We Towed a Scamp Trailer with Our 4 Cylinder Car!
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- Опубліковано 7 лис 2018
- Towing a scamp trailer with a 4 cylinder car can be done! In this episode we will be showing you how our 4 cylinder Toyota Matrix hooks up and tows a 13 ft scamp trailer. We will also be continuing our Scamp Trailer vs. Teardrop Trailer segment from our last episode of Playing with Sticks.
Come join us as we explore the state of Alaska in a 13 foot scamp trailer. We take the scamp down to Girdwood Alaska to show you one of our favorite campsites. We also take you to Crow Creek Mine to show off the beauty of the state of Alaska.
Pulling a scamp trailer with a 4 cylinder car is not ideal. But if it is all you have I think you can make a go of it without putting too much wear and tear on your tow vehicle.
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Link to 1st episode of scamp trailer vs. teardrop trailer: • Why Scamps are BETTER ...
Sweet video... Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
You probably dont give a shit but does anyone know a method to get back into an Instagram account..?
I somehow lost my login password. I would love any assistance you can give me!
@Alaric Marvin instablaster =)
This channel has essentially convinced me that I need a scamp. Thank you for your reviews!
Yes!!!!!!! We honestly think everyone needs a Scamp. We are a bit biased as we love small camper trailers. But they truly are amazing.
I was just telling my wife last night that we need a scamp
We towed our Scamp with a Mini Cooper S for a year! Up mountains! People over-estimate the weight of Scamps!
Another confession Elsa. If we could go back and change some portions of this video we would. When we first started UA-cam we were afraid to state our opinion when we knew there would be plenty of people with strong counter opinions to ours. We know that towing any trailer weighing 1,000 lbs with a small car would put some excess wear and tear on the vehicle. But, in reality we felt our matrix pulled the Scamp fine. Because of our lack of thick skin we were afraid to say it was fine for our car, knowing we would get tons of commentors saying what we were suggesting would ruin other peoples cars. You are so right, people including us originally, over-estimated the weight of the Scamp. Once we got the water out of the tank we felt equipped to tow it almost anywhere.
Hey there Elsa! Say hello to Barron.
The cooper s also makes twice the horsepower of a regular Matrix. So you might not have had it as bad as you thought.
bob here drew. i need some information using my VW 2017 GTI. to be honest and conservation on my DIY mini camper, i put the total weight near at 1100 pounds. jet ski trailer around 400 pounds???; woods for frame 200 pounds or less; diamond plates 200 pounds, skylight at 40 pounds; misc 75 pounds. no heavy item inside the camper, only light object, clothing, and bedding when towing. heavy stuff will be inside the VW. our aim travel light, for using this DIY is for a couple days at the beach about 85 miles from Patterson ca to Monterey beach area. the only obstacle driving on I-5 and on state highway where the traffic speed is a lot faster and steep grade at the mountain coast before approaching the beach. you mentioned you tow with mini cooper and that gotta be hard. does it also have a low profile tire? i tested towing this camper around town, hate the rough city road surface compare to the interstate and the four-lane highway. what do you think, will it be suitable? VW is better suited for my wife so she can recline the bucket seat whereas if i use the 1964 scout 80, the seat is set upright only. my VW GTI is 4 dr with a hatchback, an automatic 1.8 L and the Scout is 2.5 L 2 x 4 tranny with low and hi gear. it can also carry lot more stuff. just the passenger seat will give my wife the discomfort to sit for 85 to 100 miles one-way trip. love to hear from your experience on the mini-cooper??? any good suggestions positive or negative will deeply helpful. i know the VW will not honor the warranty now with only 6 months left on it. also, it has a set of low profile tire, does that make the tire wear faster with a heavier load on the rear tires??? by the way, do i need to revise the trailer license since it was a boat converted to mini camper trailer?
@@rtchow3000 Hi Bob. Elsa Rhae and her partner Baron are actually the couple who tow with a Mini Cooper. They have recently upgraded to a Subaru Forester I believe. Our family drives a Toyota Matrix which has a towing capacity of 1,500 lbs. At 1,100 lbs you are bumping right up against the GTIs towing capacity. Most people say the concern with getting near your towing capacity is more the breaking/stopping than the towing. Also once you have a passenger and some gear you will probably exceed your towing limit by a few hundred pounds. If you did this for a season of camping you would probably put a lot of added stress on your transmission. The other thing with the VWs is that they have very low ground clearance. If you decide to camp somewhere that has sand you have a higher chance of getting high centered. We aren't sure how the low profile tires are impacted in a towing situation. You are really going to have to take your trailer out and just try it with the weight distributed in different places around the car and camper. After a few trips out with the teardrop we realized it did best when we put all the weight to the back. The first season with the Scamp we had trouble towing. But, once we distributed the weight evenly throughout the Scamp it did MUCH better! As for the license...homebuilt trailer licensing is different in most states. However, in most states once you modify a trailer significantly it becomes a home built trailer. Most states require that your trailer is inspected and their are quite a few documents one has to fill out.
Ok, your wife (and especially your kid) just pegged out the cuteness meter. What a great time.
The wife loves this comment! Thank you.
What a great video to watch on the first day off to camp with my three kids and our new fiberglass camper! Thanks for sharing your sweet family.
❤ congratulations hope your family will have some great adventures
If you haven't seen part 1 of the Scamp tour the link to that video is in the description.
Awesome! Nicely presented and really beautifully done! Thanks.
Thanks Paul. It is comments like yours that keep us motivated to keep churning these videos out. Not to mention making another video is a great excuse to get outside!
Lived in Girdwood. Some of most cherished memories and best friends ever. Tear drops lack windows with Vestibule as an excellent exception which has a picture window.
We've spent quite a bit of time in Girdwood volunteering for Challenge Alaska. You are very blessed to have lived there. Such a great little community. Windows are a huge plus and yes the Vestibule has some nice ones.
Thanks for sharing wonderful family
Glad you enjoyed it Damien. Thank you for the uplifting comment!
Thank you, for sharing!
You are most welcome!
Just came back from Anchorage, and had visited Girdwood, Portage Glacier, AWCC, Inlet etc.
So green and beautiful there with pretty of land and activities to do.
Nice ...its good family bonding..like it.!
Glad you enjoyed it!
one of your best, so family focused...
Thank you Charles!
You're living my dream life....huge respect to you and your family...wish you all the best
That is awesome to hear. It doesn't take a whole lot Tori. A $3,000 car and a $4,000 trailer and you are all in $7000. That is how much ours cost, but you definitely could get both cheaper. And if you find camping is not for you, you can get all $4,000 back in resell on that trailer. And you don't need to be in Alaska to do this. Ever state has their little gems, you just have to be willing to discover them. Wishing you the best as well Tori.
Happy to be watching this
Happy to hear it is making you happy. Sounds corny, but we really mean it! Take care.
Just found your channel I love your stuff so far! I tow my 1200 lb teardrop camper with my 4cyl 2011 Subaru forester and usually I don't even notice its back there. Its a little slow in mountainous areas, but I expect that and I'm not in a rush :) I also had a transmission oil cooler installed for some extra peace of mind.
Big fans of the Forester. The entire state are big fans of Subarus. Also great idea on the transmission cooler. Nothing beats a little peace of mind when on the road.
What's the tow capacity of your Subaru? I have a Rav4 that can tow 1750 lbs and I don't know if it's advisable to pull a Scamp
Thanks for the inspiration, as I am getting ready to attempt to tow my 1800# 2023 Riverside 511 with a 2.4 L 2009 Scion XB.
Great video and music!
Love the scampi. Nice family bro you are blessed. Just subscribed!
The Scamps are pretty incredible little trailers. The more we use them, the more we love them! Thanks for subscribing. We do feel truly blessed to be able to do what we do with our family. What a fun world we live in!
Great review I love these campers, I am thinking about purchasing one and was not sure if my Camry could handle it so Thank you for sharing your opinion and experience with the Scamp!
Glad you enjoyed the video Holly. It makes us feel good to know people are using this content to help make decisions on which small campers to purchase.
The Camry has some towing power! With a towing capacity of 1,000 pounds, the Camry can haul small loads. That's from toyota the corolla (Matrix) is 1500 pounds. I'd go rav4 v6 has a 3500lb tow rating or Highlander up to 5000lbd depending on the options. I know it's weird the camry is a bigger car than the Matrix it doesn't make sense... I towed a Taylor coach 12 foot Bobbie from the East Coast to the West Coast of Canada with a Toyota Matrix it did it. Now I traded it for an 2008 AWD highlander night and day. But if you want to tow I'd highly recommend a V6 you definitely can go more places. Also beware of the teardrop weights with a 4 banger some teardrops are heavier than you think 1200lbs depending on the material used others can be as lite as 600lbs which is great. I myself am 6'2 and feel rather cramped inside a teardrop thats just me I like having space to store my food closet for my clothes thats because I go a month or longer. Also when shopping for a tow vehicle don't buy one that can tow for example 1500lbs and your trailer is 1200lbs that leaves you very little wiggle room for people and gear.
That look really cool
Thank you. It was pretty darn fun!
You could use a roll up sink rack for hot items and extra counter space @ Amazon
Just ordered one of these tonight. THANK YOU! We never knew these existed.
2:48 so adorable in the window on the bunk!
Aww, thank you. That is one of our favorite shots. Another favorite of ours that we have never put in a video is him sitting on the bunks watching me fly the drone towards him. He is so young he doesn't understand he is protected by the window. Each time the drone gets near he gets excited, nervous, then back to excited (and repeat) Haha.
Nice Scamp! I have considered a small travel trailer like the Scamp, but would have to pay to store it since I can't store it at home. East is such a cute little guy. It's fun to watch him explore and learn. I really admire the high quality of your videos. Very good content and enjoyable to watch and listen to. Glad I found your channel!
Fiberglass trailers are excellent investments. But, like you said most folks would not have enough clearance to store them in their garage. Up here people leave theirs out year round, even without a tarp and they tend to hold up really well. A little bit of marine wax and they almost look brand new again. We are fortunate enough to finally have space on our property to store a small camper trailer outside, but there were many years for us where renting space would have been the only option. Glad you are enjoying watching East explore. Playing with Sticks was designed to be a small camper channel, but with more of an emphasis on where the small trailers take you and the simple adventures they provide for our growing family. I am really glad you are enjoying the content.
Carhart cuteness overload!
Got to love those Carhartts! We agree. Carhartts on little ones are just absolutely adorable.
Thanks for posting this video. You gave me hope. I wouldn't pull a camper but want to get a trailer. I'm miss my truck 😞
We feel the same. We haven't had a truck for almost 20 years now. It really saves us a lot in terms of cost. But, we sure lose out in terms of the benefits a truck brings. My new thing is a crossover suv towing a converted cargo trailer. You get the benefits of better gas mileage when not towing, a camper trailer, and a long bed to haul all your gear when you aren't camping.
I'm also a Matrix owner! I love this "little" Hatchback. I wished you talked more about your car and your setup for it. I would also like to do the same thing.
They are truly amazing! You will see it in almost all of our videos, but not a lot of talk about it. The towing drone shots tell most the story :)
@@PlayingwithSticks What rack and box size do you have on your Matrix? Does it bump the hatch? Thanks
@@roboroboray I wish I could remember the size of the box. I remember when purchasing it that the website said it wouldn't fit. It does bump the radio antenna on the back, but the hatch does open fully. Maybe 98% and it bumps the box at the top. We are in the Jeep this week, otherwise I would just measure the box for you. The rack is discontinued as it is a Whispbar from Yakima. We riveted it to the roof. It was amazing in that there was absolutely no wind noise and no noticeable decrease in gas mileage.
@@PlayingwithSticks
What hitch is on the car? Is it a 2" ?
@@curtis1951 We go back and forth between a 2" an 1 1/4". 2" for our teardrop and a 1 1/4" for the Scamp.
Great video. I love the song @ 0:58 it's beautiful. I looked it up and it's Misty Light by The Eastern Plain. Thank you for the video and the music. I subscribed.
Glad you enjoyed it Melissa! Thanks for subscribing as well.
Thanks! SoundCloud couldn’t identify it for me!
Scotty Kilmer approves this Car / Video.
Love this comment! Huge Crazy Scotty fans. That guy is an absolute hoot. We purposely do not watch his Jeep videos because we know how much he hates them and we know ours is a bit of a lemon. I think Scotty would break our confidence in our Jeep. We keep saying it is too bad they stopped producing these Matrix vehicles. Our brother-in law used to be the service advisor at Lexus for years. They were attached to the Toyota dealership. Everyone there were huge fans of the Matrix as well.
Gutsy! But more power to you! I also have a Toyota Matrix, 2004. I swapped out the tired 5speed for a 6 speed, but kept the 1zz. This thing is zippy on the streets! It's an awesome ride that still achieves 35mpg on the Hwy!
I got so inspired by your video! I'm going to buy a scamp soon for sure!
By the way, you have a wonderful family!
Love seeing other Toyota Matrix enthusiasts on here. since we made this video we have taken out the scamp a ton of times. We've actually redistributed the weight throughout the scamp and find it pulls amazing. There's a video on here that we made about the gas mileage with the matrix in the scamp, it is pretty impressive. We now take the scamp over the mountain pass throughout the summer and don't even think twice about it.
I watched two videos then subscribed 😃
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed them!
Nice filming
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Well for sure, one needs to know the towing & tongue-weight capacity of their vehicle in order to select a towable so it's not too heavy...especially fully loaded (but not overloaded to exceed the gross weight rating the trailer has). I prefer the trailer to be clearly UNDER (have some "headroom") the max towing-capacity rating of my vehicle to reduce stress on it/unnecessary wear & tear. IIRC, for most vehicles you only get the max towing-capacity "when properly equipped," which means you need to get their "tow package" installed (which I went for on my Honda Pilot).
But Scamps, Casitas, ParkLiners have got to be the lightest (maybe THE lightest) of the small TT segment. Olivers are heavier: Even their smallest model "Legacy Elite" pushes 5000lbs (gross) which IMO, is too much for a midsize SUV with a V6 engine on a regular basis as the max for them is the same 5000lbs. A mid-size pickup truck would be best as their towing-capacity is higher and would give that "headroom" for a maxed-out 5000lbs trailer. For example, the "new" Ford Ranger out can tow up to 7500lbs -- a nice "relaxed fit" for a 5000lbs trailer. The larger "Legacy Elite II" Oliver (@ 7000lbs gross) would approach the truck's limit...still doable of course, though way less (500lbs) headroom. But maybe that's just me wanting that extra cushion...
Some people tow these small TTs with their 4-cyl Subarus, but sadly, IIRC most Subarus can't tow very much at all -- about 1500lbs -- which is (to me) next to useless. Some do 3500lbs -- better -- but up until now Subaru has been weak on towing (and not a priority for them, but should have been given their many commercials taking a Subaru out camping, etc., even if just dogs driving). Until their Ascent model came out (able to tow 5000lbs) Subaru wasn't much in the running for towing anything, even a small fully-loaded U-Haul trailer or a small TT. Were I wanting a Subaru AND needed to tow one of these small TTs, the Ascent would be the only choice in their lineup.
Happy Travels,
-- BR
As our family grows our need for a slightly larger trailer is imminent. Unfortunately that means purchasing a vehicle with a larger towing capacity. The trailers already are quite an investment and now you have to add on the vehicle. Looks like we will be doing a LOT of researching to make sure we pick the right ones.
Great information about the lack of sound deadening - or maybe even unintended noise enhancing 😱 design. I believe that is part of the function of the Scamp “rat fur” 🤣 on the walls. (I am sure Scamp does not like the name, but I think the term is hilarious!)
We have been told that the newer Scamps have much better sound deadening properties. Like you said I think it is the rat fur. This model has not rat fur. It is more like a very thin foam.
I have a matrix and Ive towed a ton of stuff with it powerful little motor in those cars
AS you probably have noticed, we love our little Matrix. Since making this video we redistributed the weight in the Scamp. We have now taken it over all the mountain passes in our area with no problem. This little beast of a car is always surprising us.
Not about how much you can pull but how fast you can stop, tow safely !
Love this comment. That is 100% accurate.
Hey, I just bought a 13 ft scamp and am curious if you towed it totally dry or with your tanks full? I happen to drive a Matrix and it's blowing my mind that this is possible. Thank you !
You don't really want to play with your tanks full it could damage them
Niceeee!
Seems like they're pretty innovative in being lightweight. But, good Lord! The interior looks like the Brady Bunch house.
Haha. Yes, the interiors really haven't changed in decades. Now the cushions you saw in this one, just remember this version was from the 1980s.
awesome! where I live those blueberries would be huckleberries instead.
Those sound great! We have never had huckleberries. Our travels tend to revolve around fish and berries. We are always wishing those berries came a little earlier in the season up here!
@@PlayingwithSticks they are like purpleish red sour blueberries. They even have the exact same shape as a blueberry.
Our family love sour berries. Wow after googling huckleberries we see why people confuse them with blueberries. At certain stages you can't tell the two apart.
I think shes hooked for sure
She truly is hooked. I think if ,God willing, we have another child my wife will really be wanting a SCAMP. But, I will try my hardest to push us towards a stand up teardrop. Which, by definition really isn't a teardrop, but a canned ham. I don't know why, but I really romanticize teardrops.
@@PlayingwithSticks Ya That was me with the scamp. Nothing else stacked up.
:56 lol, my Vibe's gas gauge is inaccurate when full, too. It drops quick once you've used 3 gallons or so,
Mine does that half a tank I get 200 miles up to half a tank the 130 miles out the next half of the tank.
You guys make vlogging look SO easy! You are serious goals of what I want to learn with videography! Do you suggest anything specific to learn how to do that slow motion sooo smooth?
Thank you for the positive comment. I don't know if you have tried slow motion out yet, but basically the slow motion does the work for you. Slow motion tricks the eyes not to see the bumps and jerks. I would suggest a camera that shoots at least 120fps. But at the same time 60fps still takes out the perceived micro jitters and jarring movements. Also I tend to shoot with the camera out from my body and the camera strap taunt. The camera strap acts a bit as a stabilizer.
@@PlayingwithSticks Thank you so much!! I want to learn slow motion videography so you are some great inspiration for me! Thank you!!
@@PlayingwithSticks Do you have any affiliate links of the equipment that you film with? I'm looking to upgrade my camera!
For learning slow motion I would suggest watching a few of Peter Mckinnon's tutorials. Thank you for the vote of confidence in our channel. We are glad you are enjoying the content :)
I will try to add an affiliate link soon. You can private message us any time if you have more specific questions about camera gear. We are no experts, but we will gladly share what works for us. My motto is smaller, lighter, and less accessories. The less gear the more you will probably end up using it!
Rainforest lol hahaha
Glad you liked that one 😁
You have a lot of camper videos, which brand has the best air conditioning unit? And about how far does the inside temperature go down compared to the outdoor temps- at the hottest time of the day? And do pop up campers have A/C units??
You have to go and ask us a hard question right off the bat! Haha, this is an area we have basically no knowledge in as we are based in Alaska. However, I can answer the second one and the answer is yes, pop-ups do have AC. A channel that runs a lot of AC in their pop-up is Yak Motley. It is a fishing channel, but they do a lot of pop-up specific videos. Hoping someday to get in some warmer climates and do a bit more testing on refrigerators and AC.
What was the layout of your Scamp 13? Seems like it saved room and weight by not having a fridge, shower, toilet?
We love the layout of this 13 ft. Scamp. Basic layout of table on one end that converts to a bed and a couch on the other end that converts into bunk beds This model does have the fridge, but is just used for additional storage. The toilet is a nice amenity, but in many of the layouts including the 16ft layouts it takes away the bunkbed option if you put it at the end. If you put it on the side in the 16 you still get the bunk beds. For a family of four or five the bunkbeds are great!
@@PlayingwithSticks shower, toliet are 2 reasons I'd want a trailer. Any holding tanks?
It does have a holding tank. But for the 4 cylinder car we find that filling it half way or more puts quite a burden on the towing strength of the car. So yes, for most people a holding tank, toilet, and shower, would be ideal. It makes a one week trip easily stretch into a comfortable month long trip. But, for us beings we need the extra space for sleeping and our car is close to maxing out it's towing capacity... toilets, showers, and holding tanks are not ideal for our situation.
I wish we had one of these in Thailand. We drove everywhere, but the national parks have rock mattresses. Ouch. This would be nice for my Honda Fit.
Sounds like you have had some fun travels there. A Honda fit would make a really good towing vehicle for our teardrop trailer. We may have to do some of the national parks in Thailand some day. We have spent a lot of time there, but more around the backpacker and food scene. You are really blessed to live in such a beautiful country!
@@PlayingwithSticks Yes! It is wonderful, however I am now in Montana for a family gathering. Whether our Ford Focus there or the Honda Fit here, it is a great way to go. Enjoy the beautiful North!
Here in Europe, far most vehicles are 4 cylinder cars, yet many can easily pull a lot more than the Scamp. I'd say cylinder size is much more important than the number of cylinders.
Thanks for sharing.
I have a Vibe (Distant cousin of the Matrix) and am looking to add a class II hitch to pull a pop up camper. Does your Matrix have the 1.8 or 2.4 engine and did you add a transmission cooler? I plan on adding a cooler but am just curious to see how other people are doing it. I have a 2.4 AWD version of the vibe
Hello! Both you and Elsa inspired us to seriously consider towing a scamp with our small car (Countryman). Currently we are still trying to figure out the hitch setup. I have a few questions and I apologize if they have already been answered. Your Matrix is installed with 1.25 inch receiver, would you recommend installing a 2 inch instead? Assuming your scamp does not have brakes, do I still need to install 7-way harness or flat 4-way is suffice? Lastly, any noticable difference braking downhill towing vs. not towing? Thank you!!
Good questions Hank. I think the Matrix is only designed to use the 1 1/4 receiver. However, the smaller receiver doesn't seem to impact the towing in any way and it appears to support the tongue weight. However, I do notice the rear end of the Matrix could be beefed up a bit as the tongue weight and a loaded hatchback does drop it a bit more than it probably wants to be dropped. When it comes to the tow harness we now highly suggest everyone install a 7-way and that is because once it is on you will never have to upgrade in the future. The current 7 ways all, or almost all, have 4 way flats built into them, which means they work for almost everything out there. You never know when you will need to tow someones trailer for a day, or a minute just to help them get unstuck. It is always a bummer when all you have is the 4 way flat. And yes you do notice the braking with the Scamp. We have been telling people that really the towing isn't the issue it is more the breaking. Althought tow ratings are for general protection of your vehicle from towing strain they are more for the safety of stopping distance. When you get that Scamp full of water, food, and gear you do have to be more mindful of the stopping. You don't have to have brakes for a 13' Scamp legally in most places, but it would be a very nice and safe addition. Hope these answers help. Let us know if you have more questions Hank.
So I have a 2019 Hyundai Tucson and its says it only tows 1000 pounds what do you say to that ? I was hoping to get a scamp.
Hi and thank you for taking the time to post. I have a matrix and have a 800 lb pop up camper that tows like a dream. It is a little too difficult for me too put up by myself and am looking aliners. They have breaks on the trailers so seems like this would help. I am looking at the 1100+1328 range. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Love the little Matrix! We find between 800 lbs and 1200 pounds our Matrix pulls these sizes well. However Once we get in the 1100-1300 trailer range we also find that we have to pull the camper completely dry. Meaning no extra water, not a lot of extra gear, almost an empty camper. The Matrix could tow what you are looking for, but we find that we are always a little unsatisfied because we have to leave some essentials behind. The biggest concern with that weight for us is the braking. If the aliner has the brakes it sounds like you are set.
@D Z Wow, the weight on those 8 ft and 10ft models is pretty ideal. Thanks again for introducing us to the Taylor trailers.
I had a 1985 Saab 900 that was rated at like 5000lbs towing capacity. I doubt the engine would pull that up anything over 2%, but the trans was built for it. I would tow and launch a 16ft 4cyl Volvo penta stern drive ski boat.
I'm thinking of towing a 550ibs cargo trailer with a 2021 corolla. I dont think ill tow with more than 1000 ibs. Any recommendations of how much I should pull on a regular basis for a long haul?
You may want to look at the towing capacity. Many Corollas have a 1,500lb towing capacity. Because a corolla is basically the same engine and components as the Matrix, just a different body and transmission. These tow ratings in the US are pretty low. So sticking with your tow rating and below you should be within the car's limits. However, if you go to the forums many folks are going to suggest adding a transmission cooler.
1.8 or 2.4 liter engine? Automatic or manual transmission?
I was wondering if a Toyota Prius could pull a 13’ Scamp.... I think this video pretty much confirms i could ✌🏼
We are still shocked how well the Matrix tows this thing. It really is all about balance. Our suggestion is not to fill the water tank and just place your own water strategically all around the camper. This made a really big difference. The trailer went from feeling heavy and having long braking distance to feeling zippy and safe.
I saw last year or so a picture someone posted on a fb vanlife/rv group page of a Prius towing a T@G Teardrop trailer. I was in awe something so small could tow a teardrop.
I know if you didn't want to back up a t@g trailer into a camping spot, you could park and literally move the trailer in the area manually yourself with just your hands. * 0 *
I like T@g, Scamps, Casitas and those silver trailers I can't think of the name at the moment. But if I plan to travel alone, I would just like to have everything connected so I can go to the front seat and drive away if someone sketchy invades your comfort zone.
2019 ram 1500 classic v6 pulling a 2020 Escapade Crosscountry, about 1250lbs I’m getting 22.5mpg. That’s in Minnesota not a hill in sight.
That is really impressive gas mileage for a truck! Love hearing things like this. You're getting all the benefits of a truck for storage, but still getting great gas mileage. So far nobody's chimed in with a Ford ranger yet, still hoping to hear those results as well. We have never been big Ford fans were more Chevy and Dodge people but I think it is just due to our upbringing and family vehicles not due to quality.
Very lucky baby =)
He knows he is too. He is really starting to appreciate how these little trailers get him out to do his favorite activity, fishing! He loves his fish.
Nice video! What kind hitch do you got? And do you know the weight of camper?
COFFEE.A woman who understands.
Love it!
Cool I guess: I like tear drops but with kitchens inside, but their pricey. Today you have 14 footers with kitchens & wet Baths inside and they great windows. I like modern and yet I see the younger couples like old.. lol.. hey what ever works.
That is pretty funny the differences in needs for folks. Back in the early days of RVs times were tough. Folks wanted their RVs to be luxurious. They weren't looking for that close to nature vibe because essentially that is how many people were living day to day. Now today society and their heavy reliance on comfort, automation, and technology we find the younger generations are seeking to get back to their roots (closer to the ground). I could see how this looks ridiculous too so many people.
Dope video what camera do you use?
Thank you. We use a Panasonic GH5.
I think the issue in pulling a trailer with a small car is the transmission. As long as the weight you are pulling is no more than the combined weight of however many adults the car was made to haul around, you should be okay. Of course, when I put my hitch on my Chevrolet spark, my dealer told me if I pull anything with it, it would void my warranty, so I told him it was merely for a bicycle rack, which is the truth.
Good point here. Transmission and braking distance are the two that comes to mind for us as well Originally we thought we may need to add a transmission cooler, but like you said if you are within the stated guidelines you should be fine. Furthermore this exact same model, but in Europe has double the tow rating. Meaning, North America is a bit less generous than other parts of the world when it comes to what these cars really can do.
@@PlayingwithSticks
I would dearly love to be able to pull around a tiny camper and camp out, but I am 72 years old and live alone out in the middle of nowhere - fat chance! Still, it sounds like fun.
and you can stand up where those other little teardrop trailers you're crawling around your knees the whole time
So true! I just got dressed in my teardrop yesterday morning. As usual it was awkward, slow, and awful.
It's not the size of the car that matters when it comes to towing things. I used to have a 2007 Subaru Forester which is not a big car. At the same time, my father had a Suzuki Aereo which was about the same size as my car. My car was able to pull about a ton and a half (3,000 lbs) where Dad's car was not rated to pull anything, he would have ruined his engine and maybe the trans if he tried to pull a load. I don't know how much a loaded Scamp weighs, but I don't think I would have chanced it with my Forester, but you could probably do it.
Is the car built to tow things or not? The owner's manual will tell you if the car can or can't, and if it can, how much?
I like your outdoor port-a-potty tent. It's a good idea to have something like that.
Yep, with our little car we are bumping up close to the towing capacity. When we weighed the Scamp loaded, which we keep very minimal (we don't fill the water, keep extra clothes, silverware, etc) it was around 1,300 lbs. The towing capacity for the Matrix is 1,500lbs. Engine wise, once we balanced out the weight in the Scamp it really wasn't hard on the Matrix at all. In Europe these same cars are rated for 3,000lbs towing. What I think the 1,500lb rating here in the States is more about is the stopping distance. Safely at the speeds we travel I don't think you would want to push more than 1,500lbs in the Matrix when it comes to stopping. With our teardrop we don't notice any increase in our stopping distance. With the Scamp you feel a bit of a delay. Maybe the 3,000lb towing ratings in the EU are designed around trailers having brakes. We really haven't looked into it. Thanks for sharing about your Subaru experience. Us Alaskans love our Subarus!
Yes, IIUC, brakes are standard features on trailers in Europe. Hitches and trailers are certified, trailers are licensed and inspected. Caravaners are subject to safety inspection at any time by law enforcement.
What size engine does ur matrix have and what is the weight of ur scamp?
I really wish you would have showed your hitch setup on your Toyota Matrix. that, I'd be super super interested in
We didn't even consider that.
@@PlayingwithSticks Ya because I'm wonder did you put on a 2" receiver, how much tongue weight or overall weight can it handle and how easy or uneasy it is to put on or take off. But no big deal. I was just curious but could only see about a half a second of your setup in the video. Love the video though. I've got a 2008 corolla S myself but have always wanted a matrix for the folding seats.
@@robertp9370 Oh that is neat. You basically have the same car as us when it comes to the engine. Slightly different transmission, hatch, and those folding seats though. Love the folding seats! We call the Matrix our pickup truck :) We use a 1-1/4" hitch. The tongue weight with the Scamp is much heavier than our teardrop. But, much less than most campers of the same weight. This is because the front of the Scamp only has the bunks. No kitchen, water tank, etc. in front to add to the tongue weight. Love our Toyotas. I think every person in our extended family owns at least 1 in their household.
@@PlayingwithSticks Very cool, ya so mine I bought with 113,000 miles. But I forgot to check the transmission fluid when I bought it until last week when I hit the 120,000 mile spark plug replacement, and I also needed an oil change. I learned on UA-cam how to do the spark plugs, learned how to do the oil and filter change, and I learned how to replace 75% of the transmission fluid by draining it and filling it two times with fresh fluid with 2 $17 1 gallon jugs I bought at Walmart. All 3 things were super easy to do. Like super super easy. My transmission fluid drain and fill twice was the easiest, and is now red/pink like it should be and it is shifting much better than before. My reverse was a little weak and my nuetral would sometimes try to drive but now... my reverse is quick and eager, my neutral is completely nuetral, and my shifting in drive is butter smooth. The previous owner was a college student who didn't do much maintenance but thats ok, it is good to go now.
What kind of gas mileage do you get with just the cargo carrier on ?
27 mpg city and highway combined. 29-31 on the highway. But, when we get a large side wind our mileage GREATLY decreases. I don't have an exact figure on this, but you can almost see the gas gauge falling while you are driving. But, this only happens when we are in one location along the ocean where wind is passing through a glacial valley. The cargo box acts a bit like a sail in sidewinds. Other than that across the state we get the gas mileage of 29-31 that we mentioned.
We have a junk removal business with just a car and a trailer. 06 Hyundai elantra ! We towed as heavy as 4000 pounds of weight on a class 1 hitch !!!
You probably noticed quickly here in North America our tow ratings are pretty low in comparison to what some of these cars can actually do.
Usually being a 4 cylinder is not going to be your limiting factor, as the tongue weight will be for most cars. That and braking power, since some of these small trailers don't have their own brakes or only have "surge" brakes. For example, a Toyota RAV4 with the 4 cylinder 2.5L can tow around 3000 lbs I think, but that's also an SUV. Some cars can also tow as well. Now, with a Matrix, this isn't something I'd want to do all the time, as you will shorten your transmission's life especially if it is hilly and the engine has to work harder, but a few times per year is probably fine. But towing is primarily dictated by the vehicle's braking ability and the strength of the body. Most cars can handle the 200-500 lb tongue weight without issues in general.
How is the towing capacity for that particular Rav4 possible? I have a 2012 Rav4, but it says in the manual it can only tow up to 1,500lbs. I have the 4 cyl. ☹ I found out a Rav4 that is 6cyl can definitely tow the 3,000lbs. 🤷♀️
Do they have your sons outfit in adult size? He’s styling for the outdoors.
Love it!
Love it! We like to joke that he has better clothes than us. He gets all his clothing second hand. Up here with all the oil workers from the slope there are quite a lot of great clothing for kids being handed down. If we had to pay full cost for these items, we would have to get a second job :)
@@PlayingwithSticks you guys are such a cute family. Enjoy your little one because they grow up so fast.
My son is now starting first your in college and my daughter first year in high school. It’s fun seeing them grow up though. Thanks for the cool videos. It’s motivating to get my 1972 trail mite camper fixed up soon. Itching to start my adventure.
What class trailer hitch do you have on your Matrix?
We are pretty positive it is a class II trailer hitch at an inch and a quarter.
@@PlayingwithSticks Thank you!
do you think you would be able to pull it across the country? (about 2000 miles) ? Asking because am planning to tow a 1000LB uhaul trailer 2000 miles in a 4 cylinder CRV. slightly worried and questioning. Any opinions would be appreciated
To give you an idea. Your CRV has the same towing capacity as our Toyota Matrix. Our Toyota Matrix in Europe (same engine, same components) has a towing capacity of 3,000lbs. North America is very conservative on their tow ratings. I think it is more about braking distance here than towing power. Our teardrop is close to 1,000lbs and we have towed it all over Alaska (hills, mountain passes, gravel roads, you name it). And I mean ALL Over Alaska. Well, okay, not the Haul Road yet. As for the Scamp it took a lot of moving the weight around, but we eventually found the sweet spot for power and mileage. We could tow the Scamp 2000 miles . Just this trip you saw in the video was over 500 miles and that was one of many trips that month. Now can this put some wear and tear on your vehicle, yes. Most people would suggest that you add a cooler to your transmission. Others would suggest adding electric brakes to the trailer.
@@PlayingwithSticks Appreciate you so much for the detailed information. Will take it all into perspective. Thank you!
I tow my 17’ Casita with my 4 cylinder Subaru Ascent (4 cylinder turbo).
Now that is neat! Love hearing that. We have been driving around the Subarau Outback Wilderness all summer. Today was a sad day, because we had to hand it back to the owner.
@@PlayingwithSticks I had an outback before this Ascent but when I wanted to buy a Casita, I had to give up the Outback for some towing capacity. Mine is a 2019, the first year of the Ascent and I now have 40k miles on it with probably 75% of it towing my little Casita all over the country. I love Subaru.
My 2015 rav4 can tow 1500. I would like to get a scamp 13 with bathroom. Tow it dry weight but in the future my next car will have more power to tow the trailer when it's at full weight.
Bathroom wouldn't use unless needed until I get that bigger vehicle.
Sounds like a nice combo. Love those Rav4s.
Dom The newer RAV4s can tow 3500 lbs when properly equipped. My biggest concern is the hitch and trailer brakes.
@@user-tb7rn1il3q also the new Subaru outback can tow the same weight.
I have a 2017 Nissan Sentra and RV stores are warning me against pulling anything with it....not even a Tear Drop. So feeling a little sad about this and thinking I need to trade in my car so I can pull off my travel dream! Curious to know what you think @PlayingwithSticks??!!
I think that has a lot to do with the crappy CVT's they put in those.
How does a matrix with like 125hp pull camper with people and stuff up the hills n mtn
is your car towing capacity 1500 lbs? mine car too. would appreciate your answer.
Yes, we are 1500 lbs. The more we take out the scamp the easier it is to tow. We feel very confident pulling it with our car now. We just had to redistribute the weight a bit within the scamp and that made a night and day difference.
What type of HITCH did you install on your car to pull the Scamp or the Tear Drop ?
Towing capacity of your vehicle is not based on pulling power, but vehicle weight and, will it be able to stop the trailer. If the trailer is too heavy compared to vehicle weight, you will not be able to control it as well as you need to.
This is correct. Plus towing power is also factored in for wear and tear.
@@PlayingwithSticks Exactly right. My camry is rated for 1,100 pounds and i am looking at trailers in the 600 to 800 pound range. Good to have a buffer as my car is a 1999 and i do not want to lean on the engine and trans too much. I enjoyed your video.
We had a Littleguy5wide. Barely able to sit inside to have a meal. Looking for a used Scamp 13 and gut it to bare bone. Has to be under 1500lbs so our CRV can tow it across country.
You will love it! I don't know if you have seen our other videos. We always have a little teardrop and a 13' trailer in the driveway at all times. They both have their pros and cons and we can't choose one over the other. When looking for your Scamp don't forget to also search Burro, Casita, Uhaul trailers, etc.
Hi could I tow 1500 with my 1.8L Matrix 2011? would it be to hard on the engine and transmission?
At 1,500 I think you would be pushing it. As the vehicle is rated for 1,500 max that does not include people, gear, water, etc. We try to allow about 500lbs for the extra items. However, if you research the towing capacity of your Matrix in Europe you may look at all this different. The US is very conservative with their tow limits. When getting close to your towing capacity it is always suggested to install trailer brakes and a transmission cooler. But, again if it were us we would shoot for a trailer near 1,000lbs or below for ideal towing.
@@PlayingwithSticks Thank you for your help, i appreciated it very much
Overnight camping $10😳 try it here in Ontario, you'll be broke in a week. . So many ppl now living in campers in need of inexpensive safe spots yet province doesn't care. Anyways up there in Alaska with nature must feel like Heaven 😊
Ours is raising crazy fast. Our $5 sites are now $10-20.
You don't seem to say in any of your videos I've watched so far, but I'm holding out hope! Lol, How much actual MPG are you getting with the scamp and then the teardrop?
I recently converted a 5'x8' cargo trailer into a sleeper camper, about 1500 lbs.. pulling with a 4 cylinder Kia Sportage it was BAAAAD.. like 12 MPG bad! Went over 500 miles one way to Georgia and back (hit the recent "gas shortage" in NC on the way back as well, almost got stranded at a rest stop). I'm just wanting to know if I'm destroying the vehicle, or if I need to lighten my gear.. maybe build an aerodynamic front?? If 12 MPG is normal for a 4 cylinder pulling something like your scamp then maybe I shouldn't be so worried? Any advice is much appreciated. Your channel is amazing btw and your video host skills are legit pro level! Great work!
I think I mention both in this video ua-cam.com/video/j2RgmPBODe8/v-deo.html I think I mention the Scamp and mileage without the Scamp. I am not sure if I mentioned the teardrop. And unfortunately I don't remember the gas mileage with the teardrop. Sounds like you may be over your towing capcity. The Matrix although 4 cylinder has a whopping 1,500lb towing capacity. Our mileage is pretty good as you will see in the video. Not great on hills. But pretty good everywhere else. I think I give both hills and flat miles per gallon in the video.
@@PlayingwithSticks Awesome! Must have missed it. Thanks for the info! I should probably hit up a weigh station and see what's up.
Does your tralier have brake
OH, your son's GORGEOUS...! Y'all are making great memories, you know; you guys Are great!!! 👣👣
Thank you so much Alva! Love sweet comments like this.
people dont understand those straight block cast iron 4 cyl wont die i pulled like 5000 pounds up a mountain in a 4 cyl truck, foot to the floor never could get above 45 hahah but it did it
The more we use this 4 cylinder to tow the more we are blown away by how well it has done. We never find ourselves going over 3,500 rpms and honestly half the time we forget we are pulling a small trailer behind us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. It is nice meeting others who don't find us completely crazy!
@@PlayingwithSticks right on thanks for sharing
At any point in this video does anyone talk about the weight of the scamp and the tow capacity of the vehicle? Because I sure didn't catch either of those things.
We have an entire video devoted to that We Towed a 13' SCAMP TRAILER All Over Alaska: Our Surprising MPG Results!
ua-cam.com/video/j2RgmPBODe8/v-deo.html
Also, just be aware that scams are slightly different heights and weights based on the year. The earlier models were lighter and less interior height.
I am going to weld a hitch to my roof and goose neck it. Toyota echo power:-)
That 4 banger probably has almost as much HP, 126 as some 1960 V8s , some only had 150hp, difference is that V8 had loads of torque, my uncle in UK used to pull a 1000lb trailer with a Motorcycle and sidecar when the bike only had about 25 hp. just remember 4 cylinders were winning lots of races against 6 and 8 pot cars., Porsche was one of them.
Love seeing information like this. Would love to have seen your uncle pull that trailer, I bet that was a sight!
George Lee The gearing is lower with the 4 cylinder. They put out the same torque at the wheels.
My 2019 Subaru Impreza could pull/tow a Scamp R.V. trailer? One of the R.V. Dealers I chated with on UA-cam told me it couldn't pull a light weight trailer🤔. I wish the Scamp trailers had wet bathes in them. I'm going to look into a Armarilo Boler trailer. It's just like a Scamp, but better.
Yes, from what I gather a 2019 towing capacity is 2,000lbs with electric brakes. And Scamp actually does have a model with a wet bath. Just not the one we use.
You all are great! I love your enthusiasm for adventure! Do Scamps come in a Tall-boy version? I'm 6-4..... never found a Scamp, Casita or similar one I could stand up in.
You are so close in height. I believe most come in at about 6'3. But, we have learned that with different years of scamps come slightly different dimensions so maybe there is an era of taller Scamps out there. I like this as a video topic. It won't be coming out anytime soon unfortunately but we will definitely add to the video topic lists "Small Trailers for Tall-Boys!"
The newer Casita's have a higher ceiling than the older models. Not sure if it's over 6,3 but it's a little higher. I have the same issue being 6,2 but I've come to realize they are not trying to complete with full sized campers. Their market is an upgrade to the teardrop market.
Maybe the Armadillo camper is taller?
Good question!
Would this work with a Kia Sportage?
If your Kia is the 1,653 version like most online it probably would compare pretty well to our 1,500 capacity on our Toyota Matrix. Your vehicle also has more horse power than ours.
I work remotely. I have a hyundai elantra 2013. I need something that I van sit in and when on video no one can tell that I'm not in an apartment. If I can do that with a scamp trailer I'm in!
hello, do you think l could tow a scamp with a toyota prius?
To give you an idea our Matrix has a 1,500lb towing capacity. If your Prius has the 1,598lb capacity you are quite close to ours. However, we tow the Scamp dry, with very limited items, and water strategically placed around the trailer. When we first towed it, as you can see in some of our videos we thought it was too heavy. But, with proper weight placement and minimal items we felt very comfortable the whole last camping season. You may want to do a side by side study of the Matrix and Prius to see if your vehicle can tow it. The Matrix may have some features your vehicle does not, especially with it being electric.
@@PlayingwithSticks Thank you very much for your response, l will considered it
Onestly, I can't understand why is a problem for you about towing with a four cylinders car. In Europe it is the most common solution and we tow travel trailers (caravan) more bigger than the Scamp without problems (and most various street than USA).
Haha. You should check out all the comments in our videos. Many Americans think we are nuts! Haha.
Well...your son is adorable but I wanted to see how you towing the trailer..
What year is that scamp?
It is 1983 I believe. We do know it is from the 80's for sure.
I honestly don't know how long that car, especially the tranny is going to last pulling a trailer. Those cars where never meant to pull trailers. I'd imagine you would have to floor it just to go up any inclines. However I really love your trailer and always wanted one behind my ($200) 1996 Plymouth Voyager that I use for hauling junk and going on road trips/camping with.
I think some of you guys dont realize it isnt just the horse power or torque.. its the wheel base and weight of your vehicle. Single axle trailers are also inherently dangerous and combine that on a small wheel base vehicle that doesnt weight alot.. and the trailer and fling the car around like a toy.
That’s a good point Jacon. I’ve never experienced trailer sway on a trailer 13 foot or less. BUT, like you mentioned if you were over driving conditions or involved in an accident you’d probably be much better off in a heavier vehicle with a wider wheelbase. Thanks for sharing.
@@PlayingwithSticks i think vehicle height also plays a roll.. lower to the ground itll probly be more stable. Vs say a small 2 door wrangler
@@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305 We second that. Our family has owned two different Jeep Liberty models over the years. We are all a little afraid of the combination of the height and the wheel base. I think the one good thing about owning a vehicle like that is you naturally never over drive the conditions. You have a healthy amount of fear behind the wheel. Driving other vehicles here in the winter we find ourselves driving a bit more aggressively than we probably should due to the nature of the vehicle.
@@PlayingwithSticks Look at the videos on the new Jeep Gladiator. the engine is under powered for one so on a test video where the drove up a mountain pass the engine was screaming at 5000 rpm just to maintain speed. For a modern car thats pretty crappy, and then when they go down hill the trailer they use starts to pull the Jeep left to right. Im not hating on Jeeps i have 3, just giving an example.
I saw another video of a 2 door wrangler, pulling a small 1 axle camper, and as soon as he got on the interstate the thing swayed all over and flipped. I hate single axle trailers, especially on small vehicles.
I think your car did well because it sits lower and has a lower center of gravity
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