Current Tear Drop Owner

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Mike G

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! ^ This is it right here. An Escape is your own personal "cabin in the woods" and "cabin at the lake," ready to relax in, wherever you park it.


Besides, every time I see one of those rear galley hatches on a teardrop I automatically think, "there goes a bad leak waiting to happen"!

Fortunately, our teardrop is built tremendously and I have no concerns about leaks. However, all of the other points made here are right on. I think a larger trailer would provide us years of fun. Now I need to decide if we “need” the 21 or is the 19 perfect for us.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by iamunique127

Our Tundra has a shell on it, too- for the off season. It comes off in about 5 minutes and hangs from the rafters in my garage. That way I can still park underneath it and don't lose the use of the garage and the shell is protected from the elements until I'm ready to use it again.

For the towing season I put a tonneau cover over the bed of the truck. Like Perry said, stuff is out of sight when the trailer is disconnected. An inexpensive, roll-up tonneau cover serves the purpose very well.

Thanks again. All good points, but storing the shell isn’t an option. Love the idea of the 5.0 but it’s not going to work for us.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

IMHO the best part of travel trailer ownership, over a tear drop, is weather related. I see the OP lives in Seattle, Washington. Some of the best camping is at the beach during a storm. Get a trailer with a rear dinette, back into a site overlooking the water. NIRVANA. You'll love those storms.

I admit, being inside during a storm beats a teardrop.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by kernwig

Here's the short of it...

With a teardrop, you are camping with a nice bed and not having to setup and breakdown a tent.

With an Escape trailer, your are traveling with your own stocked apartment.

Two totally different experiences.

As a bonus, when you are driving and nature calls, just pull over and use the outhouse always conveniently located directly behind you! :-D

Great points. Thanks for the reply

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Perry Butler

We thought the same when we purchased our 5.0. Sold the shell and never missed it. We carried two trikes in the truck bed one winter when pulling our 5.0! Another winter we carried a trike in the truck bed and another on the back. We could also carry a trike and other gear in the back, and two high end folding Tern e-bikes behind the drivers seat.

We did have a tonneau that was used when we disconnected the 5.0. According to an insurance agent there are more thefts with a shell than with a tonneau cover because they can see what's in the shell.

Reasons we chose a 5.0 over the 19 we were considering:

• Two feet shorter than the 19 when driving down the road
• Easier to park since it is two feet shorter and pivots over the truck axle
• 21 foot long body vs 16' long body on the 19'
• More storage space than any other Escape except the new 25' Escape 23.
• No crawl-over bed! BTDT!
• 30 gallon black tank vs the 19's 13.2 gallon tank.
• Don't need to worry about sway at all.
• Dinette in the back, so we rarely have to look out at other campers, much less the campground road.

Reasons we'd take a Escape 19 over the 5.0:

• Cheaper to buy, and that can be a major consideration
• Doesn't need a pickup to pull

Currently, we have a Bigfoot 25RQ, and so much miss the rear dinette. Had we known that the Escape 23 was actually going to be made, we would have purchased the 23, but for now we're in the 25RQ for a few years. For those who haven't priced a comparably equipped camper recently, the Escape 23 with all it's do-dads is really a steal. We'll easily have over $60,000 invested in our 2016 25RQ. A new Bigfoot with all the options the current Escape 23 has would easily be over $95,000.

Food for thought,

Perry

First, thank you for your very thoughtful reply and all of the great information about the 5.0. Those really resonate. So many good options between the 19, 21 and 5.0

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Civilguy

Welcome to the forum Chris.

The answer is, of course, to know thyself. We loved our teardrop and there’s still times when I wish we had it, but we are parking-poor.

We replaced the teardrop with a late model Casita 17 FD which was not a success with my dear wife. We had never seen one in the flesh. When it was delivered she declared that “the pictures lied”! I made no comment as it was exactly what I had expected.

We subsequently made a trip to Chilliwack in July 2017 and selected the 21C. It’s the most trailer I want to tow and the least she wants to live in. We’ve spent six weeks in it on a couple of trips and have not struggled with cabin fever.

On one spring trip through the west, the high temperatures ranged from 34 to 104. That isn't the kind of trip I would take on with the teardrop anymore as it's been over four decades since I was 25.

It does seem we are outdoors less as we typically cook inside now, enjoying that big lavish countertop and the convenience of not hauling the food and cooking gear in and out of the trailer as we had with the Casita.

We’ve also finally taken to using the toilet to pee in at night, foregoing the 2:00 AM trips to the campground facilities that we normally use during the day. It’s one of life’s little luxuries.

Know thyself, and definitely take a look at the options “in real life” whether at the showroom or a rally. We definitely overstayed our appointment at the Escape showroom, but that enabled us to make the right decision for us.

My ideal trailer would drop some 12 or 16 inches like an Alaskan truck camper to make towing easier. Until someone starts making this “vision”, I’ll love the one I’m with.

Mike, thanks for your thoughtful reply. You’ve got me considering a 21, but I really think it would be near impossible to back into our driveway due to on street parking. There are some days getting the teardrop up is difficult (just a note for my ego, I’m exceptional at backing boats and trailers, it’s just tight on our street).

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Selkirk

I decided on the 19 principally because it somehow manages to include all the features of a much larger trailer in a compact and relatively lightweight package.

Features that were important to me:
- A proper queen bed with a residential-style mattress
- Tandem axles
- High GVW/cargo capacity (prior to being de-rated reasons I fail to understand)
- Abundant storage (especially with the optional front box)
- Reasonably spacious inside
- Ability to configure to meet your specific needs/use case
- Long term durability that comes with a molded fiberglass design

I currently live out of this trailer 2-4 days/week for 5 months each year. I want use it for extended traveling in the future and expect it to last for another 30 years with proper maintenance.

There are not too many other options out there that would meet my needs.....

Thank you for your reply. It does seem to be the best overall compromise.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by DanandDaphne

Well then you have definitely come to the right decision to buy an escape!

As I'm sure you already know, Escapes and other fiberglass trailers hold their value better than any other RVs. You might also consider looking for a used one since they really don't change much from year to year. The options change but the basic trailer is the same from 2017 onward. Most people take good care of them since they are an significant investment. The money you save can go to upgrades like additional solar panels, lithium ion batteries, new upholstery for cushions etc.

Our 2018 would easily sell for the $32K we paid for it even though the market has dropped recently. As long as you take good care of it I think even with the increased new prices you should at least be able to sell it for as much as you paid. Sure 32K isn't worth as much today as 32K was in 2018 but it's better than you do with any other toys, and you get to enjoy it all the time that you own it.

Thanks, I had no idea they held their value that well. Good to know.

[Civilguy]

Originally Posted by MoreQuestionsThanAnswers

Excellent information. Storage directs us to the 19. I think we will be very happy. Now…new or used.. Fun to work through.

Originally Posted by MoreQuestionsThanAnswers

Mike, thanks for your thoughtful reply. You’ve got me considering a 21, but I really think it would be near impossible to back into our driveway due to on street parking. There are some days getting the teardrop up is difficult (just a note for my ego, I’m exceptional at backing boats and trailers, it’s just tight on our street).

Chris, I don't have a horse in this race. If you don't buy a 21 (or even an Escape!) I won't feel dissed or invalidated or whatever it is that sometimes causes us to promote our personal choices a bit too "enthusiastically".

That said, "on paper" I was Jonesing for the 19 and the wife for the 5.0, but the showroom led us to the 21C. As you say, it can be fun to work through. Your journey will be different.

Regarding storage, the 21C has an option called the "tall drawer stack". It extends the low cabinet at the foot of the bed up to the ceiling. We use the upper section of that cabinet as a dry goods pantry. (We use the adjoining clothes closet next to the refrigerator as (gasp!) a clothes closet, a practice sometimes frowned upon by the knit-shirt crowd.)

If you look at the 21NE, it's more like a super-sized 19; I can't really speak to the storage configurations in either of those two trailers. However, in general, accessing the under-bed storage in these trailers benefits from a variety of improvements ranging from adding the optional cabinet doors, to building long "drawers" comprised of three or four plastic milk boxes arranged on a track, to adding cylinders to facilitate lifting the bed and providing better access from the top. I currently just use a broomstick with a small hook on the end to fish for things stored in the furthest reaches of the area under the bed.

We find that the front storage box mounted on the A-frame is a blessing to carry towing gear, a bottle jack, chocks and blocks, a door mat, mop bucket and various items that get wet and dirty. So, you may want to consider this option.

So much depends on your interests. If you are partial to SCUBA, kayaks, pets, barbeques, zero gravity loungers, or other similarly "profligate" habits, you'll have to work that out. (I like to kid John in Santa Cruz here on the forum about carrying "telescopes of unusual size" as he has an large reflector and accompanying ladder etc. which he carts about.)

One day I hope to undertake a few other improvements, perhaps moving the spare tire under the trailer and adding space for a canopy and/or large rug on the back bumper. But, in general, we easily travel with the trailer and our Jeep GC tow vehicle neither overloaded nor overflowing. We carry two folding electric bikes behind the second row in the Jeep, the trailer's cabinets are generally about half to 3/4 full, and towing weight is consistently about 4,500 to 4,600 lbs. We never eat all the food nor wear all the clothes nor use all the gear we bring but, like the boy scouts, we are prepared.

As to parking, I find the 21 can sometimes be surprisingly balky when it comes time to back it into a narrow space beside the house after a long day on the road. Other times it's incredibly easy, so it's kind of hit or miss. I don't know how much the 19's slightly shorter length might improve things in that regard, but it's certainly something to think about. Beyond that you can look into power dollies, front bumper hitches, and really go down the rabbit hole...

[Viajante]

Changing to an Escape will give you more space and at times more comfort from the elements. And you get a fiberglass shell. But it will be a downgrade in terms of quality of design, components, and overall construction from what a new High Camp teardrop offers.

[HABBERDABBER]

Get your passports squared away and go to the Escape factory to see the various models. It's just up the road from Seattle. Take the teardrop and have a swell trip.
Or, check the Escape ambassador program and set up visits with folks in your area that have models you would be interested in. Make your desires and dreaming concrete and not based on computer screen images. Kick some tires!

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

Get your passports squared away and go to the Escape factory to see the various models. It's just up the road from Seattle. Take the teardrop and have a swell trip.
Or, check the Escape ambassador program and set up visits with folks in your area that have models you would be interested in. Make your desires and dreaming concrete and not based on computer screen images. Kick some tires!

Both sound great

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by MoreQuestionsThanAnswers

You’ve got me considering a 21, but I really think it would be near impossible to back into our driveway due to on street parking.

That's what I thought about parking my 19. Then I found that I could get the 21 in. Then I added a rear box adding another 2'. Took it off when returning from a trip, then parked. Then one day I didn't. Now I have an effectively 23' trailer parked in a spot that I didn't think a 19 would fit.

Ron

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Viajante

Changing to an Escape will give you more space and at times more comfort from the elements. And you get a fiberglass shell. But it will be a downgrade in terms of quality of design, components, and overall construction from what a new High Camp teardrop offers.

Yes. I think people hear teardrop and they think of the inexpensive ones that are mostly out there. High Camp teardrops are beautiful. It’s a hard one to give up.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Civilguy

Chris, I don't have a horse in this race. If you don't buy a 21 (or even an Escape!) I won't feel dissed or invalidated or whatever it is that sometimes causes us to promote our personal choices a bit too "enthusiastically".

That said, "on paper" I was Jonesing for the 19 and the wife for the 5.0, but the showroom led us to the 21C. As you say, it can be fun to work through. Your journey will be different.

Regarding storage, the 21C has an option called the "tall drawer stack". It extends the low cabinet at the foot of the bed up to the ceiling. We use the upper section of that cabinet as a dry goods pantry. (We use the adjoining clothes closet next to the refrigerator as (gasp!) a clothes closet, a practice sometimes frowned upon by the knit-shirt crowd.)

If you look at the 21NE, it's more like a super-sized 19; I can't really speak to the storage configurations in either of those two trailers. However, in general, accessing the under-bed storage in these trailers benefits from a variety of improvements ranging from adding the optional cabinet doors, to building long "drawers" comprised of three or four plastic milk boxes arranged on a track, to adding cylinders to facilitate lifting the bed and providing better access from the top. I currently just use a broomstick with a small hook on the end to fish for things stored in the furthest reaches of the area under the bed.

We find that the front storage box mounted on the A-frame is a blessing to carry towing gear, a bottle jack, chocks and blocks, a door mat, mop bucket and various items that get wet and dirty. So, you may want to consider this option.

So much depends on your interests. If you are partial to SCUBA, kayaks, pets, barbeques, zero gravity loungers, or other similarly "profligate" habits, you'll have to work that out. (I like to kid John in Santa Cruz here on the forum about carrying "telescopes of unusual size" as he has an large reflector and accompanying ladder etc. which he carts about.)

One day I hope to undertake a few other improvements, perhaps moving the spare tire under the trailer and adding space for a canopy and/or large rug on the back bumper. But, in general, we easily travel with the trailer and our Jeep GC tow vehicle neither overloaded nor overflowing. We carry two folding electric bikes behind the second row in the Jeep, the trailer's cabinets are generally about half to 3/4 full, and towing weight is consistently about 4,500 to 4,600 lbs. We never eat all the food nor wear all the clothes nor use all the gear we bring but, like the boy scouts, we are prepared.

As to parking, I find the 21 can sometimes be surprisingly balky when it comes time to back it into a narrow space beside the house after a long day on the road. Other times it's incredibly easy, so it's kind of hit or miss. I don't know how much the 19's slightly shorter length might improve things in that regard, but it's certainly something to think about. Beyond that you can look into power dollies, front bumper hitches, and really go down the rabbit hole...

I found that a buddy has a flat bed close to the 19 footprint. I’m going to borrow it to see if the driveway is an issue. From there I can guesstimate the 21. But what kept me up all night was the 5.0. Too many good choices.

[Mike G]

There's no substitute for getting inside the different models (19, 21), sitting for a while in each, feeling whether the layout is comfortable to your style and preferences, and thinking about where you would like to store stuff. Spend a good 20 or 30 minutes in each one. It will help.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Thanks Mike

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

That's what I thought about parking my 19. Then I found that I could get the 21 in. Then I added a rear box adding another 2'. Took it off when returning from a trip, then parked. Then one day I didn't. Now I have an effectively 23' trailer parked in a spot that I didn't think a 19 would fit.

Ron

Swing by Seattle. We can practice on my driveway. Make it a little competition!

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by MoreQuestionsThanAnswers

Swing by Seattle. We can practice on my driveway. Make it a little competition!

Well that would be fun. Of course then you'd have to try my dog-leg parking spot.

Ron

[quidoi]

Originally Posted by Mike G

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! ^ This is it right here. An Escape is your own personal "cabin in the woods" and "cabin at the lake," ready to relax in, wherever you park it.


Besides, every time I see one of those rear galley hatches on a teardrop I automatically think, "there goes a bad leak waiting to happen"!

hey mike here you go..