Scott's "Lucky Dog"
First Looks
Serro Scotty Sportsman Highlander 1977
exterior measurements: cabin is 12'2" long, 85 inches wide, height
from ground 96" at vent
overall length - about 15 feet
Won the auction for it on EBAY November 2006 paying way more than I probably should of for it. For being 30 years old it is in decent shape. About everything on it needed replacing, tires, brakes, propane regulator, fridge and paint. I figured it would additionally cost around $1500 dollars to get it to where I would be a happy camper with it. About six months later in the Spring of 2007 I easily hit the $1500 mark with yet a paint job to do.
Why this one? It's the size I was interested in and light enough to tow with my Dodge Caravan C/V, at least on flat terrain that is. At 30 years old it's near considered a "vintage" trailer. There is an active vintage Scotty trailer club which has a Web site - http://www.nationalserroscotty.org/ . I don't know what year they went wider but this 1977 model is 85 inches wide on the exterior while most older model years are 75 inches wide. That extra 10 inches probaby increases weight 10% but the benefit is some extra living space inside.
I took off the awning and cut it down from 10' to 7'. The pipe bumper will hold the front awning valance pole now. As pictured the previous owner carried it on top. I didn't want to take any chances and have that pole come off when going down the road.
Vent on side and on top is for the gas fridge ( an old 3 way). I planned to put in a small electric fridge and an air conditioner which I did. The vent was needed to vent heat from the electric A/C unit. The pipe bumper is bent, it's 4" aluminum conduit. I'll try to straighten it some day.
The front cushions were ok, the table top needed some new formica on it. Who ever did it last didn't have a big enough piece so it's like patched on one side and coming loose there.
There is a bit of water damage on front right, also some on front left. But it only extends like a foot inward so I'm not replacing the whole front section but instead just covering the corners with formica. It appears the roof and such were caulked OK, but of course I'm digging the old caulk out and putting on new caulk. Anyway far as I can tell there has not been much leaking lately as it's all dry which is a very good thing. The floor looks fine from underneath and I didn't see any bad spots at all.
Under the front right seat someone went through a lot to wire up 12 volt electric for a car radio stuck in the sink cabinet side. I took all those wires out and the radio and the speakers.
The counter top around sink done is OK, the 3 burner Coleman stove top maybe is OK, has some rust on it but I think we can live with it. The sink has a pump on it with hose to a 15 gallon water tank under back bench. Hasn't been used in many years and all the hoses are lose. There is outside water hookup that would go direct to a faucet but hose ends under sink and no faucet was put in. There is a light in the stove hood, no fan vent but there is vent there. Surely would be nice to have a regular exhaust fan there some day.
Under sink is an old suburban heater. It might still work so we are not tearing it out just yet. It doesn't have a blower. I should put some aluminum sheeting over it so any dripping from sink or hoses above misses it. Unfortunately previous owners put speakers in sides of cabinet. I tore them out and will have to put on new sides or cover up holes somehow.
My first quick try to light the pilot on the old furnance failed. Looks like it's completely plugged up. Probaby time to call in an expert.
Below the stove top is the electric panel. Just a 15 amp. I'll leave that as is the TW2 wire ran underneath still looks fine to me. The outside plastic hatch door for the electric cord access works but looks pretty weather worn.
. The back couch bed cushions are in great shape. there are nice blinds on all the windows. There are little hold down brakets on the bottom edges of the windows that clip to the blinds to keep the blinds from swinging but most of them are broke.
There is a bunk above the back couch which is a huge area for storage. When up the bunk bottom has three doors on it for handy access. There were two really nice long pads up there. The middle door is probably a great spot for a small TV.
When the bunk is down it comes right to the edge of the cabinet and stove top hood. A ladder also came with the trailer and two nice sleeping pads.
Here is the fridge and beside it the closet which will be the porta-potti room. You can also see the switch for a light which is located just above the switch. There are two other lights, one in the stove top hood and one by the back couch bed by the fridge. I added a light in the closet as the back of the electrical box the light above is in is also on the closet wall.
The inside of the closet, I will take the shelves out and add a light. Plenty of room here for porta-potti. There is window here for venting odors and also a clothes rod I'll leave up so it can function as a closet if need be.
Here is the old 3 way fridge seen through the outside vent, what a nightmare of controls.
I tore the fridge out it being 30 years old and not looking exceptionally well kept. I gave it way to someone who will try to get it running in their Scotty. I bought a small electric fridge.
Under the back bench the previous owner put in a reese hitch I assume to mount a bike rack on. Not a bad idea but I tore that out A piece of tape covers the hole outside above the bumper.
The beauty rings are not so beautiful anymore. I've since painted the rims and put new moon hub cabs.