No more after purchase modifications

[kootenaigirl]

Not sure if this has been posted before but thought it might be useful for anyone thinking of taking their Escape back to the factory to get something added/updated.

I contacted Escape regarding getting a few of the current options added to my used Escape and this was the response
“I am sorry we have stopped doing after market modifications and are focusing on the manufacturing side of the business.”

I did clarify that this is not due to covid it is ongoing.

Too bad as that was the nice benefit with Escapes that you could take them back to get work done where they know our trailers really well and you knew they would do a good job.

[Iowa Dave]

We returned to the factory four different times with our 19 and 21 foot Escapes. Only once was it for a minor repair. Twice we had options added and although difficult for them, perfectly executed and worked without any hitches. Those three times we also attended the Osoyoos rally on the front or back end of the rally. When we bought our 21 in mid summer we brought it home from Tucson and immediately called Escape to schedule the installation of Solar and dual 6 volt batteries. We drove 2,500 miles each way to get the work done and had a great three week vacation with our grandson. Someone asked me if I couldn’t have had the work done closer to home? I admitted I could have, but it wouldn’t have had Reace’s stamp of approval. I guess this new policy is a casualty of the new normal I keep hearing about. I never once blinked when Tammy quoted me a price, I just wrote the check. I knew where they came from and I knew they were there to make money and as importantly, take care of customers who had become friends.
All good things must end, my Dad used to say.
Iowa Dave

[Bobbie54]

Wow, that's too bad. That was a plus for living nearby.

[cpaharley2008]

I think it is covid related as after sale repairs and add ons is standard just about everywhere, even your automobile dealers. Perhaps try again next year.

[kootenaigirl]

I specifically asked them after their first response to me left me wondering if this was a temporary situation.
“At this time we are not doing any after market installs and would have to be sourced by someone that specializes in this type of aftermarket RV work.

My question back was
‘Could you just confirm if this is temporary (related to the virus) or are you stopping doing after market installs completely?’

And the response in my initial post was their response so unfortunately they seem to be moving away from that model.

[Rossue]

Seems like they've recognized doing repairs isn't as profitable as making/selling new trailers.

If true, not surprising given other changes.

[cpaharley2008]

Again not to argue, perhaps contact the president and get something in writing in response to your email, Karl is his name: karl@escapetrailer.com Also the fact they replied with after market installs. seems to indicate they did not understand what exactly you wanted.
It is not really after market installs which implies adding another manufacturer's item to your Escape. In reality you are interested in adding Escape options to your existing Escape or upgrading your Escape.

[kootenaigirl]

I was very specific regarding what I wanted - adding exterior shower, solar and additional rear brake lights all listed under options.
The initial email went to Karl who forwarded it to Dustin Dionne (Parts and Service specialist) who replied the first time and the second time Dave Warren (Parts and Service manager) replied.
It is all in emails so I think it was fairly clear on both ends

[cpaharley2008]

Sorry for this disturbing news and I'm glad you brought this to everyone's attention. Hopefully they may change their minds.

[Ron in BC]

I think folks have to understand that some additions of equipment, while easy to do with the trailer partly assembled, are a completely different story to retro-fit.

It's very easy for jobs to become, in essence, complete custom jobs that involve different staff and disrupt the normal production line.

I don't think that there's anything unusual about ETI reaching that point. Most companies, when they're small and building the business, will do extra stuff but at some point that doesn't fit their business model and isn't in their best interests.

It's still a great trailer and there are lot's of other folks who can do RV stuff.

Ron

[Rossue]

Reminds me of when picking up our 21 there was a Boler in for work of some sort and Reace was on it!

This new policy doesn't not promote brand loyalty even given the fact that most will have work done elsewhere

Tennis Warehouse does 95% of their business online, yet they still maintain a retail store here in SLO, CA.

[Ruthe]

Pre-covid, I emailed Escape to ask about adding a drawer and the exterior shower -- they got right back to me with a price. Of course now we can't get into Canada. I'm disappointed to hear that that they are not longer going to be willing to do this.

[gbaglo]

At some point aftermarket installations become cost prohibitive. They could probably quote a price, but not a price that would be acceptable to you and still be barely worth it for them.
They are not in that business. They build trailers. Others are in the business of rebuilding trailers. Those others are not nearly as profitable or successful.

[escape artist]

Hi: All... When Reace& Tammy were running the business they had a division doing repairs and alterations to customers trailers. They were always busy and I have had them do alterations to our trailer. It seems the new owners must not think this "Service" is profitable, and takes to much away from their core business. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by kootenaigirl

I was very specific regarding what I wanted - adding exterior shower, solar and additional rear brake lights all listed under options.
The initial email went to Karl who forwarded it to Dustin Dionne (Parts and Service specialist) who replied the first time and the second time Dave Warren (Parts and Service manager) replied.
It is all in emails so I think it was fairly clear on both ends

Additional rear brake lights are no longer an option, I was told they had too many problems with leaks, and that the top marker lights now double as high mount brake lights.

Was your Escape pre-wired for solar? If not, I can understand why they wouldn't want to add that.

During the live streams Karl has indicated that they will add things like A/C to existing trailers.

So it might have been a matter of what you specifically asking to be done, rather than a blanket we're never going to do anything like that again.

Going down your list:

High mount rear brake lights, nope they don't even do that on new trailers anymore.

Solar panels - Only if your trailer is pre-wired for solar, otherwise, not part of their normal manufacturing set up.

Exterior shower - Yes they could probably do that, but, so can any RV shop.

Also, questions like is this because of Covid 19? or are you going to start again after Covid 19? can be interpreted a different way by every person that reads it. Their full staff may be back, so that to one person that might mean they aren't restricting things because of Covid 19. All of their resources are currently being used to build new trailers, so that's the reason to another person. Yet, you or someone else might interpret that as still being 'because of Covid 19'.

If the border opened tomorrow could you get work done, no they aren't going to forgo building new trailers to mod yours.

If you were asking for something to be done in 2020, that was probably off the table, period. Will that change in come winter of 2021 maybe, but, if I wouldn't expect Escape to commit to now that either.

[steve dunham]

This change will lead to people being more thoughtful and cautious about which options they choose and which they reject .
I would assume Escape wishes to sell options upfront and not after the fact for various reasons both financial and logistic.

[Jim Bennett]

Escape's focus is the same as any manufacture, and that is to grow production. In doing this it will not only make it tough to separate workers from work they are set up to do on the production line and go do a modification to a customer trailer.

Another thing that in the future will cause problems is the fact that Escape plans to bring their facilities up to maximum production as soon as possible, and to do so will use up the space required to do modifications.

Escape does plan to keep doing as many build options as possible, and have added a lot of new options and a broader range of choices. Escape will do great into the future, of that I am positive.

With any car or truck manufacturer, they too offer some options with new, but will not take back a vehicle to do modifications on. The same with the vast majority of RV manufacturers. Dealers are the ones who will do this work if it is possible, or elsewise it will be done by specialty shops.

It is sad that Escape has moved on to this point, but understandable. Who knows, maybe into the future they will do some after market work again. Maybe.

[Sandra L]

I too am sorry to learn that as I was planning some modifications like adding a rear view camera and perhaps changing the arrangement of the tandem propane tanks to accomodate a storage box....shucky darn, as I have such trust in them...I too hope they will re-consider as thaose things were not available or done yet in 2009....(or I didn't think of all of them then)...Also bathroom windows and fans were not done...and I had asked about a bathroom fan and was told no...
I do understand the corporate monetary reasons....and do hope they re-consider.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Sandra L

I too am sorry to learn that as I was planning some modifications like adding a rear view camera and perhaps changing the arrangement of the tandem propane tanks to accomodate a storage box....shucky darn, as I have such trust in them...I too hope they will re-consider as thaose things were not available or done yet in 2009....(or I didn't think of all of them then)...Also bathroom windows and fans were not done...and I had asked about a bathroom fan and was told no...
I do understand the corporate monetary reasons....and do hope they re-consider.

A couple of us have added bathroom fans to 17Bs. Here is the thread. Here is a page describing my addition: Adding a Bathroom Fan.

[sherminator]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Who knows, maybe into the future they will do some after market work again. Maybe.

Keep on asking. Manufacturers do respond to customer pressure. A good reputation is of great value, takes a while to earn, and is easy to lose.