Escape 5.0 TA Frame looks off center

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

Then there's the short specification: "Hammer it in place, and paint to fit."
Or the long specification: "Cut to size; beat to fit; paint to match; in the field!"

Said nobody who worked for me.

[mizterwizard]

I used to work for Guerdon Industries building mobile homes. The consensus there was to just get it together and then let the people in final inspection make it work. Guerdon was supposed to be one of the top manufacturers as far as quality goes but I never saw a trailer that didn't have some defects.

I don't know how people think that anything is defect free. Shoot, just look at the space shuttle. Billions of dollars and they still had serious problems. Or look at Concord. All of that money invested and it never even came close to making a profit.

Life isn't about perfection. It's about good enough and the 5.0 TA is good enough.

[Donna D.]

I have a 1st gen 5.0TA. I've been under the loft many times with water and a wash mitt. I was MOST concerned with keeping water from running over my head and down my neck. My recent Big Trip of 10,000 miles with zero tire problems and NOW I find out the nose of my trailer may look like boxer with a broken nose? Crap. I guess I shouldn't have made so many great memories or my trailer shouldn't have performed nearly flawlessly. Really? Dang, I guess I should delete those photos... they're not perfect either.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

... the nose of my trailer may look like boxer with a broken nose? Crap.

Love the analogy. [emoji23]

[mizterwizard]

I just realize that Scarlet Johansson isn't beautiful after all because here face isn't symmetrical. One of her eyes is a little higher than the other.

The only problem is that I can't decide if maybe one side of her face is still beautiful on its own and if so, which one? Boy, just when I thought I had life pretty much figured out something like this comes along and I have to start all over again.

I guess I'll have to spend some time looking at Scarlet Johansson pictures to see if I can sort this thing out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr3HDF2xgUs

[Viajante]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Have you contacted Escape about this? That is a full inch off center.
Though I doubt there would be any problem with it, I know it would drive me crazy, and I would want it fixed.

Is this still true or not?

[cpaharley2008]

Caulk and toothpaste was always my favorite "close enough for guvmint work"

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Viajante

Is this still true or not?

Good question.

I'm good now after Reace's explanation. At first I wrongly assumed the shell was on the frame askew. Nothing can now be done, and I accept this wee flaw, it just is not worth worrying about for me. Life throws way worse issues at me to deal with, so I am not going to lose sleep over something like this that affects nothing. (again I refer to my signature, I truly believe it to be true)

As mentioned in other posts, I really can't even see it and can only tell by measuring, though for some reason the offset is half that off the OP's.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

The quote in my signature says it all.

This is so very true. I find it comical that there are a few who get upset because there's a lot of us that choose to feed our joy rather than feed our anger.

[Viajante]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

As mentioned in other posts, I really can't even see it and can only tell by measuring, though for some reason the offset is half that off the OP's.

My expectation is that ETI is going to pay closer attention to aligning the body on the frame so that the offset is a half inch or less. Too bad the original poster got what appears to be one that is the most off center and is noticeable.

ETI's product and awareness of customer expectations will become better if they are made aware things like this. There is another recent thread about what to look for in a final inspection. That thread, started by a moderator, I think, sounds in comparison like a total vote of no confidence in ETI's quality control. But I'll bet that ETI will pay attention to the items on that list knowing they will be checked as purchasers descend on the factory with water tubes to verify propane pressure.

[Viajante]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

This is so very true. I find it comical that there are a few who get upset because there's a lot of us that choose to feed our joy rather than feed our anger.

Yes, it does appear that there are a few that feed their anger by feeding on anyone who strays from the path.

[Chotch]

Originally Posted by Tin

Thanks Reace
I was starting to think you may not respond, good for you. I fully understand both the design issues you describe and the crookedness of the mold ( I personally would have never signed off on the mold ). kinda put you between a rock and a hard place. You may want to spend a little time and check your Jig or spend a little time with your crew as some 5.0 our coming off the line over one inch off and others only 1/2" off.

🤔 Im wondering exactly how you would have measured this imperfection in the mold before signing off on it. Just guessing here, the imperfection probably was not seen until the shell was mounted to the frame. It’s a hand built mold, not a CNC precision cut. People here have owned their trailers and used them for years in some cases and didn’t even notice. This “imperfection” does nothing functionally and is almost cosmetically impercievable. You could pay twice as much for a trailer and still find problems. It’s tough being a perfectionist in an imperfect world.

I bought my 5.0 TA because I thought it was a well made, unique product that was a good value for the price. This “Tempest in a teapot “ has in now way changed my mind. Personally I can’t wait for my next outing. crooked trailer and all. 😎

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Chotch

Personally I can’t wait for my next outing. crooked trailer and all. 😎

Just the boxer nose Cliff, not the whole trailer.

[Chotch]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Just the boxer nose Cliff, not the whole trailer.

😎 I’d like to think of it as character 😂

[trainman]

Originally Posted by Viajante

My expectation is that ETI is going to pay closer attention to aligning the body on the frame so that the offset is a half inch or less. Too bad the original poster got what appears to be one that is the most off center and is noticeable.

ETI's product and awareness of customer expectations will become better if they are made aware things like this. There is another recent thread about what to look for in a final inspection. That thread, started by a moderator, I think, sounds in comparison like a total vote of no confidence in ETI's quality control. But I'll bet that ETI will pay attention to the items on that list knowing they will be checked as purchasers descend on the factory with water tubes to verify propane pressure.

Frame and Body aliments will have to be done at the time the body joins the frame, not at final inspection. I would assume that there is some leeway when to body is set on the frame, if not one or the other is going to have to be corrected. A re-measure of the frame and body should tell where they are off, I think a $100,000 laser system should do the job. Escape is going to have to address this as word is out and now many will be bring their tape measures to there delivery day for inspection. It maybe as easy as a frame jig correction and it's not going to make the trailer go down the road crooked or pull sideways.


trainman

[Chotch]

Originally Posted by trainman

Frame and Body aliments will have to be done at the time the body joins the frame, not at final inspection. I would assume that there is some leeway when to body is set on the frame, if not one or the other is going to have to be corrected. A re-measure of the frame and body should tell where they are off, I think a $100,000 laser system should do the job. Escape is going to have to address this as word is out and now many will be bring their tape measures to there delivery day for inspection. It maybe as easy as a frame jig correction and it's not going to make the trailer go down the road crooked or pull sideways.


trainman

😂 Seriously

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by trainman

Frame and Body aliments will have to be done at the time the body joins the frame, not at final inspection. I would assume that there is some leeway when to body is set on the frame, if not one or the other is going to have to be corrected. A re-measure of the frame and body should tell where they are off, I think a $100,000 laser system should do the job. Escape is going to have to address this as word is out and now many will be bring their tape measures to there delivery day for inspection. It maybe as easy as a frame jig correction and it's not going to make the trailer go down the road crooked or pull sideways.


trainman

It's not that the body is crooked on the frame, it's that the nose section is slightly crooked and Reace explained why it's that way. No jig or fancy laser system is going to fix it. A new mold would have to be made and the propane and plumbing rerouted.


For those that forgot, here's Reace's explanation, direct link: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...tml#post269452

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

It's not that the body is crooked on the frame, it's that the nose section is slightly crooked and Reace explained why it's that way. No jig or fancy laser system is going to fix it. A new mold would have to be made and the propane and plumbing rerouted.


For those that forgot, here's Reace's explanation, direct link: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...tml#post269452

Exactly!!!


(Aside: since "asymmetric faces" were brought up: Typically, if you're right-handed, the right side of your face is a little larger, rt. eye and ear are higher, and sometimes the right hand and foot are larger. Conversely for left-handers (those of us in our right minds!). So, the question is, are Escapes right or left handed trailers?)

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

Exactly!!!


(Aside: since "asymmetric faces" were brought up: Typically, if you're right-handed, the right side of your face is a little larger, rt. eye and ear are higher, and sometimes the right hand and foot are larger. Conversely for left-handers (those of us in our right minds!). So, the question is, are Escapes right or left handed trailers?)

Hi: dfandrews... I don't know about trailers... but we did have a "Left handed" kitchen. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[trainman]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

It's not that the body is crooked on the frame, it's that the nose section is slightly crooked and Reace explained why it's that way. No jig or fancy laser system is going to fix it. A new mold would have to be made and the propane and plumbing rerouted.


For those that forgot, here's Reace's explanation, direct link: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...tml#post269452

True, a Laser can not fix any miss-alignments, frame or body, it can only tell you where your measuring points are and how they read. So if you have a miss-built mold, then you get to live with it, right. All being said, the topic has run its course and were just rehashing it over and over. I guess I will just keep throwing my 2 cents to keep it going with everyone else. I can't say this would stop me from buying a 5.0, but I would look closely at some before making that decision.


trainman