Production of my Escape 19 Completed today

[redtaco99]

Hi Everyone,

Tonight I received the final photos of my new Escape 19 and they informed me that there is just some final detailing to do and its ready for pickup.

I have posted the complete set of build photos on my Smugmug photo gallery here:
https://redtaco99.smugmug.com/Escape-Trailer-RV

My plan is to drive to BC in mid May to pick it up and start touring.

[Jake930]

Congrats! It will seem like a long wait till May. Only a few weeks away. Hope you make many lasting memories.

[bouterse]

Looks good Jim. Nice to see another Escape in Ontario. I see you have 3 receivers on the back bumper. Are you planning a heavy duty bike rack or storage rack?


Jack

[rbryan4]

Like it! Strategic selection of options and subtle upgrades.

[Ian G]

Looks great Jim soon you will be

[Greg A]

Congrats, lookin gooood.

[redtaco99]

Originally Posted by bouterse

Looks good Jim. Nice to see another Escape in Ontario. I see you have 3 receivers on the back bumper. Are you planning a heavy duty bike rack or storage rack?


Jack

Yes, I'd like to attach a heavy duty bike rack that will hold a dirt bike. I'd love to have a 250 Yamaha enduro, but, if it turns out to be too heavy, I may just settle for an electric bike.

I have a second application, that is for hitch mounted flag pole holders which I will use to hold up my ham radio antenna, and if necessary, my Ubiquiti wifi antenna and a TV antenna depending on local reception. I had an exterior electrical access hatch installed near the front so I'll be adding some additional cables for antennas etc.

[burrab2002]

Like the receivers!

[Marry]

Very nice!! Camping with a trailer like that can't go wrong!! Happy touring!

[Jim Bennett]

Looks great, Jim.

I see you are a smugmug user too.

[Freebird]

Congrats!!!
Why did you pick that over the fifth wheel??

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by Freebird

Congrats!!!
Why did you pick that over the fifth wheel??

Freebird, you're going to get a dozen different answers when you ask a dozen different people. The nice thing about the Escape trailers is they come in different sizes and will fulfill different needs of their users. And, as you might have read in some other threads, each size has their own cheerleaders that stand strongly behind/beside/in front/inside their choice of trailer. You'll probably never get them to change their mind, which is kind of funny reading all those posts with someone defending "their" size trailer and others stepping in defending theirs.

Anyway, getting a bit off track (as usual). What you need to decide is HOW you're going to use the trailer, when and if you decide to purchase one. Decide what is important to you and what you can compromise on the stuff that's not as important. View the different sizes and sit on the dinette, flop on the bed, pretend you're using the kitchen and bathroom. That way you can see how you fit inside the trailer. If you're going to be sharing it with someone else, bring that person along to see how the two (or three, or whatever) of you will fit in there.

For us, we were fortunate enough to view a 19, a 5.0TA and two 21 trailers, all within a fairly close time frame. I took bunches of photos to refer to later. I was pretty sure I didn't want a 19 as I like to hang my feet over the side of the bed and that would be hard to do in a 19 (a 17 was never in the running). But I wanted to see it before I made that decision. And even though we knew that wasn't "our" size, we did learn from the owners, so we're thankful for that.

The 21 was the first and last trailers we viewed. The first one had the regular dinette and the second had the u-shaped, which I was very interested in seeing. We now have that style on order.

Originally we were going to get a 5.0, but after seeing how the hitch fits in the bed (someone sent me a photo), we decided to go with the 21 so I could have full use of the Tundra's bed (yet to be purchased).

Now my reasons for that probably aren't the same as everyone else's. I vend with my rubber stamped crafts (coasters, clocks and magnets) at local craft shows. However, I want to expand outside my area and that's one of the reasons for getting this trailer (among others). The coasters and clocks are stamped on ceramic tile, so they can (and do!) break. I didn't want them inside the trailer where they could get flung around like Galloping Gertie, so they need to be stored in either the truck's cab or bed. I also vend with 5 to 6 foot high wire grid panels, as well as large folding plastic tables. It was determined they would not fit in the bed of the truck with the 5th wheel hitch.

So, after you view some of the trailers (and there should be some within a reasonable driving distance of where you live), think about how you want to use it and go from there. While we don't have our trailer, we're really looking forward to getting it and using it for many years to come (knock on wood).

[redtaco99]

Originally Posted by Freebird

Congrats!!!
Why did you pick that over the fifth wheel??

A couple of reasons. I prefer to use the truck box for storage and carrying stuff rather than be part of a trailer hitch. Secondly, as I get older (mid 60's) I think I much prefer a bed where you get out of bed from the side rather than from the end.

I realize towing may be easier with a 5th wheel, but I have a new F150 with a 5 litre engine and Im told the 19' trailer will be very easy and very stable when towing.

[Freebird]

Congrats
Why the 19 and not the TA

[Freebird]

Thank you so much for all the help
Ha ha I purchased a tundra also
You will love it

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by redtaco99

A
but I have a new F150 with a 5 litre engine and Im told the 19' trailer will be very easy and very stable when towing.

In my view you were told correctly. I've towed my 19 all over North America with a Ford Ranger and its pretty easy, not as easy as a 5 litre would be and very stable with a WDH.

Ron

[Kountrykamper]

Originally Posted by Freebird

Congrats!!!
Why did you pick that over the fifth wheel??

So you don't have to deal with the stairs on those middle of the night trips.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by Kountrykamper

So you don't have to deal with the stairs on those middle of the night trips.

First thing Mary said when we looked at a 5th wheel was that there was no way she was negotiating those stairs for her nightly visits.