Bigfoot Wreck - Page 4 - 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 > General Escape
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-08-2019, 07:22 PM   #61
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 skiman View Post
The one point I liked was don't tow in the dark. Besides the safety aspect, arriving at campsites in the dark is stressful at best. Can be hard on your marriage.
As mentioned before, towing (or any driving) in the dark is just fine with me. Way easier to see traffic, and way less of it. I have set up the trailer in the dark with my wife many times, it has zero effect on our marriage. I do the parking and she helps set up the trailer afterwards. A cocktail often follows.

I have heard others say their sight is affected in the dark, but as long as I am awake and alert, I am fine. Don't forget, I am young yet.
__________________
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 11-08-2019, 07:38 PM   #62
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
and yeah, I don't mind driving in the dark, unless its in heavy traffic or the rain. most of the time when its happened when traveling with a trailer, we don't even unhitch, just park, sleep, and continue in the AM. WHen arriving at a proper destination campground where we'll be setting up for several days, I do like to arrive mid afternoon to have plenty of time to setup and chill.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2019, 07:49 PM   #63
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
We normally leave after dark and I just keep driving until it is light again and then look for a place after lunch to stop for the day. Most of the truck traffic stops at night as evidenced by the full rest areas....
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2019, 08:02 PM   #64
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
they /should/ last forever, unless the surface of the ball shows excess wear or galling. in my case, somehow the nut had come loose, perhaps it wasn't torqued on hard enough in the first place.
Once not towing , the ball was not tightened enough . I did catch it . Does it matter if on the top the chrome is worn off . It has been like this for years . The chrome came off in the first year because, Dennis told us don’t grease the ball. One I saw that I started putting grease on the ball . I wipe off and reinstall and cover the ball if not towing . I bought a huge wrench and tightened the nut down and check . Just wondering if on the top missing chrome is a problem ? Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2019, 08:04 PM   #65
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
missing chrome isn't a problem, but if the steel starts to gall and get rough or pitted, thats a problem. as long as you're greasing it, you're good.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2019, 08:08 PM   #66
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
missing chrome isn't a problem, but if the steel starts to gall and get rough or pitted, thats a problem. as long as you're greasing it, you're good.
Thanks John . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2019, 08:10 PM   #67
Senior Member
 
skiman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 853
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave View Post
The three best sentences uttered in a campground when arriving after dark are:
1. Look there’s a pull through that’s not reserved.
2. It looks level enough that we won’t have to unhook
3. The restroom is right across the road

Worst sentences
1. Can you back between those trees?
2. Look at all those little bicycles next to us
3. It’s been a while since I saw a Grateful Dead decal on a Winnebago.

And finally, move on if it is:
“I hear banjos.”
Iowa Dave
Right on brother!
__________________
Carl,

"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
skiman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2019, 08:23 PM   #68
Senior Member
 
skiman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 853
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz;314
430
my takeaway is, she had no concept of tongue weight, a Tundra should /not/ be pulling a bigfoot over 17f (and that one looked like a 25 to me), and she didn't udnerstand brake controllers (which she admitted).

this june, i had my escape 21 come unhitched from my F250 (the hitchball came out of the tow bar, with a stripped shank), and start to sway violently. because A) my F250 is as solid as a locomotive, and B) I knew to grab the manual brake before slowing, I quickly brought in under control and pulled off the road. If we'd still been using a Tacoma, things could easily have gotten out of hand.
As I recall it took my brother-in-law and I with a 1" socket driver and cheater bar to properly set the ball on my Reese hitch. 1" or 1-1/4" Shank require 250 ftlb and 450 ftlb. I think we were doing a 1-1/4" shank. Didn't have torque wrench but put everything we had into it.
.
__________________
Carl,

"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
skiman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2019, 12:57 PM   #69
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave View Post
And finally, move on if it is:
“I hear banjos.”
Iowa Dave
unless its...

John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2019, 04:58 PM   #70
Senior Member
 
Nindy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17B "L'Escaboose" with 2021 Ford F150 XLT
Posts: 386
I really thought her last big mistake was going to be poor load distribution.

The reason I don't like driving in MO after dark with or without the trailer is there are way too many deer crossing the roads. I must have seen at least ten dead deer on a 220-mile trip yesterday.

This is one reason why I don't drive my tow vehicle much between trips. I broke my rule once and a deer ran into the side of my tow vehicle and fortunately after bending the fender so the door would open it was drivable for two trailer trips before they could schedule it to fix it.

And a young hipster chain restaurant waiter rear-ended my minivan three days ago not paying attention in rush hour. No damage to mine, plenty to his, but I'm glad it wasn't my tow vehicle.
Nindy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2019, 05:13 PM   #71
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
Quote:
Originally Posted by skiman View Post
As I recall it took my brother-in-law and I with a 1" socket driver and cheater bar to properly set the ball on my Reese hitch. 1" or 1-1/4" Shank require 250 ftlb and 450 ftlb. I think we were doing a 1-1/4" shank. Didn't have torque wrench but put everything we had into it.
.
yeah, I used a extra long 1/2" drive breaker bar, with a 6-point impact socket, put it in the truck receiver rotated 90 degrees and bounced all my weight (220 lbs) on it, I think that got it tight enough

a 1-1/4" shank would require a 1" drive air impact wrench to get tight enough, I suspect.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2019, 06:12 PM   #72
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Pennsylvania ranks #3 behind West Virginia and Montana for deer collisions. From August thru November during their mating season is when there is a propensity for them to be active and thus on the roads.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2019, 06:19 PM   #73
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nindy View Post
I really thought her last big mistake was going to be poor load distribution.

The reason I don't like driving in MO after dark with or without the trailer is there are way too many deer crossing the roads. I must have seen at least ten dead deer on a 220-mile trip yesterday.

This is one reason why I don't drive my tow vehicle much between trips. I broke my rule once and a deer ran into the side of my tow vehicle and fortunately after bending the fender so the door would open it was drivable for two trailer trips before they could schedule it to fix it.

And a young hipster chain restaurant waiter rear-ended my minivan three days ago not paying attention in rush hour. No damage to mine, plenty to his, but I'm glad it wasn't my tow vehicle.
Another reason for not driving in the dark . Have had many close calls , but so far not collided . And have seen more dead deer that I have lost count . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2019, 06:35 PM   #74
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
Pennsylvania ranks #3 behind West Virginia and Montana for deer collisions. From August thru November during their mating season is when there is a propensity for them to be active and thus on the roads.
30 years ago we used to see what felt like dozens between Scranton and Harrisburg, not nearly that many these days.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2019, 07:21 PM   #75
Senior Member
 
Iowa Dave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,235
I just hate driving at night this time of year because of the deer. Iowa is in the top 5 or 10 for
Deer / car collisions nationwide. My son in law and his family hit one last Sunday night $ 8,700 damage. Air dam, bumper, grill, hood, entire headlight assy, front fender, both doors on driver side. Subaru actually held up pretty well considering the speed and angle. Nobody hurt and as I always say, it’s only sheet metal and you can fix it with money. Does put a crimp in the flow of life though.
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
Iowa Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-09-2019, 10:31 PM   #76
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by skiman View Post
1" or 1-1/4" Shank require 250 ftlb and 450 ftlb.
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
yeah, I used a extra long 1/2" drive breaker bar, with a 6-point impact socket, put it in the truck receiver rotated 90 degrees and bounced all my weight (220 lbs) on it, I think that got it tight enough

a 1-1/4" shank would require a 1" drive air impact wrench to get tight enough, I suspect.
I have a 3/4" drive breaker bar which is at least 30" long, so my weight near the end of it (no bouncing) might be just about right for 450 lb-ft of torque. Even a 1/2" drive cordless impact will easily go past 450 lb-ft, so I would be cautious about using an impact to tighten any fastener without an appropriate torque-limiting bar.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2019, 11:19 AM   #77
Senior Member
 
drjp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Carmel, New York
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0
Posts: 256
Quote:
Originally Posted by escape artist View Post
Hi: elongest... THANKS for posting this. It's good to know how to... from others mistakes. I have had to correct my 5.0TA's attitude once by using the trailer brakes only!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
Yeah, correct me if I’m wrong, but when she said know how to use trailer brakes, isn’t the most important tip one she didn’t explicitly mention? As soon as you can, when a fishtail starts, drop your left hand to the trailer brake controller and apply trailer brakes only. Once fishtail resolves, start applying tug’s brakes.
drjp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2019, 11:21 AM   #78
Senior Member
 
drjp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Carmel, New York
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0
Posts: 256
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave View Post
I just hate driving at night this time of year because of the deer. Iowa is in the top 5 or 10 for
Deer / car collisions nationwide. My son in law and his family hit one last Sunday night $ 8,700 damage. Air dam, bumper, grill, hood, entire headlight assy, front fender, both doors on driver side. Subaru actually held up pretty well considering the speed and angle. Nobody hurt and as I always say, it’s only sheet metal and you can fix it with money. Does put a crimp in the flow of life though.
Super true in California. Deer at dusk. See one, safely brakes to a crawl as the rest of the herd is coming, too!
drjp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2019, 11:25 AM   #79
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by drjp View Post
As soon as you can, when a fishtail starts, drop your left hand to the trailer brake controller and apply trailer brakes only. Once fishtail resolves, start applying tug’s brakes.
It's only the left hand if you controller is on the left - controllers are in various locations, and being familiar with yours is important, especially if your trailer is unstable.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2019, 12:22 PM   #80
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Texas, Texas
Trailer: Na
Posts: 4
You don't think a first Gen tundra is capable of towing that 21ft safely?
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve dunham View Post
First impression “ Too much trailer— Not enough truck “
Golfer 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 07:39 AM.


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