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Old 01-05-2020, 09:29 AM   #1
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Escape 5th wheel, single axle??

Saw some pix recently of some campers made crossing Canada with what looked like a Escape 5.0 5th wheel trailer..., but it had a single axle. I was wondering if the original 5s were singles or was the trailer mis-named in the caption
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Old 01-05-2020, 09:37 AM   #2
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The originals were based off the 17'er and had a single axle.

Here's a link to it's Owners Manual download. Has a few pics of the unit.
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/do...?do=file&id=48
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Old 01-05-2020, 09:49 AM   #3
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Not so Big Al and wife Donna purchased the last, new single-axle 5.0. Picked it up mid-April 2014. All 5th wheel builds after that are tandem-axle 5.0TAs.
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Old 01-05-2020, 01:02 PM   #4
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5.0 single

Yah but Donna what was the serial number? Just kidding. About the only time I’ve seen a single axle is at rally. I did see one in Glacier a few years back but they were headed home from Osoyoos just like we were. Hope you’re getting ready for an exciting camping season.
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Old 01-06-2020, 07:31 PM   #5
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Are there advantages to the single axle design?
Besides weight.
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Old 01-06-2020, 07:33 PM   #6
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Cheaper to buy tires.
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Old 01-06-2020, 08:03 PM   #7
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Are there advantages to the single axle design?
Besides weight.
if there's less than 3500 lbs axle weight, then a single is all you need. While tandems help the stability of a bumper pull, I'm not sure they make much difference on a small/light 5th wheel.
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Old 01-06-2020, 08:13 PM   #8
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Less tire scrub with a single axle in very tight turns.
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Old 01-06-2020, 08:13 PM   #9
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You can turn a single axle on a dime.
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Old 01-06-2020, 09:34 PM   #10
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There is always the market to consider. If consumers think that tandem axles are safer, so that's what they want, who's to argue? Give them tandem axles.
Maintenance of bearings, brakes and tires are double, but why mention that?
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Old 01-07-2020, 01:38 AM   #11
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There is always the market to consider. If consumers think that tandem axles are safer, so that's what they want, who's to argue? Give them tandem axles.
Maintenance of bearings, brakes and tires are double, but why mention that?
Well from personal experience, our new 2019 5.0TA had a wheel bearing failure at about 9,000 miles while traveling 65 MPH on interstate 84 in Idaho last October. I was very glad for the tandem axle as I was in the left lane at the time and it took a bit to get over to the right shoulder.

Once the local Deputy arrived to give me some margin of safety with his flashing lights behind me, I drove up on my Anderson leveler under the good wheel, removed the damaged wheel. Then with Deputy escort we were able to drive at 45 MPH the 6 miles to an RV repair shop with only one wheel on the driver’s side. (Credit goes to my wife Paula for the idea of calling for traffic control assistance.)

By the way, the failed axle was a one-off manufacturing defect and Dexter Axles covered it under warranty no problem. (Not counting the inconvenience of making a return trip to retrieve our repaired trailer 3 weeks later!) Rest assured, this is not at all a common occurrence with Escape trailers.

So, bottom line, real world experience says tandem axles are indeed safer.
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Old 01-07-2020, 10:45 AM   #12
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We researched the tandem vs single axle issue for some time before we decided to move to the tandem 19. Overwhelmingly concluded there is an increased safety margin with a tandem, based on the information that is available on the subject and talking with OTR truckers about it.
Does that mean a single axle trailer is unsafe? Absolutely not. Just means there is an increased safety margin with the tandem. Since this is our retirement trailer, that was a big factor in our decision. Ain’t getting any younger, and as the skills erode we wanted to go with the less risk if something were to happen.
Like Arnie and Paula we have experienced a real life blow out situation. Non-event on the 19, but would not have been with a single axle. Assuming you get safely pulled over, with a single you have to change the tire on a busy interstate which is high risk. With the 19 I just continued the 3 miles into storage and took care of it in a safe environment.
Putting new tires on a single is still cheaper, however.
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Old 01-07-2020, 05:40 PM   #13
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About the only time I’ve seen a single axle is at rally.
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But I'm sure you saw one in your driveway once
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Old 01-07-2020, 05:46 PM   #14
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We were very happy with our single axle 5.0 but just decided we would like more room, especially for passing each other in the trailer, and extra height above the bed. In our 2007 we didn't even have an escape hatch in the roof so would have been pretty scary if there was a fire in the back of trailer and we'd need to get to the door to exit.

Yes tires were cheaper. I bought two Endurance for the 5.0 and since it was jacked up for the winter just removed the tires and took to Goodyear. Last year bought four new Endurance for the 5.0TA. At least Dave helped me get a good deal in the U.S. at his dealer.
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Old 01-07-2020, 06:03 PM   #15
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Rally

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But I'm sure you saw one in your driveway once
That was a rally, you were the only attendee and we were the host.
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Old 01-07-2020, 06:48 PM   #16
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I have a 2012 5.0 single axle and bought it when Reace mentioned to me that he was going to discontinue the single axle. My fully loaded weight for a 4 to 6 week trip is less than the dry weight of the tandem. You can also jackknife it into the smallest of campsites, it's easier to get the 5.0 into a small campsite than the 17B I had previously. Pulls like a dream also.
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Old 01-08-2020, 09:48 AM   #17
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We were very happy with our single axle 5.0 but just decided we would like more room, especially for passing each other in the trailer, and extra height above the bed. In our 2007 we didn't even have an escape hatch in the roof so would have been pretty scary if there was a fire in the back of trailer and we'd need to get to the door to exit.

Yes tires were cheaper. I bought two Endurance for the 5.0 and since it was jacked up for the winter just removed the tires and took to Goodyear. Last year bought four new Endurance for the 5.0TA. At least Dave helped me get a good deal in the U.S. at his dealer.
Hi: emers382... We've had both a 5.0 and now a 5.0TA. Never had a flat with the 5.0 but we did with the 5.0TA!!! Tire guy down south said probably the first tire set the drywall screw up for the second one to pick it up. Go figure!!! Alf
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Old 01-08-2020, 01:02 PM   #18
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Hi: emers382... We've had both a 5.0 and now a 5.0TA.
I have to wonder if Adrian was even aware you had owned both.
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Old 01-08-2020, 05:47 PM   #19
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I have to wonder if Adrian was even aware you had owned both.
You mean Alf had a 5.0! Oh, right that must have been the one at the Iowa Dave home rally.

And I wonder if Dave knows that AZJack had both a 19 and a 21.
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Old 01-08-2020, 05:55 PM   #20
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And I wonder if Dave knows that AZJack had both a 19 and a 21.
Wow, and Dave has had that same combo too. Coincidental? [emoji23]
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