|
|
09-04-2017, 01:58 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Moyie Springs, Idaho
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 151
|
Metric Question
I am puzzled why Escape trailer lengths are listed in feet instead of meters. I reside very close to the border and have slowly learned how to order meat at a butcher shop ("x" grams of this and "x" grams of that) and to determine liter to gallon volume equivalency but I do not understand why the trailers would be listed in feet instead of in a metric measurement. I had always thought that Canada was 100% metric - then this morning while being inside on a holiday because the smoke from wildfires is way too dense - this question entered my mind. I am sure a few friendly folks will be able to enlighten me about this pressing question.
__________________
Keith & Lauren
2018 Escape 19
2019 RAM 1500 5.7L V8
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 02:15 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Southern Alberta, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 1,734
|
Hi new adventures, nope we here in Canada never went 100% metric. We still have 2x4 lumber, 4x8 plywood, 8 1/2 x 11 paper etc. and that's just some of it. What can I say, it was or government at the time [emoji23].
Cheers
Doug
__________________
Cheers
Doug
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 02:17 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Officially, Canada uses the S.I. (metric) system. Legally, values for trade must generally be expressed in S.I. units, although there are exceptions and other units can always be provided as well... but trailers are not priced by the foot so it doesn't matter so much in this case.
There are a few factors which keep old unit in use, but mostly it's reluctance to change. In this case, Escape Trailer Industries is in a business which is dominated by the U.S., so for comparison with other products (other brands of travel trailers) it is convenient to use the same units of measure.
Ironically, the Escape design is derived from the original Trillium design, and Trillium sold their two larger models with model names based on their length in metres (the 4500, about 4.5 m or 15' long; and the 5500, about 5.5 m or 18' long). The Escape equivalent to the 4500 was sold as the Escape 15', and the nearest Escape to the 5500 is the Escape 19'.
Bigfoot is the other manufacturer of moulded fiberglass travel trailers in British Columbia; they list their trailer specifications in both systems.
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 02:22 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Moyie Springs, Idaho
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 151
|
Thanks to PGDriver and Brian B-P for the quick responses. Now what else can I ponder today? :-)
__________________
Keith & Lauren
2018 Escape 19
2019 RAM 1500 5.7L V8
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 03:10 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
|
And then there is the 5.0 TA.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 04:43 PM
|
#6
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Kelowna, BC Canada, British Columbia
Trailer: Escape 2015 21'
Posts: 38
|
If ETI were to put the trailer and other measurements into metric the USA market would drop like a rock. [emoji3]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 04:59 PM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
|
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 05:06 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Moyie Springs, Idaho
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 151
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paceman
If ETI were to put the trailer and other measurements into metric the USA market would drop like a rock. [emoji3]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
A very true statement - few would make the effort to figure it out.
I'm not going to add to any confusion by bringing up Imperial gallons.
__________________
Keith & Lauren
2018 Escape 19
2019 RAM 1500 5.7L V8
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 05:24 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Ponoka, Alberta
Trailer: 2016 19 classic "outta sight", jeep rubicon unlimited
Posts: 1,645
|
Funny: our drivers license is in metric.
__________________
"never lose hope, never lose faith"
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 06:17 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
|
I solved the metric / US measurement problem by purchasing a combination measuring tape where one edge is in Metric and the other is in inches /feet . The ruler does the conversion for me , leads to less mistakes and I don't need a calculator.
I do own a metric hammer and a couple of metric screwdrivers but seldom have a use for them.
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 06:52 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Port Angeles, Washington
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19
Posts: 198
|
If you ever find a left-handed metric hammer on sale please let me know. I'm always looking for left-handed things as birthday gifts and such for my brother... )
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 06:58 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,547
|
We (Canadians) wimped out when converting, given in to the US pressure where we do so much trade. Too bad though, as the US is pretty much the only country to not adopt the metric system. I am quite comfortable discussing in both. Temperature is about the only thing I need to convert to understand now.
__________________
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
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 07:00 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,547
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug & Betty
If you ever find a left-handed metric hammer on sale please let me know. I'm always looking for left-handed things as birthday gifts and such for my brother... )
|
Don't be silly, there is no such thing as left-handled hammers. Just screwdrivers used for loosening.
__________________
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
|
|
|
09-04-2017, 07:07 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Westcliffe, Colorado
Trailer: 2010 EggCamper (#083); 2017 Escape 21 (#053); 2016 F-150 5.0L FX4
Posts: 1,765
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
And then there is the 5.0 TA.
|
I always keep an eye out for that other decimal component of a fifth wheel.
|
|
|
09-14-2017, 10:32 PM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Loserpeg, Manitoba
Trailer: 2021 Escape 19, 2010 Palomino Y series prior
Posts: 143
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
We (Canadians) wimped out when converting, given in to the US pressure where we do so much trade. Too bad though, as the US is pretty much the only country to not adopt the metric system. I am quite comfortable discussing in both. Temperature is about the only thing I need to convert to understand now.
|
Temp is easy (except for negative temps), its pressure conversions that stump me.
A pascal is such a useless unit in day to day life.
And if America would get its game together (the uk too) we could all forget about non SI units.
Equipment from Europe and Asia comes with SI specs, and the majority of equipment still comes from the USA or US markets at least, and thus my trade is forced to know both. Thank goodness for smart phones
__________________
14 F150 SCAB 4x4 3.7v6 Bunch of mods. 2021 Escape 19.
|
|
|
09-24-2017, 08:02 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Carrollton, Texas
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21, 2017 Toyota Tundra 5.7L 4x4
Posts: 549
|
Where is the metric?
When I went up to pick up our 21 in August, I took only metric tools, thinking "made in Canada, everything would be metric". This was a mistake! I had to pick up a set of English sockets because I have yet to find a metric bolt.
__________________
Rick and Vicky Reed
|
|
|
09-24-2017, 08:29 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
|
Ninety percent of customers are American. That might be the reason.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
|
|
|
09-24-2017, 09:07 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: O town, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 "Lightning"
Posts: 1,467
|
Just the marriage of two great countries.
|
|
|
09-24-2017, 09:22 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by float5
Ninety percent of customers are American. That might be the reason.
|
I don't think the issue is that customers are American. It's likely that suppliers are American.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
09-25-2017, 12:02 AM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
I don't think the issue is that customers are American. It's likely that suppliers are American.
|
Absolutely. Nearly the only Canadian content in an Escape (or any other RV made in Canada) is what is done by the RV manufacturer itself (in this case, moulding the shell, building cabinets, and assembling). Both vehicular components (axles/suspension, wheels, tires, lighting, coupler) and RV components (appliances, plumbing parts, electrical devices) are either from the U.S. or from overseas suppliers selling the same parts which they sell to RV manufacturers in the U.S.
Having said that, even a U.S.-designed and U.S.-manufactured car has metric fasteners, and that has been true for decades. RV stuff is in inch sizes because it's mostly antiquated. Seen any drum brakes or non-hub-centric wheels or zero-offset wheels on a car in this century? No, with the exception of some rear drum brakes on economy cars. But if it worked 40 years ago, it's good enough for a trailer.
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|