New SouthEast Escape Dealer with Service

[RangerMan]

Texas would have made more sense. Lots of Escape owners here. More central too.

[zzlay]

Originally Posted by RangerMan

Texas would have made more sense. Lots of Escape owners here. More central too.

I seem to remember a video with Carl discussing Escape's desire to open a sales/service location, or perhaps even a production facility, in Texas. My foggy memories also tells me that this video came out before COVID...it torpedoed many business plans.

I would have preferred a Texas location because it would be closer to home than Jacksonville. But hey, my brother and his wife live in Jacksonville. Another great excuse for an Escape trip.

[Vermilye]

In early December I will be spending a week camped 19 miles from Retro Renos. I asked Escape if it would be possible to pick up a replacement mattress for my 21C (54,535.0 towing miles and 1172 nights in the trailer). No answer yet...

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by RangerMan

Texas would have made more sense. Lots of Escape owners here. More central too.

Unfortunately (for you), the people who own RetroReno live in Jacksonville, not in Texas. To them, home makes more sense. If someone who does exceptional work on fiberglass trailers happened to be in Texas, I’m sure he/they could procure a partnership with Escape also. Having met these people, I do not suspect they want to expand hiring more techs, because quality could suffer. Remember the old adage: “Too many cooks spoils the broth.” And while Texas may be more central in relation to the sunbelt, it sure as heck not in the center of the country.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by mr.stang

Ok, here is what I know, not speculate. 2022 17b trailer axle major problems, look it up I posted the whole thing here. Great people, great work, yes they have shop behind their house. There is nothing I can say negative in regard to their workmanship and work ethic. Knock it off if you don't know what your are talking about. Stan Gorski

Thanks for sharing your first-hand experience with this ETI + Retro Renos partnership.

For reference of others: Stan's thread about his problem and Stan's good-news concluding post about his experience with Retro Renos.

[HABBERDABBER]

They could have placed it here:

The geographic center of the 48 contiguous or conterminous United States, determined in a 1918 survey, is located at 39°50′N 98°35′W, about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) northwest of the center of Lebanon, Kansas, approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of the Kansas–Nebraska border.[4] The determination is accurate to about 20 miles.

Everyone could then be equally displeased with the Escape service site location.

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

They could have placed it here:

The geographic center of the 48 contiguous or conterminous United States, determined in a 1918 survey, is located at 39°50′N 98°35′W, about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) northwest of the center of Lebanon, Kansas, approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of the Kansas–Nebraska border.[4] The determination is accurate to about 20 miles.

Everyone could then be equally displeased with the Escape service site.

I'm very pleased that ETI has a service site at all! Wouldn't surprise me if this one came about as a result of ETI people showing up at the Egg rally in Florida a while ago—however, I'm just speculating.

As I have mentioned several times on this board, I'd like to see authorized Escape Service Centers all over North America. Of course finding folks who have both fiberglass and trailer expertise would not be easy.

I'll just mention that Tim's RV in Erving, MA has become a dealer (not just a service center) for Oliver trailers. Tim's is a small, family-owned company:
https://www.timsrvinc.com
Might be a good possibility for an Escape Service Center. Not that there are many Escapes here in New England, but there are some.

[Iowa Dave]

I thought of that concept as the geographic center of the USA was something they taught in grade school back in the day.. Then Alaska and Hawaii became states and all reasoning went out the window.

Enter my thought for the day. Using computing power, locate all Licensed USA Escapes by zip code. Feed that info into one or several zones of the United States. Using AI determine the best location (s) for service centers. Approach the closest small town of a desired size say 4000 residents.

Ask for tax free property status for a new business, start a trailer repair curriculum in the local high school or community college and stand back. There will be a beaten path to the shop. City campground with nominal nightly rate. Large metal buildings or fenced yard for off season storage, the possibilities are many. Nope not personally interested. I’ve proffered my share of ideas, some accepted some ridiculed.
Iowa Dave

[Vermilye]

There are a bunch of geographic centers. I've been to the one in Rugby, ND (My friends the Guido's):

[Iowa Dave]

I’ve not been to any major Geographic centers but I have been to the Big Town of State Center, Iowa many times. Located in Marshall county about 65 miles west of us on US Highway 30, their 66th annual Rose Festival starts tomorrow. My college roommate was from near there. Funny stories at any rally at Rodney’s expense.
Iowa Dave

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by MrLynn

I'm very pleased that ETI has a service site at all! Wouldn't surprise me if this one came about as a result of ETI people showing up at the Egg rally in Florida a while ago—however, I'm just speculating.

As I have mentioned several times on this board, I'd like to see authorized Escape Service Centers all over North America. Of course finding folks who have both fiberglass and trailer expertise would not be easy.

I'll just mention that Tim's RV in Erving, MA has become a dealer (not just a service center) for Oliver trailers. Tim's is a small, family-owned company:
https://www.timsrvinc.com
Might be a good possibility for an Escape Service Center. Not that there are many Escapes here in New England, but there are some.

That is what was stated by the Retro Renovations owners at Scamp Camp in Sebring, FL, in February. Escape was at a northern Florida rally in January, were impressed with the work they did, and preliminary negotiations began. However, there are almost always craftsmen/technicians in any area that can do excellent work on fiberglass or repair/replace components. I fail to understand why some are bemoaning the fact that Escape’s first outside”partner” is not in a central location. Living in Florida, I can easily say neither is ETI’s location.

[iamunique127]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

There are a bunch of geographic centers. I've been to the one in Rugby, ND (My friends the Guido's):

Hey, we've been there. Got the photo.

[Johnny]

My E23 will delivered to Retro Reno in a month or so as Retro Reno out of Jacksonville have been excellent in responding to my inquiries, kind, carrying and knowledgeable