New Escape on the horizon!

[Doug2000]

2018 we did a trip from London Ontario to Los Angeles and back. I was around 60% and wouldn’t temp the Rockies again without a Diesel. I was setup properly and felt I had to push way beyond what I was comfortable with. I ended up in heavy traffic going up the Ike to Eisenhower tunnel, held it to the floor for minutes. Not really good for the longevity of the 4Runner. Around Ontario it was fine, it’s the altitude people don’t talk about when towing. I am between trailers right now, hoping for a 5.0TA in the next 3 years, just waiting to see how this new Duramax plays out and 2 teenagers to grow up.

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[Doug2000]

My friend from work has been dreaming of a Northern Lights Truck camper for years, he says their way way way out of his price range. Why $75000?

[sailjoe]

At the rally Karl (president?) told Carol and me that it will be a 23 ‘ Escape with a walk around queen bed and a dry bath. Out in about a year is the plan. That is from the horses mouth. He said they are still in the very early design stages. He also mentioned that the plan was to get production from 600ish to about 1200- 1500 units a year.

[Oldtimer]

There goes individual customization. Personal choices and want will greatly be limited. Seen it happen to several companies

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Oldtimer

There goes individual customization. Personal choices and want will greatly be limited. Seen it happen to several companies

Where did you hear this?

[sailjoe]

The information came from Karl at the 2019 Osoyoos rally. I believe Karl introduced himself as the president. After he found out we just picked up a new 21 he came to our trailer and my wife Carol and I had a nice conversation with him. Spoke for about 45 mins. Karl asked us many questions about the 21. That is when he told us about the new 23 and ramping up production.

I stressed to Karl that the main reason we decided on an Escape was the QUALITY! As a side note we picked up our Escape on May 3rd. We just arrived home in NC today. Put over 4000 miles on it. We have not had any issues at all with the trailer. Everything worked and continues to work. We couldn’t be happier.

[cpaharley2008]

sailjoe: Great, you may now want to update your avatar to show ownership, thanks.

[Jeremy Kessenich]

One of the aspects of the Escape brands that I like is that they aren't the huge what I call diaper-mobiles 'cuz I'd need to wear one to tow one. Though I can appreciate folks getting excited about a 23' Escape I want the other direction. When the time is right I'm hoping to get a used 5.0, not 5.0TA. I took to heart a post by Donna Dee about while you are waiting for possibly that perfect floor plane to come out there is a whole lot of camping that can be done now. My circumstances mean I have to just wait for a used 5.0 however until that day here is what I'd love to see with the combination of NorthernLite and Escape. Take NorthernLite's largest truck camper and place it on a 5th wheel frame. Leave the foot print of the truck camper alone. Extend the side walls of the camper down to the level of the floor however in the now enclosed cavity where the side walls of the truck bed used to be build out externally accessed storage compartments. These compartments could be outfitted like many trailers in Australia. Just my 2 cents.

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

When did the 80 per cent rule become the 60 per cent rule? Why not 40 per cent?

• Rule of thumb, a principle with broad application that is not intended to be strictly accurate or reliable for every situation

It'still 80%: I have an Escape 17, so if you take the length (`17') divide it by the width (6'8"), multiply by Pi x 10, you get 80%. So, my tow, at 3500 lb. capacity tows my Escape (2100 lb.) with 700 lbs. of stuff in it, and I'm right at 2800/3500 = 80%. I'm good.

[gbaglo]

I knew I should have stayed in school.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

It'still 80%: I have an Escape 17, so if you take the length (`17') divide it by the width (6'8"), multiply by Pi x 10, you get 80%. So, my tow, at 3500 lb. capacity tows my Escape (2100 lb.) with 700 lbs. of stuff in it, and I'm right at 2800/3500 = 80%. I'm good.

I'm afraid you are overloaded given your own parameters by nearly 1%.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

It'still 80%: I have an Escape 17, so if you take the length (`17') divide it by the width (6'8"), multiply by Pi x 10, you get 80%. So, my tow, at 3500 lb. capacity tows my Escape (2100 lb.) with 700 lbs. of stuff in it, and I'm right at 2800/3500 = 80%. I'm good.

my casita 16 was 2100-2200 lbs dry. hard to believe an escape 17 is only 2100 lbs.

[santacruzer]

Truck Camper v Trailer...the best of both worlds?

[cpaharley2008]

Wait, that looks like a fifth wheel set up......

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

my casita 16 was 2100-2200 lbs dry. hard to believe an escape 17 is only 2100 lbs.

John,


Ours is a 17A, so it has no grey nor black tanks, and no bathroom (just a very convenient porta-potty in a cabinet under the bed). So, we are just under 2000 lbs. dry.

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I'm afraid you are overloaded given your own parameters by nearly 1%.

Ok, OK; so I'll leave the bass and bass amp at home, but I'm still taking the acoustic guitar and the smaller (and very light) Yamaha keyboard. So there!

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by santacruzer

Truck Camper v Trailer...the best of both worlds?

Better than taking a 5th wheel and trying to turn it into a trailer. Can you believe this thing? And yes, it left the service station and got on Hwy I-40 in Arkansas!

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

Ok, OK; so I'll leave the bass and bass amp at home, but I'm still taking the acoustic guitar and the smaller (and very light) Yamaha keyboard. So there!

Great plan
I'll meet you at the campfire with my guitar.

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Great plan
I'll meet you at the campfire with my guitar.

[santacruzer]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Better than taking a 5th wheel and trying to turn it into a trailer. Can you believe this thing? And yes, it left the service station and got on Hwy I-40 in Arkansas!

I hope they weren't traveling very far, they're almost dragging the asphalt. I'm pretty sure that would get you pulled over in California.