The new 5.0 Escape

[Jim Bennett]

Don't go busting anything now, Alf.

Though it would extend the wheelbase, if Escape was to extend the frame moving the hitch forward, or using one of the aftermarket extensions. This would extend the weight loading point forward, allowing for the hitch to remain close to centered over the rear wheels.

Again, just throwing out thoughts in a effort to better educate myself.

[Brian B-P]

Decades ago, 8 feet was the "standard " box for a full-size pickup (with nothing longer available), and anything less was a "short box". With the popularity of ever longer cab configurations, 2 metres or 6.5 feet has become the new standard, with shorter and much shorter boxes to handle the longer and really long cabs without having an overall length approaching that of a house.

Only an 8 foot box, which typically means 5 feet from cab to axle, allows room to turn a wide 5th wheel a full 90°. Everything else is a combination of cab-to-axle distance, trailer width, and pin position to be individually evaluated.

A commercial tractor/trailer rig needs even more cab-to-axle space because the trailer's pin is well back front the trailer front edge, but the fit is a more efficient use of the space.

[Scuba55]

I wrote Kim at Escape yesterday, she said she believes the plan is that the new 5.0 will be an addition to the existing, and not a replacement...good news as far as I'm concerned.

[Jim Bennett]

Everything I was lead to believe talking to Reace over a year ago about it, was that it was just an additional model too. Not sure why some folks were thinking it was a replacement, unless they were told this.

[cpaharley2008]

So, I guess the mold is not worn out!!

[Jim Bennett]

Moulds do wear out, and just get rebuilt from a new plug. I know it at least works this way for other moulded fiberglass products.

[gocamp]

They stick too. Remember the 17 mold a few years back.

[Cam A]

I know that many folk like the lengthwise sleeping arrangement, which prevents having to crawl over your partner to get in or out; however, my vote is for sleeping athwartship, or across the trailer. As my mobility decreases, I find the "sit and pivot" exit and entrance to the sleeping area in my centre stair Bigfoot to be a lot less work. Not having to crawl in and scootch out is the reason the 19' looks so good right now. A wider 5.0 with spanwise sleeping arrangements would make it the choice.

[Donna D.]

Just remember in the 5.0, if you choose to sleep athwartship, your head will be in one window and your feet in the other. That's my major complaint about the Scamp 5th wheel.

[reace]

Just to chime in, the new 5.0 will replace the old one. The goal is to have a new 5.0 on display at the next Escape rally in June and production to begin late summer (2014). Once it comes into production, the single axle 5.0 will be retired.

Reace

[Vicki A.]

Thanks for the update Reace!
I don't even have to see one to know I want one!

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by reace

Just to chime in, the new 5.0 will replace the old one. The goal is to have a new 5.0 on display at the next Escape rally in June and production to begin late summer (2014). Once it comes into production, the single axle 5.0 will be retired.

Reace

Thanks for the clarification, Reace.

I sure hope it does not turn out too nice, or I will be faced with a quandary of whether to trade up to one, or not. Still do love the 19 though, but who knows, in a few years........

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by reace

Just to chime in, the new 5.0 will replace the old one... Once it comes into production, the single axle 5.0 will be retired.

This has been like a roller coaster...
there's a new fifth-wheel model coming
the original 5.0 moulds are wearing out, so this is a replacement
it's an additional model
it's a replacement - only the larger tandem-axle model will continue

At least now we know where we are! And frankly, when the time comes to replace the Boler I'm more likely to stay with a conventional trailer than to get a pickup and go with a small fifth-wheel.

Although I do understand that compact pickup trucks are essentially no longer available to buy new, there are still a lot of them out there, and a fifth-wheel is the most effective way to maximize their towing capacity. Also, it is increasingly common for even full-sized trucks to have very short cab-to-axle spacing, so conventional fifth-wheel RVs don't fit them properly. It would be unfortunate if the small end of the hitch-in-the-truck-box market is left to just Scamp (and resales of first-generation Escape 5.0's as people upsize).

Reace, where are you in the design process? Are you open for general ideas, specific design suggestions... or is it pretty well set?

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by reace

Just to chime in, the new 5.0 will replace the old one. The goal is to have a new 5.0 on display at the next Escape rally in June and production to begin late summer (2014). Once it comes into production, the single axle 5.0 will be retired.

Reace

Hi: Reace...You make retirement sound so permanent!!! I'm looking forward to it and taking "Our Escape Hatch" to Florida for winter storage. The anticipation of a new 5er will be hard to handle. Is the new double axle 5th floor plan "Carved in Stone"? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Reace, where are you in the design process? Are you open for general ideas, specific design suggestions... or is it pretty well set?

Reace had said that it will be pretty much the same layout, as it is only lengthening a short bit.

[Yukon Escape]

Literacy, is the ability, to not only know what the words are, but to understand what you are reading.
Doug

[Don W.]

Well if I can make some suggestions on this new model. We just spent a weekend camping in our casita and talking about which escape we plan to purchase. Could the new 5.0 have the following.......

1. The width of the current 19 and 21 is great and provides an open feel, I have not been in a current 5 but would want this.

2. More storage, since the truck bed is taken up, we were trying to figure out where we would keep our camp chairs, mats, generator, and a few other things

3. With the extra length, could the rear dinette be 54" so close to the size of a double bed? That would make it great for us and another couple if they wish to join us.

Just some thoughts and looking forward to the development of this rig.

Don

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Don W.

2. More storage, since the truck bed is taken up, we were trying to figure out where we would keep our camp chairs, mats, generator, and a few other things

Because there's a 5th wheel hitch in the truck bed that doesn't make the bed unusable to carry items while under tow. There's room in the bed for all the items mentioned above.

[FMLNM]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Because there's a 5th wheel hitch in the truck bed that doesn't make the bed unusable to carry items while under tow. There's room in the bed for all the items mentioned above.

Absolutely..there still is space in the truck bed....Even with the teeny weeny 5 foot bed on our Frontier we carry our camp chairs and table along with some tools and the chocks, etc. You just have to make sure the brake and power cables are not impeded even during a turn. With a bigger truck bed you would have lots more room for stowing stuff.
The only issue is how to secure those things from theft if you stop somewhere along the way and leave the trailer and tow unattended. When possible we just try to stay nearby the rig when we stop but so far have not had any issues.

[Ray N]

Is there any idea what the price will be for the new 5.1?