2016/2017 Escape News

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by PGDriver

Thinking motorhome lol.

Cheers
Doug

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

What, and selling your Escape?

I assume Doug meant a motorhome as a new model of Escape. I'm pretty sure Reace and Tammy are too smart to get into that business.

Originally Posted by padlin

Who's gonna be the first to trade a 5.0TA for a new 5.0TA, unless of course it becomes the 5.1TA.

Hmmm... if the version numbering approach were taken, the current "5.0TA" would have logically been the "5.1" instead (but those of us who suggested that lost), and the 2017 version would be the "5.2".

[gabeck]

Congratulations and continued success to ETI , can't wait to see what's new !

Originally Posted by GregandTeresa

We must be the only poor folks around here, we will gladly stick with our soon to be 2016 17B

lol .... not sure " poor folks " are buying Escapes . We love, love , love our 15 and have no inclination whatsoever to upsize . But we sure do appreciate the larger models and love to see them . They are all beautiful , and the personalizations are just nice .

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by GregandTeresa

We must be the only poor folks around here, we will gladly stick with our soon to be 2016 17B

Well, we're not exactly rich and will be even less so once the trailer and the truck are purchased. I'm selling an animal figurine collection that I've taken years to acquire to help finance this. I decided some time ago that I'd much rather have the trailer and start some traveling instead of staring at figurines that I'm about the only one in the house to appreciate. Of course the market is way down on them, but every bit helps.

I might be using less toilet paper in the near future!

Fortunately I don't have an expensive coffee/latte addiction!

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by reace

Once the 2017 model is available for production, you can opt for the 2017 design without losing your 2016 production spot.

Reace

Thanks Reace! Now I know I need to save more as I know I will like the 21v2.0 model.

[Jimrules]

Originally Posted by reace

Customers with a 2016 completion date will be given the option of upgrading to the 2017 model once it is ready for production, however the recent price increase would apply.

Reace

Originally Posted by Jimrules

Dang, I was hoping for a silver lining, like some patient person would give up their spot to wait for the latest and greatest and we could sneak into one this summer. Oh well. Nice option for those who have orders in already, but it could be a tough decision.

I posted this before but I think it got swept into Donna's retirement thread when it was split off.

[float5]

New molds is too exciting! Can hardly wait to see them. Hope I don't like them!

[Greg A]

Like the now retired Donna, I will be a long time owner of a 19 "Classic"

[nathanj04011]

I can completely understand the "love the one your with" mentality for those of you who already own a previous year trailer. It's yours, you've used it, decorated it etc. However, at least for me, who's build sheet is not even due yet, but will probably miss out on the new version, the emotions are a wee bit more conflicting...especially because I have none of Chris R or Jim Bennett's redesign/modification abilities.

Does this mean that I should drop my spot and wait for until 2017 to get the new design? Are you crazy? What if the changes are nothing I am pining for? What if to me they don't warrant the cost? What if it will be hard to wrap my head around why they did what they did? What if one of the new options is a porta potty tent because they did away with the bathroom inside?....

"Thanks for the couch and for listening doc, I guess I'll love the one I'm with"....

P.S. "If it is everything I was hoping for, can I have more couch time doc?"

[Jim Bennett]

Nathan, if the new model is available when yours is ready to go into production, which it most likely will be, all the details will be known by then, and you will have the opportunity to pay the difference to get the newer model, or just stick with "the one you're with".

Remember, the current model is a fantastic trailer.

[Greg A]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Nathan, if the new model is available when yours is ready to go into production, which it most likely will be, all the details will be known by then, and you will have the opportunity to pay the difference to get the newer model, or just stick with "the one you're with".

Remember, the current model is a fantastic trailer.

Jim,

Guess you'll probably have just enough time to think about that on yours too. Aren't you due out in May or June?

[Marry]

In the same boat here! But gonna sail anyway! The benefit: we have a choice which boat: the "old" amazing one or the new "jet" we don't know about yet!

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Jim,

Guess you'll probably have just enough time to think about that on yours too. Aren't you due out in May or June?

Yes, but my thinking is done, I am likely going to go with the new changes, will see once they are announced. I will just have to put off retirement for a few more months.

[bouterse]

Since 2016 customers will be given the option of the old or new model, ETI must have built completely new molds instead of tweaking the old ones....no small undertaking! Congrats.


Jack

[blue_bullet]

Originally Posted by bouterse

Since 2016 customers will be given the option of the old or new model, ETI must have built completely new molds instead of tweaking the old ones....no small undertaking! Congrats.


Jack

I did not think to ask during our plant tour. Does anyone on the forum know how many trailers a particular mold is good for? They must wear out like the rest of us. Ever bought a pair of tennis shoes made in China that did not fit, like a size off? I was told it is b/c the shoe last was at the end of its life and worn out.

We saw a technician prepping a mold during lunch break (tour time) with a release agent and cleaning up spots left from the last cast. I marveled at the entire fiberglass process.

[Marry]

Meaning the old mold, you gain extra size trailer......?
Would love to know first what changes before any decision. Especially for the 19 with the higher front windows.....

[cpaharley2008]

perhaps there will be 2 lines going at once, one old and one new, until the backlog is released...

[GRINGOandTICA]

just hope the company never gets sold.

[Scuba55]

Originally Posted by GRINGOandTICA

just hope the company never gets sold.

One of my reasons for purchasing when I did, I was concerned about this. One of these days, a competitor may give them a offer they can't refuse...

[float5]

I hope they will give the date and time a couple of weeks in advance as to when they will open orders with the stipulation that they will not take or use any contacts for a new trailer order or deposit before then. At least that way, everyone will know the day and can put in a deposit instead of trying to constantly check every day.

They have said that a person with a 2016 order will not lose the spot if changing to the 2017 but will have to pay the extra. Guess that means that there will be both sets of molds going.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by bouterse

Since 2016 customers will be given the option of the old or new model, ETI must have built completely new molds instead of tweaking the old ones....no small undertaking!

I believe that the usual method to significantly change a mould would be to make a shell (from the existing mould) but not make any cutouts in it (for windows, etc), manually build the changes in that shell, then form the new mould around that shell (which serves as a plug). In an extreme example, this is how the 5.0TA mould was created from a 21 Foot shell.

The same thing could be done without any modifications, but after a few generations significant "creep" could occur in some dimensions, and details would become less sharp... like making a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of a document. It makes more sense to make the new moulds from the original plug (like making a fresh copy directly from an original document)... or a modification of the original plug if changes are desired. I don't know if Escape Trailer Industries keeps "master" plugs to make new moulds; I know that it is not uncommon for new companies to make their first moulds by turning an actual existing trailer into a plug by filling in openings (and other preparation).

Originally Posted by blue_bullet

Does anyone on the forum know how many trailers a particular mold is good for? They must wear out like the rest of us.

When the 5.0TA was announced (and it didn't even have that name yet), Reace explained that the original mould was due for routine replacement anyway, so it was an opportune time to make changes... in that case, to accommodate the growing size (mostly box height) of pickup trucks. The 5.0 was never the most rapidly selling model - maybe someone knows how many of those were made? I think Not so Big Al & Donna got the last one made, but the VIN number of that trailer would only indicate how many Escape in total (of all models) had been made up to that point).