Do I need an exterior 12v outlet

[GregandTeresa]

One thing that we are going back and forth on is, do we need an exterior 12v outlet. Was wondering if you got one (or more) and what you use them for?

[padlin]

Mainly for the 12 volt box fan. Fly, gnat, and skeeter deterrent, works fairly well. The breeze is of course nice when it's hot.

Found the 300w inverters fan is pretty loud, so when I'm charging the vacuum or drill/driver I sit them on the tires outside.

Wouldn't be hard to add one later if you pass on it now.

[Ian G]

We use our outside 12V outlet all the time, charges phone, can move our 12V TV & radio outside if we want, Cheap addition for the convenience.

[Chapitre]

We have two, use them all the time for the 12v cooler

[LeonW]

We use the exterior outlet for recharging & powering various electronic devices, but also to power the air compressor when adding air to the tires. I too was on the fence when we were ordering our trailer, but glad I included it.

[alanmalk]

I use ours for a water transfer pump, to pump water from 7 gallon jugs into the main tank when far from a spigot. Wish now I had one on each side of the trailer. Same goes for the 110v outlet - 1 is nice, 2 even better.

[Jimrules]

Originally Posted by alanmalk

I use ours for a water transfer pump, to pump water from 7 gallon jugs into the main tank when far from a spigot. Wish now I had one on each side of the trailer. Same goes for the 110v outlet - 1 is nice, 2 even better.

You people have good ideas. The more I read on this forum the more expensive my potential trailer gets.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Jimrules

You people have good ideas. The more I read on this forum the more expensive my potential trailer gets.

Just remember that your option choices should depend solely on how you camp and your camping lifestyle. Not many options, if any at all, are a must-have, and the basic Escape trailer is still the best unit around as is.

[cpaharley2008]

I think it all depends on where your batteries are in which trailer. In the 19 they are in the front box and easily accessible if you need to hook something up. Similarly on the 17 being outside on the rear. In the 5.0 and 21 models they are inside under the dinette seat, not that easy from the inside but a simple plug can be installed after market if needed on the outside wall.
I feel a lot of the exterior plugs, unless they are marine quality, are subject to leaks. Something to think about, since we all went to fiberglass because of the leak proof features.

[GregandTeresa]

All great points, thanks for all of the feedback.

Our build sheet is not due until May but we are going to go ahead and lock it in now. We've already been hit with one price increase recently (u-shaped dinette), and if the Canadian dollar keeps going down, I would expect to see more. So we want to avoid being hit with those.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by GregandTeresa

All great points, thanks for all of the feedback.

Our build sheet is not due until May but we are going to go ahead and lock it in now. We've already been hit with one price increase recently (u-shaped dinette), and if the Canadian dollar keeps going down, I would expect to see more. So we want to avoid being hit with those.

That is another reason to send all your money in now, to catch the favorable exchange rate, it will not last forever.

[GregandTeresa]

Agree with you on catching the exchange rate, they've already got 90% of our money, and we plan on sending the remainder as soon as we have the final locked in build sheet (this week).

[cpaharley2008]

You can always give them a cc for last minute changes.

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

You can always give them a cc for last minute changes.

Once you get your build sheet finalized, the prices are set, even if they go up otherwise. However, if you want to make any changes once you've signed off on it, they charge ya $200. (This was on someone else's build sheet that was sent to us by mistake, but I've not seen it on mine, so I don't know if that's added when you get really close to finalizing or what.)

So, I'm thinking very carefully about everything that's being added to the build sheet and if I find something later I have to decide if it's worth another 200 bucks to add it on. Probably not. Even with the exchange rate the way it is right now.

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by GregandTeresa

All great points, thanks for all of the feedback.

Our build sheet is not due until May but we are going to go ahead and lock it in now. We've already been hit with one price increase recently (u-shaped dinette), and if the Canadian dollar keeps going down, I would expect to see more. So we want to avoid being hit with those.

Yeah, that's why I'm busy working on ours, even though the trailer is due to be completed much later in the year than yours. I've had prices increase on two options that I had listed. I hope to get ours finalized this week before any more increases. Knock on wood!

We plan to pay it off very quickly as well.

[GregandTeresa]

That is absolutely correct Laura. I was emailing with Sarah at Escape today about finalizing our build sheet, and she mentioned that $200 charge. And when I got the final document for my signature, it was spelled out there. So it would take something drastic for me to change it now. And since I started this thread with my question about an external 12 volt, I should state that we did decide to add one, based upon various feedback that we got.

[padlin]

The $200 charge is what I ran into when I remembered the Horst tank probes I wanted but forgot on the build sheet. I did not call and ask if I'd get charged, as the build was already in progress I just gave up on the idea.

[M.W.Deters]

I had a 12 volt outlet installed above each set of wheels for inflation purposes.

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by M.W.Deters

I had a 12 volt outlet installed above each set of wheels for inflation purposes.

I saw this mentioned on another thread and I'll ask hubby when he gets home how long the cord is on our 12v tire pumper-upper. Probably not that long, so I'll probably add that to my list as well.

You know folks, once we get our build sheets finalized we are NOT allowed to read any more posts about options folks are getting or questions on it or what others got in the past or ANYTHING build sheet related!

You know we're gonna see something and think "damn, that's a good idea, why didn't I know about that earlier".

Yeah, that's me to a T!

So, once that baby's turned it, I'll just read about trips everyone is taking, which I've ignored before as we didn't have one on order. Now that we do, I can start reading all those and looking at the albums posted here. And start looking at some of the travel blogs. (We'll see how long that theory lasts!)

And I appreciate this thread getting started as it got me to send more money across the border.

[gbaglo]

You can also buy 12V extension cords for cheap if you are late with your build list.
I run mine out the door or out a window to power my pump or fan.