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Old 04-02-2016, 12:33 AM   #1
LJY
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**Help Newbie pick options for 21'**

1st time RV purchaser here.. need help deciding on options. The only thing I know is we don't need a microwave and TV. Will not having the microwave save space for something else?

I'll be traveling with wife, toddler and dog. Extended month(s) trips while working remotely.

Outdoor shower for the dog?
Get solar from ETI? or solar from 3rd party?


Please share your experience, thank you!
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Old 04-02-2016, 12:41 AM   #2
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Eliminating the microwave doesn't just open up space, but it opens up space where you can really use it. That space can be used for salt, pepper, sugar, coffee grounds, peanut butter, crackers - all that stuff that you're glad to have at hand.
Lots of other places you could put that stuff, but none as convenient.

Love our outdoor shower. Don't have a dog any more, but we do use it for washing hair. Saves wiping down the inside shower/bath.
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Old 04-02-2016, 01:08 AM   #3
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Here's a good thread: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...ions-1752.html
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Old 04-02-2016, 08:30 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by LJY View Post
1st time RV purchaser here.. need help deciding on options. The only thing I know is we don't need a microwave and TV. Will not having the microwave save space for something else?

I'll be traveling with wife, toddler and dog. Extended month(s) trips while working remotely.

Outdoor shower for the dog?
Get solar from ETI? or solar from 3rd party?


Please share your experience, thank you!
I used the outdoor shower a lot last trip. Was perfect place to fill dog bowl and fill jug for dog excursions. Also good for washing hands after doing outdoor things. I have the old style with attached hose. Just mounted wand on integral hanger and left in place. New one has plug in hose and I am not sure if it has a place to hang the wand.
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Old 04-02-2016, 09:28 AM   #5
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Another option I plan to do, is to have the outdoor shower on the front (passenger) side, as far back as possible. This will allow us to use it with an outdoor sink, where we mostly do dishes and use water for cooking. It can still be used for a shower or pet washing too.
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Old 04-02-2016, 09:48 AM   #6
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Ideally it should be on the back, but I do not foresee that location happening.
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Old 04-02-2016, 10:05 AM   #7
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Ideally it should be on the back, but I do not foresee that location happening.
We do all our eating and food prep on the passenger side, so that would not work for us.

You could do it anywhere along the back with a U-shaped dinette, but it would be really low as it would have to be under the bench. Same thing for under the need on a 19.
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Old 04-02-2016, 12:01 PM   #8
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As far as the solar is concerned, I have always been a big fan of having things installed with the initial build instead of adding on later. I don't know if any money would be saved or what kind of a hassle it would be to add later. ETI does them all of the time and learns from their mistakes. Loren
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Old 04-02-2016, 12:05 PM   #9
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Another option I plan to do, is to have the outdoor shower on the front (passenger) side, as far back as possible. This will allow us to use it with an outdoor sink, where we mostly do dishes and use water for cooking. It can still be used for a shower or pet washing too.
Jim, I think putting it as far back as possible is a great idea. We had ours placed by the front door so that it would be close to the kitchen and prep area. BUT while on our trip home from Chilliwack, I realized that if I wanted to use it to wash my hair, it would leave a messy wet spot by the front door. I will need a big bucket to catch the water.
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Old 04-02-2016, 12:52 PM   #10
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Our storage box is my favorite option. It keeps all the dirtier trailering and camping stuff together and handy for hooking up. It means our under bed storage is clean.

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Old 04-02-2016, 12:54 PM   #11
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Jim, I think putting it as far back as possible is a great idea. We had ours placed by the front door so that it would be close to the kitchen and prep area. BUT while on our trip home from Chilliwack, I realized that if I wanted to use it to wash my hair, it would leave a messy wet spot by the front door. I will need a big bucket to catch the water.
Not though to add a second one, and have lots of options.
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Old 04-03-2016, 02:16 PM   #12
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The storage box is a great option! Fits all my hoses, chalks, a patio mat, etc - really reduces the clutter in my car!
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Old 04-03-2016, 09:09 PM   #13
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We just took delivery of our 21. THis is our second camper. We use the microwave alot, it is nice sometimes to just quickly reheat a meal and not have to do pots, pans etc. Or sometimes we pack frozen leftovers in the fridge when departing the house, this helps the fridge to cool as they defrost and then a quick zap and they are done!

We find we have plenty of storage still and don't know how to fill the remaining cabinets.

Don't have the outside shower as this can be a problem at times winterizing. After looking around our new rig, I would delete the range hood, thought I would want it and it can be useful but it is a problem for cold weather as it let's a great deal of air in.

Over all, everyone will tell you what works well for them, just always think of what you want to use and how you want to camp. Enjoy the planning process!
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Old 04-03-2016, 09:24 PM   #14
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Don't understand why it would be any more difficult to winterize the outside shower than the rest of the trailer. I have used compressed air, but have switched to RV antifreeze.
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Old 04-03-2016, 10:00 PM   #15
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The rangehood's good to have when boiling water for pasta. If you're not a fan of pasta... I expect the rangehood to be helpful if/when cooking indoors during summertime (hot weather). YMMV
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Old 04-04-2016, 01:31 AM   #16
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Eliminating the microwave doesn't just open up space, but it opens up space where you can really use it. That space can be used for salt, pepper, sugar, coffee grounds, peanut butter, crackers - all that stuff that you're glad to have at hand.
Lots of other places you could put that stuff, but none as convenient.

Love our outdoor shower. Don't have a dog any more, but we do use it for washing hair. Saves wiping down the inside shower/bath.
Thanks. Do you know if this applies for the 21' as well?
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Old 04-04-2016, 01:32 AM   #17
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Thanks, Karen.
Although I found first few pages confusing with all the different configurations... do we still have this many choices on plan and configuration? or those were for prior year models?
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Old 04-04-2016, 01:46 AM   #18
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Thanks for all the inputs.. I'll look into the storage.
As for heating or cooking some foods, we've used an old-fashion (non-electronic) rice cooker in past RV rentals to steam/heat things. Most things take 2x or 3x the time... but for us, the wait is worth it.
It sounds like the range hood will help exhaust the moisture and maybe the Maxx fan too?
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Old 04-04-2016, 06:29 AM   #19
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Don,
You can remove the microwave and order a cabinet door for converting that space to a pantry. As far as the vent, I just a piece of reflection and seal the outside vent for winter and for rainy days I clip the vent open for a source of air for the MaxxFan.
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Old 04-04-2016, 07:16 AM   #20
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It sounds like the range hood will help exhaust the moisture and maybe the Maxx fan too?
The both will do the job, but if you use either very much you will get a build up of moisture borne contaminants, where the range hood is designed to capture some of them, and can be more easily cleaned. With the Maxx fan you will be drawing this contaminated air across the ceiling, and though I have disassembled the fan for a deep cleaning before, it is not something easily done.

We rarely cook inside so for now it might not be much of a problem, but into the future, I know we will be using the trailer more, with more likelihood of lots of cooking inside.

There is a good reason that by code a range hood must now be installed when doing a kitchen in a home. I have torn out 100's of old ones, and most have had the insides coated with grease, not something I want to deal with, with the Maax fan.

Just my opinion.
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