Drive to Alaska after picking up? - Page 2 - 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 Me | General Topics > Paper Escape
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-28-2013, 03:02 PM   #21
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Trailer: I want a 15B
Posts: 32
Maybe I'm being overcautious - but I'm looking at a Jetta Sportswagen TDI, which isn't even rated for towing (in the US). Figured Can-Am could do some work to make the tow safer.
blond1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:10 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Why not look for a vehicle that is rated for towing? I too am skeptical of Can-Am's 'solutions' to allow using vehicles that are not intended for towing.
Put the money into the vehicle instead of the 'fix'.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:15 PM   #23
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Trailer: I want a 15B
Posts: 32
I've looked at the ratings for the Jetta in Europe - same car - and it has a tow rating for 1400 kilos. I think it's not rated in the US for legal reasons (CYA).

I'm still looking, and am open to suggestions, since I have plenty of time to decide, but that's where I'm leaning right now.

But up until last week, I was also leaning toward a Casita, so I can change my mind.
blond1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:35 PM   #24
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Over on FGRV you can find interminable discussions about European tow ratings and how vehicles that appear the same in Europe and here are not the same.
You will also find hundreds of posts pro and con Can-Am and their 'solutions'.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:38 PM   #25
Senior Member
 
techfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
Quote:
Originally Posted by blond1 View Post

But up until last week, I was also leaning toward a Casita, so I can change my mind.
I too looked at Casitas but, as a rule, they are heavier than equivalent Escapes. There is a thread on real world weights of FG trailers.
__________________
Tim and Julie
2013 Escape 15B
2014 Nissan Frontier, Previous 2012 Santa Fe
techfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:53 PM   #26
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Trailer: I want a 15B
Posts: 32
Thanks Tim and Julie. Weight was the big consideration, but aesthetically and practically, the modifications that were offered were what sold me on the Escape.
blond1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 04:23 PM   #27
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by blond1 View Post
I've looked at the ratings for the Jetta in Europe - same car - and it has a tow rating for 1400 kilos.
Yes... 1400 kg (3080 lb), probably with about 100 kg (220 lb) of hitch weight, at no more than 100 km/h (62 mph) using a hitch designed for the vehicle and tested to Euro government standards. Just buy a European caravan suited to very low hitch weight and equipped with shock absorbers and an anti-sway coupler, and your're set. Without the right equipment (but still with low enough hitch weight) you're good for only 80 km/h (50 mph). As mentioned earlier, this has been extensively discussed in other forums.

Nothing Can-Am might do will address the differences between that Euro caravan and an Escape; they don't even use VW's approved hitch mounting points.

Quote:
Originally Posted by blond1 View Post
I think it's not rated in the US for legal reasons (CYA).
Volkswagen has no issue with U.S. regulations or being sued - they offer the Touareg with 3500 kg (7700 lb) towing capacity. I'm sure a Jetta can tow, but I'm not second-guessing VW, and Can-Am certainly isn't qualified to do so.

The lack of suitably rated tow vehicles with high fuel economy is frustrating, but I don't think a hitch installation company is the fix... just my opinion.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2013, 03:30 PM   #28
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Trailer: I want a 15B
Posts: 32
I think I've found my tow. A Nissan Xterra 4x4 rated to tow 5000 lbs. with factory-installed towing package. And the price is right, too!
blond1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2013, 06:07 PM   #29
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Can I go with you……. sounds like a wonderful trip.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2013, 07:48 PM   #30
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Trailer: I want a 15B
Posts: 32
I am soooo looking forward to it! Probably more than a year off, looking at the production schedule for 15s. House doesn't go on the market until March, so no movement until then. Meanwhile, I'm doing research and dreamin'.
blond1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2013, 08:03 PM   #31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Burlington, Ontario
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Posts: 193
Is the road surface from AB/BC to and across AK paved the whole way these days?

I'd love to take this trip but I won't be towing my 19 on multiday stretches of gravel. Even the rental car agreements generally forbade those sorts of trips with good reason.
__________________
Robert
Burloak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2013, 08:11 PM   #32
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Trailer: I want a 15B
Posts: 32
I've bought a Mile Post, which describes the road conditions pretty well all the way up. It includes camp grounds, filling stations - even Wal-Marts. With the purchase, I even have access to their website, which is updated now and then. I had planned to go up off-season (March?) before flies and other tourists invaded, and it seemed reasonable. But I just did a once-over, so there may be more gravel than I understood.
blond1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2013, 08:36 PM   #33
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
There are tons of information to be found on the WWW travel trailer forums about making this trip. Everything from folks with truck campers to towing massive 5th wheels. I'd REALLY educate myself (and join a caravan) before I made a trip of this type on my own YMMV. I remember reading one thread that said, take extra tires (not mounted), because if you shred a tire... you may find yourself stranded while waiting for UPS/FedEx to deliver a tire so you can move along... there's lots of stories of this type to be read...
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2013, 08:48 PM   #34
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Trailer: I want a 15B
Posts: 32
Hi Donna - Yeah, I've kinda been reconsidering Alaska as a first trip. I might just do the shakedown on the way back to Virginia to pick up the animals. By then, I'll be more comfortable towing, and will be ready to handle more difficult trails.
blond1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
alaska, cats, tow vehicle

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 04:27 AM.


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