New Hatch for Escape 19 - 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 Tech > Modifications and Alterations
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-29-2010, 10:55 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
New Hatch for Escape 19

I finally got a replacement hatch for my Escape 19. I had trouble seeing things through the old one, and our chairs were really tight getting in and out.

I ordered the new hatch from Vision Manufacturing, which is a sister company of Sun-view Industries. Reace suggested I talk to them after I told him of my intentions. I had searched and found a couple places that quoted me prices of around $200 USD plus shipping. I got the one I used from Vision for $142 CDN shipping included.

The size of the new unit, based on the hole needed in the trailer wall is 30 1/2" x 10 1/2", whereas the existing one was 18" x 9". This is exactly twice the area. I tell you though, it seems like more. I have a great view of the contents, and way more room get stuff in and out.

It was a very easy project to do, and took me less than 2 hours to complete all the work. Well worth it in my mind.

Here are a some before and after shots of it closed.





And a couple open. Excuse the mess inside, I just pushed stuff out of the way to do the work. Cleaning it out is today's project.
As using it with the door opening up was a real pain, I decided to hinge it at the bottom. It easily clears the ground, so I am not too worried about damaging it.





I used clamps to hold the new door in place as I leveled it and marked for the cutout.



All marked and ready to cut. I would have like to have the hatch a little more to the rear, but I was bound to this location in order to include the cutout for the previous location for the exterior 110V receptacle.



The hatch cutout is now complete. I used a jigsaw for most of it, but needed the Dremmel tool for the top due to the proximity of the moulded part on the trailer side. I then used some sandpaper to take the sharpness off the edges. I also cut a new location for the receptacle.

I used a high quality clear marine adhesive to seal the flange to the trailer, and fastened it with a bunch of 3/16" rivets.

__________________
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 08-29-2010, 11:28 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 489
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Nice job...great mod! Were the wires to the 110 receptacle accessible from inside the compartment or did you have to get to them another way?

Dave

nm: after studying your pictures a bit, I answered my own question. Again, that's a great addition.

__________________
There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Garand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 11:32 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Thanks Dave. The wires came from the right inside, so there was no issue at all moving the box. I was able to leave it all wired when I moved the box. The type used just has clamps that screw tight from behind to hold it fast to the fiberglass shell, and I just had to remove them to move the box.

I posted before you edited.
__________________
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 08-29-2010, 11:48 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Harold Kroeker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Trailer: 2011 Escape 19
Posts: 111
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Nicely done Jim!
One of my concerns with the stock hatch was how to get larger things into, and out of, the under bed storage area without removing the bed mattress. Bulky but light things, like lawn chairs, are exactly the sort of thing that should be carried behind the trailer axle. You have found an elegant solution.
I will be asking Reece to install the oversize hatch when he builds my Escape 19.
__________________
2011 Escape 19
Harold Kroeker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 11:49 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 489
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

btw Jim, if you post two more times, you'll have exactly ten times as many posts as I do. (Damn, I hate that I notice stuff like that )
__________________
There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Garand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 11:52 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Bruce Wray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Pollock Pines, California
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19
Posts: 453
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Ooh... I now have hatch envy. Great idea, well done.

Bruce
Bruce Wray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 11:54 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Wray
Ooh... I now have hatch envy. Great idea, well done.

Bruce
Bruce, that kinda sounds wrong.
But thanks.
__________________
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 08-29-2010, 12:09 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

This post is for Dave.
__________________
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 08-29-2010, 01:04 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harold Kroeker
Nicely done Jim!
One of my concerns with the stock hatch was how to get larger things into, and out of, the under bed storage area without removing the bed mattress. Bulky but light things, like lawn chairs, are exactly the sort of thing that should be carried behind the trailer axle. You have found an elegant solution.
I will be asking Reece to install the oversize hatch when he builds my Escape 19.
Thanks Harold. I had originally asked for one, amongst the zillion other requests and ideas I was putting by Reace, but it got forgotten in the process. Not a big deal to do it after 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
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 03:41 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Eureka, California
Trailer: 2009 19' Escape
Posts: 225
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

The completed project looks really nice! Thanks for showing us the process photos also.
__________________
Cheryl and Bruce
Eureka, California
cheryls is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 04:11 PM   #11
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
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Now, that is a hole. How long did it take you to muster the courage to make the cut?

baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 04:56 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Now, that is a hole. How long did it take you to muster the courage to make the cut?

baglo
Courage? I was actually very eager to do 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 08-29-2010, 05:40 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
JeffZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 893
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Wholy moly!! That's great job.. and probably a new modification for Reace to put into a new trailer. That hatch is very use-able and look perfect..

Also a great job on the posting of how you did it..
__________________
Former 17ft Plan "B" Escape
Toyota Highlander w/tow pkg


favorite quote: "Put the candle back"
JeffZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 07:32 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Harold Kroeker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Trailer: 2011 Escape 19
Posts: 111
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Jim,

Since you have just demonstrated that you know way more about hatches than you should, I have a question for you.
Is there enough room to use the large hatch door on the front driver’s side of the Escape 19 to provide access to the area under the dinette seat?
__________________
2011 Escape 19
Harold Kroeker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 08:02 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Harold, I have looked at doing a hatch there too. There is not that much room, as the black tank takes up some of the space under the seat. The marker light restricts on the other side. There is just enough space to put in the hatch that I removed. The only problem is, is that the trailer identification label is right there. I would need to get another one made if possible, if I want to do that install.
__________________
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 08-29-2010, 08:35 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Harold Kroeker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Trailer: 2011 Escape 19
Posts: 111
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Jim,
Thanks for the prompt reply. When I was at the Escape factory a few weeks ago, I was offered the option of a hatch for the driver's side dinette but decided against it because there didn't seem to be all that much room to store stuff in there. In retrospect, because it is in front of the axle, it is very valuable space for storing small, heavy items like BAL x-chocks, a shore power chord, a lug wrench, and tools. I would, of course, be sure to put everything in plastic bins of some sort to keep them away from the converter and other wiring. I was told that the awning arm prevents a hatch from being installed on the passenger side of the trailer, which would be another good spot if it was doable.
__________________
2011 Escape 19
Harold Kroeker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2010, 09:22 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

With an interior door on the end of the passenger side dinette seat, at least the first part of it is nicely accessible.
__________________
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 08-29-2010, 10:43 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Harold Kroeker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Trailer: 2011 Escape 19
Posts: 111
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
With an interior door on the end of the passenger side dinette seat, at least the first part of it is nicely accessible.
You are definitely right about that. I had not even considered it until I saw Grasshopper's post that described it, and then immediately added it to my ever growing list of options. I especially like the idea of hinging it on the left so that it is accessible without entering the trailer.
__________________
2011 Escape 19
Harold Kroeker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 04:50 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,034
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Hi: Jim Bennett... Could you have used the same saw that you used on the roof of "HokieEscape" btw Nice work...but fire Molly Maid!!! 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
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2010, 09:10 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Re: New Hatch for Escape 19

Thanks Alf, and yeah....we could use a better cleaning service.
__________________
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
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 01:39 AM.


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