Escape vs. Airstream

[cpaharley2008]

I have had several Harleys, some very customized with a lot of chrome. Spending hours polishing up the wheels and motor while other's were riding drove me nuts. My last Harley had flat black paint, never needed waxing. Airstreams are high maintenance in regards to keeping them shiny, fiberglass trailers are low maintenance.

[Sandra L]

Ruthe have you requested any outside hatch doors? Since mine is a 17B, and I am not too familiar with the layout of the 19, it appears that an exterior hatch could be placed. I had hatches placed on the passenger rear side, and on both sides of the front. (The box was not available then.)
I have found mine so handy as I keep the outside hook-up stuff within reach.

[Ruthe]

Sandra, it's too late now. I remember talking about this with Kim and we decided not to. The hatch in the airstream was a slim compartment that didn't actually go into the inside of the trailer. It was just large enough for some tools.

[Donna D.]

I thought the hatch on the rear door side was standard on the 19? Someone here enlarged it too. Maybe Jim Bennett?

[Ruthe]

Donna, the hatch is standard -- I was talking about something else -- maybe the word hatch was incorrect. I was talking about a compartment that wouldn't actually go inside the trailer.

[cpaharley2008]

I think Ruthe is referring to the rear bumper storage where tools or sewer hoses can be stored, standard on some Airstreams. Escapes have a comparable, the front storage box option.

[Donna D.]

oooh now I understand. More like a cargo "box."

[cpaharley2008]

Here is a picture

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I thought the hatch on the rear door side was standard on the 19? Someone here enlarged it too. Maybe Jim Bennett?

I did put a larger hatch door on, about twice the size (area wise). It is not as doable with the newer 19's, as the awning supports are moved forward. I sure do like the new access a whole bunch better.

[Jim Bennett]

I have to wonder too how easy it is to do your own mods on an Airstream, as compared to the fiberglass shell of the Escape.

[cpaharley2008]

With the new 21', the street side hatch can easily be widened, where did you get yours Jim?

[Jim Bennett]

A place Reace recommended, Vision Manufacturying in Summerland, BC. Way better price than what I had found online.

[cpaharley2008]

What are the dimensions of the newer opening, if you remember? Would that be a 12x36 hatch vs 12x24 stock?

[Dave&Kathie]

Ruthe and all,

We went through the same thing when we were first looking about ten years ago. The beds on the smaller Airstreams are just too small, plus the extra weight and cost. I also cruised Air Forum for a while where they posted threads on problems with each new model year as they came out. The lists were often quite extensive. Then we were camping at Klamath Lake in Southern Oregon and a Scamp pulled in. We'd never seen or heard of a molded fiberglass trailer. We ended up with a Casita FD - had a blast with it, recently retired and were feeling a little cramped on longer trips, along came Reace and Tammy to Bandon with the 21 and the rest, as they say, is history.

Happy trails,
Kathie

[Bruce Wray]

Jim - I added the same hatch to my '09 19. The stock hatch was 16x9", and the new was 30x10". One of the best mods I've made to mine.

Bruce

[PAB4]

You can' beat the customer service for the Escape

[ChuckS]

I owned a 25ft Trade Wind Airstream a few years ago it was a 1975. It compares more to Bigfoot than Escape. The new Escape 21 in quality is number 1 in Molded Fiberglass Trailers. And now that Thor. makes Airstream it looks nice and is expensive it can not compare to Molded Fiberglass.
Chuck

[azjack]

Our niece has her Basecamp parked next to our 17B Escape and that is one good looking trailer with all the bells and whistles. But we wouldn't want one based on price, storage space and room. We used to own a 25' Airstream and liked it very much, it was built during the first(?) gas crunch and it was very light with the unusual roll top desk type of doors and it looked good behind my hot rod dually that had a lot of aluminum. We'll stick with Escape as we're leaving Monday for Sonora, CA so we can see what rain is like and our trailer needs washed .
Jack

[Jake930]

I have been considering Airstream just for the extra room. But at this time I am at an RV Park with 2 Airstreams as neighbors. One is a 20 ft and a 25 ft. After talking with the owners I’m gonna pass. Both mentioned leaks, rivet replacement, and oxidation problems, plus they can condensate if you don’t stay on top of things the same as our escapes. So I figured why spend 30 to 60,000 more for something with more problems. Now if we could only convince Reace to make that 23 ft 5th wheel. (5.0 TA 23) the one with the rear u- shaped dinette that breaks down into a full queen bed. Just my wish list.

[gwvwadc]

When we were thinking about moving up from the Casita, we considered the Escape 21 and the 19' Airstream. My wife really thought she wanted the Airstream.
So......... We went and looked at the Airstream. Even looked at one that pulled into a campground we were in.
Well.... After those visits, we decided it was WAY too much money, the interior looked like an operating room and I had read too many comments about the quality.
PLUS... I am a little OCD and just knew the first little ding that showed up on the skin would drive me up the wall!
After having our 21' for four weeks and STILL on our way home to Tennessee, we can honestly say that we are truly in love with the fit, finish and quality - not to mention all the room!
AND....... Finally - the Escape was 1/2 the price of the "base" Airstream - even with all the goodies we added to the build sheet.