17' Escape Plan B

[gbaglo]

Pic with boats in marina is Deep Bay, B.C
Other is Spences Bridge, BC, on the Thompson River.

[Sandra L]

Beautiful! Where do you stow the chair?
Peace and Sunhine
Sandra

[gbaglo]

We keep the rear dinette as a double bed so I just lay them side by side on the bed, atop the blankets. They seem to stay in place during travel. They are heavy, but comfortable. I have been thinking about getting one of those storage platforms from etrailer.com that fits into the receiver on the rear of the trailer, but I'm concerned about weight back there. For that reason, I also keep the Q and a 10 lb. tank inside for travel. They sit on throw rugs to keep them from sliding around ( the tank is in a crate ). Advantage is you can shift them forward or aft or keep them close to the axle for balance.

If you're looking at chairs, my best advice is to sit in one and read a magazine before you buy it. I've got half a dozen camp chairs that never go camping and I've left more than one next to the garbage at a campsite.

baglo

[Jim Bennett]

I eliminated my BBQ tank by going to the propane supplier and putting together a T fitting that connects to one of the main propane tanks, and the line to the trailer connects to it. Off it I have a connector with a 15' hose that goes to the BBQ. Saves having to have that extra tank. Ultimately I would like an exterior quick coupling hooked right in to the trailer propane system like some manufacturers do.

And you are right, a comfy chair makes a huge difference.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Sandra L

Beautiful! Where do you stow the chair?
Peace and Sunhine
Sandra

I'm thinking I should clarify, since I'm not sure where you are or what security is like where you camp. For travel, the chairs go on the bed. At camp they are left wherever they happen to be unless rain is forecast, in which case they're folded and go under cover of some kind.

I do think about security from time to time, but have never done anything more than putting the BBQ and tank on the other side of the table so it isn't easily viewed from the road. I've never heard of anything being stolen in a BC Provincial campsite, although I guess it's happened. You'd think a cooler full of beer would be an easy target, but I've never had a problem.

bags

[Sandra L]

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I should have clarified my inquiry. It was in regard to traveling. The propane hookup is also a good idea as even the small cannisters of propane add weight.
Over the weekend I saw a vinyl shower curtain at Kohls (a department store) that has mesh pockets for items such as shampoo, and other shower necessities. I thought the idea was good, but don't know how much wear and tear it could handle.
Peace and Sunshine
Sandra

[gbaglo]

Your comment on the shower curtain reminded me that there was a post, either here or there, wondering about how to keep the toilet dry. You can buy spring loaded closet rods. Would require no holes and easily support a shower curtain.

Still in the bathroom, I'm wondering how many people have actually used the sink in there?

bags

[Sandra L]

8)
Super idea and so easy. Thanks, I'll give it a whirl in July, if not before!
Thank you.
Peace and Sunshine
Sandra

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Still in the bathroom, I'm wondering how many people have actually used the sink in there?

Myself, almost never. I would be glad to give it up if it meant more usable space.

[gbaglo]

So far, I've used it to store shampoo bottles.

baglo

[Sandra L]

I am sure I'll use mine lots. Is that a gender difference?
Peace and Sunshine
Sandra

[gbaglo]

You could be right, but I think it's more an issue of how big it is. Large enough to wash one hand at a time.

bags

[Jim Bennett]

I don't think so Sandra. Both my wife and I almost never use the sink in our existing trailer bath. I only want a bath for those few times one really needs it, if there are the facilities where I camp I prefer to use them. In saying that though, I have almost never had a full hook-up.

[Sandra L]

Since I have a background in "bugs", I am sink-dependent, even if only one hand at a time. I appreciate the input however, and as I have never had a "wet bath" before, it will be a new adventure.

Peace and Sunshine

[JeffZ]

I actually use the bathroom sink and it's definitely a one hand at a time scenario..we use the foaming soap stuff (held in a container suctioned to the wall) and then just rinse off one hand at a time.. We also put in the additional shower curtain to keep the toilet dry when showering.. You cant use a tension rod as the walls on the shower are rounded and it won't hold... what we did was just use suction cups (the one with the metal hooks and bent the hooks so that when suctioned to the ceiling of the shower the rod can just hang on it..) We placed in from of shower vent.. It worked well.. We also trimmed the original shower curtain as it way too lock and basically hung over the shower drain causing the water not to drain..

Yep that's the shower story..

[Jim Bennett]

Good idea on the suction cups for hooking the rod Jeff.

[Thane]

I like the concept of an added bathrom sink, my 2006 didn't have that as an option. With 2 kids an extra sink would be a good thing. Even though we use the outdoor shower as a hand washing station, my wife would like the kids to wash their hands someplace other than the kitchen sink. I am working on a mod to add a folding sink to my trailer. I have the sink and mounting shelf basically finished and next week I'll get the plumbing figured out when I rummage through the trailer and pool supply stores in San Diego. The only remaining hard part is figuring out a good way to stiffen the wall behind the toilet to support the sink and faucet, I think I have it figured out but we'll see. I'll post in all on the Modifications link when finished.

[JenL]

I never thought of putting in some kind of additional shower curtain to keep the toilet dry.... I'll have to think on that a while :-) As for the sink, we use ours all the time. We use it to wash our hands and also to hold the soap and shampoo during a shower. I don't think you would have much extra space by leaving it out, I've certainly never bumped into it and it's tucked right into the corner.

Jen

[Sandra L]

I just learned that some use a cotton shower curtain to shield the toilet, saying that it dries faster, even when folded to the side, whereas the plastic ones may shield the wetness from the air, and delay evaporation. Never having tried either, I don't know if that idea carries water.
Sandra

[Ace Brown]

As some of you have already noted in my modifications post I have no shower, not even a bathroom and I don't miss it a bit. Most folks that full-time or nearly so will tell that they prefer the extra storage room. My first real travel trailer was a 20' Jayco which had a shower and even a small bathtub. Of course it came that way, no options there. So I tried the shower a couple of times and decided it was too cramped and too much hassle, and this was a "dry shower" with much more room than an Escape. Shortly after I added a hanging bar on the roof of the shower stall and it remained a nice hanging closet until I sold it a year later. I talked with a lot of full timers since and most agree they seldom use the shower, preferring instead the following in order of preference: campground shower, outside shower, solar shower, basin bath, creek/lake, rain, roll in the wet grass or nothing until you get back home :P Yes, a few are jokes, but I have probably used each option at some time.

I also like to check into a motel every now and then to really get clean and sleep in a real bed!

Please note this is from a full-timer, now going on 5 years, and a weekender might have different needs.

Ace