Towing experience with the new 21 - 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 > Towing and Hitching
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-24-2014, 01:35 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
TAfraser's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Auburn, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 #3
Posts: 385
Towing experience with the new 21

Hello all, just reporting back as promised.

We just finished our 2014 adventure. We drove from Seattle to San Simeon State Park (4 hours south of Frisco) then up the coast to the redwoods, over to Crater Lake and up to Sisters. We then went back to the coast at Tillamook, over to Mt. Rainier, over to Sequim, and back home to Auburn Washington. In all we traveled 3838.9 miles, used 265.16 gallons of gas at an average of $4.27 per gal (the highest being in California) for a total cost of $1,138.04 and 14.5 mpg. We towed at sea level on up to 7,000 feet. The Ridgline did fine climbing the hills and controlling our descents. If the grade was 6% or less, the engine took care of speed control, while 7% and above required assistance from the brakes. We maintained 55 to 60 most all the way, flat or climbing, if it wasn't too curvy. The engine had to rev up to 5,000 rpm at times on the steeper slopes, but engine temp didn't budge and red line is around 6,500. I didn't feel bad about that at all.

I stopped at multiple weigh stations along the way because of my weight concerns and came up with some interesting numbers. The Ridgeline was almost maxed out in the following categories; rear axle 3245 lbs(GAWR-R), truck 6050 lbs (GVWR), combined 10085 lbs(GCWR), and tongue weight 500 lbs. The Escape 21 was also near its max (GVWR) at 4250 lbs. The trailer GVWR/Tongue weight was 9.39%. I know it’s a little lower than suggested. I don’t know if the Anderson had anything to do with it, but the towing experience was smooth and controlled.

We had a great experience and look forward to many more in the future.

Tom
TAfraser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2014, 03:07 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
SpokanEscape's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Olympia, Washington
Trailer: 2016 Escape 5.0TA has gone to a good home in Manitoba. Now Class B+ owners sadly not an Escape
Posts: 460
Sounds like you have been having way too much fun!
__________________
Jan and Paul
"Le Bon Oeuf"
SpokanEscape is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2014, 05:29 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
TAfraser's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Auburn, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 #3
Posts: 385
Is there such a thing as having too much fun?
TAfraser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2014, 05:34 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21--FOR SALE
Posts: 411
Thanks for the update, Tom. I'm glad to hear your Ridgeline can handle the Escape 21. It bodes well for those of us with 21s on order who have vehicles of similar build, power, and towing capacity.
__________________
Brent and Cheryl.
Catchlight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2014, 06:56 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2002 Escape 13'
Posts: 967
Tom, it sounds like you had a great shake-out trip. Did you run through the CHP trucker's scales to get weighed? How did you calculate tongue weight rolling across a scale? BTW, we really like San Simeon State Park in the remote camping section on top.

Steve
hotfishtacos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2014, 07:11 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
TAfraser's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Auburn, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 #3
Posts: 385
Steve,
I ran across scales beside country roads in agricultural areas of California and Oregon. They're not manned, but their equipment is left on. I passed by one multiple times. I crossed it with and without a full tank of gas to feel somewhat confident about it's numbers, or at least the change it provided, and then I crossed it with the trailer, I crossed a few more scales to verify the numbers I received from the first, and my cousin did the same with his rig. In fact I crossed so many scales I think it became the joke of the trip. Just have to laugh!! Hopefully they were laughing with, and not at me.
Tom
TAfraser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2014, 07:50 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2002 Escape 13'
Posts: 967
Tom, I found a website for all private scales in California. The one I use in town where I live is on the list. This will be handy while traveling. Is your scale on the list?

CDFA - DMS - Public Scales Listing

Steve
hotfishtacos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2014, 08:01 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
TAfraser's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Auburn, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 #3
Posts: 385
Sorry Steve, I went over so many and saw many more that I can't remember where they all were. That's quite a website. It will come in handy for all the California folks.
Thanks
Tom
TAfraser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2014, 02:05 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Carlsbad, California, California
Trailer: 2003 Scamp 16' SOLD , 2008 Airstream 19'
Posts: 107
Steve,
I clicked on about 10 counties and all showed no mapable locations. Maybe the site is disabled?
Russ

I used a private moving van company scale in San Marcos to weigh mine.
Russ
ruscal 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 06:44 PM.


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