New Member

Eire · 03-09-2020, 11:50 PM

Hi Guys,

A quick intro - I have a young family with 3 kids and hope to eventually get a 17a escape. I've done my research and this seems to be the best fit for us right now. I'm currently trawling the forum for good advice and have already found few nuggets that have really helped me out. I'm sure this will continue. Thanks to everyone in advance for being part of this community. It seems the escape 'bug' that I am developing has already bitten quite a few others,

Eire

Eggscape · 03-10-2020, 01:21 AM

Glad your having some fun and dreaming all things Escape.

Doug2000 · 03-10-2020, 01:28 AM

A family with 2 young kids bought my 2007 17B, used it one trip and had it listed for sale. I contacted them and asked if there was a problem. He said they couldn't make it work, not enough room for all the stuff.

When my kids were small, we had a 2004 Fleetwood Redwood tent trailer, full 14' box, opened to 26', tons of room.

Escapes are the best travel trailers on the market, but they are small.

**rbryan4** · 03-10-2020, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug2000

A family with 2 young kids bought my 2007 17B, used it one trip and had it listed for sale. I contacted them and asked if there was a problem. He said they couldn't make it work, not enough room for all the stuff.

When my kids were small, we had a 2004 Fleetwood Redwood tent trailer, full 14' box, opened to 26', tons of room.

Escapes are the best travel trailers on the market, but they are small.

If I were a prospective buyer, I'd take heed from this.

Molded fiberglass trailers aren't for everyone - or even the vast majority of RVers. We love that our trailer is relatively small. We love the efficiency of it. But even our 19 would likely be too cramped for most.

cpaharley2008 · 03-10-2020, 07:41 AM

Welcome Dermot,
Escapes will last a long time, long after the kids grow up and want to camp themselves. You fail to mention your tow vehicle. An Escape 19, properly setup with front bunk option could handle 3 children with the queen in the rear for the adults. Just something to think about...

azjack · 03-10-2020, 07:58 AM

We are now down to a 17. It has a lot more room than our 13 Scamp with two kids, age 12 and 15, pulled by a VW rabbit, 28 ford or 38 Ford. They still remember the trips and they now use tents and love it. 40 years later.
AZjack

Eggscape · 03-10-2020, 10:37 AM

We had great fun camping in our 13 foot Boler with a kid and a dog. There was even a spare bunk for a guest kid. Enough room for two kids bikes and a full size home bbq inside while in transit. I don’t see the problem...way better than a tent...a 17 would have been deluxe...a 17B with a bathroom would have been heaven.
It is just the state of the world today...and I will leave it at that.

jadams · 03-10-2020, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eire

Hi Guys,

A quick intro - I have a young family with 3 kids and hope to eventually get a 17a escape. I've done my research and this seems to be the best fit for us right now. I'm currently trawling the forum for good advice and have already found few nuggets that have really helped me out. I'm sure this will continue. Thanks to everyone in advance for being part of this community. It seems the escape 'bug' that I am developing has already bitten quite a few others,

Eire

Welcome! Wish you all the best in your search, 17 A acquisition and future RV'ing and camping endeavors.

The internal space of 17s is quote impressive. A 17 A will even have more space than my 17 B!

rubicon327 · 03-10-2020, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azjack

It has a lot more room than our 13 Scamp with two kids, age 12 and 15, pulled by a VW rabbit, 28 ford or 38 Ford.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggscape

We had great fun camping in our 13 foot Boler with a kid and a dog. There was even a spare bunk for a guest kid.

The OP is indicating 3 kids. Granted it is bigger than a 13, but I still don't see how you can reasonably sleep 5 in a 17 without using the floor but maybe I am missing something?

I have camped in a Scamp 16 (side dinette) with 2 adults and 2 kids and in the Escape 19 with 2 adults and 3 kids. The 19 is about the smallest I can personally tolerate. Stuff is everywhere and there is still a lot in the tow vehicle. As Jim indicated above the 19 front with double bed and cot above sleeps 3 kids quite comfortably even as they grow. Plus the adults have the permanent queen in the back. Depends on particular circumstances and tow vehicle but my recommendation is to seriously consider the 19 if possible.

rubicon327 · 03-10-2020, 11:33 AM

Eggscape I love that original Wrangler. I had an 88' for about 16 years. Original 4.2L motor made it to 220,000 miles. What year was yours? Based on the roll bar had to be 1987-90.

Eire · 03-10-2020, 12:00 PM

Thanks for all the comments. Lots to consider for sure. To answer the questions, we are driving a Honda Odyssey with a 3500lbs towing capacity. That is the reason I wanted to get into a 17a rather than a 19, although when the time is right and we change tow vehicle I can see us shifting to a 21 or even the 23 that I've read about here. In the meantime we will likely be using a tent as well when the weather permits to give us a bit of extra room. Not too worried about the space as long as I can configure bunks. The kids end up doubling up to a bed almost every night anyway.
We are in a tent trailer right now, which is cramped but manageable.

Eggscape · 03-10-2020, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Eggscape I love that original Wrangler. I had an 88' for about 16 years. Original 4.2L motor made it to 220,000 miles. What year was yours? Based on the roll bar had to be 1987-90.

My post was in comment Doug2000 post about the buyer of his trailer. I should have quoted it.

3 kids would be a stretch in a 17B, maybe not so much with 3 kids in a 17A with a bunk...unless you have one of each. There is an old joke in there somewhere.

Good eye...It was a 1990 YJ as they called them here in Canada and it was the model S. 4 cylinder throttle body fuel injection...only a touch better than a carb. Lots of fun doing Jeep Jamborees and Easter Weeks in Moab. It is what got me hooked on jeeps and keeps me hooked even today.

rubicon327 · 03-10-2020, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggscape

3 kids would be a stretch in a 17B, maybe not so much with 3 kids in a 17A with a bunk

The 17A beds are both 52" so there is more sleeping room, but you can't do the gaucho bunk in a 17A.

rubicon327 · 03-10-2020, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggscape

It is what got me hooked on jeeps and keeps me hooked even today.

I routinely look for a nice weekend driver 82-86' CJ-7 (wide track axles). Hard to come by these days. They are either trashed, heavily modified/lifted or very pricey.

Eggscape · 03-10-2020, 02:30 PM

I agree that you may not be able to do it or order it as Escape would fit it. But that has never stopped a few of us doing mods.
If 3 bunks can be done in the front of an Armadillo which is Boler in size, I am sure it could be done in any Escape. With the wider area you could probably stuff/store 5 kids in there.

I will send you a PM on Jeeps.

h2owmn · 03-10-2020, 04:49 PM

I don't want to rain on your parade, but....my 17a ready for camping for just me weighs 2800. that's dangerously close to the odyssey's limit, and then also, you should check the gcwr

here's an explanation of possible limits.
https://www.curtmfg.com/towing-capacity

That said, if you do get another tow vehicle, and want a 17A, you might think about asking for two dinettes and springfield pedestals. This will give you more "living room" and the pedestal makes it super easy to make both areas into beds. Or, you could get one Springfield and if you don't need two tables, you can take one table out and use slats for the second bed. this would also make it easier to access the underbed storage. Also, I'd recommend hatches driver side front and passenger side rear, and a door in the passenger side front bench for access under there.

rubicon327 · 03-10-2020, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggscape

I agree that you may not be able to do it or order it as Escape would fit it. But that has never stopped a few of us doing mods.
If 3 bunks can be done in the front of an Armadillo which is Boler in size, I am sure it could be done in any Escape. With the wider area you could probably stuff/store 5 kids in there.

True. I love this PVC bunk mod done by Greg in a 17B.
www.scampowners.com/forums/pvc-pipe-bunk-bed

Eggscape · 03-10-2020, 07:03 PM

That is a non destructive, light weight design for sure.

rubicon327 · 03-19-2020, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggscape

Good eye...It was a 1990 YJ as they called them here in Canada and it was the model S. 4 cylinder throttle body fuel injection...only a touch better than a carb. Lots of fun doing Jeep Jamborees and Easter Weeks in Moab. It is what got me hooked on jeeps and keeps me hooked even today.

Came across this old pic of my ‘88. Thought you’d enjoy it.

Doug2000 · 03-20-2020, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Came across this old pic of my ‘88. Thought you’d enjoy it.

Both my wife and I always wanted a Jeep. Pricing out insurance for our son, the Jeep came up the cheapest on our list of cool teenager vehicles. Bamm, 2003 Jeep TJ Sahara. It's going to be a fun summer.

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