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11-08-2017, 10:16 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Arcata, California
Trailer: 2011 Escape 17B
Posts: 209
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First trip in 2011 17B
After years of travelling and recently spending a good amount of time sleeping on the ground (Trinity Alps, No. California, Glacier NP, Grand Tetons NP, Yellowstone, Crater Lake, etc.) we decided to buy a travel trailer. We were fixated on the T@b, until we accidentally stumbled across the Escape.
Last month we traveled to San Jose, CA (about 5.5 hours south of home) and met Ben and purchased his 2011 17B. We brought it home, cleaned it out (although he and his wife were meticulous, so the job was easy), had the cushions reupholstered in denim, and loaded up the bare essentials. I included a photo of the "before" cushions - nicely cared for, but just not our style.
Tomorrow afternoon we head 2 hours north to Harris Beach State Park in the beautiful state of Oregon for two nights. It will likely rain the whole time, but we'll have a chance to try out everything and make a list of what we want to change/adjust in the spring. Then, in August, we intend to hit the road for a year. We'll start a blog and YouTube channel and document our travels, travails, and tribulations.
I'll post pictures this weekend! Thank you all for the advice you've provided and will provide in the future and thank you Ben for an awesome small travel trailer!
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11-08-2017, 10:21 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Bellingham and Glacier, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15A
Posts: 2,052
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How exciting for you! And changing out the upholstery is just the first step in making the trailer your very own.
Welcome to the Escape world.
__________________
Karen Hulford
2013 Escape 15A, "Egbert"
'93 Ford 150 XLT or
'22 GMC Acadia Denali
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11-08-2017, 10:52 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Coast of, Oregon
Trailer: Looking to Buy
Posts: 27
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How Exciting
Congrats on the purchase of your Escape!
And Kudos on the plan for an adventure. The memories will last a lifetime. We just completed a cross country trip by car to Maine last spring. Can’t wait to do it again in a FG Trailer!
Looking forward to following your travel blog
Charley
__________________
"Don't Fence Me In" - Cole Porter
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11-08-2017, 11:29 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Milpitas, California
Trailer: 2017 19'
Posts: 347
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nice cushions!
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11-09-2017, 01:09 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Ponoka, Alberta
Trailer: 2016 19 classic "outta sight", jeep rubicon unlimited
Posts: 1,645
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What a transformation! Beautiful!!
__________________
"never lose hope, never lose faith"
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11-09-2017, 08:34 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,561
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Congratulations Sherm! Great idea on the denim!
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'
“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
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11-09-2017, 09:55 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19 "Seventy Degrees"
Posts: 3,495
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Love the Denim. Should be a very good fabric for the trailer life as well.
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11-09-2017, 10:06 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Trailer: 2020 Escape 17B "Voyager"
Posts: 2,681
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Very nice! Looking forward to hearing about your travels.
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11-14-2017, 08:13 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Arcata, California
Trailer: 2011 Escape 17B
Posts: 209
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Update....Our first trip
So, as fate would have it, we faced torrential rain last Thursday when we were getting ready to head up the No. Cal coast. Destination: Harris Beach State Park, Oregon.
We got on the road around 4 p.m. and drove the 2 hours in varying levels of rainfall. Sometimes none, sometimes misty, sometimes Biblical.
We arrived at Harris Beach around 6:15 in the evening. Good and dark. Windy with no rain. Checked in with the host (very friendly and helpful) and then sought out our spot. We chose D18 because it looked pretty good in the dark!
We had our family radios ready and got backed into the spot with no trouble, no arguments, no problems at all. Got leveled and set up, made our hookups and we were ready to cook. We don't like to cook inside, so I used our camp stove and cooked up dinner with my wife. We sat down to eat and about 30 seconds later, the rain started. Put away the stove and moved in for the night. No problems at all.
The weekend was great with the sound of the ocean, easy walk to the beach, good running and hiking trails, easy drive into Brookings, etc.
So here's the rundown:
Trailer: everything worked very well. It's loud at night in the rain and that will take some getting used to, but we have earplugs and I'm kind of deaf on one so, so the earplugs go furhter! Seating inside was great- much roomier than I anticipated. We definitely need to figure out where everything will live, because we struggled to move things around and find the right place for towels, dishes, radio, flashlights, etc.
Towing: absolutely no trouble. I've towed boats and a very (stupidly overweight) large trailer before, so the 17 was not even an issue. Good gas mileage (about 14 mpg in our 2015 Ford Explorer).
Harris Beach State Park: California should take a lesson from Oregon. The park was beautiful. In the process of being upgraded. Our site was on a newly paved loop with new hookups. Each one has a lighted pylon (?) that has 50 amp, 30 amp, plus 2 110 v outlets and water. The bathrooms are heated as are the showers and all are kept very clean.
Verdict: success! Can't wait for the next opportunity to go out again!
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11-14-2017, 08:47 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,561
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Great report and pictures, Sherm! Harris Beach is now a destination point!
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'
“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
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11-14-2017, 08:58 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Milpitas, California
Trailer: 2017 19'
Posts: 347
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We liked Harris beach too! There is a row of campsites (probably pretty hard to get in peak season) that has ocean front view. Last time we were there they even have ice cream truck making its rounds...
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11-14-2017, 09:07 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: kootenays, British Columbia
Trailer: Looking for 15b
Posts: 221
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Wonderful trip report, I'm jealous.
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11-14-2017, 09:53 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,561
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Quote:
Originally Posted by caddoster
We liked Harris beach too! There is a row of campsites (probably pretty hard to get in peak season) that has ocean front view. Last time we were there they even have ice cream truck making its rounds...
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Caddoster, You had me at ice cream, but Debbie wants to know if it’s Haagen Daz?
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'
“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
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11-14-2017, 10:49 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Coast of, Oregon
Trailer: Looking to Buy
Posts: 27
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Welcome to the Oregon Coast! All the crowds are gone, and most of the campgrounds and beaches are empty. Rain is just part of the character of the region this time of year.
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Charley
__________________
"Don't Fence Me In" - Cole Porter
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11-15-2017, 10:47 AM
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#16
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
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Must have been a forgiving park host and/or ranger. Technically, conducting commercial business transactions is against the rules in Oregon State Parks - or so I was advised by a ranger due to the signs for my biz on my truck.
__________________
Charlie Y
Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
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11-15-2017, 11:19 AM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,045
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1
Must have been a forgiving park host and/or ranger. Technically, conducting commercial business transactions is against the rules in Oregon State Parks - or so I was advised by a ranger due to the signs for my biz on my truck.
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Yeah, Oregon State Parks are pretty restrictive and the reasoning is to stop the "garage sales" to a target audience. BUT, they do offer permits that allow it. I remember when Bullard's Beach had a semi-permanent "coffee stand" which was great for those of us that attended the Oregon Gathering. So, a permit may be something you may wish to pursue Charlie. I don't have a clue to cost or paperwork involved...
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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11-15-2017, 11:26 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Milpitas, California
Trailer: 2017 19'
Posts: 347
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Clark
Caddoster, You had me at ice cream, but Debbie wants to know if it’s Haagen Daz?
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We only got popsicles! Don't know what else they have...
Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1
Must have been a forgiving park host and/or ranger. Technically, conducting commercial business transactions is against the rules in Oregon State Parks - or so I was advised by a ranger due to the signs for my biz on my truck.
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First time I've seen ice cream truck in the public campgrounds (also playground in state park campground is pretty rare too, at least in CA.. Harris beach has a nice one) I gathered it was park sanctioned somehow.. as it was making its round making sure people knows they are there.
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