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Old 09-25-2014, 07:46 PM   #21
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Jim, when you started in with the shock mounts for the Casitas and Rease was "talking" about the 5.0TA and springs + torsion axles, I shared your contact information with ETI. It may end up being an "owner mod," but I'm betting you'll get plenty of interest!
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Old 09-25-2014, 07:47 PM   #22
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I'm here now and its all Donna's fault.
It usually is.

Welcome, Jim.
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Old 09-25-2014, 07:48 PM   #23
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Quote:
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It usually is.

Welcome, Jim.
Jim, you are a BRAT
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Old 09-25-2014, 09:30 PM   #24
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A quick Hello from Jim @ Orbital.
I'm here now and its all Donna's fault.
Cheers, Jim
Hi Jim! Glad you passed the stringent requirements to join the Forum!

I would be happy to purchase and beta test your shocks.

Mel
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Old 09-26-2014, 07:59 AM   #25
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me too

I would be interested as well!
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Old 09-26-2014, 09:27 PM   #26
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I'm sure I typed this last night but I dont see it anywhere so I'll try again..

Are there any Escapes in the Dallas area that we could crawl under?
Are any Escapes going to the Pineknot (TX) rally next month?
Where can I find the specs on the axles used on Escapes?

Thanks,

Jim
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Old 09-26-2014, 09:45 PM   #27
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Hi Jim,
Sorry not in Dallas but in San Antonio. My next rally is Matagorda in December but you can probably find one in the Dallas area before that. Ranger Duke will probably be at Pine Knot.

Steve
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Old 09-26-2014, 10:42 PM   #28
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I'm sure I typed this last night but I dont see it anywhere so I'll try again..

Are there any Escapes in the Dallas area that we could crawl under?
Are any Escapes going to the Pineknot (TX) rally next month?
Where can I find the specs on the axles used on Escapes?

Thanks,

Jim
Dexter torsion on all but the new 5.0TA.

2500# axles on the 19 - see the ETI website for the other trailers: The 19 Foot Escape
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Old 09-27-2014, 12:17 AM   #29
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The Dexter rubber-torsion-type axles are Torflex #10. The 19' and 21' have cut-down rubber to adjust their spring stiffness to be appropriate, but externally they are all the same except for width to match the frame & body. The brackets have the mounting face inward to meet the mounting plates Escape welds to the inside faces of the frame. Frame width is 1.5" wide by 3" high on 17' and smaller (plus the original 5.0 and early 19'), and 2" wide by 4" high on 19' and 21' (and the leaf-spring equipped 5.0TA).

All Escapes have electric drum brakes (which is relevant to the lower shock mount method - they all have brake mounting flanges).

The remaining specs to check on the Torflex angle that would be relevant to shock mounting include:
  • bracket style (low profile or high rise)
  • overhang beyond frame
  • start angle of arm

Also, a "high lift axle" option is offered on at least the 15' and 17'. I haven't seen one, but I think it is a spacer between the frame and axle, which would increase the distance between bottom and top shock mounts by whatever the lift amount is.
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Old 09-27-2014, 12:29 AM   #30
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The 5.0TA has tandem Dexter axles (presumably D35) with a Dexter E-Z Flex rubber-cushioned equalizer rocker. This suspension can be set to different heights (to suit the tow vehicle clearance required), but I have not heard whether the different is dropped versus straight axles or (more likely) spring-under versus spring-over mounting. In any case, the readily available Dexter shock kit should work for those willing to weld upper mounting tabs on the frame.

I used the Monroe Trailer Retrofit Kit on a similar axle and frame under a different brand of trailer; it is installed by drilling holes in the frame and bolting on.
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Old 10-02-2014, 11:50 AM   #31
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Need to confirm replacement parts -- Me too

We were recently traveling some NV "county roads", aka washboards made of gravel, with our 17B and the fridge door of the 4.3 Dometic came off. On the way down it took off the cabinet doors under the sink. I need to replace the hinges but need to confirm the part numbers. I did try some from my local hardware store and although the hole spacings matched, the other key dimensions didn't.

My question:
Is the hinge used on the cabinets an RV Designer, p/n H240? I want to confirm this before online ordering.

BTW, I've had to fix the Dometic fridge a couple of times, each fix/mod more extensive than the last. The plastic latch just can't handle the G loads. I have done the same method of strapping as the pix here show but used a velcro and elastic strap. That is to be replaced by 1" nylon and polycarb buckles.
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Old 12-05-2014, 06:35 AM   #32
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Just a quick update.
We are not ignoring you fine folks and are finally at a point where we can start working towards a bolt on shock kit for the Escapes that use the Dexter #10 Torflex axle.
We did crawl under one at Pinekot but seem to have lost our photos from that event. Are there any Escapes in the Dallas area we could look at?

Thanks,

Jim
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Old 12-05-2014, 06:51 AM   #33
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That would be a nice addition, shocks to our Escapes.
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Old 12-05-2014, 10:51 PM   #34
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Another Boon docker considering shocks

When I toured the factory I asked Reace about adding shocks, but they didn't have this option. We go down some very rough roads and as slow as possible, but there are always surprises. We had shocks installed on our previous stick trailer for this reason.

Bob K
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Old 12-06-2014, 12:44 AM   #35
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Shocks would be great, I travel a lot of dirt roads in my area. The suspension set up on the new Oliver trailers looks really nice!
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Old 12-06-2014, 05:41 AM   #36
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We are in Flower Mound, have a 21 and would be glad for you to look at it it that would help.
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Old 12-06-2014, 05:46 AM   #37
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Perfect. I'll contact you by private message tomorrow.
Thank you

Jim
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Old 12-08-2014, 07:25 PM   #38
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..and thanks to floorpanel we now have notes,measurements and pictures.
We need to chew on it for a bit - but it looks possible.
Thanks,

Jim
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Old 12-19-2014, 11:47 AM   #39
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To answer my own question wrt hinges, yes, the H240 hinge is a proper replacement. These can be gotten from Camping World.
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Old 01-07-2015, 10:49 PM   #40
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Shocks for Escape 21

Quote:
Originally Posted by widgetwizard View Post
..and thanks to floorpanel we now have notes,measurements and pictures.
We need to chew on it for a bit - but it looks possible.
Thanks,

Jim
Any progress on this? We just received notice that we need to firm up our build sheet before March 1st.

Also I have a couple of questions about the rubber torsion axles on the Escape 21.

1. Is the range of vertical motion for a wheel with this rubber torsion axle any more or less than if the axle was on springs?

2. Is there any chance that adding shocks might result in too stiff a response to big bumps and potholes?

Bob K
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