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Old 09-02-2009, 11:12 PM   #1
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Grasshopper

There’s a grasshopper chirping in Chilliwack!

We got word from Reace yesterday that fiberglass mold has met frame on our new 19 (“Grasshopper”). Today they were gonna be working on windows & possibly getting the headliner in. It’s an understatement to say that we are super stoked!

We have asked Reace & Tammy to take pics of the progress whenever possible & email them to us for our photo album & to whet our appetite. If any of you happen to be passing by the factory in the next couple of weeks, please check it out & let us know what you think as well as take some pics to send to us or post here.

Brad
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Old 09-02-2009, 11:20 PM   #2
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Re: Grasshopper

"Why'd you choose to name it 'Grasshopper'?"

Aaahh, Grashopper… good question

Grasshoppers make us think of being outdoors in nature. They hop from place to place singing their song. They can be found in the forests as well as the mountains. In China, they symbolize good luck and abundance. In various other cultures, they symbolize wisdom, prosperity, and a leap of faith.

We also really like two poems about grasshoppers & their symbolism. One is called “On the Grasshopper & Cricket” by John Keats and another is called “Grasshopper” by E.E. Cummings. John Muir also wrote some pretty prose in “My First Summer in the Sierra” about watching a dancing grasshopper up on the half dome in Yosemite Nat’l Park.

Yet another inspiration, comes from the old Kung Fu TV series. The main character’s (Caine) nickname given to him by his Kung Fu master was Grasshopper. Since this will be our first travel trailer of any sort, we reckon that we will have lots to learn and experience together literally & metaphysically speaking.

In addition, it doesn’t hurt that it goes with our color theme too :P - our fabric for the dinette & bed is primarily avocado green with chocolate brown & white accents and our outside decals will be Sherwood Green.
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Old 09-02-2009, 11:27 PM   #3
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Re: Grasshopper

Hi: And welcome to the "Birthing". Maybe you should pronounce it "Glasshopper" just kidding!!! Alf
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Old 09-02-2009, 11:31 PM   #4
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Re: Grasshopper

Custom options/modifications we requested include:

• custom fabric (avocado green w/ choc brown & white vertical stripes) for the dinette
• separate custom fabric (avocado green w/ choc brown & white circles) for the queen bed mattress – kind like a futon cover concept
• 7” Thick mattress (3” firm; 4” soft) – Tammy suggested that a memory foam topper wouldn’t breath well under our custom mattress cover but we could get a thicker mattress.
• custom laminate counter & dinette tops
• stainless steel sink – we’re keeping the standard white oven & hood vent
• 95 watt solar panel installed with 3M Very High Bond (VHB) tape – so no extra holes in the roof!
This will be the first time Reace has tried using it. I sent him info I had found via 3M’s website, the casita forum, the MFROG forum & elsewhere about how effective it supposedly is.
• All LED lighting inside & out
• 2 shelves in the wardrobe – hopefully removable
• small shelf with a little lip on wall facing the queen bed on the kitchen side
• 4 inside DC outlets (1 under each side of dinette; 1 near bed; 1 near TV mounting location) – we plan to be boondocking most of the time.
• access to dinette underseat storage next to door for storing shoes – hinges on left side
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Old 09-02-2009, 11:34 PM   #5
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Re: Grasshopper

Alf - thanks. I like that... "Grasshopper the Glasshopper!"
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Old 09-02-2009, 11:41 PM   #6
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Re: Grasshopper

Standard options we chose include:

• dual 6 volt batteries
• extra insulation & thermal windows
• tinted windows
• window over sink
• outdoor shower
• Maxx Fan – a must have for boondocking down here in TX
• A/C (after all, we do live in central TX where it’s already been 100+ F on 67 days this year – just 2 shy of our all time record)
• lift axle – we like to go off paved roads when we camp
• front rock guards
• bike rack ready
• WDH
• dual propane tanks
• stereo/dvd player – mounted in corner like Edgar.
• TV ready – for rainy day movies, a periodic Univ of TX football game, & World Cup soccer matches next summer.
• screen room
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Old 09-02-2009, 11:44 PM   #7
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Re: Grasshopper

By the way, did I already mention that we're really really really stoked?
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Old 09-03-2009, 12:25 AM   #8
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Re: Grasshopper

Hmmm, you are giving me here additional ideas for my 17'B that is on order to be finished spring 2010.... I am already now stoked, and you just got to be stoked, with end of September really just around the corner...

Did you get the fabric yourself and sent it to Tammy? What quality did you buy? What type of fabrics is durable enough, and where did you buy?

Another thing: I should get started thinking about a name for my Escape as well...

:
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Old 09-03-2009, 11:27 AM   #9
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Re: Grasshopper

We had already thought of the idea but didn't know if it was possible (hadn't yet asked Reace/Tammy) when Bobccat posted what they did with Solace. So, many thanks to the Solace crew for being the ground breakers and showing that it could in fact be done & how good it can look.

The first thing we did was ask Tammy how much fabric we needed - Note: patterns require more fabric than solids.

We ordered the fabric from a small local shop here in Austin. We saw what we wanted in one of their sample swatch binders and, since they didn't have it in stock, they ordered it from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, they weren't able to have it direct shipped to Chilliwack so we had to pick it up from the store and turn around and ship it ourselves.

The fabrics we chose are Duralee indoor/outdoor fabrics (100% spun polyester w/a Duragard finish) so they should be a little heavier duty for resisting stains, mildew & sun fading. The fabric ended up being pricier than we hoped - C'est la vie... it's a long term investment & we liked the personalization aspect of it. The shipping to Canada from the US wasn't cheap either. In our case, it was even more expensive & stressful b/c we had to overnight it to Chilliwack so it wouldn't potentially delay our egg's hatching. Lesson learned - Pick & order the fabric way early in the process so it can get to Chilliwack in plenty of time & won't require significantly more expensive shipping costs.

Custom options are great for making your Escape eggsactly the way you want it but it definitely adds more cost - especially if you're not doing it yourself. With our little ones, we figured that we don't have the bandwidth right now to do what we wanted ourselves. That's another reason it's been so great working with Tammy & Reace at Escape b/c they're willing to do it for you as long as it's reasonable.

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Old 09-03-2009, 12:09 PM   #10
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Re: Grasshopper

Brad, are you getting stoked yet?
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Old 09-04-2009, 07:44 PM   #11
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Re: Grasshopper

Wow! I can hardly wait myself for the pictures! Wolf and I are happy for you.
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Old 10-02-2009, 01:20 AM   #12
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Re: Grasshopper

<bump>
I would love to see this unit...
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Old 10-02-2009, 08:57 AM   #13
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Re: Grasshopper

Brad and Shay are still traveling and having fun!
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Old 10-02-2009, 10:09 AM   #14
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Re: Grasshopper

What a great list of options. Everyone with a 19 on order is waiting to see the results. It must be great to know it is in progress and the delivery date is near.

We expect full and complete reports with photos. Because of the Texas weather we may not have to till spring for results.
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Old 10-02-2009, 10:12 AM   #15
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Re: Grasshopper

Hi: All... Well Brad and Shay must be at least introduced, to their latest family member by now!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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Old 10-02-2009, 04:45 PM   #16
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Re: Grasshopper

Hi Everyone,

I just thought I would let you know the Texasescapees arrived yesterday safe and sound and now we have an infestation of Grasshoppers here in Chilliwack!

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Old 10-02-2009, 09:06 PM   #17
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Re: Grasshopper

Oh, you can tell THAT grasshopper is going to see some ACTION over the years. "Growing up with Grasshopper" sounds like a great name for a children's book! Happy travels.
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Old 10-02-2009, 09:45 PM   #18
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Re: Grasshopper

Way cool! I hope to see it someday down here in Texas.
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Old 10-03-2009, 12:42 AM   #19
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Re: Grasshopper

I like the green graphics.
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Old 10-03-2009, 01:02 PM   #20
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Re: Grasshopper

Great Grasshopper!
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