Hitch Height with Dexter Lift, 21' Escape - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Towing and Hitching
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-03-2015, 09:34 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2015 21'
Posts: 33
Hitch Height with Dexter Lift, 21' Escape

Hello Everyone, I'm hoping to set up my hitch before we go pick up our new Escape 21 in six weeks. Hops is just now entering production! I'm wondering if anyone has a 21 footer with the Dexter lift that can measure the height of the hitch (from the top of hitch) to the ground/floor when the trailer is level. I'm looking to get my ball and hitch at about the right level. I know it won't be exact, but close enough so that I may not have to fuss with it at the orientation or at the border. My thought is that if I get my ball about 1.5 inches above that measurement, the sag in the truck suspension with the load on the rear may, if I'm lucky, bring it close to level. Thanks in advance.

Emilio and Christine, and Hops, the zygote Escape
Cmellon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2015, 09:51 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
paulw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Marysville, Washington
Trailer: 2022 Coachmen Nova 20C
Posts: 652
What is a Dexter lift?
The top of the ball on my Anderson hitch head it 19 1/2".
__________________
Paul & Norma
2013 Escape 21 & 2014 Chevy Silverado - sold
2022 Coachmen Nova 20C
paulw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2015, 09:59 PM   #3
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cmellon View Post
Hello Everyone, I'm hoping to set up my hitch before we go pick up our new Escape 21 in six weeks. Hops is just now entering production! I'm wondering if anyone has a 21 footer with the Dexter lift that can measure the height of the hitch (from the top of hitch) to the ground/floor when the trailer is level. I'm looking to get my ball and hitch at about the right level. I know it won't be exact, but close enough so that I may not have to fuss with it at the orientation or at the border. My thought is that if I get my ball about 1.5 inches above that measurement, the sag in the truck suspension with the load on the rear may, if I'm lucky, bring it close to level. Thanks in advance.

Emilio and Christine, and Hops, the zygote Escape
I wouldn't worry about the receiver height Emilio and Christina. Escape will set up the hitch at the right height for you. After all, they have to, in order to make sure their delivery driver can tow it across the border properly. If you have a stinger you can reverse to change the ball height (say 2" up or down) you're probably good to go.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2015, 10:01 PM   #4
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
Target is the trailer height. As long as your ball is lower than the trailer socket, it will work. It will work even better if the trailer is level when all is said and done; 20 inches for a 21 (or any Escape with 15 inch tires) should work fine.
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2015, 10:03 PM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2015 21'
Posts: 33
Thanks! The Dexter lift raises the frame a couple inches higher than normal. Since we have done, and will soon do, some boondocking, we wanted the extra clearance for all the stuff underneath the trailer.
Cmellon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2015, 10:15 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
If you will be towing in a weight-carrying configuration - meaning no weight-distribution (WD) system - then you can easily change ball mounts (the removable part to which the ball is attached) to whatever you need. If you're using some specialty ball mount which is not readily available everywhere, this might be tough to accurately anticipate.

If you will be using a WD system, it will be adjustable in height, and setting the height is just a part of the setup that needs to be done with the trailer. The part that the hitch head moves up and down (the "shank" is one name for it) does need to be about the right size to cover the height range needed, so it is worth checking in advance.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
As long as your ball is lower than the trailer socket, it will work. It will work even better if the trailer is level when all is said and done...
Having the trailer's tongue too low is okay for single-axles, but a tandem like the 21 Foot needs to be close to level to keep the axle loads even, especially with the Torflex suspensions used on the 19 Foot and 21 Foot.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
... 20 inches for a 21 (or any Escape with 15 inch tires) should work fine.
I agree that all 21 Foot units - without lift kit - should sit at about the same height. All Escapes have 15" wheels now, but they vary in coupler height between models... even without lift kits.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2015, 04:53 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Trailer: 2016 21' sold, current class C, Now looking
Posts: 150
I was wondering about doing this on my Escape which has a build sheet due in December... As we live in an area with many hills and driveways that do not have nice slopes. Any extra clearance is good.

What is your tow vehicle and what hitch setup are you planning to use?

How much of a lift will this option give you?
Don W. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2015, 07:03 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
I did not know Escape would lift a 21' any, years ago they offered lift kits but now all are standard heights. Did you post pictures of the new unit with the lift installed, or could you?
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2015, 08:34 AM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2015 21'
Posts: 33
My tow vehicle is a 2014 Silverado 1500 and the hitch is an Equal-i-zer. The lift isn't listed on the build sheet. I saw it on the forum and wrote ETI inquiring about it. The lift isn't much, just a couple inches, but the prices is low too. We don't always stay in campgrounds with paved access, so end up on some rutted or washed out national forest roads from time to time. The downside might be that lifting the trailer higher into the slipstream will have a negative effect on gas mileage, but I decided that would negligible.
Cmellon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2015, 08:35 AM   #10
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2015 21'
Posts: 33
No pictures yet. We take delivery on Sept. 18.
Cmellon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2015, 09:06 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
craiginpetaluma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: petaluma, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21 2002 Tundra 4x4 V-8 tow package.
Posts: 163
I ordered the LIFT KIt on my 21 for $300 due Oct 1 2015 . I Was told standard ball height is 19", lift kit raises 2.5" with the spacer between the axel and frame to make the ball height to 21.5" .
craiginpetaluma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2015, 11:07 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
I guess you guys with lifts are getting the 2 step step?
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2015, 12:05 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
craiginpetaluma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: petaluma, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21 2002 Tundra 4x4 V-8 tow package.
Posts: 163
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
I guess you guys with lifts are getting the 2 step step?

Well sort of…… I went with the Tommy lift option.
craiginpetaluma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2015, 02:10 PM   #14
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2015 21'
Posts: 33
Thanks!
Cmellon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2015, 03:07 PM   #15
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
I guess you guys with lifts are getting the 2 step step?
Escape is offering a double step now? When I ordered ours Reace didn't want to install it so I did it myself.........
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2015, 03:15 PM   #16
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Trailer: 2016 21
Posts: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by craiginpetaluma View Post
Well sort of…… I went with the Tommy lift option.
Sorry, what is the "Tommy lift option ". When I asked about year ago about a high lift option it was not available for the 21, but glad to hear its back.

Also, what is its cost ? I got the $300 for the Dexter high lift part, but I assume this option is separate.

Thanks.
Bill_75 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 08:24 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
craiginpetaluma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: petaluma, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21 2002 Tundra 4x4 V-8 tow package.
Posts: 163
I don't think there is a Tommy lift option, It was my attempt at humor. Sorry for the confusion.
craiginpetaluma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 08:33 PM   #18
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
Escape is offering a double step now? When I ordered ours Reace didn't want to install it so I did it myself.........
As far as I know, you need to talk to Larry Gamble at LHC.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:07 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.