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Old 08-06-2014, 04:34 PM   #1
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Minor birthing pains

I have never posted before and am probably in the wrong area, but here goes anyway.
We picked up our new 19 footer in Chilliwack on June 23 and ended up towing it nearly 4,000 miles before we eventually returned home. We are thoroughly enjoying our new trailer. It is unbelievably roomier and comfortable than our old Casita 17. I was amazed that every system on the trailer worked perfectly -- not a single glitch.
We have had a few minor problems. 1-- the screws for the bottom drawer catch were installed way too close to the rear of the cabinet rail and split out of the rail. This was easily fixed by gluing a backer on the rail and repairing the screw holes.
The second problem was of more importance. Escape advertises this trailer as having a total length of 19' 6" -- IT IS NOT !! It is 20' 2" over all. This doesn't seem like a big deal until you get home and try to put the trailer into a barn that is 19' 9". This problem was remedied by welding up an easily removable spare tire mount. Now I just pull a pin and the spare tire, with the mount, easily comes off the rear of the trailer.
The third problem has not been solved. The bathroom door keeps popping open and bending the hinges. I have twice taken taken the door off and straightened the hinges, but I know it will happen again. Has anyone come up with a good way to secure the door while traveling? Happy Travels, Jan Buhlert -- Jackson, CA
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Old 08-06-2014, 04:49 PM   #2
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Welcome,

I installed a shim under the frame catch to make sure mine latched, as the door catch was barely catching and with a slight push it would open. I can't seem to find it but I believe someone installed a secondary boat style hook on the door to keep it closed.

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Old 08-06-2014, 04:50 PM   #3
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Speaking of minor problems, you need to change your profile. It still reads Freedom 17.
Can't help with the bathroom door since I've not had the problem in six years and many washboard roads. Fridge door has come open however. I use bungee cords for that.
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Old 08-06-2014, 04:51 PM   #4
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Congratulations on the new 19'! And making it through such a big trip right off.

The length would be body length, I assume, since we have measured at 20' 1" including spare.
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Old 08-06-2014, 05:22 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abuhlert View Post
I have never posted before and am probably in the wrong area, but here goes anyway.
You have problem to solve, and looking for help from other owners - looks to me like you're in exactly the right area!

Quote:
Originally Posted by abuhlert View Post
Escape advertises this trailer as having a total length of 19' 6" -- IT IS NOT !! It is 20' 2" over all. This doesn't seem like a big deal until you get home and try to put the trailer into a barn that is 19' 9". This problem was remedied by welding up an easily removable spare tire mount.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Floating Cloud View Post
The length would be body length, I assume, since we have measured at 20' 1" including spare.
The length is supposed to be overall, including the tongue. These two examples are only an inch different, which could easily be measurement error, so it looks like the two owners agree... an Escape 19' is just over 20' long. The "19 foot" description implied by the model name, and the 19' 6" specification, cannot be for just the body, because that should be more than three feet shorter than the overall (the length of the tongue plus the bumper/spare), and indeed the same spec page shows 15' 8" for the body length.

This still leaves why the spec is short by about 7" to 8".... perhaps ETI is measuring from the tip of the coupler to the back of the bumper, and not including the spare? Another possibility: there was a frame change in the 19' model a while ago, increasing the size of the steel tubing used; perhaps the design was actually changed a bit at that time resulting in an increase in the length, and an update in the ETI specs is needed?

The removable spare sounds like a great solution to me, so I guess you don't need any more help with that one. Sorry, I don't have experience with the bathroom door situation to help there.
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Old 08-06-2014, 06:51 PM   #6
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Bath door travel lock.
Not real Pretty but it works.

Amazon.com : Safety 1st Adjustable Multi-Purpose Strap 2 Staps Décor : Baby
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Old 08-06-2014, 07:20 PM   #7
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I put one of those on my refer, JIC
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Old 08-06-2014, 07:45 PM   #8
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Here's my low-tech version. I drilled a 1/4" hole through the latch handle.
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Old 08-06-2014, 07:58 PM   #9
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We had to shim out the catch on the door frame with some
Small washers for the same problem . It's a big piece of wood with small
Tolerance for proper operation . I humidity change is all
It takes
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Old 08-06-2014, 09:04 PM   #10
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Brian, I misspoke, meant to the back of the body not including spare. I know the body is 15'8".
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Old 08-06-2014, 09:38 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Parker View Post
Here's my low-tech version. I drilled a 1/4" hole through the latch handle.
Very clever and simple!
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Old 08-06-2014, 09:42 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Floating Cloud View Post
Brian, I misspoke, meant to the back of the body not including spare. I know the body is 15'8".
That makes sense!
Would 19' 6" from the front reach the back of the body, or the back of the bumper?
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Old 08-06-2014, 09:43 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
That makes sense!
Would 19' 6" from the front reach the back of the body, or the back of the bumper?
OR... at the back edge of the spare tire? The spare on my 5.0TA sticks out a bit beyond the rear bumper.
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Old 08-06-2014, 09:45 PM   #14
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We used a couple of 'footman loops', a strap and buckle to secure both the bathroom and the fridge doors.
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Bath Door strap.jpg   Bath door strap buckle.jpg   Bath Door strap top anchor.jpg   Bath Door strap bottom anchor.jpg   Fridge strap.jpg  

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Old 08-06-2014, 09:58 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by Donna D. View Post
OR... at the back edge of the spare tire? The spare on my 5.0TA sticks out a bit beyond the rear bumper.
That's the problem: we know it's not to the back of the spare, because that's over 20 feet... I'm just wondering what the ETI spec of 19' 6" corresponds to.
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Old 08-06-2014, 10:03 PM   #16
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i understood it was from the front of the hitch to the back of the bumper. I was also told they are measured differently in the US, the measurement is the trailer itself, doesn't include the bumpers
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Old 08-06-2014, 10:40 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
That makes sense!
Would 19' 6" from the front reach the back of the body, or the back of the bumper?
I would certainly think it would include to the back of the bumper but Chapitre says not. I would not include the tire. Again, as on another thread, Reace does not make the tire and that is not an integral part of what he has made and has to give specs on.

If the bumper is not included, then the tire is out for sure because the tire would be in mid-air!

The measurement could be to the back of the body or possibly include the bumper. The tire, yes, would put it over the measurement given.
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Old 08-06-2014, 10:49 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
That's the problem: we know it's not to the back of the spare, because that's over 20 feet... I'm just wondering what the ETI spec of 19' 6" corresponds to.
Donno... I was given 20'2" for my 5.0TA and that's what the paperwork says. Sigh... since Oregon titles/registers trailers based on FEET (whole numbers), my registration says 21' and that's what I paid for. A whole 20' would have been cheaper, but I don't CARE. Love my 5.0TA! (the height is a whole different story)

My carport is 18'x25'... as long as it fits *I SITS* (cat people understand that statement....)

This whole story reminds me of people that want to KNOW what a [enter year here] brand of all molded towable is as far as height or length. They're ALL different depending... you can only be absolutely certain when take measurements for ONE particular trailer.

For instance, the height of my 5.0TA IS different than Vicki A's ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY because she has A/C and I don't. etc., etc., etc.
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Old 08-06-2014, 11:01 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by abuhlert View Post
Has anyone come up with a good way to secure the door while traveling? Happy Travels, Jan Buhlert -- Jackson, CA
I'm going to put these on my 21 bath door - same design concept I use in a machine shop holding items down on a mill.

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Old 08-07-2014, 05:12 AM   #20
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sorry, maybe I wasn't clear enough, I believe it does include to the back( outer extremity) of the bumper frame, but I don't think it includes anything to do with the spare tire.
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