"Necessary" Options

Lisa M. · 03-12-2019, 09:44 PM

I realize everyone requires a different set of options for the kind of camping they do, but my question is a little different...
If a person was under a stricter budget in their purchase of a 21', what options are best installed at the build, and which ones can wait until later down the road and when extra cash is available? I'm talking about options such as exterior shower, additional captain's lights, hatches, etc., which can add up quickly. Cushions should be easy enough to re-cover down the road, a change in formica should probably be done at the build, I'm thinking. Although my husband can fix anything around the house, he is probably not going to touch the trailer.
We are not interested in any solar/TV/microwave. Logically speaking, it will probably be our last trailer (had the Casita 12 years and running now), and I am not concerned about resale value and what the next owners might want. Thanks in advance for everyone's input.

Eggscape · 03-12-2019, 09:50 PM

Extra insulation and the thermal windows would be our minimum that is very difficult to add later. Next would be any extra windows you might want and the fridge size you want.

Rossue · 03-12-2019, 09:55 PM

Toilet shut off, dual 6V, for sure. If not the electric tongue jack, get it wired for one. Do get front box or you will wish you did. Foot flush toilet is a low cost upgrade as well. Skip the frameless windows and power awning to pay for most of the above. Btw, we didn't have the Thermal Package in our 17 and dont really notice much difference in our 21 with it.

steve dunham · 03-12-2019, 10:56 PM

None of the available options are absolutely necessary and in many instances are purely cosmetic
The base Escape 21 is extremely functional and more than adequate for its intended purpose .

rubicon327 · 03-12-2019, 11:04 PM

I just went down the option list for a 21 and the only items in my opinion that should be decided on and added at the build are standard cooktop vs. oven, extra insulation or not, window type and quantity (whether adding front, bath, or side window over drawer stack), U shaped dinette or not, and power awning vs. manual. The custom Formica countertops would probably be smart to do too. Everything else can be added. I have done many myself and seen many others done by fellow forum members. The difficulty will be finding someone you trust to do the work on your trailer if you won’t be doing it yourself. Of course if you are close enough a visit back to Escape would be practical and probably your best bet.

**Donna D.** · 03-12-2019, 11:25 PM

When I was going through the build sheet, there were two things I absolutely knew I didn't want to deal with after the fact. Running wire under the headliner and propane. I know others have done both, just not something I had any skillset in. So, I figured where and want what I wanted for the 'electrics' and decided I wanted the propane quick connect. Shiny wheels, installed solar (pre-wired) and A/C (pre-wired) could wait.

paulk · 03-13-2019, 12:40 AM

If I remember correctly, ETI can upgrade all of their options, except maybe extra insulation. I'll break your question down into two questions.

Things that are probably expensive to add later:
- extra insulation & dual pane windows
- upgrade fridge size
- 2 way hot water tank (you'd probably have to replace the water tank)
- extra outlets/lights (depending on where they are you might need to replace headliner)
- solar (you might be able to get it solar ready though which would put blocking in the right places)
- additional rear upper LED brake signal (same problem as other wire routing under the headliner.. yeah, you can do it, but this is going to be a lot cheaper proportion-wise at build time)
- backup camera (you need power and ground wires to the camera)

Here is what I'd get for a modest budget:
- solar (it's that great!)
- removable power cord (others will disagree, but I don't like having extra intrusions, and this is not as expensive as other options)

On a budget, I'd throw in extra insulation and thermal windows only if I was planning on doing off season camping. Even then, you can counter condensation with more ventilation and using the furnace more.

I really like the front storage box, but you can add that later IF you can get back to ETI. It's really expensive to ship, so I'd add to the list that if I wasn't local.

stratos175 · 03-13-2019, 05:40 AM

First I would really think about your camping style, do you plan to boondock or full hookups? If boondock then be sure to get everything wired for the solar. Our 2014 came with the standard formica and fabric and they are OK with me.
It's the electrical and propane things I would focus on and at least have them done so you can finish later.
As for the front storage box, we bought our Escape used never seeing one before then and now that I've seen what the factory box looks like glad I have the one I have. The person we bought it from had a custom made aluminum box that the propane tanks are enclosed in and you have a lot of extra storage as well. The factory box is narrow and odd shaped to fit the area they mount it in behind the tanks. The person I bought our unit from said he paid $700.00 for box to be custom made, pretty sure this is what ETI gets for theirs and much rather have mine.

One thing I've not seen mentioned is outside storage hatch, our came with the one under the bed.

Either way I think you are buying the best value in the travel trailer market place.

Enjoy the journey.

Steve

Chris & Patricia · 03-13-2019, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa M.

I realize everyone requires a different set of options for the kind of camping they do, but my question is a little different...
If a person was under a stricter budget in their purchase of a 21', what options are best installed at the build, and which ones can wait until later down the road and when extra cash is available? I'm talking about options such as exterior shower, additional captain's lights, hatches, etc., which can add up quickly. Cushions should be easy enough to re-cover down the road, a change in formica should probably be done at the build, I'm thinking. Although my husband can fix anything around the house, he is probably not going to touch the trailer.
We are not interested in any solar/TV/microwave. Logically speaking, it will probably be our last trailer (had the Casita 12 years and running now), and I am not concerned about resale value and what the next owners might want. Thanks in advance for everyone's input.

I would really think hard about dismissing solar. It really extends your ability to boondock/dry camp in cheap or even free camping places, which is important if you are budget conscious. Also many of the best places to camp out in the wild don't have hook-ups. Also, if you are driving somewhere, there are lots of free places for overnight parking such as walmarts and casinos. There are many ways to manage water usage and grey/black waste to increase your ability to not have to hook-up, but if you don't have solar, you really are limited. The trailer control systems for fridge and lighting, furnace, hot water and charging phone batteries etc all need electrical power, even if you don't have a microwave or TV etc. Although many people have portable solar, having a fixed panel on the roof is so much better and way more convenient, especially as its always working, even when you are on the road. If having the panel is above your current budget, at least get it pre-wired. We decided to have our first Escape trailer pre-wired for solar, but added the panel only a few months later. When we upgraded to our new 21, the panel was the first option ticked off. If this is to be your last trailer, don't be too chintzy for a relatively few dollars compared to the price of the trailer as a whole. In a budget conscious situation, there are some options that could easily be spared, as suggested by others, but I'd think very hard about solar.

steve dunham · 03-13-2019, 09:10 AM

For off grid camping solar is a huge asset . We added an aftermarket portable solar system (100 watt ) to our trailer for a cost of under $300 . The factory rooftop solar is nice but not a necessity . Our less expensive system has been more than adequate for our needs but we don’t travel with every electronic device on the market .

cpaharley2008 · 03-13-2019, 09:34 AM

To me, solar means freedom. Freedom from hook ups, campgrounds, crowds. The ability to camp anywhere you park is nice. Solar and extra insulation are minimum options, rest are luxuries.

Hilola · 03-13-2019, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

To me, solar means freedom. Freedom from hook ups, campgrounds, crowds. The ability to camp anywhere you park is nice. Solar and extra insulation are minimum options, rest are luxuries.

Kind of like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLCEUpIg8rE

paulk · 03-13-2019, 11:17 AM

Even if you don't boondock solar is useful. We almost never boondock in fact, but most of the campsites we visit are booked up months in advance. The sites which are less booked up are the non serviced sites, which we're perfectly happy to take with Solar.

But on a budget, perhaps put in a Zamp port and call it good. You can get portable solar panels for less $$.

Farther · 03-13-2019, 11:40 AM

I understand being under a budget. If I was strapped for cash to purchase the Escape of my dreams I would save for another year and get all the "stuff" I wanted then.

Lisa M. · 03-13-2019, 05:45 PM

Thank you, everyone, for all the good information and advice. Many of you are encouraging solar but I'm not sure why I need it. Our situation: we camp with hookups rarely and do most of our living outside. That is one reason I don't think we will get AC--I've used it maybe twice in 12 years in my Casita--and we usually aren't camped where it is that hot. But wiring for it and the electric tongue jack down the road sounds like a good idea. I put LED's in my trailer a number of years ago. We use lights and water conservatively and boondock for five days at a time a number of times a year and for long weekends the rest of the time. We carry a Little Buddy propane heater for when it gets really cold because I had trouble sleeping with the heater in the trailer--too close to the bed and kind of noisy. We do a lot of Dutch oven cooking. We don't want a TV in the trailer, usually have instruments along and provide our own music, don't use a blow dryer, and charging phones isn't usually an issue. Is there something solar will give me that I don't have? Thanks!

gbaglo · 03-13-2019, 05:53 PM

The furnace fan takes a lot out of the battery. If it is chilly, you'll get a couple days ( maybe ) out of your battery(s). I have two 40 watt portable solar panels and wish I had ETI's roof install.

cpaharley2008 · 03-13-2019, 06:08 PM

I know when we stopped in Hanford and Kingsburg, we used the a/c in May and August.

**Donna D.** · 03-13-2019, 06:13 PM

"Always" speaks to the past. If we knew what our future was going to be, we'd all be lottery winners... next week. What's difficult to determine is what you want your future to look like and plan for that. For instance, if you want to camp in the US National Parks. Easily 90% of those will be boon docking sites. It took four years for me to finally desire solar, because I was 'always' hooked up, or just boon docked on my way to some place else. Now, being reasonably judicious with electrical use, I'm betting I could pretty much go indefinitely without worrying if the water pump will come on or there's enough juice for the refrigerator to continue to run. Peace.

Chris & Patricia · 03-13-2019, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa M.

Thank you, everyone, for all the good information and advice. Many of you are encouraging solar but I'm not sure why I need it. Our situation: we camp with hookups rarely and do most of our living outside. That is one reason I don't think we will get AC--I've used it maybe twice in 12 years in my Casita--and we usually aren't camped where it is that hot. But wiring for it and the electric tongue jack down the road sounds like a good idea. I put LED's in my trailer a number of years ago. We use lights and water conservatively and boondock for five days at a time a number of times a year and for long weekends the rest of the time. We carry a Little Buddy propane heater for when it gets really cold because I had trouble sleeping with the heater in the trailer--too close to the bed and kind of noisy. We do a lot of Dutch oven cooking. We don't want a TV in the trailer, usually have instruments along and provide our own music, don't use a blow dryer, and charging phones isn't usually an issue. Is there something solar will give me that I don't have? Thanks!

Having solar will give you a much longer ability than five days at a time to dry camp/boon dock without worrying if you are going to run out of battery to run our lights and control your fridge etc. We recently dry camped in our 21 for almost two weeks and have in the past gone longer with our solar panel. Even if you use power conservatively, the reality is that you are unlikely to be able to go more than about a week, but with solar you can go almost indefinitely in the right weather.

cpaharley2008 · 03-13-2019, 06:23 PM

I would not use a little Buddy propane heater inside a trailer. It will create condensation as well as noxious fumes. Your Escape furnace is your safest heater without these issues. You can find other ways to deal with the noise, but with the Little Buddy, you may not wake up. Solar with your on board propane tanks is one of the safest and easily replenished sources of energy.

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