Thinking about buying

[Super Dave]

I'm new here (first post) My wife & I are thinking about upgrading from our Pop-up and getting an Escape.
Any advice/tips/pointers?

I live in Chilliwack and I've visited the production facility. Quite impressed with quality and workmanship.

[thoer]

Welcome - you are making a wise choice with any Escape!

[padlin]

Welcome Dave, Just make sure you really want a small trailer, then pick the one that fits your needs and plans. Something to keep in mind, most folks end up with bigger vehicles for the 2 bigger trailers.

[KarenH]

Welcome, Super Dave. I, too, went from a pop-up to an Escape and haven't looked back. I can finally camp during the shoulder seasons and even in the winter. Love my Escape!

[bisonbill]

Welcome Dave. You can't go too wrong buying an Escape. They seem to resell for almost purchase price and are a lot drier in the rain than a pop up. Don't forget to post the story of your pick up trip.

[gbaglo]

If you have a tent trailer, I don't think anybody needs to convince you that an Escape is better.

[alanmalk]

A couple of years ago, when we were just starting to consider giving up tent camping, we rented a pop-up. We quickly realized it couldn't keep out: bears, noise, cold, rain, ...

We also rented a big motor home. But I asked my brother-in-law (occasional big-rig truck driver) to drive it for me. You can guess where that went.

Then we discovered fiberglass "eggs" and as they say, the rest is history.

--
Alan

[BCnomad]

Depending on your needs, a factory demonstrator model would avoid the year plus wait. Check the classifieds often.

[Bobbito]

Whatever you do, do NOT get a stick trailer. There are so many instances of leaks damaging or destroying these temptingly cheap and often spacious units and many are unaware of this. (We had this experience.). Of the fully fibreglass units, I think Escape is not only tremendous value and quality, but. the support from ETI amazing. If you have your eyes on the Escape brand, you have nailed the biggest decision. Browse this forum for the huge amount of info owners and future owners have provided. One tip I will offer, is that ETI answered my phone calls when I couldn't get a satisfactory answer on the forum, often Reace himself. And I found his explanations most helpful. Don't hesitate to call them if you can't find your answer on this forum.
Bob K

[pkgman51]

We graduated from tent camping after our tent of 30 years, 'died'. We purchased an Escape and haven't regretted it for a second. Yes, there is the 'overhead' of expenses that come with a trailer, but the Escape allows us so many more options of places to camp, and seasons to camp....with comfort and convenience. So, you're not just purchasing an alternate to a tent, your purchasing an alternate camping experience and community.
Gary

[Loren & Cathy]

Welcome Dave. Now that you have decided on an Escape trailer, all you have to do is decide on which model. And visiting the plant and taking delivery shouldn't be to difficult. We enjoyed our visits to your fair city and the poutine wasn't all that bad. Loren

[Brian B-P]

We tried a rented tent trailer (pop-up) first, too... and we have a motorhome. The issue with the trailer was the same: tent material doesn't seem very secure.

Although a hard-bodied travel trailer is clearly more convenient to use than a pop-up, and not much different to tow, it is worth being sure that you get enough space - when the ends fold out a pop-up gets pretty big, so if you need all that bed space then it takes a decently sized travel trailer to work as well.

Of course, if getting a travel trailer it's tough to beat the construction quality of an Escape... and when you are accustomed to a pop-up staying with a reasonably low and stable trailer (such as an Escape, and unlike many boxes-on-stilts trailers) seems like a good plan.

[C&G in FL]

Welcome, Dave.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Super Dave

I'm new here (first post) My wife & I are thinking about upgrading from our Pop-up and getting an Escape.
Any advice/tips/pointers?

I live in Chilliwack and I've visited the production facility. Quite impressed with quality and workmanship.

Hi: Super Dave... Talk about "Buying local"!!! We find it great to be able to pull into a parking lot and have lunch in our trailer, but be prepared to be surrounded.
The 5.0TA looks really big on its own. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Jim Bennett]

Welcome, Dave.

We too starting into RVs with a tent trailer, and loved it. It gave us great comfort over a tent, and we had two wee bairns. We camped in the rain, snow, cold with it with no problems. Absolutely loved the size opened up, the beds were fantastic. It was a Coleman with a built in outside stove, so we cooked there, under the awning all the time.

While not as secure as a hard walled trailer, which really was not an issue with us, the set up and tear down time is what got to us, especially tearing down in the rain, which meant opening it up as soon as possible again to dry out.

I then got busy starting my own company, and we sold the tent trailer, and bought a Terry 24 bunk model trailer, as our trips would be a lot closer to home, and mostly weekend ones. The bunk model worked good for the kids too, as they were nearing teen years, but the front couch/main bed was a bit small for us at about 4' wide. This trailer ended up mostly being a cabin out at our rec land, but did see a few forays off to camp with friends, and a couple two week trips.

Once our kids got to late teens, and still loved camping with us, albeit in their own space (tents), we decided to look into something more efficient in layout and size, and after lots of research decided upon a moulded fibreglass trailer, and looked at lots of different makes and models, UNTIL Reace announced he was coming out with a 19' model, and we were all over it like a dirty shirt. My wife's only requests were a permanent bed, and a toilet for the middle of the night.

I really can't see having anything but a FG trailer, and are now migrating to the 5.0TA, as I am also moving towards retirement, and plan to do A LOT of travel with it.

You can't go wrong with an Escape, Dave. Choose the model that works best for you today. Should you even want to change models, there is a high retained value to these trailers, and it will cost you very little for the time you did use it. It is great you live in Chilliwack, and can easily go and compare and view the various models.

[LarryandLiz]

Dave. If you want a Fiberglass trailer since you live in Chilliwack going with Escape makes the decision a "no brainier."

When we started our decision making process I was struck by all the people from both Canada and the US that are very pleased with their Escape. There is a reason - the Escape is a very good product. ETI is expanding but seeking to maintain quality control.

Larry

[GRINGOandTICA]

I love my 19. My wife and daughter had never ever been camping. Last Summer we drove from NJ to pick ours up, and the rest is history. It was a very welcome addition to the family.

[skiman]

Originally Posted by Bobbito

Whatever you do, do NOT get a stick trailer. There are so many instances of leaks damaging or destroying these temptingly cheap and often spacious units and many are unaware of this. (We had this experience.). Of the fully fibreglass units, I think Escape is not only tremendous value and quality, but. the support from ETI amazing. If you have your eyes on the Escape brand, you have nailed the biggest decision. Browse this forum for the huge amount of info owners and future owners have provided. One tip I will offer, is that ETI answered my phone calls when I couldn't get a satisfactory answer on the forum, often Reace himself. And I found his explanations most helpful. Don't hesitate to call them if you can't find your answer on this forum.
Bob K

I will second that! No stickies for me! Water damage is so, so typical.

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by skiman

I will second that! No stickies for me! Water damage is so, so typical.

Earlier this year I rented a motorhome for a month. We had been looking at various dealer lots and shows for more than a year. I knew I didn't want a motorhome, but the trailers for rent were larger than my FJ could handle. I never camped, except as a kid when it was fun and I didn't have to do any of the grunt work. I joined various forums for different mfgrs and discovered that everyone and their brother/sister was bitching about this and that about their rigs. OMG, it never ended.

My dad suggested fiberglass (Scamp to be specific), so I started looking at the various companies on the internet, having never seen one in person. Escape was the only one with a queen length bed (my main requirement) and a layout that I liked. I was able to view 4 in the area, which was wonderful and we still appreciate the owners for opening up their trailers to us.

While you live in Chilliwack and can view the factory, I'd suggest looking at rigs owned by others. There's quite a bit of customization you can do to the trailers and it helps to see them in person. I had been thinking of the U-shaped dinette and decided it was what I wanted after flopping around on one in a 21'. I was far more confident in that decision after trying it out, as opposed to "yeah, I think it'll work".

Yes, there have been a few problems pop up on the Escape trailers since I joined this forum. (At first the only complaint I could find was a fellow in Alaska whose trailer wasn't strong enough in the suspension, or some such, to carry the moose he killed. That still makes me laugh when I think about it. He loved his trailer, though.) However, ETI has been right on top of the problems and found a solution fairly quickly. I was very impressed with that. I wasn't seeing that kind of response from the other mfgrs.

[rbryan4]

Welcome to the Forum Dave. There's already a good amount of good advice so I won't add to it except to say one thing- spend some time in the various models, and think about how you will use the trailer. The right model will become apparent, whatever it is.