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03-04-2019, 05:00 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Front Range, Colorado
Trailer: ?
Posts: 739
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Lil Snoozy shuts down
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03-04-2019, 05:57 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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Oh MY STARS. I know Lil Snoozy wanted a substantial down payment MONTHS before the build. I hope for those that wanted a trailer, THAT money went into a trust account. How very sad, the trailer had some features that were desirable for a lot of people looking for that layout and build type.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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03-04-2019, 06:26 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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One comment in the FiberglassRV discussion cautioned against speculation about the shutdown, and that makes sense to me. On the other hand, their website is down...
According to another FiberglassRV discussion, deposits were as high as 40% and as far ahead as 20 months. I can see that much backlog, but a huge deposit at order time is ridiculous, and should have been a red flag. If they were having to pay suppliers that far ahead, they would have had major components (the chassis? the shell?) sitting around for many months, which is nonsensical.
If the deposit money were going into a trust account, they wouldn't have needed large deposits. Even if it went to suppliers just in advance of those suppliers building components, the cash won't be coming back to be refunded. I think it's safe to assume that all that money went to paying the bills, and anyone who paid a deposit will get nothing back. It's like taking out loans, and using that money to pay off other debts: doomed to failure.
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03-04-2019, 07:17 PM
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#4
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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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It is a nice trailer. I don't care for an all electric rig or a cassette toilet, but still, a well made rig. I was always skeptical though about the huge down payments and the extremely long build times. Major red flag for me, although that may not be related to the reason they closed.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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03-04-2019, 08:06 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Trailer: Escape 1721
Posts: 223
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So that's two that have shut down within the past 3 months, Parkliner and Lil Snoozy. Sad to see.
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03-04-2019, 08:52 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Bend, Oregon
Trailer: Cycle Kamp motorcycle trailer
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rotateclockwise
So that's two that have shut down within the past 3 months, Parkliner and Lil Snoozy. Sad to see.
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Don’t forget Hymer North America went under, leaving Roadtrek motorhomes and buyers of their new Hymer Touring GT fiberglass trailer without any warranty or parts support. There have been some horror stories on what’s been happening with their scandal!
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03-04-2019, 08:56 PM
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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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Most everything that is in the trailer is covered by individual manufacturer's warranty so that will be fine for parts and service, if you have yours. However, if you don't get the trailer, that's a problem.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-04-2019, 11:12 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 2,716
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That must be a real blow to all that had one on order or wanted one.
Now that the Lil Snoozy’s web site is gone, I will share a screen shot of the home page for the record.
A few months ago I was collecting information to do a fiberglass trailer comparison between single axle units...until they started dropping like flys.
I know it is like comparing apples and oranges but you can see the base price of 23,650 US when converted to Canadian dollars is much more than the 17...almost that of the 19. That is with no propane system or awning for starts.
It is unfortunate for the companies that have past but I can see stronger sales for the Escape 17 and 19.
I also attached a picture of the Hymer home page as well for the record.
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03-05-2019, 06:19 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: alpharetta, Georgia
Trailer: 2014 21' Escape
Posts: 494
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I feel most sorry for the many people who I don't think will ever get their money back. This looks and sounds like a classic case of a bad run business that finally caught up with itself. I wonder how many creditors they owe and when they tell you contact this lawyer NEVER GOOD.
Yes the camping/trailer RV market has been growing last few years, but fiberglass trailers no matter what brand are still more rare then you would think. Last week I had to drive up and down 75 from N. of Atlanta to Tifton, a very popular route, I did this twice so a total of about 650 miles and I saw one Casita and one Scamp 5th wheel. This makes selling in this niche market tough I would think.
One thing about stick built is yes many name brands but most are built by a hand full of companies that market those brands, you don't see that in the fiberglass market.
Really do hope everyone gets their money back and then they use that to buy an Escape.
Enjoy the journey.
Steve
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03-05-2019, 06:42 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lanesboro, MN, between Whalan and Fountain, Minnesota
Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ - (2018 Escape 5.0 sold)
Posts: 2,154
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Little Snoozy wesite on August 4, 2018, stored on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
Enjoy,
Perry
__________________
Those who know everything use pens. Intelligent people use pencils.
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03-05-2019, 08:34 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Karmantra
Don’t forget Hymer North America went under, leaving Roadtrek motorhomes and buyers of their new Hymer Touring GT fiberglass trailer without any warranty or parts support. There have been some horror stories on what’s been happening with their scandal!
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Too, Parkliner shut down last year. That sounds like a long time ago, but it really was only about 6-7 months.
I'm reading some real horror stories about Trillium RV, builds out of Canada, on Facebook. Sounds like the quality is all over the place, no consistency and parts that are ordered/paid for and are never delivered.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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03-05-2019, 10:10 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Tehachapi, California
Trailer: none
Posts: 515
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Well, to put a good spin on it, this will probably benefit the remaining fiberglass manufacturer's, yes?
__________________
Greg
Formerly owned a 2007 24' HiLo/ 2003 Tahoe combo. Interested in the 5.0TA
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03-05-2019, 10:47 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: WI, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 465
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hilola
Well, to put a good spin on it, this will probably benefit the remaining fiberglass manufacturer's, yes?
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True, however competition helps drive innovation (and potentially keep prices in check) which helps the customer.
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03-05-2019, 02:28 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Front Range, Colorado
Trailer: ?
Posts: 739
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"I feel most sorry for the many people who I don't think will ever get their money back."
Those that made non-refundable deposits most likely stand as unsecured creditors in bankruptcy.
That puts them at the end of the line when money is being passed out.
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03-05-2019, 02:29 PM
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#15
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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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It's no easy task to start and maintain an RV business, or to expand it to meet demand if and when your product takes off. It's also sort of a testament to how Escape runs their business. While some others are folding, they're expanding.
The way they run their business, the testimonials, and their reputation in the industry were huge factors for us in making our decision. It wasn't just the trailer.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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03-05-2019, 02:32 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
I'm reading some real horror stories about Trillium RV, builds out of Canada, on Facebook.
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"Trillium RV" is the name that Tom Young used for his multiple (all eventually failed) attempts to build trailers.
The currently struggling company in Canada building Trillium-style trailers is Team Trillium Manufacturing, and the trailer model name is "Outback".
There is no connection between Trillium RV and Team Trillium, other than that both copied the original Trillium 1300 design and used (to different extents) the name "Trillium".
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03-05-2019, 04:07 PM
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#17
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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: 8,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
Too, Parkliner shut down last year. That sounds like a long time ago, but it really was only about 6-7 months.
I'm reading some real horror stories about Trillium RV, builds out of Canada, on Facebook. Sounds like the quality is all over the place, no consistency and parts that are ordered/paid for and are never delivered.
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Hi: Donna D... Great West Van Conversions took over the Sidekick Fiberglass trailer styled like the Trillium. They moved to Alabama I think when Winnipeg froze and folded some time later. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie "Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt".
__________________
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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03-05-2019, 04:17 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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Quote:
Originally Posted by escape artist
Hi: Donna D... Great West Van Conversions took over the Sidekick Fiberglass trailer styled like the Trillium. They moved to Alabama I think when Winnipeg froze and folded some time later. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie "Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt".
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Yeah, Happier Camper bought some of the molds at the auction. Either for the 4500 or the 5500, or maybe both. They were supposed to bring a prototype to the Boler 50th, but that didn't work out time wise. So it's still wait and see.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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03-05-2019, 04:25 PM
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#19
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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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Sidekick's Alabama operation also closed.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-05-2019, 05:32 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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The Sidekick was the final version of Tom Young's Trillium RV efforts. There were 1300 (13') and 4500 (4.5 m or 15') models; I never heard of a 5500 (5.5m) model from anyone some the original Trillium company of decades ago.
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