If you've been salivating over those "toy box" travel trailers that offer lodging and cargo-hauling capabilities in the same package, but you don't want or need something that big, Fleetwood has the answer. It's the unique Scorpion Series of trailers, which feature a pop-up camper and cargo storage all in one unit.
Fleetwood's Scorpion Series of toy-hauling, folding camping trailers is comprised of three models. The 27-foot 7-inch S1; the 21-foot 5-inch S2; and the 15-foot 4-inch S3. We recently had the opportunity to spend a few weeks with the S2 model. Since the testing was taking place at our Four Wheeler Midwest Bureau in Illinois, Fleetwood shipped the unit from their Pennsylvania assembly plant to Finnegan's RV Center in Beloit, Wisconsin, where the good folks there made sure we had everything we needed for our test. Once on the road, we quickly found the S2 to be a definite attention-grabber. Part of the reason is its unique design, which mounts the pop-up camper transversely on the front of the S2's chassis. When combined with the snazzy aluminum wheels and handsome side rails and gates, it was a definite head-turner.
After spending some quality time with the S2 both on- and off-highway, we're of the opinion that it most definitely is a viable, functional alternative to the bigger, more expensive enclosed "toy box" trailers. Best of all, it is also easier to maneuver off-highway than its bigger brethren, thanks to its low closed height and open cargo area.
A unique feature of the S2 is that after removing the cargo from the 105x96-inch cargo deck, it can be used as a "porch." We think this is a great alternative to sitting in mud after a rainstorm. It's also good if you have small children, as they can be corralled safely on the deck. The cargo floor is comprised of strong, seamless Weyerhauser Structurwood that is coated in a non-slip bedliner-type material that offers great traction, even when wet. At night, the cargo area can be lit via a pair of cargo deck illumination lights that emit a strong, wide beam of white light. There's also an orange-tinted patio light and a handy 110-volt outlet located on the deck. Rear slide-out steps, four stabilizer jacks with sand pads, a wash-down station and an exterior LP hookup for outside cooking are all standard on the S2.
 Inside, the S2 has all the...  Inside, the S2 has all the amenities you'd expect from a modern camper. Standard equipment on the S2 includes a 1.9-cubic-foot refrigerator with three-way operation; a 6-gallon water heater; a 16,000-Btu forced-air LP furnace; a two-burner stove; and a stainless steel sink with 12-volt water pump. Safety items include an LP detector/alarm, CO detector/alarm, and a fire extinguisher. The right-side bed (shown) measures 77x48 inches. We found the layout of the galley area to be pleasant to use, and the waterproof plastic countertops were a breeze to clean up. There's lots of storage available, thanks to 19 cubic feet of cabinet space. We wished for a removable stove so we could cook outside, though, and we just couldn't get excited about the silver and black interior color scheme. |  Even though the S2 isn't designed...  Even though the S2 isn't designed as a hard-core off-highway camper, it does very well in the rough stuff, thanks to generous ground clearance provided in part by a spring-over-axle suspension and large ST205/75R15C tires. The S2 has a strong tubular steel frame with protected trailer wiring; tandem EZ Lube axles with five-bolt hubs; electric brakes; and mud flaps. |  We were amazed at how easy...  We were amazed at how easy it was to load and unload our off-highway toys. The simple process consists of swinging the S2's hinged rear gates and side rails out of the way. The optional heavy-duty 46x82-inch tri-fold aluminum ramps have a 1,250-pound capacity and 7-inch rung spacing. These ramps simply hook onto the side of the S2's cargo area so ATVs, dirt bikes, or whatever can be easily loaded. Once loaded, cargo can be secured via six floor-mounted tie-downs. The S2 has a healthy cargo-carrying capacity of 1,800 pounds. |
 The left side of the camper...  The left side of the camper features a dinette with portable table; a large 60x77-inch bed; and a stereo with remote control and a CD player. We found that with the dinette in place, floor space in the S2 is severely limited. With the dinette table folded and stowed, however, floor space is vastly improved. |  The S2 features a city water...  The S2 features a city water hookup, but when camping in the middle of nowhere, water can be obtained from the 20-gallon under-floor tank. With the S2's standard battery, the 12-volt water pump can be used even when there's no electrical power available. |  We dragged the S2 over various...  We dragged the S2 over various types of terrain with no problems, and its easy towability meant that we could use it as a cargo hauler to carry our dirt bikes to the track even when we didn't plan to camp. Rider: Jake Kelsey. |
General
Model: 2006 Fleetwood Scorpion S2
Base price: $14,105
Price as tested: $14,576
Options as tested: Tri-fold ramp ($279), RVQ outside grille ($192)
Dimensions
Closed length (in): 257
Closed width (in): 102
Closed height (in): 68
Open length (in): 266
Open width (in): 219
Open height (in): 114
Weights
UVW-unloaded vehicle weight (lb): 2,960
UTW-unloaded tongue weight (lb): 570
GVWR (lb): 5,500
Maximum carrying capacity (lb): 2,440
Rear gear deck carrying capacity (lb): 1,800
Remaining carrying capacity (trailer interior) (lb): 640
Cabinet storage (cu. ft.): 19
Capacities
Water storage capacity (gal): 20
Water storage capacity with standard water heater (gal): 26
Water heater (gal): 6
Furnace (Btu output): 16,000
LP gas bottles (no./lb.): 2/20
Refrigerator (cu. ft.): 1.9
Seating & Sleeping
Left bunk (in): 60x77
Right bunk (in): 48x77
Dinette (seats): 4 adults
Miscellaneous
Electric system (amps): 35
Stabilizer jacks: 4
12-volt interior lights: 2
Tire size: ST205/75R15C