Ok to eliminate exterior access hatch? - Page 2 - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Me | General Topics > Shopping Escape
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-24-2018, 11:02 PM   #21
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 17b - 2017 model
Posts: 334
If you have a front storage box on your list, then you might already have enough exterior storage (we do). If you don't have a front storage box on your list, I'd rather take the $150 and put it towards a front storage box.

If you really really don't want the front storage box, then yes, I'd get at least one exterior hatch for storing outside stuff.

Of course, this is all highly subjective, and it depends a lot on what you are bringing..


My opinion is that aluminum wheels are almost entirely for the bling factor. If you're making decisions about what stays or goes based on $$, I'd take a close look at removing the Aluminum wheels to get some other options.

Paul
paulk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2018, 11:10 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: no fixed address, California
Trailer: 2017-21' Escape (sold) Casita 17' (sold)
Posts: 1,348
we own a 21'

it is nice to keep some stuff under the drivers side bench - and we got the hatch.

we keep solar lights in there, plus some of the chocks, plus some tools, plus the x-chocks

nice to be setting up outside while my wife is preparing dinner inside....

the hatch is not a must have, but i like it.

but

i would say for sure skip the aluminum wheels!

but make sure you get the front storage bin!



john
Losangeles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2018, 11:18 PM   #23
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Ross is right, I would suggest that if moderately handy to add one is an easy task. If not, lots of places could do it for you.

I opted to not put one on the passenger side dinette, as I did not know exactly how I want to use that space. I have now decided to create an access from the inside by putting a door on the front of the dinette seat, as with my cargo box I will likely have more than enough storage from the outside.

This upcoming trip will be a good shake down for us, as we have never gone for near 6 weeks before, and plan to do even more into the future.

There is no right answer for the original question. It depends on the individual and how they camp. Plus as I am constantly learning, my thoughts about how to do various things with the setup of the trailer, what we take, and how we camp are constantly changing. I can't even begin to keep up with myself.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2018, 11:25 PM   #24
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Trailer: 21' 2018
Posts: 342
Quote:
Originally Posted by Losangeles View Post
we own a 21'

it is nice to keep some stuff under the drivers side bench - and we got the hatch.

we keep solar lights in there, plus some of the chocks, plus some tools, plus the x-chocks

nice to be setting up outside while my wife is preparing dinner inside....

the hatch is not a must have, but i like it.

but

i would say for sure skip the aluminum wheels!

but make sure you get the front storage bin!



john
You and Iowa Dave make a good point about why you wouldn't want to go in and out to load your bench storage. I'll get the hatch.

We're skipping the aluminum, thanks for the input! Finally, money going in the right direction!!
__________________
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid" -Albert Einstein (or someone else)
SouthernCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2018, 11:27 PM   #25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Trailer: 21' 2018
Posts: 342
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
Ross is right, I would suggest that if moderately handy to add one is an easy task. If not, lots of places could do it for you.

I opted to not put one on the passenger side dinette, as I did not know exactly how I want to use that space. I have now decided to create an access from the inside by putting a door on the front of the dinette seat, as with my cargo box I will likely have more than enough storage from the outside.

This upcoming trip will be a good shake down for us, as we have never gone for near 6 weeks before, and plan to do even more into the future.

There is no right answer for the original question. It depends on the individual and how they camp. Plus as I am constantly learning, my thoughts about how to do various things with the setup of the trailer, what we take, and how we camp are constantly changing. I can't even begin to keep up with myself.
Either my brain has grown, or some other information has been displaced by the RV knowledge I'm gaining. And I know I'm only just peering into the abyss. It's no wonder the stuff is addicting!
__________________
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid" -Albert Einstein (or someone else)
SouthernCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 02:36 AM   #26
Senior Member
 
emers382's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Emerson, Manitoba
Trailer: 2016 Escape 5.0TA, 2022 F150 2.7EB
Posts: 1,848
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
Sure it can... just not for cash transactions.
Yes Brian I certainly know that, you gotta know Dave, he was talking cash
emers382 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 07:30 AM   #27
Senior Member
 
Ruthe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
As it got closer to turning in our build sheet it seemed things were really adding up and I crossed one thing off our list that cost $100 or a little more — the external shower — now I’m sorry and think it is silly that when we were spending $30,000 for a trailer. I thought I was being economical by saving $100.

We only have one hatch on the 19 and I wish we had more.
Ruthe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 08:24 AM   #28
Senior Member
 
Red Dog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Retired from Dallas & Full-Timing, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape as of 01/16/17
Posts: 1,312
Ok to eliminate exterior access hatch?

Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernCamper View Post
The bench seat exterior access hatch...is it that important?

I have exterior access hatch doors on both sides and love them. For me, it is a pain to move Lola, throw pillows and cushion every time I need to get something from that area.

Regards,

Fred M.
__________________
Fred M.

"Whoever said retirement was overrated...
...never had an Escape"
Red Dog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 09:03 AM   #29
Senior Member
 
TZBrown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Fenton, Michigan
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21, 2014 Northern Lite slide in, 2014 2500 Duramax
Posts: 185
Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Dog View Post
I have exterior access hatch doors on both sides and love them. For me, it is a pain to move Lola, throw pillows and cushion every time I need to get something from that area.

Regards,

Fred M.
+1 I hate to track inside to get or put stuff away, dirty chocks, or pads, or such.
TZBrown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 10:38 AM   #30
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Dog View Post
I have exterior access hatch doors on both sides and love them. For me, it is a pain to move Lola, throw pillows and cushion every time I need to get something from that area.

Regards,

Fred M.
I agree on this, but I think an access door from the inside might fit the bill just as well. At the end of the trip we are headed out on today, I am sure we will have lots of new thoughts on things.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 11:18 AM   #31
Senior Member
 
h2owmn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Placerville, California
Trailer: 2018 Escape 17A double dinette
Posts: 1,518
For me and my 17A, access to my front dinette benches will be limited because 30 inches of it will be my semi-permanent bed. So I ordered a driver's side front hatch and am having a door inside on the end of the passenger side bench. The only other possibility was passenger side rear hatch, and I ordered that too.

One use you may find for one outside hatch is dedicated storage of toys for your little one--buckets, shovels, cars, tractors, and other toys that you don't want inside--stored in whatever size bin will fit through the hatch.

Speaking of sand and children, an "unrelated to hatches" hint: I put a lightweight front door mat and a half full dishpan of water outside to the rear next to the step, with half of an old bath towel suction cupped to hang on the side of the trailer. It's an easy foot wash for kids (and adults) before entering/exiting especially if you're at the beach.
__________________
--Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced older woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force. --Dorothy Sayers
h2owmn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-25-2018, 11:31 AM   #32
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Trailer: 21' 2018
Posts: 342
Quote:
Originally Posted by h2owmn View Post
For me and my 17A, access to my front dinette benches will be limited because 30 inches of it will be my semi-permanent bed. So I ordered a driver's side front hatch and am having a door inside on the end of the passenger side bench. The only other possibility was passenger side rear hatch, and I ordered that too.

One use you may find for one outside hatch is dedicated storage of toys for your little one--buckets, shovels, cars, tractors, and other toys that you don't want inside--stored in whatever size bin will fit through the hatch.

Speaking of sand and children, an "unrelated to hatches" hint: I put a lightweight front door mat and a half full dishpan of water outside to the rear next to the step, with half of an old bath towel suction cupped to hang on the side of the trailer. It's an easy foot wash for kids (and adults) before entering/exiting especially if you're at the beach.
You do come with great advice for camping with kids!

We got the shower on the back so we don't make a puddle, your idea works for kids and dogs!

Hm, we have lots of tractors and shovels. We're going to get the driver's side exterior hatch. What's in the passenger bench, is there worthwhile space to put a hatch there? We are getting the batteries, so I don't if they go in there.
__________________
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid" -Albert Einstein (or someone else)
SouthernCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:01 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.