First impressions 17B - 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 08-14-2019, 07:43 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Lanark Camper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: Escape 17B, July 2019
Posts: 334
First impressions 17B

We picked up our 17B on July 18th and towed it home (6000 Kim's), arriving here a week ago.
Overall very impressed with the trailer, the staff and Escape Industries. It appears to be well made. Tows very well, comfortable. We got the double bed option, great mattress.

The AC is a bit noisy but found once the trailer cooled off it didn't run that much. It was 94* out, but we had the addition insulation and thermal windows, that probably helps. Plus we were advised by Escape to run the fan on "auto" to reduce sound level.

The refrigerator has a noisy fan that turns on once the outside temps go above 90*. I see there is a mod to change that fan out for a quieter pair. I may do that.

Two items that I'll be changing are the battery disconnect switch and the position of the display for the surge protector.

The issues with the battery disconnect switch have already been identified on this forum. I've ordered a rotary battery disconnect switch and I'll replace it as soon as it arrives.

The issue with the surge protector display are two fold. I turned the switch off 3 times over a couple of weeks by brushing it with my leg when seated in the dinette. It's not obvious it's been accidentally turned off. I need to get on my hands and knees under the table to look at the display to see that. I don't know why an important display can only be read by crawling under the dining table. The display has a long cable so it could have easily been mounted in a better location.

My first modifications to the trailer will be to move that display, and add the new battery switch.

The solar controller is ok but the SOC display is based on battery voltage. Turning on any load drops the % charge by 5 or 6%. I'll replace this controller and install a battery monitor next.

Bob
Lanark Camper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 09:37 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Interesting, I have never accidentally turned off my EMS display, maybe tape the switch would be simpler. The disconnect is back in the corner and has never been off in my last 3 Escapes. Maybe sit on the other side of the dinette?
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 09:45 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
sclifrickson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: 2010 17B “MATT”, then 2017 19 “Lilly”
Posts: 1,584
First impressions 17B

The standard-issue battery disconnect got shut off routinely in our 17B (small kids with short, wiggly legs). So we had ETI put in a recessed, marine-style disconnect when we got our 19.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_2038.jpg
Views:	11
Size:	146.9 KB
ID:	41096

Never had an issue with EMS getting switched off in either trailer. I’d also try tape over the switch first.
__________________
💩-p+☕️+n
sclifrickson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:18 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
Used to have ours get knocked fairly often, a few years back I took the cheap route.
Attached Thumbnails
Switch.jpg  
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:48 AM   #5
Bea
Senior Member
 
Bea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Northern California, California
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21
Posts: 759
Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin View Post
Used to have ours get knocked fairly often, a few years back I took the cheap route.
We like your 'cheap route'...do you by chance have a link for the plastic protector? Thanks in advance. -Bea
Bea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 12:54 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanark Camper View Post
We picked up our 17B on July 18th and towed it home (6000 Kim's), arriving here a week ago.
Overall very impressed with the trailer, the staff and Escape Industries. It appears to be well made. Tows very well, comfortable. We got the double bed option, great mattress.

The AC is a bit noisy but found once the trailer cooled off it didn't run that much. It was 94* out, but we had the addition insulation and thermal windows, that probably helps. Plus we were advised by Escape to run the fan on "auto" to reduce sound level.

The refrigerator has a noisy fan that turns on once the outside temps go above 90*. I see there is a mod to change that fan out for a quieter pair. I may do that.

Two items that I'll be changing are the battery disconnect switch and the position of the display for the surge protector.

The issues with the battery disconnect switch have already been identified on this forum. I've ordered a rotary battery disconnect switch and I'll replace it as soon as it arrives.

The issue with the surge protector display are two fold. I turned the switch off 3 times over a couple of weeks by brushing it with my leg when seated in the dinette. It's not obvious it's been accidentally turned off. I need to get on my hands and knees under the table to look at the display to see that. I don't know why an important display can only be read by crawling under the dining table. The display has a long cable so it could have easily been mounted in a better location.

My first modifications to the trailer will be to move that display, and add the new battery switch.

The solar controller is ok but the SOC display is based on battery voltage. Turning on any load drops the % charge by 5 or 6%. I'll replace this controller and install a battery monitor next.

Bob
Bob you are not alone ,a lot of us have bitched about these items . You will love the rotary switch and moving it . We left our surge where it is but it was many times shut off and we didn’t know It . I used a heat gun and made a cover with clear acrylic. It bent very easy over a 2by 4 piece of wood .left a space if needed to slide with say a butter knife etc. If interested let me know I will get you a picture .
Victron controllers and battery monitors are what we installed in our trailer . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 12:57 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
rubicon327's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,126
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bea View Post
We like your 'cheap route'...do you by chance have a link for the plastic protector? Thanks in advance. -Bea
I'll bet he made it.
__________________
Mods to Rubicon: https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post249508
“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.”― W.F.
rubicon327 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 12:57 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bea View Post
We like your 'cheap route'...do you by chance have a link for the plastic protector? Thanks in advance. -Bea
Bea very easy to make with a heat gun to bend plastic over a piece of wood . Drill hole in center . Maybe a little sanding to shape . First saw Myron made one then I copied his . When I replaced switch I gave my old one to Myron at Quartsite . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 01:42 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
correct, cut to size, drill hole, heat with a heat gun, bend around a board in a vise, sand.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 04:51 PM   #10
Bea
Senior Member
 
Bea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Northern California, California
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21
Posts: 759
Thank you padlin, rubicon327 and Pat! We will give it a try! Yours looks professionally made. Ours will probably look a little more like 'Hey Bubba - look what I made' .....

And thanks to Lanark Camper for your post - a quieter refrigerator fan was not on our radar. Great ideas here. Thanks everyone! -Bea
Bea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 07:30 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,344
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanark Camper View Post
We picked up our 17B on July 18th and towed it home (6000 Kim's), arriving here a week ago....
My first modifications to the trailer will be to move that display, and add the new battery switch.........

Bob,
On our 17, we moved the display as well. It just fit, around the corner. I had to add a screw with a pad on it, for a door stop for the adjacent cabinet door below the sink, so the door wouldn't mash the display.

BTW: To cover the existing hole, I added a 120V GFCI receptacle on a new 20A circuit. We use the dedicated circuit to run an electric heater when we're camping in cold weather at a site with shore power.
Attached Thumbnails
EMS switch relocation.jpg  
dfandrews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 08:23 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Lanark Camper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: Escape 17B, July 2019
Posts: 334
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfandrews View Post
Bob,
On our 17, we moved the display as well. It just fit, around the corner. I had to add a screw with a pad on it, for a door stop for the adjacent cabinet door below the sink, so the door wouldn't mash the display.

BTW: To cover the existing hole, I added a 120V GFCI receptacle on a new 20A circuit. We use the dedicated circuit to run an electric heater when we're camping in cold weather at a site with shore power.

Nice solutions...an extra 110V outlet would be handy....thanks......on our 17B the display is on the passenger side under the two person dinette table at the front of the trailer. Around the corner for mine is in the clothes closet !



I'll see how long the cable is that came with the display. Its all bundled up with wire ties under the seat. If it's long enough to move it up to eye level I'll do it. I'd like to be able to see how much AC current we are drawing.


The youtube video showing the refrigerator quiet fan upgrade is here,


https://youtu.be/anyj1JbWMGo



Bob
Lanark Camper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 09:39 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
h2owmn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Placerville, California
Trailer: 2018 Escape 17A double dinette
Posts: 1,518
Don, can I ask what the footman's loops are used for? Thanks.
__________________
--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 08-14-2019, 09:40 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
akmacs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Trailer: 2018 5.0 T/A "Escaper"
Posts: 209
Battery disconnect switch drives me crazy too! Between a 6 year old, two small dogs and U-shaped dinette it gets hit often.

At work we use a switch similar to this to prevent someone from inadvertently placing the train in emergency so I may go that route or just get a low profile rocker switch.
Attached Thumbnails
814JQga7eyL._SL1500_.jpg  
akmacs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 09:41 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
rubicon327's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,126
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanark Camper View Post
The refrigerator has a noisy fan that turns on once the outside temps go above 90*. I see there is a mod to change that fan out for a quieter pair. I may do that.
Might I suggest you look into high quality ball bearing fans. They are quiet and move a large volume of air. If you get the IP55 rated they are made to handle a wet environment. They aren’t cheap but they are much better than an inferior computer fan. This is what I have but there are many others. To see similar fans click on the catalog page # just under the product title.

https://www.grainger.com/product/31C...2ff4eebf48c7bb
__________________
Mods to Rubicon: https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post249508
“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.”― W.F.
rubicon327 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:20 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
tdf-texas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Baytown, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape - upgraded version
Posts: 2,697
Quote:
Originally Posted by akmacs View Post
Battery disconnect switch drives me crazy too! Between a 6 year old, two small dogs and U-shaped dinette it gets hit often.

At work we use a switch similar to this to prevent someone from inadvertently placing the train in emergency so I may go that route or just get a low profile rocker switch.
Keep in mind how many amps are going through that switch. Most of the toggle switches are rated at 30 amps at most - that's no where near what the 12v panel can pull.

That's why a number of people switching out that on/off switch go to a battery switch that can handle the current.
__________________
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe in fixing it so that it never breaks.
tdf-texas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:36 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
akmacs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Trailer: 2018 5.0 T/A "Escaper"
Posts: 209
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdf-texas View Post
Keep in mind how many amps are going through that switch. Most of the toggle switches are rated at 30 amps at most - that's no where near what the 12v panel can pull.

That's why a number of people switching out that on/off switch go to a battery switch that can handle the current.
Good to know, I had 12V on the brain only and didn't even think about the amp rating. Is it correct just to add the rating of each fuse to give a "not less than" amp rating for that switch or am I missing another part of the equation?

Not opposed to using a disconnect by any means either so I'll look into those.
akmacs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:46 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
tdf-texas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Baytown, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape - upgraded version
Posts: 2,697
Quote:
Originally Posted by akmacs View Post
Good to know, I had 12V on the brain only and didn't even think about the amp rating. Is it correct just to add the rating of each fuse to give a "not less than" amp rating for that switch or am I missing another part of the equation?

Not opposed to using a disconnect by any means either so I'll look into those.
I went with this one - rated for 300 amps.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here's a link to a pic of the one Ron(Ron in BC) installed:
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...tml#post186287
Attached Thumbnails
battery switch.jpg  
__________________
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe in fixing it so that it never breaks.
tdf-texas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2019, 01:38 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Lanark Camper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: Escape 17B, July 2019
Posts: 334
Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
Might I suggest you look into high quality ball bearing fans. They are quiet and move a large volume of air. If you get the IP55 rated they are made to handle a wet environment. They aren’t cheap but they are much better than an inferior computer fan. This is what I have but there are many others. To see similar fans click on the catalog page # just under the product title.

https://www.grainger.com/product/31C...2ff4eebf48c7bb

thanks, very good looking product, only a 1/2 A draw, and waterproof, plus I can order it from Acklands-Grainger in Canada

I assume you just used one ?


Bob
Lanark Camper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2019, 02:59 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
sjnuss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 374
Here is a pic of my simple solution for the battery disconnect (although this works it may not be a permanent solution). I took a pill container, cut the end off with a Dremel tool then drilled a hole in the top so it would fit over the threads of the switch. It's just the two of us and no pets so no-one else to accidentally turn the switch off.

Steve
Attached Thumbnails
fullsizeoutput_271b.jpg  
__________________
Steve and Cynthia
San Antonio, TX
Escape 19 "Why So Serious?"
2019 Chevy Silverado RST 1500, 5.3L
sjnuss 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 09:41 AM.


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