What Is a Scamp Camper?

As you’re driving, you might occasionally see a small car towing a pretty cool-looking egg with the word “Scamp” in red lettering on the side.

You may have done a bit of a double-take and wondered to yourself, “What’s inside that thing, and how is that little car hauling it?!!” 

Welcome to the Scamp camper! 

What Is a Scamp Camper? 

A Scamp Camper is a small, lightweight fiberglass travel trailer with a 50-year reputation for durability. Notorious for being easy to tow, “Scamps” lend themselves to excellent fuel efficiency and wind resistance due to their aerodynamic design. 

Scamp campers have R15 insulation and a marine fabric known as “rat fur” lining the walls and ceilings. The material sheds water, resisting the development of mold and mildew from condensation.

Scamp campers have six different floor plans. Two are 13’, two are 16’, and Scamp’s two fifth-wheel models are 19’ long. 

All Scamp campers feature robust, insulated fiberglass shells and are made-to-order in Backus, Minnesota. Buyers can choose from various options for each floor plan. Scamp trailers have earned a reputation for quality, effortless towing, and quick setup. 

Scamp campers’ durability speaks for itself! Many original Scamp travel trailers from the 1970s are still on the road today!

The History of Scamp Campers

Scamp began when a man named Duane Eveland and a Boler American salesman met. At the time, Eveland remodeled damaged RVs for a living, and Boler American was a Canadian trailer company looking to move into the American market. One of Boler’s salesmen found Duane and offered him the opportunity to work for Boler. 

Duane discussed the opportunity with his brother and sister, and together they decided to form a business under the name of Eveland’s Inc. They would manufacture trailers, and Boler would market them. 

Boler went out of business in 1972, but that didn’t stop the Eveland siblings! They continued to build and market their trailers, which they named Scamp.

The early years were rough for the company when their first factory location was condemned and their second burned down. They rebuilt their company, continuing to produce 13’ fiberglass travel trailers. They developed the 16’ trailer in 1978, followed by the 19’ fifth wheel trailer in 1981. 

The Eveland legacy continues with Duane Eveland’s son Kent as Eveland’s Inc.’s current president. The company still produces all three trailers only in their Backus, MN, factory. Each has a variety of floorplans and options for buyers to choose from. Plus, Scamp travel trailers use U.S.-based suppliers! 

A Fiberglass Camper with a Cult Following

Scamp campers have been popular with campers since the ’70s, and their owners generally love them. Their durability means many campers keep their Scamps for decades. 

Their popularity lends itself to a cult following reputation, and it’s tough to find used Scamps on the market. Any used Scamps for sale tend to be sold within a day or so, leaving followers empty-handed in their search for a used Scamp camper.

While there are numerous egg campers on the market today, the Scamp has a reputation for durability and longevity that’s hard to beat, only increasing their popularity over time.

How Much Does a Scamp Camper Cost?

A brand new Scamp costs around $15,590 for the fundamental 13’ model, $20,890 for 16’, and $23,090 for 19’. You can find these prices in the 2021 NADA guide, but pricing varies widely. 

Scamps earn their price tags according to the floor plan and seller-chosen options since all Scamp campers are custom-made. This makes it somewhat difficult to estimate the general cost of a brand new Scamp camper. Moreover, Scamp doesn’t release or publish their price list for new trailers but will supply callers with price lists upon request. 

There are only two ways to take delivery of a new Scamp camper. You can either request delivery to your door (within the continental United States), or you can visit the factory in Backus, Minnesota, for pick-up. 

Scamp Floor Plans

Scamp campers feature various layouts based on the 13’, 16’, and 19’ models. After choosing a design, the buyer can also select options such as a bathroom (or not), air conditioning (or not), fabric color, bunks, storage room, etc.

Scamps come standard with R15 insulation, marine headliner wall fabric, and crank-operated windows with screens. They also feature amenities such as an icebox, a 12-gallon freshwater tank, a two-burner propane stove, a spare tire with cover, safety chains, and mounted rear stabilizer jacks.

From there, the buyer adds any options they like, and the Scamp travel trailer is built to suit!

13’ and 13’ Deluxe

The Scamp 13’ and 13’ Deluxe campers are the smallest of the Scamp campers.

The Scamp 13’ standard travel trailer has two layouts with four different bed configurations. Layout one offers a sofa in the front that converts to bunks to sleep additional campers (no bathroom)—layout two exchanges those bunks for a bathroom with a toilet and shower.

Either of these two 13’ layouts lets you choose something called a “big bed” instead of the standard layout’s bed.

Scamp 13’ Deluxe models offer two layouts as well as Scamp’s deluxe wood interior. Layout 1 includes a front dinette, while Layout 2 has no dinette but a front bathroom (toilet and shower) and closet.

All 13’ Scamps have the following specs: 13’ length, 7’6” height, and 6’8” width. The interior length is 10’ with 6’3” height, and 6’6” width. Their approximate weight is between 1200 and 1500 pounds, and all have a 2200 pound torsion axle.

16’ and 16’ Deluxe

Scamp’s 16’ campers are three feet longer than the smallest Scamp campers and offer more counter and storage space. Their standard features also include slightly larger toilet and shower options. 

You can also choose a side dinette, which means campers don’t have to dismantle a dinette to create a bed at night. This model can also be equipped with a rooftop AC unit if desired. If chosen, the side bathroom allows the trailer to sleep four people with the front sofa/bunk bed combination. 

The Scamp 16’ standard travel trailer has five layout options with varying configurations. The 16’ Deluxe models have two additional layout options, as well as oak or birch hardwood.

The 16’ Scamps have an interior length of 13’, an internal height of 6’3”, and are 6’6” wide, offering a bit more breathing room inside the camper. The standard 16’ Scamp runs between 1750 and 2000 pounds and has a 3500-pound torsion axle. 

The 16’ Deluxe camper is slightly heavier at 2200-2600 pounds, but it retains the  3500-pound torsion axle.

As always, the buyer adds to the standard configuration from a wide variety of available options, and the manufacturers custom-build it based on the buyer’s chosen options.

Smallest 5th Wheel Camper: Scamp 19’ and 19’ Deluxe

Scamp’s 19′ fifth wheel is the largest of the Scamp line but the smallest 5th wheel camper on the road. These 19’ Scamp campers feature a queen-size loft bed and can sleep up to six people, depending on the chosen layout.

The standard 19’ fifth wheel model offers only one layout, while the 19’ Deluxe offers two additional structures. 

With 19’ in length on the outside, the standard 19’ and 19’ Deluxe Scamps offer a significant increase in interior length at 17’10” from end-to-end. The rig’s overall height is 8’10”, bearing in mind that the top side of the 5th wheel adds significantly to that rating. The rig’s interior width measures 6’6”. 

The 19’ Scamps have a 3500-pound torsion axle with the standard 19’ weighing between 2000 and 2400 pounds, depending on the options the buyer chooses, and the 19’ Deluxe weighing 2400-2900 pounds. 

All 19’ Scamps come standard with a queen bed in the loft and a sofa that converts to bunk beds.

What Kind of Vehicle Can Pull a Scamp Camper? 

According to Scamp, their travel trailers tow well behind nearly all vehicles. That said, the 19’ Scamp 5th wheel requires a truck fifth-wheel hitch to pull it.

For the standard trailers, here are the best crossover SUVs for towing.

For the Scamp 5th Wheel, these are the best compact trucks for towing.

A Long-Lasting Trailer You’ll Love

With its easily identifiable appearance and solid reputation over nearly 50 years on the road, the iconic Scamp camper has a model and layout to suit most travelers. Its unique, customizable style only adds to its intrigue. 

All in all, the Eveland siblings’ persistence through one trial after another has paid off, leaving a sizable mark in the camping world.