Show us what camper / trailer / RV you're towing with your JT

[Mboy605]

I tug a 2022 Outbound T-Rex. I have it on 35” tires with a lock-n-roll hitch to get further into the middle of nowhere. Considering going back to tenting it due to the infrequency that I use it, but it’s a solid set up when I do get it out.

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[Sawburner]

This is what I pull. No I don't know what it weights. Pulling with a Willys 6 speed. We are at Chenago Valley state park near Binghamton NY. I also have a dump trailer that I put one ton of coal in, total weight about 4000#. I think the camper loaded is a little less then that.

 

[RudeJeepin]

This is what I pull. No I don't know what it weights. Pulling with a Willys 6 speed. We are at Chenago Valley state park near Binghamton NY. I also have a dump trailer that I put one ton of coal in, total weight about 4000#. I think the camper loaded is a little less then that.

That looks like and oldy but a goody.
Does it happen to have propane lanterns built into it on the inside?

 

[Dainbramaged]

Boondocking at a wilderness history museum in VA on our way to Windrock TN for the week. Still loving this 17 MKE couples trailer.

 

[Staniator]

2024 GEO PRO 19FDS

 

[Sawburner]

That looks like and oldy but a goody.
Does it happen to have propane lanterns built into it on the inside?

It has one propane lantern on a wall. We don’t use, I don't trust it and they get very hot. Its there only because I think its cool.

 

[SubiNoobieJeepsToo]

These are great and look factory. I keep them installed even when I'm not towing.

https://www.jegs.com/i/K-Source/179/80750/10002/-1

I second the K-Source mirrors. I tow often enough right now that I leave them on most of the time as well.

Thanks for the additional recommendation! IMO these look much better than the Rampage setup. Ill probably go ahead and pick them up before my next trip out.

 

[Hank_]

Another GeoPro owner here. The 15TB is a great camper for a couple people and pulls easily. I use an Andersen WD hitch which is lighter and does not use torsion bars. It keeps the Gladiator sitting level. We just got back from the UP of Michagan camping with it. Looking forward to getting out some more.

Hank

 

[Blade1668]

I found a post specifically about what folks are towing with their JT diesels, but I thought I'd start a thread for everyone to discuss what they tow with their JT and what challenges you've had towing with them.

I am an old, retired guy. My hard-off-road 'wheelin' days are behind me. Back in the old days when men were made of steel and ships were made of wood (well, the late '70s and into the '80s anyway) Dick Cepek on El Cajon Blvd in El Cajon (San Diego) was THE off-road outfitter. Most of us drove Jeeps that were more or less stock in those days.

With my (then new) '79 CJ-7 Golden Eagle and later my '81 Scrambler, I did the heavy-duty back country camping with tents and then a couple of different campers. Of course things were different then. If you wanted a true off-road "camper" you bought an old military trailer and built it. The favorite camper(s) I had were an early Scamp 13 and later a Combi-Camp tent trailer built in Denmark. I spent a LOT of time in the desert dry camping with those setups in the washes and arroyos. In those days there weren't any published tow ratings. We towed what we thought we could tow safely.

So, here's what we now tow with our JT. It's done fine for the 500 miles from Ohio back to Iowa. Our future travels await us. Let's see what campers you all tow with your JTs and tell us how you use them.

Nice, well I've been doing a slight refresh on my Scamp in last week or so.

I jumped in to full-time with both feet, that was technically until July last year. So from Dec 2010 until July 2023. Been to Florida, Alabama, Georgia with it. My T.V. was my LJ it's under it's maximum towing weight (5000 lbs.) maybe not the frontal thing though. I'm sure my JT will be better in some areas, I hope it tows better than my utility trailers and 4wheeler.... mileage wise, I plan on removing R.T.T. if I'm using the Scamp. That A.C. is a "game changer" let alone a shower and stove to cook on out of weather.

Same... I see xxx micro or tear drop basically anything really small and BAM ! 25k

Ran into a guy selling a nice one, but still 15k... I'm looking for something much less, at this rate for the $, I would get a plastic Walmart bag to carry my ? in... ?

Funny, thing is, when I was still active, I knew a few people that worked building them(several were women) one person would build out the whole unit start to finish... it took them no time at all. Watching how they did it, definitely doesn't justify the prices... its "we Gotcha" what else, where else are you going to get it type deal.

The search continues

When I lived in GA. I started to build a teardrop trailer, but some stuff was happening. I transferred to different location, pulled plug on my building of it. Got settled in working at RSA ordered my Scamp in 2010, if I didn't plan on "going full-time" with it I would have ordered the 13 ft one. The prices for them are outrageous and a ripoff "IMHO" the teardrop I was building would have cost at most $4000.°° that would have been high end. One of the biggest cost is time, followed by finishing surface. Now it's the material.
I've looked into a replacement axle for my Scamp it's at least $700.°° plus S&H. For that I'll convert it to leaf springs and strait axle.

 

[SargeDiesel]

I have a DIY/custom build.... so no brand name, it's about 900lbs dry. I have it set up for 12v, 120v and Renogy solar(100W).

Currently getting it accessorized with a microwave, stove and all the other creature comforts I think I might need.

I'm working on building an "outside-mobile" air-conditioner out of a 6000btu window unit. I don't want to cut into or have a window unit hanging out of the side of the trailer permanently. The trailer has inlet and recirculation vents to connect an air-conditioner or heater. So basically, I'm building a window unit air-conditioner inside a box and will connect it with a 4" tube system.

My current want is, wishing I had installed a rooftop rack (can be done later)

My current concern for the future is, more suspension travel or possibly reworking the fenders to allow for more rubber on the 15" wheels.

 

[PapiSmurf]

Grand Design Transcend BH235, Dry Weight 6086lbs. I got a max tow on 37's stock 4.10 gears. Pulled it from Charleston SC to Kannapolis NC the day we bought it and then to Myrtle Beach twice now. I average 10.5 mpg and it pulls tmit great. I bought 33's so I can throw them in when we pull to the mountains but I have had zero issues so far. Engine,oil and transmission temps all stay in comfortable range. Oil 235 or under and transmission 225 and under.

I have the 200MK. Great trailers.

 

[hepcat]

Nice, well I've been doing a slight refresh on my Scamp in last week or so.

I jumped in to full-time with both feet, that was technically until July last year. So from Dec 2010 until July 2023. Been to Florida, Alabama, Georgia with it. My T.V. was my LJ it's under it's maximum towing weight (5000 lbs.) maybe not the frontal thing though. I'm sure my JT will be better in some areas, I hope it tows better than my utility trailers and 4wheeler.... mileage wise, I plan on removing R.T.T. if I'm using the Scamp. That A.C. is a "game changer" let alone a shower and stove to cook on out of weather.


When I lived in GA. I started to build a teardrop trailer, but some stuff was happening. I transferred to different location, pulled plug on my building of it. Got settled in working at RSA ordered my Scamp in 2010, if I didn't plan on "going full-time" with it I would have ordered the 13 ft one. The prices for them are outrageous and a ripoff "IMHO" the teardrop I was building would have cost at most $4000.°° that would have been high end. One of the biggest cost is time, followed by finishing surface. Now it's the material.
I've looked into a replacement axle for my Scamp it's at least $700.°° plus S&H. For that I'll convert it to leaf springs and strait axle.

Replace the Dexter torsion axle. You won’t be happy with a Scamp on leaf springs. Even with shocks it’ll bounce like a red rubber ball.

 

[hepcat]

At Hasty, CO

 

[Blade1668]

Replace the Dexter torsion axle. You won’t be happy with a Scamp on leaf springs. Even with shocks it’ll bounce like a red rubber ball.

Not much of a change then on shaking everything up inside. Something I've noticed when towing was the trailer always swaying side to side. The reason many people have added Anderson weight distr. hitches on 16 ft models. Part of it is the marginal stock tires on them (Scamp's 175/70r13) in size and load rating. That has been the demise of at least 3 tires and rims for me if not 5. A lightweight utility trailer I had, used smaller tire and rim size but with high tire pressure 90-115 psi. Rated for the same weight as my Scamp is (3500lbs). A difference in Center of Gravity too. 8-9 ft tall vs 2-4 ft tall
A way to minimize the effects you state is a longer leaf springs (trailers) and less arch. On some trailer spring setups I've seen the axle may as well be welded straight to the trailer frame due to thickness of the leaf springs. The Comanche bed trailer I built used the factory Comanche leaves and did pretty well especially since I had shocks on it too. A set of XJ leaves would probably work good as a starting point.

 

[hepcat]

Not much of a change then on shaking everything up inside. Something I've noticed when towing was the trailer always swaying side to side. The reason many people have added Anderson weight distr. hitches on 16 ft models. Part of it is the marginal stock tires on them (Scamp's 175/70r13) in size and load rating. That has been the demise of at least 3 tires and rims for me if not 5. A lightweight utility trailer I had, used smaller tire and rim size but with high tire pressure 90-115 psi. Rated for the same weight as my Scamp is (3500lbs). A difference in Center of Gravity too. 8-9 ft tall vs 2-4 ft tall
A way to minimize the effects you state is a longer leaf springs (trailers) and less arch. On some trailer spring setups I've seen the axle may as well be welded straight to the trailer frame due to thickness of the leaf springs. The Comanche bed trailer I built used the factory Comanche leaves and did pretty well especially since I had shocks on it too. A set of XJ leaves would probably work good as a starting point.

The reason everything is getting shaken up inside is because the rubber in the torsion axle is shot. Once you replace the Dexter torsion axle it'll ride quite smoothly. With an axle that is shot, it has no suspension at all, and every bump slams the frame against the axle. Torsion axles offer a superior ride to leafs, even with shocks.

The swaying side-to-side has to do with trailer loading and not having enough weight on the tongue. You ought to have between 10 and 13% of the total weight of the loaded trailer on the hitch ball. You shouldn't need either sway control or weight distribution with a Scamp as long as you load it properly.

I towed a Scamp 16 with a Honda Element for four years on a bare ball and without any issues at all.

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