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Old 11-09-2018, 07:21 AM   #21
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Originally Posted by disneydoc View Post
Day 1, we just settled in the Alliance RV Resort in Marianna, Fl.

We started about 11 from Orlando, drove 330 miles in 5 hrs most of it in rain & with low visibility, I wanted to reach before the sunset for ease in hooking up.
We saw the devastation of Hurricane Michael up close with lots of uprooted trees along I-10 & the destruction of houses, lights & street signs in this small town in the Florida Panhandle. Mother nature with 140 mile wind & rain at its worst, I dread to imagine the sad scene in Mexico City, which is not too far from here.

As we are still new to camping, DW insists on making reservations, it does ease up my mind & gives me a sort of destination for the days drive. It was a great help today in this persistent rain. As we gain time, we may be get to be comfortable in the foot loose & fancy free ways of the seasoned campers in our forum.

Our dog, ' Happy ' keeps looking up at us in this small 17B space & seems to be praying " Please do not step on me".Thanks everyone for your comments, am sure I will have questions in due time, more in next, with regards.
When we first started, admittedly it was mid February and not the best weather, we stayed in RV parks, albeit without reservations and dutifully unhooked every night from the TV and hooked up to the RV park water/waster and electricity, which in the pouring rain of the Pacific North West, was pretty unpleasant. We soon learned that, armed with an appropriate App (we use the All Stays App) there are plenty of free places to camp on the road, for which reservations are unnecessary. Providing you pull off the road at a decent time, Walmart often has places to pull off, just look at the furthest end from the entrance to the car park, you will often find fellow campers pulled over. Many Walmarts are open late or even 24 hours. There are plenty of free BLM areas too if you look for them on the App close to your route. Casinos are often a good bet for free camping, in the hope that you will go in and drop a few $ in the slots, and often have wifi too.

We never waste time unhooking any more, just finding a flat spot in the parking lot, with some strategically placed two by sixes to level up the trailer. Of course your Escape Trailer, with its self contained systems helps too. Our solar panel typically keeps the battery topped up. If you carefully manage water and grey/black tank usage, using other B/R facilities if you can and finding ways to get rid of grey water other than in the grey water tank, reduces the need to find a dump station. We always carry a full 6 gallon tank of fresh water too and keep our fresh water tank topped up. We also discovered quite a few different places with sani-dumps, (generally noted on the All Stays App) often in rest areas, sometimes gas stations, and even if you have to pay a $5 dumping fee from time to time, considering in most places you camp for free its not a bad option and overall you can save quite a bit. My advice would be to be flexible and if you are not in a hurry, all the better. Plus also its a bit of experience, which you will soon learn.

Happy travels.
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Old 11-10-2018, 12:49 AM   #22
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Day 4 - Camped at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Resort at Coyote Ranch in Wichita Falls, TX, we arrived late here, at last no rain today, although pretty cold for this Floridian, had to hookup in the dark. This Park has a long fancy name & has a fancy price to match.

Funny thing happened, before we bought our 17B last year, I was interested in the Casita Freedom Deluxe Model, for its swivel chairs & its floor plan. Today we took a deviation in our route to go to Casita Factory in Rice, Tx on our way to Wichita Falls. After we saw the Freedom Deluxe, I wanted to be on our way so as to miss the Dallas office traffic, but I find people are gathered around our escape trailer, are very curious & asking us to show our Escape to them.
So here we were right in front of the Casita showroom answering questions to a bunch of guys & showing them the inside of our camper. Finally without being rude I explained to them that we have to leave and got out & on to I-45. Unfortunately we still got stuck in bad rush hour traffic around Dallas & Fort Worth area.

We went over to the house of a old class fellow of mine in Wichita Falls area & caught up with them & talked about the whereabouts of our other class mates.

Thanks every one
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Old 11-10-2018, 07:50 AM   #23
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dd,

I wish Escape had an option for swivel chairs in place of the front dinette. Had that arrangement in a 2002 Chinook that we loved.
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Old 11-10-2018, 07:58 AM   #24
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dd,

I wish Escape had an option for swivel chairs in place of the front dinette. Had that arrangement in a 2002 Chinook that we loved.
You could always do it as an owner modification. There are plenty of Casita owners who have changed their Spirit's to 'Freedom's.' Here's just one example.
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Old 11-10-2018, 10:04 AM   #25
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dd,

I wish Escape had an option for swivel chairs in place of the front dinette. Had that arrangement in a 2002 Chinook that we loved.

On the 17B, all you would have to do is remove the wardrobe and the shower.
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Old 11-10-2018, 02:33 PM   #26
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On the 17B, all you would have to do is remove the wardrobe and the shower.
You an I are starting to think more and more alike, and that is scary!!
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Old 11-10-2018, 06:19 PM   #27
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You an I are starting to think more and more alike, and that is scary!!
Perhaps an option for the 19 then.
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Old 11-10-2018, 08:27 PM   #28
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Day 5 - Settled in the Oasis RV Park in Amarillo Texas, hooking up Electric & Water in Dark again. 47 degrees F, going down to 37 degrees, wind at 20 MPH, yes pretty Dang Cold & the wind does not help.

The new out of the box Blue Water Filter is leaking at the water connection outside, no matter how much tighten it with Pliers etc, it still leaks. This camp ground like some others have the well kind of a fixture instead of a faucet, and I think that makes the water pressure too high, it is all or none, instead of a simple faucet. I will need to get another one from Walmart, does not feel good wasting water. I hope the Camper plumbing holds up well to this kind of pressure, yes I do use the brass water pressure regulator, I will look for another substantial water pressure regulator to be sure the water pressure goes down before it gets inside.

The drive up from Wichita Falls on 287 was ... well no greenery to talk about, land looked barren, sandy brown, passed thru a few small towns, some how this part of Texas looks neglected in comparison to other parts of the this booming state. I knew Texas was a vast state, but man it keeps going & going on (Reminds me of the Duracell AD), this is our 3rd & last night halt in the no mess Texas.

- Yes Swivel Chairs would be nice, (as Glenn pointed out) but there is no room for the swivel part in the 17B, may be just a chair, the frequent Poster in our Forum, I forget his name now, he is from Oswego, upstate NY had a chair from the Marine installed in his 17B. I do a lot of sitting when I am inside our little Camper, sitting on the bench .... well been there done that, I am in my sixties & would like a comfortable chair. When I order my 21' I will see into how & where it could be installed.
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Old 11-10-2018, 08:43 PM   #29
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As far as I know, you cannot change water pressure by turning a tap or pressing a lever down. The pressure regulator you have is reducing the pressure to the required level, regardless of how much you open the tap.
If Jon's West Marine cushion came in other colours, I might consider getting a couple. Throw pillows work just fine in the meantime.
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Old 11-10-2018, 08:55 PM   #30
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The new out of the box Blue Water Filter is leaking at the water connection outside, no matter how much tighten it with Pliers etc, it still leaks.
You've put on the water pressure regulator on the hose bib first and then the water filter and then then hose to the trailer. Right?
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Old 11-10-2018, 09:37 PM   #31
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That is it Donna, you nailed it, I had the pressure regulator at the Trailer end, then the hose & then water filter on to the water bib in that order.
Things will go in the right order in the morning, as Donna suggested & I think the water leaks will be gone.

The water leaks were of my own making,...... How x%#*& stupid my way of sequence of things could be.

Donna, thanks a lot.
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Old 11-11-2018, 07:05 AM   #32
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Hope the correct order works for you Raj. If not, don't think it's your fault. Park hose bibs are threaded thousands of times. Cross threading, nicks to the threads and even grit are enough to cause slow leaks. IF I'm only hooking up for a day, I don't worry much about it unless water is really flowing out. If I'm staying multiple days, I've found teflon tape around the threads at the hose bib helps some and in some cases a whole lot.


Good luck!
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Old 11-11-2018, 07:24 AM   #33
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Gbaglo, thats a a cute name for your dog , Throw Pillow. Looks like he helps to keep you warm too. I just watched Without Borders and remember one part when that is how they kept warm on trains they hopped they all had a dog inside their sleeping bags.

Sounds like you are having quite the journey, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Safe and fun travels,
Steve
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Old 11-11-2018, 03:16 PM   #34
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That is it Donna, you nailed it, I had the pressure regulator at the Trailer end, then the hose & then water filter on to the water bib in that order.
Things will go in the right order in the morning, as Donna suggested & I think the water leaks will be gone.

The water leaks were of my own making,...... How x%#*& stupid my way of sequence of things could be.
Rather than waste water in a potentially semi arid location, why don't you fill your fresh water tank and use your on-board water pump?

Tom
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Old 11-11-2018, 08:08 PM   #35
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Day 6 - At Route 66 RV Resort in Albuquerque, 47 C, & Wind at 15 MPH, no trees or any structures in sight, bone chilling cold. One gets some discount Coupons to the adjoining Route 66 Casino, the check in office is open 24 hrs.

Thanks Donna & Hyena, the Water Leak has stopped,
I have them in the correct order now, actually the Flexible Hose Protector is leaking from one its joints in the middle section, so I removed it & connected the water filter on to the Pressure Reducer which is connected to water bib, so there is no leak now.
I have also filled the water tank & am reading up on using( first time) the Water Pump in the Users Manual. The water connection has to be disconnected in the night ( cold ) at the RV Park's request.
- Escape Manual could be more helpful with some pictures added to it, (not a single picture)

Amarillo & Albuquerque has frostbite cold, and we (most of Floridians) as usual are under dressed, now I totally get the picture of seeing vehicles & RVs with License Plates from northern states on Florida roads in the winter. My son said it was in 70s back home in Florida. Well, it is almost middle of November.
Now California has fires & issues with smoke & air quality, we will see how it goes when we reach there next weekend.

1) Any pointers on use of water pump would be helpful. 2) Do you use the Flexible Hose Protector, have you had leaks in it & Have you find it helpful at all ?

Thanks everybody.
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Old 11-11-2018, 08:22 PM   #36
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Not sure what the flexible hose protector you are mentioning, perhaps a picture would help? As far as the pump, turn it o, let it pressurize and you are good to go. Remember to turn off while absent or towing.
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Old 11-11-2018, 09:12 PM   #37
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Thanks Jim,

Let us see if this link works for the picture, made by Camco, sold in Walmart for $4, & goes by 'Flexible Hose Protector'

https://youtu.be/XJ0DuaNJyvc

Thanks
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Old 11-11-2018, 09:43 PM   #38
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Or you could get something like this, which is a 90 degree elbow to allow the hose to go parallel to to the trailer, instead of sticking out perpendicular to the side of the trailer. Less than $5 from most RV parts places.
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Old 11-11-2018, 11:40 PM   #39
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I’m at my daughter’s just south of sf. The air quality has been nasty since the fire started, with grandkids soccer games and practices cancelled. SJ should be the same until the fire is out.
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Old 11-12-2018, 06:36 AM   #40
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Or you could get something like this, which is a 90 degree elbow to allow the hose to go parallel to to the trailer, instead of sticking out perpendicular to the side of the trailer. Less than $5 from most RV parts places.
Yes, I find once pressure is applied, it stops leaking, but drips when pressure is off, regardless of how tight you make it.
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