Another new Escapee - 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 > General Escape
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-12-2014, 08:16 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Sheldon, Iowa
Trailer: Starcraft Starflyer
Posts: 5
Another new Escapee

My wife and I have had a small fold down travel trailer for years and have been wanting to upgrade to a hard side trailer. We have been researching via the internet and otherwise for quite some time, and have made a down payment on an Escape 19. I have been following the forum as it is a wonderful information source. I appreciate everyone's willingness to share information. I've been wondering about a wheel on the tongue jack. This seems like it could help provide some wiggle room when hooking up, but it doesn't seem like most people buy this option. What are the pros and cons?
Poncho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 08:18 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Monroe, Michigan
Trailer: escape 21may 2014
Posts: 168
are you purchasing a tandem or single axle? I dont think it would help you much with a tandem.
burrab2002 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 08:31 PM   #3
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
I've got the wheel. I have used it to maneuver the trailer in my carport, on smooth concrete. On gravel it's a struggle, and then you have to chock it to keep it from shifting ( easy to move when you don't want to, hard when you do ).
But, it was only $35 when I got the trailer.
So how useful, depends if you plan on parking on concrete pads in RV resorts or if you boondock.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 08:39 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
azjack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ, Arizona
Trailer: gone, 19 and 21 & 17B with 5.0 now. gone
Posts: 790
tongue wheel

We have large level concrete at home and when we had a single axle 17 and 18' trailers I could grab them and move them to the vehicle. With the 19' and now the 21' I don't even try, the camera does it for me or what's her name has to guide me or I guide her. I think I have an extra tongue wheel that I don't need.
Jack
azjack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 09:30 PM   #5
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
Get better at hooking up? I consider hooking up adding to my exercise plan. You'd think after more than a decade I could nail it. Not so (sometimes), but it doesn't embarress me to pull forward, move back, pull forward, move back. That's just me. Wheel be damned. YMMV
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 10:49 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lompoc, California
Trailer: none
Posts: 21
Lol! Donna D. You make me feel like everything is normal and will be alright!
robinLL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 11:55 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Glennrose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chase, Canada, British Columbia
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Posts: 235
Quote:
Originally Posted by burrab2002 View Post
are you purchasing a tandem or single axle? I dont think it would help you much with a tandem.
We have the wheel on our 19 (tandem). It is not particularly useful for moving the trailer any distance, but we are really happy we have it; it lets you nudge the trailer a bit when needed. Our "pad" is gravel, but it is easy to slip a piece of board under the wheel in the direction you want to go, then slide the trailer into place. The 19 pivots better on gravel than pavement using this method. Note: we do use a cable come-along to fine tune it into position - this wouldn't be possible without the wheel on the tongue jack.
__________________
Glenn & Rosemary
Pleasure Way Excel TS Limited Edition
"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." Albert Einstein
Glennrose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 06:27 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
I too have the wheel, and have used it very little, But when I have had to, it has been very handy. You do need a hard surface to make it work with the weight of the 19, or have at least two people to help with moving it.
__________________
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
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 09:11 AM   #9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Sheldon, Iowa
Trailer: Starcraft Starflyer
Posts: 5
Thanks for all the responses. I have a boat/trailer combination that is as heavy as the Escape 19. I have a tongue wheel on this and although I really can't nudge this fore and aft, I can bump the tongue left or right an inch or so when hooking up to the TV. On numerous occasions this has avoided the move the TV shuffle. I also have a wheel on my fold down travel trailer. This can easily be moved by hand, but the wheel hangs too low and on occasion has been an obstacle. It has never hit hard enough to break anything, but it has concerned me.
Poncho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 09:47 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
MyronL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
With a wheel you have the ability to nudge the trailer left or right when the ball is backed up for hitching but not right on target. Without the wheel the jack pipe is dug into ground, and no way you can nudge anything but the tow vehicle, like Donna sez.

I've always had one, but recently, after noting the wheel extends below the safety chains while towing, I removed my wheel, thinking if it should ever become unhitched while on the road the receiver cup might not nest in the safety chains. I keep it handy because the jury is still out for me on this.
Attached Thumbnails
TWheel.jpg  
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
MyronL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 10:07 AM   #11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Sheldon, Iowa
Trailer: Starcraft Starflyer
Posts: 5
MyronL - Your picture mimics the wheel on my current fold down trailer. The wheel becomes a low point that can make contact depending on the rise and fall of the ground. On my fold down trailer the wheel is permanently fixed to the jack. Apparently on the Escape it can be removed.
Thanks for the picture.
Dave
Poncho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 10:21 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
sturski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jamestown, Colorado
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19
Posts: 232
So, you're the one that ordered the last 2014 Escape 19.

Backup cameras are a wonderful thing.
sturski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 10:55 AM   #13
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
I asked Reace why there was only one hole in the jack post for the wheel pin. He said that was to prevent people from keeping the wheel attached to the post. Or at least, to encourage them not to keep it attached.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 11:04 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
I have a jack foot on ours and like it. It allows enough movement for small adjustments for hitting the ball on hookup, and doesn't stick down much below where the jack pipe ends.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 12:31 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
There is always this….BAL 28100 Tongue Twister : Amazon.com : Automotive
Attached Images
 
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 01:00 PM   #16
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Sheldon, Iowa
Trailer: Starcraft Starflyer
Posts: 5
Ref - order date. Actually I did not order the last 2014 - 19'. We ordered back in October. I've just be a silent observer trying to figure everything out by deduction. Sorry about that!
Poncho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 09:11 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
santacruzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 755
Huh, my jack post has two holes. I use a pin to hold the wheel in place going up and down, and then use the pin on the hitch to lock it in place.
__________________
2019 Tundra CrewMax Limited TRD 4WD
2014 Escape 19
santacruzer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 09:29 PM   #18
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
I have a newish side-winding jack, replacing the original top-wind. I'll have to check it to see how many holes in the post. Which says something about how often I use the wheel.
In any event, Reace said to remove the wheel for towing.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 09:43 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
santacruzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 755
I only use the wheel for very short pushing and shoving around in the driveway. In storage, I use a wooden post under the hitch, with the jack (wheel on) cranked up just slightly in case the trailer comes off the post. The design of the wheel actually bothers me. It appears to be taking stress at an oblique angle ( the wheel axle is off center of the post center), and I'm a little concerned that over time, or with too much pressure, the jack post might bend.

I bought one of those flat shoes for the post, but the holes in the shoe didn't line up with holes in the post, and since I didn't want to drill any new ones in either, I returned it.
__________________
2019 Tundra CrewMax Limited TRD 4WD
2014 Escape 19
santacruzer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 11:35 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
DeadEyeDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Sacramento, California
Trailer: 2017 Bigfoot 25
Posts: 275
The Force Luke, use the Force.
__________________
DeadEye Dan
2017 Bigfoot 25 Rear Bed
2017 RAM 2500 Cummins Diesel
DeadEyeDan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

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 08:32 AM.


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