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05-27-2015, 08:50 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Rangeley, Maine
Trailer: 2005 Escape 17B Sold 2016. 2016 Escape 19 Sold 2019. 2019 Escape 21 picked up Sep 2019
Posts: 173
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Escape 19' as an office?
Hi All...
we're replacing our 17B with a 19 next year and I have a question. We'll be using the 19 for a few months during the early spring to escape Maine mud seasons. I'm not retired, but I CAN work from anywhere as long as I have internet (I'm a web application developer). So I'll be spending many many hours at the dinette working on my computer. My concern is the ergonomics of this set-up. Do any of you have any suggestions, thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc. about this?
I might have the height of the table lowered to make typing more comfortable. Thinking about not having a "fixed" table at the dinette so I could push it away if I need more space.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
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05-27-2015, 09:07 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,547
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I see no reason why you could not make the 19 work for your needs. The dinette is plenty big.
Table and desk height are usually the same, but I know it is nice to have the keyboard a bit lower for comfort. Maybe you could mount a keyboard tray to pull out with the table top pushed to the other side side. This would not likely work for a laptop though.
__________________
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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05-27-2015, 09:43 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Missoula, Montana
Trailer: Escape 19, 2018: Last Best Escape
Posts: 395
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sallemann
Hi All...
we're replacing our 17B with a 19 next year and I have a question. We'll be using the 19 for a few months during the early spring to escape Maine mud seasons. I'm not retired, but I CAN work from anywhere as long as I have internet (I'm a web application developer). So I'll be spending many many hours at the dinette working on my computer. My concern is the ergonomics of this set-up. Do any of you have any suggestions, thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc. about this?
I might have the height of the table lowered to make typing more comfortable. Thinking about not having a "fixed" table at the dinette so I could push it away if I need more space.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
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I'm wondering if you could benefit from a more adjustable worksurface.If you could move your work surface up or down, you may be able to minimize any potential Repetitive Strain Injury [RSI] and improve your ergonomic set up. You've already seen, no doubt, the adjustable pneumatic table lift many 17 and 19 owners have used to replace the standard 2-tube table.
Here's a picture of the one we had in our 17, fully adjustable and it even rotates.
Klaus
__________________
2018 Escape 19: Last Best Escape
2015 Escape 19 (previous): Escape Goats
2011 Escape 17 (previous): SittEscape
Honda Pilot 2019
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05-27-2015, 09:45 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Rangeley, Maine
Trailer: 2005 Escape 17B Sold 2016. 2016 Escape 19 Sold 2019. 2019 Escape 21 picked up Sep 2019
Posts: 173
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksitte
I'm wondering if you could benefit from a more adjustable worksurface.If you could move your work surface up or down, you may be able to minimize any potential Repetitive Strain Injury [RSI] and improve your ergonomic set up. You've already seen, no doubt, the adjustable pneumatic table lift many 17 and 19 owners have used to replace the standard 2-tube table.
Here's a picture of the one we had in our 17, fully adjustable and it even rotates.
Klaus
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Wow! That's nice! No, I hadn't seen the table lift... Thanks so much for the info! THAT'S what I'm looking for.
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05-27-2015, 09:46 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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How about adding a keyboard tray instead of dropping the table. If you go with a U dinette you can get the side to side slider. If you go standard dinette you can get aftermarket legs, just get ETI to supply the table top and you add the legs later (Google RV dinette folding legs). You'll probably have to make adjustments to the seat back but only you can figure that out once you try it. FYI, some of the folks get the dinette floor raised a couple inches on the 19 as it sits pretty low to the windows.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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05-27-2015, 09:48 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Klaus, is the table top removable? I like the idea but in our U dinette I need access to the rear seat on occasion.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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05-27-2015, 09:52 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,105
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The dinette table in my Escape 21 slides back and forth when not locked down. I bought a Fellows keyboard tray to mount under the table but I haven't tried to install it yet. I'm wondering if the tray's mount might interfere with the table's sliding mechanism.
You might also benefit from a boating chair "insert" that fits on top of the dinette seat. There is a thread about such a chair from West Marine on this forum.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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05-27-2015, 09:59 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Marana, Arizona
Trailer: 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud (Escape 19 & 5.0 previously)
Posts: 1,078
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My concerns would focus on seating rather than the placement of a computer. Know that the dinette seats are flat bottoms and backs set at 45 degree angles. We never use our dinette for traditional seating because it's so uncomfortable. We do however, set it up as a platform bed and use a number of pillows for lounging. This is no fault of ETI, just the nature of the beast.
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05-27-2015, 10:03 AM
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#9
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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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Another option could be to not have the table there at all and use a folding table or TV tray (with legs) style table. I have a wood folding TV tray that I used for my laptop when I was on my month long motor home rental. It was great for when I sat outside, admiring the view of Mt Shasta while doing email on my laptop (signal didn't reach to my campsite, but it worked great in front of their office).
If you have access to someone's 19', I'd suggest taking your computer/laptop with you to see how it would fit for you. That's what I did in someone's trailer that had a larger sink - I needed to know if I'd be able to clean my waffle iron in it, as I use it for cooking many of my meals. Yay, it worked!
And, as suggested, some sort of chair/cushions behind your back as you could be too far away from the keyboard otherwise.
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05-27-2015, 10:07 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
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If you're going for the office motif, why not get one of these:
The Briefcase Barbecue - Hammacher Schlemmer
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05-27-2015, 10:49 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
I see no reason why you could not make the 19 work for your needs. The dinette is plenty big.
Table and desk height are usually the same, but I know it is nice to have the keyboard a bit lower for comfort. Maybe you could mount a keyboard tray to pull out with the table top pushed to the other side side. This would not likely work for a laptop though.
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We just installed the pedestal however table slides side to side in the regular dinette which we still have after installing new pedestal . Pat
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05-27-2015, 10:52 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Missoula, Montana
Trailer: Escape 19, 2018: Last Best Escape
Posts: 395
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
Klaus, is the table top removable? I like the idea but in our U dinette I need access to the rear seat on occasion.
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I did make the table removable, although it's not something you would do daily. I wanted to have clear and unimpeded access to the inside of the storage benches, just in case. So, underneath, I mounted 4 knobs using threaded inserts. Does that make sense?
Here's the pic.
Klaus
__________________
2018 Escape 19: Last Best Escape
2015 Escape 19 (previous): Escape Goats
2011 Escape 17 (previous): SittEscape
Honda Pilot 2019
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05-27-2015, 11:32 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Trailer: 2014 19' Escape - 2023 JGC-L Summit
Posts: 193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sallemann
Hi All...
we're replacing our 17B with a 19 next year and I have a question. We'll be using the 19 for a few months during the early spring to escape Maine mud seasons. I'm not retired, but I CAN work from anywhere as long as I have internet (I'm a web application developer). So I'll be spending many many hours at the dinette working on my computer. My concern is the ergonomics of this set-up. Do any of you have any suggestions, thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc. about this?
I might have the height of the table lowered to make typing more comfortable. Thinking about not having a "fixed" table at the dinette so I could push it away if I need more space.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
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We do use our 19' as a traveling office as we are on the road for up to three months at a time. The only change I made was to raise the dinette seats about 3 1/2". With that change, the table top is at a good height for both of us to be working on our laptops. Also, we both use firm pillows for additional back support while working at the table. At some point I'm sure we'll need to replace the seat cushions but what we have has been working OK for the six months that we've spent on the road.
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05-27-2015, 12:09 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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And here's the same pedestal in a U-shaped dinette. The ability to adjust to any height up to 28" and to rotate it might work well for you. I also use our 19 as an office (on occasion) because I'm an IT consultant, and like you, unless I'm at a customer site, I can work anywhere.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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05-27-2015, 12:21 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: O town, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 "Lightning"
Posts: 1,467
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Like Zardoz, I can not sit at dinette for periods of time. I will try again.
For now I at a camping chair at end of table. The adjustable table idea would help a ton.
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05-27-2015, 12:24 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BCnomad
Like Zardoz, I can not sit at dinette for periods of time. I will try again.
For now I at a camping chair at end of table. The adjustable table idea would help a ton.
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Yep. My 2nd photo above shows the table slid to one side. If you rotated it toward the front, you'd have plenty of overhang to tuck under with a chair.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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05-27-2015, 12:35 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,373
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I agree that the standard cushions (both firmness & back angle) leave a lot to be desired for long term sitting in the Escape (as well as most trailers that use combined dinette/beds).
I work for hours at a time on a 17" MacBookPro at the front dinette in my 17B, but I got rid of the cushions and replaced them with West Marine High Backed Chairs. Very comfortable, removable (so you can use them outside) and adjustable.
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05-27-2015, 12:53 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,808
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I find my desk at home ends up cluttered with "stuff". If I was using my table as a work desk I'd do a different version of the shelf unit that I did for my solar panel controller etc.
A small shelf unit to suit the misc. "stuff" that would otherwise clutter the table top can be made that attaches to the table base. No drilling of holes to attach to the wall and the shelf unit stays in a fixed position while the table is still free to slide back and forth. The shelf makes use of otherwise dead space.
Ron
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05-27-2015, 12:58 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
I find my desk at home ends up cluttered with "stuff". If I was using my table as a work desk I'd do a different version of the shelf unit that I did for my solar panel controller etc.
A small shelf unit to suit the misc. "stuff" that would otherwise clutter the table top can be made that attaches to the table base. No drilling of holes to attach to the wall and the shelf unit stays in a fixed position while the table is still free to slide back and forth. The shelf makes use of otherwise dead space.
Ron
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Still one of my favorite mods. If I had the standard dinette, I'd be making one.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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05-27-2015, 07:19 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zardoz
My concerns would focus on seating rather than the placement of a computer. Know that the dinette seats are flat bottoms and backs set at 45 degree angles. We never use our dinette for traditional seating because it's so uncomfortable. We do however, set it up as a platform bed and use a number of pillows for lounging. This is no fault of ETI, just the nature of the beast.
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Hi: Zardoz... We put some cut to fit sections of pool noodles down behind the dinette seat back cushions... Instant good angle for your back!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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