Looking to be a 21 ft owner

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by skiman

The box is my favorite option on the 21' for all the reasons cited.

What he said. Another vote for the box. I really think ETI should make it standard equipment.

[Loren & Cathy]

The box was one of the first things on our build sheet. A big plus is the rock protection it provides to the front of the trailer. I believe it is Line-x that they have it coated with. Loren

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Another vote for the box. I really think ETI should make it standard equipment.

Then the base price would just be $700 higher, right? Although most people want the box, and most seem willing to pay for it, it's nice to have the choice.

[cpaharley2008]

Make your box has drain holes, mine did not....

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Make your box has drain holes, mine did not....

They all have the drain holes now.

[cpaharley2008]

No harm in checking, both of mine did not. I think it is safe to say they all are supposed to have them, but there is always a chance one may slip by.

[Patandlinda]

Another vote for front storage box . Most important protection of front trailer . Pat

[Santiago]

Ok, we are convinced, box will go on the list of options.
Anyone know the depth and width in the center area ?

[Santiago]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

My 21' Escape came in at 4300# last year on way home from Osoyoos, 500# t/w and 3800# on axles. I'm pulling with a 2014 Hemi 8 speed and this year, once 10,000 miles hit my gas started improving. I'm averaging 14 mpg towing and over 20 not towing. I have the 3:21 rear end which helps with the mpg. I believe the smaller engines will work harder thus causing efficiency to drop, particularly out west with the mountains and the E85 fuel.

Hi Jim, curious on the actual travel weight of your 21. I know you have a storage box and that weighs ~ 50 pounds empty, so I heard. About how much gear would you estimate was in it when you weighed the tongue ? Anything else on the tongue besides the two 20 pound LPG tanks ? Any idea how full your black and grey tanks were when you weighed it.

Overall on that trip you weighed the trailer, how loaded would you say it was - packed to the rafters? lightly packed ? just so so.

I am trying to get a feel for what I will experience with tongue weight as well as overall travel weight. We all know the dry weight and its a good basis for comparison but users like you with the same model stating real world weight and accurate to boot is a very helpful.

[cpaharley2008]

It was packed for 3 weeks and 7000 miles of travel. Full accompaniment of clothes and food with mats,bike and dog food in the truck bed. Fresh water tank is always kept at 1/3-1/2 while traveling but other tanks empty. I also carry at least 5-10 gal of water for the dogs from home for these longer trips, so they were down to about 5 gal. . I'd say I was 90% full. Both propane tanks were also 90% full and I'm using the Andersen set up. Refer was on propane the entire trip home.

[Santiago]

Jim, main reason I asked was due to the 500 pound hitch weight. Will I need to be very careful of what I place in the box? It's well within tongue weight percentage.

[cpaharley2008]

Get yourself a Sherline tongue scale http://www.amazon.com/Sherline-LM-10...e+weight+scale so you can measure at home. If you go beyond then you may need a w/d hitch, that gives you more capacity on some vehicles. Check the owners manual.

[gbaglo]

If you are going to buy the Sherline, make sure you order it with a 1,000 lb. gauge, otherwise it comes with a 2,000 which will be harder to read at 500lbs and less accurate. Gauge is most accurate in the middle of the range.

[Ralph & Paulette]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Ralph, the heat strip in the A/C was listed before as an option, but I notice it's no longer there. That might mean it's no longer offered, but you could always call Escape and ask.

OK, I contacted ETI about the heat strip. Tammy says it IS still available as a option ($100). She says they took it off the option list because people were confused as to why they offered a heat strip if the trailer comes standard with a furnace.

[kstock11]

I think that the heat strip ends up in the same category as the electric hot water heater option. Many feel they are paying for campground electricity, so they should use it! I went without either and feel that it would take many years camping with hookups to break even, but that's just my opinion.

[skiman]

Originally Posted by kstock11

I think that the heat strip ends up in the same category as the electric hot water heater option. Many feel they are paying for campground electricity, so they should use it! I went without either and feel that it would take many years camping with hookups to break even, but that's just my opinion.

I never liked running the A/C for the heat strip in the Casita because of the noise. That's why I grabbed Cpaharley's idea for the Broan heater mod. Nice quiet heater that keeps the trailer warm except in the coldest conditions. No tripping over a cube heater either.


http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...21-a-5531.html

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

What he said. Another vote for the box. I really think ETI should make it standard equipment.

I strongly disagree. We don't have the box, and for the past 6 1/2 years have had no need for it. Maybe to bring stuff that we don't need. As it is, very little goes into the tow vehicle other than non-campsite stuff, and we still have some storage room left.

Having Line-X on it is a good thing though. I might be adding that to the front of our trailer.

It is not possible for a 5.0 either, and those folks manage without.

I do understand that many do love it though, and if it works as a good option for them, that is great.

[Rossue]

Agree- they're standardizing several things already such as the EZ-Lube & Digital Thermostat. It might be tempting though as it seems like a high margin item.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I strongly disagree. We don't have the box, and for the past 6 1/2 years have had no need for it. Maybe to bring stuff that we don't need.

I agree with you disagreeing. I have the box but waffled for a long, long time over it. I'm glad I have it now but should I have decided against it, I'm sure that would have been okay, too. It's a very high-ticket item to have as standard when so many do not want or have it.

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Agree- they're standardizing several things already such as the EZ-Lube & Digital Thermostat. It might be tempting though as it seems like a high margin item.

The digital thermostat changes the mode that the A/C uses. With it, the fan is off when not cooling, and the option on running on a low (hence quiet) fan speed is possible. Far better than my past units.