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09-12-2021, 10:55 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Port Angeles, Washington
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19
Posts: 198
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Bowlus Trailer
Had an opportunity to see a Bowlus today in Poulsbo WA. Quite impressive and interesting in every aspect... but not worth 6x to 8x (base model prices) a new E19! Their web site is worth a curious look. It would be interesting to know how many units they sell, and if they have any of the usual problems folks have with trailers.
We're happy with our Escape!
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09-13-2021, 03:36 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, Ontario
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,120
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If a Jayco can be built in 40 hours and an Airstream built in 200 hours, I would expect they have 400 to 500 hours to build one of those trailers. I would expect they only build 25 a year if that.
One thing I wish Escape had improved on the Gen 2 trailers (2017+) is a lower front so they would be more aerodynamic.
__________________
Had 2 Escapes, 17b, 19, went back to a pop up that fit in the garage. 2018 Coachman Clipper RBST HW AFrame
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09-13-2021, 06:40 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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You've got to see one in person to believe it.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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09-13-2021, 07:02 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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They are like "works of art" ......beautiful!
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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09-13-2021, 07:09 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
They are like "works of art" ......beautiful!
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Hi: cpaharley2008... "Abstract"? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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09-13-2021, 07:10 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by escape artist
Hi: cpaharley2008... "Abstract"? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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Yes......
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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09-13-2021, 07:37 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Dallas, Texas
Trailer: 2019 E19
Posts: 277
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While I can appreciate the engineering, I hate the aerodynamic tail. In addition, is that a common hand crank on the tongue of that $200k trailer? Really For the price they're asking I would expect a bullet shaped polished aluminum enclosed custom motor lift of Bowlus own engineering design. IMO nothing should seem common or standard issue on a trailer of this price, everything should make you stop and think "Wow that's amazing".
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09-13-2021, 08:22 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chamberman
While I can appreciate the engineering, I hate the aerodynamic tail. In addition, is that a common hand crank on the tongue of that $200k trailer? Really For the price they're asking I would expect a bullet shaped polished aluminum enclosed custom motor lift of Bowlus own engineering design. IMO nothing should seem common or standard issue on a trailer of this price, everything should make you stop and think "Wow that's amazing".
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Nobody buys a Bowlus because they're a great value. They buy them for completely different reasons like nostalgia or a status symbol. If we evaluate them using the same criteria we'd use on a 30K rig, we'll come up with nonsense.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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09-13-2021, 08:35 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4
Nobody buys a Bowlus because they're a great value. They buy them for completely different reasons like nostalgia or a status symbol. If we evaluate them using the same criteria we'd use on a 30K rig, we'll come up with nonsense.
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Well said.........
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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09-13-2021, 08:58 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chamberman
In addition, is that a common hand crank on the tongue of that $200k trailer? Really For the price they're asking I would expect a bullet shaped polished aluminum enclosed custom motor lift of Bowlus own engineering design. IMO nothing should seem common or standard issue on a trailer of this price, everything should make you stop and think "Wow that's amazing".
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At that price i think it should have a complete auto-leveling system.
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09-13-2021, 09:13 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Dallas, Texas
Trailer: 2019 E19
Posts: 277
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327
At that price i think it should have a complete auto-leveling system.
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I agree.
Imagine getting into a new Ferrari and finding out it has crank windows and manual locks.
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09-13-2021, 09:13 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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OK, maybe ugly is not the right word. Weird works. But I still wouldn't buy one with your money.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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09-13-2021, 09:15 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Dallas, Texas
Trailer: 2019 E19
Posts: 277
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4
Nobody buys a Bowlus because they're a great value. They buy them for completely different reasons like nostalgia or a status symbol. If we evaluate them using the same criteria we'd use on a 30K rig, we'll come up with nonsense.
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I never said anything about value. What I did say is, at this price everywhere you look you should think "Wow that's amazing".
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09-13-2021, 09:18 AM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chamberman
I never said anything about value. What I did say is, at this price everywhere you look you should think "Wow that's amazing".
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Yeah, but that's not the appeal of the Bowlus. It's not designed to be the ultimate trailer at all. It's quirky on purpose - a throwback. For example, right out of the gate, the body shape is inefficient. I don't think much of the whole "let's travel back to the glamor days of the 50s" thing, but some do.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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09-13-2021, 09:45 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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"50's" I was thinking more like 30's......
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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09-13-2021, 09:51 AM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
"50's" I was thinking more like 30's......
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Yeah, but definitely not today.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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09-13-2021, 11:25 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: santa barbara ca 93103, California
Trailer: 2017 19" Escape
Posts: 88
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Wow, that is a beautiful looking retro trailer! The interior is amazing hope to see one in person some day. Wishing I had 250K to throw down for one!
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09-13-2021, 11:58 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,929
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art for art's sake (nothing wrong with that)
The Bowlus is a lovely (approaching stunning) bit of "art", and the only purchase appeal is for those who desire and can afford art for art's sake - not to be confused with a tool for recreational camping as practiced by the overwhelming majority of folks who enjoy that activity (not too unlike many comparably-priced automobiles when talking transportation).
Not being in the former category I can't help but look at the functional specs and features, and find them wanting in many respects.
Notwithstanding token suggestions by Bowlus that their products are "designed ... for the solitude of off-grid camping ... (and the) ... thrill of exploration", that's not their market and I suspect they know that full-well. Much more likely to be seen at the paddock of the Palm Beach Concours methinks, the 3.1 cuft refrigerator packed with Champaign.
Yep, nifty art, punches the retro-aesthetic button, and the odd mix of features along with the price doubtless will ensure the exclusivity and cache that the few buyers in that market demand. Nothing wrong with that, but it fails to inspire even vicarious interest in me.
IMO, YMMV.
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09-13-2021, 12:15 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Cowichan Valley, British Columbia
Trailer: 2020 - 21NE "JoMoE" (Just our Means of Escape)
Posts: 313
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Beautiful rig...with a corresponding price.
Terra Firma base $265,000USA/$325,000CDN.
Plus taxes of $39,000 here in British Columbia.
Of course the roughly $80,000USA (guesstimate) worth of LiFePO4 batteries would jack up the price somewhat.
Certainly well above my grade, but then again if you can afford to "tow with the Tesla X one day, the Porsche Macan the next" as the website suggests, you aren't feeling the potential pain of affordability.
I'd be afraid of taking it on the road, or worse, into "hail country".
AND what CENTEX said...
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09-13-2021, 12:29 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan
Trailer: 2021 Escape 19
Posts: 649
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It has a very pretty 1930's aero style to it. It's also completely impractical never mind the price.
The galley is way too cramped.
The bedroom is dark and stifling.
Where is the AC?
Who is going to empty that toilet? I guess you have to bring along some servants, but then where do the servants sleep?
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