Lift kit needed for WA and BC ferries?

[CnK]

We're finishing up our final details on our build sheet and wondering about the lift kit.

Does the Escape 21 have any problems loading and unloading from the various ferries around Seattle, the San Juan Islands and the Canadian BC ferries? Is there enough clearance for anything on the underside of the trailer in the various boarding ramp scenarios with different high and low tides? Any problems with steep inclines and weird angles on boarding ramps?

We're thinking the trailer will be fine on gravel roads without the lift kit.(?)

Can any of you share your experiences and instances when you wished you'd had the lift kit and didn't have it?

Thanks for your insights!

[Ron in BC]

Absolutely zero problems with a 21C on the ferries.

Only ferry where the underside of the WDH bars might have touched gravel was one of the ferries in the Yukon that crosses the river and makes like a landing barge and plows into the shore. Sometimes the slope is a little steep, far steeper than anything you'll ever find on the ferries.

Worst case, you carry a lot of extra weight in your tug and the WDH bars momentarily touch down for a few seconds. No big deal.

Ron

[Bobbie54]

Washington will put warning times when trailers may have problems. So check the schedule. I don't know if a 23 or 21 would have those problems as they are really addressing big tractor trailers but I'd still avoid extreme lows and extreme highs (tides).

[CnK]

Thanks! That's reassuring!!!

[Red]

I am a frequent user of bc ferries while pulling an Escape 19. I watch the ramp closely as it can vary depending on the tide. The ferries crew are excellent and will check the clearance if you ask. The ramp is adjustable and can be changed quickly and easily if necessary. I doubt you will have an issues with a 21.

If you are planning a trip to Vancouver Island check the online booking system for all sailings as bc ferries offers significant savings for trailers on certain sailings. They don't advertise the dates and times so you need to browse.

[TTMartin]

Why would you not want to get the lift?

Be aware the Grey and Fresh Water Tanks are installed under the trailer, so hang down well below the frame.

Edit: not one of the mainline ferries, but, one of the river ferries on the Dempster that just beach on the bank had tongue jack the tongue jack scrap on my Escape 19 WITH the lift kit. They put a board under it so it wouldn't catch on one of the seams.

Edit 2: FYI, I'm currently in Nanaimo on Victoria Island. Just got off the Queen of Oak Harbor about an hour and a half ago.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by TTMartin

Why would you not want to get the lift?

Be aware the Grey and Fresh Water Tanks are installed under the trailer, so hang down well below the frame.

Why would I not want a lift kit. One, the extra height reduces the aerodynamics of the trailer. Two, it makes the step up permanently higher. Not a consideration for some but it is for others.

This is doing something that's permanent for a maybe will never happen event that has very little consequence. If the underside of the WDH bars or the the rear receiver momentarily skid across something, no big deal.

I've travelled all over continental North America, sometimes on roads that others might give a miss to, without any spray foam and my tanks have had zero issues.

Ron

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by TTMartin

Why would you not want to get the lift?

I am very much with Ron on this and agree with his reasoning. It really is just not necessary. I see it promoted as a "just in case" thing which gets new owners worried. After owning an Escape since early 2009 and travelling lots of off the highway routes quite regularly, I have never had a problem.

After installing my cargo box I mounted my tire under the front of the trailer. I had my wife drive in some rougher off road conditions while I watched and it never came very close at all to hitting something.

Maybe some like the raised look in the wheel wells, personally I don't. But then, there are all kinds of different ideas from folks here, including many of mine.

Oh, and I have never had any issue with ferries, either ocean or lake.

[TTMartin]

I guess I should have phrased it differently. I was asking why the OP didn't want the lift kit.

I do find it humorous that people are more concerned about the top of the trailer hitting the wind, impacting aerodynamics than they are about the bottom of the trailer hitting something more solid.

Seriously, 2 5/8" (6.67 cm) makes no difference when it comes to clearance under the trailer, but, totally destroys the aerodynamics above the trailer. SMH

We've only had our Escape 19 is for 4 years. It has been to Key West, Florida and the Arctic Ocean at Tuktoyatuk in Canada's Northwest Territories. It has been to WA, MT, ND, MN, WI, MI, OH, PA, NY, KY, TN, GA, FL, AL, MI, LA, TX, AZ, NV, UT, CO, KS, IL, IN, NB, SD, WY, ID, OR, AK, ON, MB, SK, AB, BC, YT, and NT. It has crossed the country North to South and back 3 times, it has crossed the country West to East and back 3 times. It celebrated the 4 Anniversary of our picking it up in Sumas, WA with us in Stewart, BC / Hyder, AK.

As I said even with the lift kit we had an issue with our tongue jack on one of the river ferries on the Dempster Highway on the way back from the Arctic Ocean.

We definitely use our trailer more and in more extreme circumstances than most people do.

The insulation I added has made a difference in both protecting the tanks from rocks and from unexpected cold weather.

The lift kit has allowed use to use the trailer more fully than we could have without it.

And by the way the Lift Kit is NOT a permanent alteration. It could be added or removed later. Though adding it would be harder as the wiring for the brakes might not be (probably are not) long enough to accommodate the extra distance required by the lift kit. While removing it would be simply jacking the frame removing some bolts, removing the spacers, then rebolting the axles to the frame.

[CnK]

Thanks for all these comments!

Our two main concerns are 1) the possibility of scraping the back of the trailer on the steeper ramps on the ferries, and 2) the lift kit raising the entry too high for easy in-and-out of the trailer.

Our knees are getting creakier and stiffer, and we have two old dogs who are starting to struggle to get in and out of the car, up and down stairs, etc. Oddly, stepping out is more challenging than stepping up and in. We have a ramp for the dogs, but the ramp doesn't hold us.

We've definitely noticed a difference stepping in and out of trailers with the lift kit vs those trailers without, and it's a significant difference.

I think we'll skip the lift kit for now and if needed later, we can add it. As originally mentioned, our biggest concern is the Seattle/BC ferries. We love that area and plan to spend a lot of time exploring those islands.

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by CnK

) The lift kit raising the entry too high for easy in-and-out of the trailer.

Our knees are getting creakier and stiffer, and we have two old dogs who are starting to struggle to get in and out of the car, up and down stairs, etc. Oddly, stepping out is more challenging than stepping up and in. We have a ramp for the dogs, but the ramp doesn't hold us.

We've definitely noticed a difference stepping in and out of trailers with the lift kit vs those trailers without, and it's a significant difference.

If you were to get the lift kit, you would definitely want the double step too. That definitely makes getting in and out easier with the lift kit. But, is doesn't really work without the lift kit.

[Kingfisher]

Originally Posted by CnK

We've definitely noticed a difference stepping in and out of trailers with the lift kit vs those trailers without, and it's a significant difference.

We live in Washington State and have ordered our 21C with the lift kit. If you order the lift kit, you have the option of adding a very solid two step entry built by Lippert. We visited the Escape factory in Chilliwack and wanted the Lippert entry steps as soon as we saw them. The steps fold up inside the doorway when not in use, so does not hang below the trailer when traveling. We’ve seen enough posts about damaging the standard step to realize this is a good idea.

[Sean Murry]

We travel to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands a lot. Going to Saltspring, Cortez, Pender, Quadra Islands etc and have never had an issue with scraping with the ramp and we don't have the lift kit. Never really saw a reason for the lift kit

[MullensE19]

I have an E19, lifted, added extra step. Love it, and
Too height is still not as tall as some 20’ers I have owned.

[eh2610d@gmail.com]

We just crossed on the Edmonds ferry with our E21:without a lift kit. No problems at all

[mike o]

I have a 19’ with the lift. It has been in full use in the remote campsites with rocks ,roots and uneven ground. The ferries in the Kootneys with the low water it was great with no dragging. It’s preference like everything else. Depends what you do ….Pavement princess or off roader.

[ransohm]

We have the lift kit w/2 step option on our 21c. So far some of the benefits have been setting up on uneven terrain, that second step helps, and something i have noticed, the black/grey tank drain is not as high as many conventional rv's. Not all dump stations are ideally setup, and i have been glad that there was that extra 2-3" slope.
No troubles boarding and un-boarding Washington ferries to and from San Juan Islands, (just be sure to make reservations, and cross fingers).

[Dcboyd]

We purchased the lift kit 3 years ago and would not want it any other way. If you don’t have it you make excuses why one doesn’t need it. It you have it, you find it difficult to do without it.
Personally I like the additional fresh and gray water tank clearance. Also with my creeper I can roll around and do repairs and examine the undercarriage. I am 5’10 and 155 pounds and with the creeper there is barely room to clear the tanks. This is without the spray foam.

[Ron in BC]

[QUOTE=Dcboyd;477148

If you don’t have it you make excuses why one doesn’t need it.

Also with my creeper I can roll around and do repairs and examine the undercarriage. I am 5’10 and 155 pounds and with the creeper there is barely room to clear the tanks. This is without the spray foam.

[/QUOTE]

I make no excuses why I don't have a lift kit. I don't have one because I don't want one and a lot of experience has proved to me that I don't need one.

I have no difficulty working under the trailer without it being lifted. I don't use a creeper because I've owned and used one for many years and pinched my fingers on the wheels far too many times. I prefer to slide around on a piece of cardboard.

The major limiting factor to clearance remains the distance from the axle to the road and that doesn't change, lifted or not.

Ron

[Red]

Escape trailers have great lines. There is a smoothness to their design with the round corners, the awning enclosure, frameless windows, and how the wheels and wheel wells are integrated. Jack it up with a lift kit, stick a manual awning on the side, install framed widows and you turn it into an ugly duckling. That should get some responses.

The beauty of Escape trailers is you can have it the way you want it. The lift will allow you to take your trailer over extreme conditions. Without it you can travel most forest services roads with ease. The Dexter suspension handles gravel roads very well. My son who is an avid 4wheeler followed me on a fsr and was amazed how stead the trailer stayed.

Three years ago my wife suddenly acquired Guillain–Barré Syndrome and became completely paralyzed. After 6 months of hospitalization and rehabilitation she climbed her first step. Thankyou Rease for designing a trailer that she is able to step into so easily.