New 21 & first post

[Old Gringo]

Hello, I'm Gary and I took delivery of my new Escape 21 on Friday, I'm in Seattle tonight but heading down to Central Oregon tomorrow (depending on road conditions). I've never pulled a large trailer before and have a lot to learn, so far so good but I haven't backed up yet! I live in South America most of the year but if all goes as planned I'll be in Quartzite for a few weeks before I head back. My intention is to use the trailer off the grid so it's equipped with a high lift axles, solar and a 6 cubic foot compressor refrigerator. I also had a heat strip added to the AC and I have a generator if I need if I need to run the AC or heat..
My experience with Escape from sales to orientation and delivery was superb, what a great company! And I wanted to mention that this is a great forum, I lurked here and learned a lot before I ordered my 21, thanks.

[Greg A]

Nice job on your interior choices - looks great! Will you be at the Quartzsite Gathering so we can meet you?

[gbaglo]

Excellent.
Is the plan to tow in South America too?

[Old Gringo]

Yes on Quartzite, I'm looking forward it and the 21 will stay in the USA, I plan to store it at a friend's ranch near Bend, Oregon.

[Red Dog]

Welcome Gary! And, congratulations on your new rig. See you at Quartzsite.

Fred M.

[stratos175]

Congratulations on your new home on wheels and would agree 100% about what you can learn from this site, great group of people with lots of good advice. Enjoy your time in the US.

Happy and safe travels,

Steve

[ericw]

Originally Posted by Old Gringo

Hello, I'm Gary and I took delivery of my new Escape 21 on Friday, My intention is to use the trailer off the grid so it's equipped with a high lift axles, solar and a 6 cubic foot compressor refrigerator.

Gary, please tell me more about compressor refrigerator. When I asked, it was not an option and they would only leave the existing fridge out, do custom cabinets (for a reasonable fee), and not install anything else. Has that changed? Do they have an option now of a compressor fridge? Did they install it or did you? Which brand/model is it?



We love our 21' and I hope you do to.


Thanks for the information.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by ericw

Gary, please tell me more about compressor refrigerator. When I asked, it was not an option and they would only leave the existing fridge out, do custom cabinets (for a reasonable fee), and not install anything else. Has that changed? Do they have an option now of a compressor fridge? Did they install it or did you? Which brand/model is it?

Eric: Not sure when you asked Escape, but these two users got compressors fridges installed at the factory. They will not delete the standard ventilation openings in the shell. As I understand it they only did that for one trailer in existence.

Dometic CRX1110:
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f2...tml#post223234

Dometic DMC2642:
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f4...tml#post236267

[cpaharley2008]

I assume the op's E21 is a 2019 model?

[Old Gringo]

Eric,
I ordered the 6 cubic foot compressor refrigerator from Escape, it's a Dometic DMC-2642, I paid $200 for the upgrade and another $200 for the cabinet modification.

[Chama]

Old Gringo,
We will be following in your tire tracks. We pick up 1 week from today and will be heading down I-5, hopefully over Siskiyou Summit and to Palm Springs. Right now, Siskiyou Summit 24 degrees and the road looks wet. Report says, "spots of ice, carry chains". Here is the webcam link: https://tripcheck.com/RoadCams/cams/...=1480451265248 If Siskiyou Summit is a no go, we plan to head to OR coast from Grant's Pass then down the coast, bypassing Siskiyou Summit. Hope you enjoy your new trailer and wish you safe travels as you head to Quartzite.
Chama

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Old Gringo

My intention is to use the trailer off the grid so it's equipped with a high lift axles, solar and a 6 cubic foot compressor refrigerator. I also had a heat strip added to the AC and I have a generator if I need if I need to run the AC or heat.

Welcome!

The heat strip in the air conditioner can be handy while camped in a serviced site, but I don't understand why anyone would run a generator to power a heat strip. Wouldn't you just run the propane-fueled furnace when you want heat while off the grid?

[sclifrickson]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Welcome!



The heat strip in the air conditioner can be handy while camped in a serviced site, but I don't understand why anyone would run a generator to power a heat strip. Wouldn't you just run the propane-fueled furnace when you want heat while off the grid?

I wondered the same thing. Also curious about the choice of a compressor fridge if OP’s stated intention is boondocking. Have the compressor fridges gotten good enough that this is possible without a genset, or will the generator basically have to run full time just for the fridge?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by sclifrickson

Also curious about the choice of a compressor fridge if OP’s stated intention is boondocking. Have the compressor fridges gotten good enough that this is possible without a genset, or will the generator basically have to run full time just for the fridge?

I think most people in this situation size their solar system and battery appropriately, but if depending on a generator it wouldn't need to run all of the time - an hour a day charging at the stock converter/charger's rate would cover typical refrigerator consumption.

[Old Gringo]

I made it to Bend, Oregon but had to spend almost 18 hours in a rest area because of ice and snow and I registered the trailer yesterday at the DMV with no problem.
I've traveled the world on my motorcycles but traveling with a trailer is new to me and I appreciate in input.
I have two solar panels, 270 watts total and two six volt batteries, hopefully, I will be able to run the compressor refrigerator on solar alone, I'll post from Arizona and let the forum know how it works out. Thanks.

[Rossue]

For that compressor fridge you are probably going to want two more 6V batteries. Having 270 watts of panel is great, however you may need to store more.

If you are going to Quartzsite there is a RV Solar company that could do the install for you. Might consider picking up a pair of Interstates at Costco and then return them if it looks like you really don't need them.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Rossue

For that compressor fridge you are probably going to want two more 6V batteries. Having 270 watts of panel is great, however you amay need to store more.

If you are going to Quartzsite there is a RV Solar company that could do the install for you. Might consider picking up a pair of Interstates at Costco and then return them if it looks like you really don't need them.

Since the batteries in a 21 are inside, unless the additional batteries are AGM (which I wouldn't mix with the Escape provided wet cell batteries), you will need a vented battery box for the additional batteries. Not a simple installation or return...

[Rossue]

Hey Jon- do you think it is likely he will need more than 225 amp hours for that compressor fridge?

Could also pick up a battery box from Camping World for $45. Would probably want to put that in the driver's side dinette bench to balance the weight. Buying that stuff ahead of time in Oregon with no sales tax would be another $20 savings on top of probably $30-50 for each battery. There are enough Camping Worlds & Costcos around that returning if really not needed would be easier than trying to source it and get an install somewhere else IMO.

If the OP was interested in this it would be good to call J.R to discuss and possible pick up cables too if J.R. doesn't have them.

https://www.campingworld.com/large-v...xoCcZsQAvD_BwE

[sclifrickson]

It would be interesting to see the numbers crunched to see if this system will even work boondocking, as intended, without a generator, factoring in realistic solar input vs theoretical solar max. Should be simple math.

[bjsmitty]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between the compressor refridgerator and the standard one provided by Escape??