Time for an Intro

[brroberts]

We are on the waitlist for a 19.
The schedule says Feb ‘22. but the way things have been moving I would expect late ‘21.

I have camped and RV’d my whole life. My parents took me all over North America, and they were full timers for many years. Full timing is not something we want to do. My wife got into kayaking and backpacking with me. We tent camped a few years and the bought an Alaskan camper followed by a Bigfoot camper and then a cheap Forest River trailer. I do audio work for churches. We both worked in schools focused on “at risk and special needs” students.

Barb likes her flower gardens and biking. I enjoy astronomy and sailing. Her biggest hobby is quilting and mine is hiking. We often carry backpacks, bikes, and an inflatable kayak with a sail rig. We are members of Boondockers Welcome and have 3 RV sites here. We also belong to Good Sam just because we got in cheap. We also use Passport America. We sometimes, but not often use Day’s End as ex Escapees. My folks were very involved in Escapees, and while it is a good organization, it is not a good fit for us.

Our favorite places to camp are National Forests, COE parks, and state / provincial parks. We do sometimes use private parks, but less so than public options.

When traveling BC, Yukon, or Alaska, we prefer a pickup camper, but every where else a small trailer. We don’t do many short trips. We typically go 8-12 weeks once or twice a year.

We visited Escape in 2012. I prefer single wall fiberglass trailers. Having dealt with cored fiberglass in RV’s and boats, I understand their advantages, but also their disadvantages. Escapes really are not that much more than a Casita or Scamp - although they are more. For the difference, for us, Escape hits the sweet spot. Olivers, while nice, aren’t near as livable for us.

This will be our biggest RV yet, and it’s starting to push the edge for some of the kinds of places we like to camp. The shower and bed pushed us away from the 17B. Even with the Alaskan camper, we always had enough interior space.

While the Escape is a three season trailer, having had a Bigfoot, I know we will push the edges. I don’t care if the trailer is lightweight or not. I own a 3/4 ton pickup.

Here’s where we are on our purchase thoughts (if you care - everyone will be different):


Maple
Summit Ash upholstery
Shadow Gray flooring
Portico Marble counter / table laminate
Cream edge trim
No graphics

Flush mount stove $400 - unless other options become available before build.*
6 Cu Ft fridge $350.00
2 way water Heater $170.00
Tall toilet with hand flush $52.00
Toilet shut off $24.00
6V dual batteries in front box $220.00
Solar roof panel $710.00
Removable power cord $130 Which outlets on each circuit?
Coleman 13,500 A/C NDQ with Soft Start $1316.00
Wireless back up camera $425.00
*TV cable Ready $300 -see notes at end
*TV Antenna $80.00 combined with cable and using 12v outlet from options list - see notes at end
Framed Bath Window $215.00
Framed Kitchen Window $255.00
Frameless rear window $315.00 special option
Body lift $340.00
Double step $40.00
Cabinet door end of dinette $68.00
Spray foam with heat pads $960.00.
Front storage box $560.00
Dinette raise $250.00
Stainless steel backsplash $72.00
Stock table* floor / table bases not installed. Will install marinetek pedestal after purchase
Exterior 12V/USB outlet $60.00

Options locations:
All 6 reinforced walls $480.00
12/USB volt interior outlets Optional locations 2, 3, and 6 $180.00. I’ll pull LED after purchase
LED Captains lights Optional locations 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 $160.00
Counter extensions Optional both 1 and 2 $136.00
Bottom single drawer under wardrobe Option 1 drawer $80.00

2nd sewer hose carrier $60.00
Stabilizer jack sand pads $40.00

Customization:
Cut mattress slightly (2”) smaller to allow better air circulation.* It’s been before, but waiting verification
Individual propane shut off valves to water heater, furnace, fridge, cooktop in case of repair? Waiting on verification
Lower the exterior door grab handle. Would like top of handle at 60” (5’). (1.524m)

Kitchen/bath:
Reports of shower pan cracking? Increased laminations?
Will send Oxygenics Fury shower head and stainless hose for build. Not sure about length of hose yet. Recommendations for hose length?
Kitchen sink shut off valves $48.00

Sink option: Blanco Stellar -* 15” X 15” X 6 1/2” approved

Additional add: larger rear overhead cabinet door $150.00

Entertainment:
I’ll have to do my own stereo after purchase.*

Notes:

*Entertainment center.
Replace front shelf with cabinet - if not, keep shelf
Move cable. and antenna feed to front cabinet / shelf
110v

Pictures of flush mount stove installed when available.*

User supply:
Oxygenics Fury shower head and flexible hose.*
Blanco Stellar sink

Upgrades to be user completed:

Speaker ideas: Infinity Kappa 621X
JL Audio, Hertz, Morel
Stereo AM / FM DVD TBD
Maple stereo mounting box

Froli traveler sleep system
sailrite cushion underpayment under cushions
Goodyear tires when needed
Solar portable panel with adapter to use 30 amp cord for extension. Install power pole connector
exterior solar port wired parallel with controller
solar and controller shut of switches
shower head 1/2” shut off
portable micro with pool noodle glass tray holder
heat tape maybe
polyurethane wood under mattress and cushions. or paint.
reinforce under bed maybe L brackets to existing wood
Upgraded battery disconnect switch BEP Easyfit switch or something
slide out cutting board above drawers
Fold down spice rack?
Reflectix front window rock guard
Reflective tape across rear bumper
fan at end of bed, 2 at dinette
drop down storage tray for meds, glasses, above bed.
under bed storage light
under bed storage drawer / tub / crate(s)
spare sail switch
spare heater igniter board
furnace duct to solid from flex
cubby umbra hooks
never adjust brake set up when brakes wear out.
tandem breakers in box? separate circuits.
head of bed bag to hold nighttime items
krylon fusion dover white for escape touch up
accmalator and silencing kit (short flex hose) for water pump
lee valley (or make) drawer dividers
put eze gutter across all vents and windows.
extra domestic short freezer door shelf
MaxxFan. seal wiring entry hole and seal board
quick release water connections.
hose bib thread chaser
bed liner for wheel wells
blocks outside bottom propane tanks to keep closer together
propane tank tray screws rust off isolate tray from frame.
POR 15 frame as needed
Progressive Dynamics wildcat converter board - 4600 series Order from Best Converters
fast away flip jack 4”
shower floor support mat
bath sink shut offs? Escape says not room
spare water pump
spare digital thermostat
Zacore door screen / window
Heated water hose, the good one, not Camco
12v tv
shakespeare 4’ am / fm phase 3 antenna
grand slam 800 crank up antenna mount
weather guard 664 or 654 box for trailer rear after lifting batteries and installing under tongue spare tire and winch so space for bikes in truck

[HABBERDABBER]

You've done your due diligence in spades. Anything on your list that is easier at build time....do it. Any accessories or mods can be purchased later, maybe less expensive.

Bon voyage

P.S. I think an E19 will be swell for you, but I am biased. You've given me a "To Do" list of winter actions and improvements.

[brroberts]

Thanks

[Doug2000]

Wow, that's a long list. It took us 3 minutes to do ours. The only thing I don't see is the outdoor shower. We haven't ever used it to actually shower but wash feet, footwear, rinse pots and pans, spray kids. If we have a big gathering with friends, we setup a table and do all the dishes outside.


Welcome to the Forum.

[brroberts]

In over 50 years of RVing, I’ve never used the outdoor shower for anything. I’m not going to dump dishwater on the ground unless I’m camping backcountry by backpack, kayak, bike, or canoe, or am far enough offshore in a sailboat. For rinsing feet from the beach cold water is fine. I don’t shower outside unless it’s one of the previously mentioned activities. So for us, more holes in the fiberglass, more to winterize, more to maintain, and more cost is just a bad idea. We don’t have kids or grandkids young enough to need it, and we don’t travel with pets. For many folks, they probably enjoy the functionality of an outside shower; for me, it’s worthless.

[tdf-texas]

Camping at Quartzite, we were told that it is now illegal to dump the grey tank. It seems that some people thought they could dump the black tanks as well as the grey - that got dumping the grey banned.

But pouring dishwater from a pan on the cactus is not only legal but good for the plants. The outside shower with a small table set up below it and a pan allowed us to wash our dishes. It also allowed more time before we had to take the trailer to a dump station to empty the grey.

Some may not see any need for an outside shower but for us, it makes a great outside sink area. Wouldn't do without it!

[salmo7000]

Wow, you have definitely done your due diligence, and undoubtedly your 50 years of experience with RVs has served you well in outfitting your 19!!

I'm one who took only a few minutes to do the build for my 19, but I was $$ limited, so I chose the items I felt were absolutely necessary to camp the way I wanted, with just a few nice-to-have options. My 19 is my first RV, and now with the experience of 2 years of camping with it, there are definitely things I'd do differently. That said, I've been incredibly happy with it exactly as it is and am unlikely to ever replace it.

I'm a devoted boondocker, by the way, and prefer to camp away from others. You'll find you'll be able to get your 19 into some very tight spots, and get it turned around, where others can't. This past summer, I was camped at a BLM site where some people drove in with a 21-foot stickie. They tried and tried but could not get it turned around. They finally had to unhitch it to get it out. I had gotten mine turned around in less than 5 minutes, by myself with no backup camera, and with a crew cab pickup. Escapes are wonderfully maneuverable.

Best of luck with your new 19!!!

[brroberts]

It’s not my first RV, but it is my longest RV. We have a pretty good idea how we will use the trailer after years of travel. While it is a pretty expensive list of options, it’s likely the last RV. We tow with a ‘98 Chevy long bed standard cab 2500. We bought it new, and I don’t have any plans to retire it. Given where I am in life now, if I had to replace it, I’d get a Colorado or Ranger. As far as tight spaces, it’s still less able to go some places I’ve been, but yes it’s still pretty small in the RV world.