the United States.  

The factory shows its love for this product by communicating with owners and the options it offers. The small-town location of the factory and its care in production means that the end item is something the owner and the factory are proud of.

Scamp Trailer Reviewed

The Size Options

The Scamp is known for its small size, and another thing to love is that it is not limited to the very tiny option.

Today’s Scamp trailers are available in sizes 13′, 16′, and 19′ sizes. This means you can accommodate a few travelers at a time and have adequate space for all, or choose something larger for a smaller number of travelers and live more spaciously.

Each size features a well-appointed interior with the home’s basic needs and options available to be more luxurious.  

Despite the size choices, the Scamp remains a small, cozy, yet functional camper. This makes it even more unique and is just one of the many things we love about the Scamp Trailer.

Small and Lightweight

The Scamps Trailers are made of fiberglass, which makes them solid but lightweight. This gives owners added peace of mind regarding safety and means that the trailers last longer than most.

The lightweight nature of the Scamp means that, unlike their bulkier and heavier counterparts, they can be towed behind by small cars, as well as the traditional larger vehicles like SUVs, vans, and trucks.  

For those who might have thought they could not own a camper because they would have no way to get it around, that problem is eliminated.

This is a significant savings and stress relief for owners who might have shied away from a camper because they did not think their current vehicle could support it. Another thing to love about the Scamp Trailer is knowing that your current vehicle can take the camper out on the road to where you like.

Being light also means that when the Scamp is being towed, it is not a drain on the gas tank. One owner noted that he sometimes forgets he is pulling his Scamp until he sees it in the rearview mirror. This is wonderful for the owner’s budget.

The aerodynamic design further enhances this gas-saving nature as the Scamp moves well through the air as it is pulled behind a vehicle. The driving car is not slowed down much by removing the Scamp, which helps save gas and time.

Often, trips with campers have to be planned for longer road times, as campers and their weight will slow their towing vehicle, making for longer journeys to destinations.

The journeys are lengthened further by more stops at gas stations. As the Scamp is not a gas drain, those extra gas trips may not be necessary.

The small size of the Scamp makes the options more numerous when arriving at a camping location. Because it can fit in so many areas, the owner of the Scamp is not limited to looking at larger campsites, which creates many more possibilities.

The number of campsites also increases considerably, as there are fewer barriers to where the Scamp can be located, including places many campers cannot go.

This exclusivity makes finding more or less used campsites possible, adding to even more meaningful trips overall. This is another reason to love the Scamp.

Once back home, if the owner chooses to store the Scamp, there are numerous options, as well, due to its small size.  

Since not much room is needed, the owner may be able to store the camper on site, where another camper may not have fit.

If the storage is to be off-site, again, not much room is needed, especially when compared with a larger, more traditional camper. This could also result in cost savings in storage, as the storage facility is not using up so much valuable space on the small Scamp camper.

Made to Order

As noted, used Scamps are available for purchase. These Scamps may be older, but they were also made in the same small-town way.

Owners of older Scamps may get a trailer that was made to order for a prior owner but still holds its personal touch and care in manufacturing.

However, if you are an owner who decides to get a new Scamp Trailer, you will find many options to make the Scamp Trailer even more of a second home. As noted above, the manufacturer wants owners of the Scamp to have a personalized experience with a Scamp that fits their needs well.

Starting with determining what your traveling and camping needs are, as well as the number of occupants residing and sleeping within it, the size of the trailer can be determined. There are three size options, so owners are not limited to the most petite sizes.

There are many layouts for each size of Scamp trailer. The layouts vary in how the beds are arranged and the living areas are set up.

In addition, kitchens and other items can be moved and set up differently with each layout so owners can decide which layout feels best to them. Then, there are many additional options to be determined.

A more straightforward layout is available for those who want a more rustic camper experience. This layout does not have many extras but can still be comfortable.

The trailer can even be made without a bathroom. This may be done to conserve space or for those who think they can access facilities while traveling.

Even without a bathroom, the layout retains a thoughtful arrangement of necessities.

A functional camper becomes more stately for those who want the camping experience but want to camp with some luxury. The list of options in all three sizes is numerous and can fit what each owner may be looking for.

For example, deluxe hardwood interiors of birch or oak can be spread throughout the camper. The essential kitchen can be upgraded to have larger appliances. A bathroom can be included, adding more convenience for the campers.

Each of these ways elevates the interior, making the Scamp Trailer even more homelike and welcoming to its occupants. This is something to love about the Scamp Trailer.

Air conditioners and furnaces can be added to control the internal temperature while camping, allowing owners to avoid being at the mercy of hot or cold elements. This is a beautiful option that can allow owners to take longer trips.

Adding air conditioners and furnaces also broadens travel options. Owners may stay wherever they like, knowing that the internal conditions will be favorable no matter where they are.

Outdoors, the camper can be fitted with awnings, spreading the more comfortable camping experience outside. This extends the living area of the Scamp to the outdoors, further expanding its small set-up.

Using electricity in the camper can mean more lights if needed, and connections for television or the internet. If owners are concerned that they will leave all electronics behind, there is no reason to worry.

A look at the options lists for the three sizes shows numerous electronic options, making the journey one that does not have to keep the owner entirely out of touch unless they desire to be.

In this way, the Scamp can become much closer to traveling home for the campers, offering just enough comforts, if requested, or outfitted with many extras to make those camping inside feel like they don’t need much more.

Suppose the small setting is thoughtfully laid out, with each choice purposeful and with reason. In that case, space becomes entirely usable, making the stay in the Scamp even better and possible for extended periods.

Durability

The Scamp’s fiberglass exterior means it can withstand a great deal that might try to damage it. Several owners had noted that when out in torrential rain or damaging winds, not only did the Scamp Trailer withstand the assault, but when entered, they did not even find water leaks from the rain.  

Owners who had experienced natural disasters noted that the campers performed well in the elements and provided shelter after the storm. They were very grateful for the Scamp’s durability and the peace and comfort it offered in these times of turmoil.

The Scamp owner is not concerned about situations where wild animals may wreak havoc on tents or tent trailers, as the fiberglass does not allow those animals to cause damage or harm. Even if an animal attempts to penetrate the fiberglass exterior, it cannot.

The owner may not be aware of these attempts, as the Scamp is also well-insulated. When it is shut up in the evenings, exterior noises can be kept at bay.

Due to their durability, Scamps from the 1970s are still available. Owners can keep their campers for years, but they will need maintenance as time passes. The Scamp can be an investment that pays off for years and years.

The manufacturer of the Scamp Trailer keeps a well-stocked supply of replacement parts that can be purchased. In this way, the trailer can get its upkeep and keep serving its purpose for even more years.

Accessing the original manufacturer for this type of replacement parts is another reason to love the Scamp. This way, the Scamp owner knows that the parts will work and can be relied upon.

Look

The Scamp trailer is a bit unique in look and is often noticed by other campers and travelers. Owners usually take pride in showing off their camper, frequently surprising those who look inside, expecting to find very cramped, miniature conditions, but instead find a well-laid-out, well-thought-out interior that serves its purpose well.

The look, especially of the most petite sizes, has been compared to an egg, which seems to delight many owners. It is a point of pride for them to live so well in a distinctive camper like the Scamp.

Nothing Fancy to Set Up at Camp

Unlike large trailers with leveling systems or tents that must be assembled, the Scamp is mostly ready for use once it is at a campsite.

Once the location is chosen and the camper parked, camping begins, and the Scamp functions as the campers’ home.

Allows for Sole Journeys With Ease

The camper’s lightweight nature means that even a sole traveler can handle all aspects of the trailer independently. The trailer is very maneuverable, and since it can be towed by even a small car, sole travel is even more possible for those who desire it.

This option is not afforded to travelers with a traditional camper. Even if the camper remained hooked up to the vehicle, the setup to prepare a larger camper may be too much for one and would limit their travel options.

Since one person can handle Scamp living independently, the Scamp Trailer offers a world of travel and excitement to those who want to seek it, and even on your own, you can live comfortably while doing so.

Some owners have resided for an entire winter in a Scamp Trailer alone and could do so without a bad experience due to the layout and the option of a furnace to keep things toasty. They did not have worries on their own because they could handle the operation of the Scamp by themselves.

Not Too Tricky to Personalize Even More

A trip online can bring you to sites and message boards dedicated to Scamp owners who love their campers, often featuring their choices to personalize their vehicles above and beyond what the factory produced.

From French County cottages to cartoonish red, black, and white interiors, these owners have made their Scamps even more their world. It is incredible what the imagination of these owners has made into reality.

The pictures showed interiors that do not seem like the owners are roughing it anyway. For the more whimsical choices, traveling with happy interior decisions to live in is a possibility every day.

Externally, many owners have painted their Scamps in various colors, including decorating the exterior in murals. Again, it is fantastic to see the variance. In addition, you will see exteriors decorated with window boxes and other decorations traditionally found in stationary homes. This, again, is something to love about the Scamp Trailer.

During the holidays, you can see that Scamp owners have not held back in appointing their small space with festive lights and decorations. There seems to be no limit to how the small Scamp can be added to or altered if the owners choose to do so.

Looking online for such customization can be inspiring. Especially for those who may purchase an older trailer, these creative owners show that the old can be made new again. There is no reason not to use bold colors or plush interiors to elevate the Scamp experience to new levels.

Since the Scamp is of high quality, these personalized areas can stay with their owners for a long time. It seems that their journey is made even better if their surroundings make them happy.

Tiny Home-like Existence

With the popularity of tiny home living, this Scamp fits right into the genre, with the additional possibility of taking that small home to whatever location it can be pulled to.

Many websites and groups are dedicated to tiny home living, and many of their tips can be implemented with the Scamp. This is a positive development for Scamp owners because it means that many more people are coming together to make the most of small spaces, and they benefit from some of those ideas.

Full-Time Living in the Scamp Trailer

Many owners have given up a “traditional” life in a stationary home and instead live in their Scamp Trailers full-time.

This would not be possible if the layout was not well done and the trailer itself was not durable. Others’ choice of this way of life bodes well for the overall livability of the Scamp Trailer and explains why it is so loved.

Full-time living in the Scamp means you can regularly change the view from your window. You can also quickly determine when and where you want to live.

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Owners have also included pets on the journey, adding to the comforts of home.

One owner noted that her stress level has decreased partly due to the smaller space and amount of belongings she has to choose from. For example, getting dressed is easy because there are few clothing choices.

These may be unexpected benefits to living in the Scamp Trailer full-time, but if you search online, you will note many who have chosen to live this way and are enjoying and loving their Scamp Trailer.

Conclusion

The Scamp Trailer stands out in the RV market for those seeking durability, flexibility, and a personalized camping experience. Its lightweight design makes it accessible for many vehicles. At the same time, customization options ensure that campers can find a layout and features that fit their lifestyle, whether for occasional trips or full-time living. Despite its long-standing history, the Scamp continues to evolve as a beloved symbol of mobile adventure and freedom.

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