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09-25-2018, 10:01 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2019 5.0TA "Junior", 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
Posts: 1,600
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Visit to Chilliwack
We made a road trip from Austin to Chilliwack to finalize our build sheet in person and be able to spend a day sitting in the 5.0 in the showroom and going over some little details and potential changes. Seems a bit crazy to make a 5,000 mile road trip to do this, but after many months of reading the forum, going over all the options, and planning our build sheet it was a big thrill for us to find ourselves pulling into the ETI parking lot on Monday.
Border crossing at Sumas was a non-event - we got a handful of cursory questions, the obligatory question about firearms, and were waved on through. Our sales rep, Linda, was absolutely wonderful to work with and we couldn't be happier with how the process went. I got to meet Reace and chat with him for a while, and it was neat to have a chance to check out and compare all the different models.
We weren't planning to place our order until the end of this year for a spring 2019 production date but jumped in early back when it looked like they were discontinuing the frameless windows and electric awning we wanted, we got a Dec 28 production date. Now it turns out that since both the frameless windows and electric awning have a big following they will in fact be continuing to offer both....but that's fine, it's nice to see them continually adapt to changing conditions and what their customers want. We won't be driving from Texas to Chilliwack and back in the winter to pick up our trailer, though, so it will be painful to get the final build pics and then have to wait until spring to go get it.
It was really helpful to us to spend a whole day in the showroom model and get measurements and ideas for some decorating ideas and other things we want to do. ETI was very accommodating in working with us to incorporate a cat access opening in the bottom of the bathroom door so they can get to their litter box...first time they have done that, they said. My advice to anyone beginning the build sheet process is to ask for any little changes or tweaks that you would like to have, knowing that they will say yes to some and no to others; accept the "no's" graciously and move on to the next item, and you will have a wonderful build process. I am still amazed at not only the amount of customization they are willing to do on each trailer but also the tremendous amount of personalized attention you get throughout the process - Linda was absolutely unflappable. After finalizing our build sheet in the afternoon, we went next door to Tim Horton's for coffee and thought of "one more change". When we walked back into ETI and she met us at the door with our "final" build sheet all printed out and I said "Linda, don't hate me but..." she just burst out laughing, I'm sure she's been through this a million times.
We're in Idaho tonight on the long road home, stopping off at Arches NP in Utah for a couple of days to break up the trip. I just can't say enough good things about Escape!
__________________
David, Mary, and the cats
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09-25-2018, 11:12 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Tehachapi, California
Trailer: none
Posts: 515
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Thanks for your report, David! Hoping to do a report as well when the time comes. Good to know that ETI was willing to work with you on the cat door. So there is room for the litter box in the bathroom, huh?
Speaking of Tim Horton's, I got to try my first cup at the Vancouver airport on our recent trip back from Saskachewan!
__________________
Greg
Formerly owned a 2007 24' HiLo/ 2003 Tahoe combo. Interested in the 5.0TA
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09-26-2018, 05:36 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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That Tim Hortons is a busy place. When we stayed at Best Western between them and ETI, it was open 24 hours with customers all night. Their food is not too bad either.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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09-26-2018, 06:28 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2019 5.0TA "Junior", 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
Posts: 1,600
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hilola
So there is room for the litter box in the bathroom, huh?
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Just enough room on the bathroom floor for a litter box....as long as humans don't want to fit in there too
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David, Mary, and the cats
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09-26-2018, 09:43 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Seatac, Washington
Trailer: "The Trailer", 2nd Gen 21' & a 2017 Tundra CrewMax in Blazing Blue Pearl
Posts: 2,888
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidmurphy02
Just enough room on the bathroom floor for a litter box....as long as humans don't want to fit in there too
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Yeah, been there, done that. You'll need to fling the box out unless you have suction cups on your feet and can hang off the walls.
Or use a really small, kitten size box. Which would never work with my full grown kitties.
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09-26-2018, 10:01 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Just try to remember not to allow litter into your gray tank if possible, it can clump and cause a blockage. I'd recommend tightening down the drain inside the shower.
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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09-26-2018, 10:20 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Glad to see a thread remain on topic - kitty litter and Tim Hortons.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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10-01-2018, 12:25 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Fredericksburg, Texas
Trailer: sold Airstream\Casita -2019 21' Escape
Posts: 190
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David,
I live in Austin too and was thinking about doing the same trip to the factory but flying into Sea Tec and renting a car (make it a mini holiday). Currently were Casita owners but wife wants a bigger trailer and I always liked the 21' Escape. I suppose to get the correct build would be to visit the factory since they have many options.
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10-01-2018, 08:09 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2019 5.0TA "Junior", 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
Posts: 1,600
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
Just try to remember not to allow litter into your gray tank if possible, it can clump and cause a blockage. I'd recommend tightening down the drain inside the shower.
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Yes, for sure - that's what we did in our old rig, the litterbox lived in the bathtub.
__________________
David, Mary, and the cats
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10-01-2018, 08:12 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2019 5.0TA "Junior", 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
Posts: 1,600
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jumboscott
David,
I live in Austin too and was thinking about doing the same trip to the factory but flying into Sea Tec and renting a car (make it a mini holiday). Currently were Casita owners but wife wants a bigger trailer and I always liked the 21' Escape. I suppose to get the correct build would be to visit the factory since they have many options.
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I highly recommend visiting ETI if you can, it was a big help in deciding on some of the options, locations of things, and a few minor customizations. We spent a full day at ETI and given what it took to get there I wish I had allotted two days. We both really dislike flying, and wanted to get a feel for how our new truck would be on the road, so we drove. We are in Albuquerque getting ready for the last leg of our drive home today - it was definitely a LONG drive, flying would make the trip much easier.
__________________
David, Mary, and the cats
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10-01-2018, 11:38 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21 towed by F-150 with 2.7l eb, formerly Escape 17B 2017
Posts: 563
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jumboscott
David,
I live in Austin too and was thinking about doing the same trip to the factory but flying into Sea Tec and renting a car (make it a mini holiday). Currently were Casita owners but wife wants a bigger trailer and I always liked the 21' Escape. I suppose to get the correct build would be to visit the factory since they have many options.
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Please remember though, Casitas are built in Texas with AC standard and a furnace is extra. However, an Escape is built in Canada with a furnace standard and AC is an optional extra.
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10-01-2018, 05:02 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Friendswood, Texas
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19' (sold), Escape 5.0 as of August 2019 (sold)
Posts: 664
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We are making the same trip next week from Houston although we are flying to YVR. Thanks for the review. We plan on doing the same with ETI next Thursday.
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10-01-2018, 07:44 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Kent, Washington
Trailer: 2023 E19
Posts: 21
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Can you expand on the cat access opening?
Is this just a rough opening? Or, are you planning to install an off the shelf swinging cat door? How to plan to keep shower water from leaking out the door or opening?
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10-01-2018, 09:18 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2019 5.0TA "Junior", 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
Posts: 1,600
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joebuoy
Can you expand on the cat access opening?
Is this just a rough opening? Or, are you planning to install an off the shelf swinging cat door? How to plan to keep shower water from leaking out the door or opening?
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This will just be a 6" x 8" open cat doorway at the bottom of the bathroom door. The bathroom door does not actually keep water in the bathroom - it is mounted on the outside of the doorway, and has about a one inch gap at both the top and bottom for ventilation of the bathroom. There is about a six inch lip on the bathroom floor at the bottom of the door, and a shower curtain that you slide across the doorway opening to keep water out of the doorway when using the shower.
You could install a cat door if desired - in our previous trailer we just had an open hole at the bottom of the bathroom door for the cats and it worked fine so we will do the same here. ETI will incorporate the opening into the bottom of the bathroom door when they build it so that it will be trimmed out to match.
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David, Mary, and the cats
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10-11-2018, 10:10 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Carrollton, Texas
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21, 2017 Toyota Tundra 5.7L 4x4
Posts: 549
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Dallas to Chilliwack twice
We drove up from Dallas TX to Chilliwack, pulling our Casita, to finalize our build. This was in Feb 2017. We went up Hwy 101 to avoid ice and snow on I-5. We then drove up again the following August to pick up our new trailer. Both trips were memorable. I recommend the drive to anyone who has the time.
__________________
Rick and Vicky Reed
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10-12-2018, 12:24 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Minnranger.
It's not necessary to post the same thing multiple times.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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10-12-2018, 02:17 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: ely, Minnesota
Trailer: escape 17b 2017
Posts: 9
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ok, thanks
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11-05-2018, 08:16 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Sudbury, Ontario
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 346
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Trip to Chiliwack
My wife and I are flying out to Vancouver in about 2 weeks to the Escape folkks and finalize our build sheet on the 2019 5.0 TA we just put a deposit on. I was too nervous about plunking down that much cash and not getting inside one of these things and getting the feel of it, also, being new to the RV ownership thing, we're a bit nervous regarding choosing the right options and so talking to them ion person will be more comfortable.
I have been following the Escape forum for a long while (most recently as a new member) and you all have been hugely informative and very helpful in this process, thanks to everyone!!
BTW - off topic, being new to the site, how do you post the photo that shows up in your profile when you make a post?
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11-05-2018, 09:11 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Delta, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 17B / 2010 GMC Sierra
Posts: 59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marsman
My wife and I are flying out to Vancouver in about 2 weeks to the Escape folkks and finalize our build sheet on the 2019 5.0 TA we just put a deposit on. I was too nervous about plunking down that much cash and not getting inside one of these things and getting the feel of it, also, being new to the RV ownership thing, we're a bit nervous regarding choosing the right options and so talking to them ion person will be more comfortable.
I have been following the Escape forum for a long while (most recently as a new member) and you all have been hugely informative and very helpful in this process, thanks to everyone!!
BTW - off topic, being new to the site, how do you post the photo that shows up in your profile when you make a post?
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On the forums home page click on User CP. From there you will see a tab for edit avatar. From there you will be given option to choose file(picture).
Hope this helps.
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11-06-2018, 07:13 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marsman
My wife and I are flying out to Vancouver in about 2 weeks
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You may have booked already, but I much prefer flying into Abbotsford. Smaller airport, car rentals, between Escape and Vancouver. You gotta love it when it takes about 5 minutes to get to the baggage carousel, and your luggage is already there.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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