Scrambled Egg (Our 19)

[jnfrombigt]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

My $350 Pro Series ( without the sway option ) that I bought at ETI has served me well for 10 years. I can't imagine spending $2,000 on a Hensley, nor can I imagine how it could be better, towing my 17B with a RAV4.

I think you'd be spending quite a bit more than $2000 for a Hensley and that would be in USD. Certainly not for everyone's budget or trailer situation but for some folks it might be an option. The Hensley weight distribution works like most other weight distribution hitches for weight distribution but for sway control it is radically different. A doctor I used for my FAA physicals towed a similar sized trailer to the Escape line and used a Sprinter based van as the tow. He swore by the Hensley and that got me interested. My towing experience has been limited to maybe 3,ooo miles with a conventional hitch and like you I did not experience anything that challenging. Most of my towing have been goosenecks, about 30,000 miles, so I claim no expertise with conventional travel trailers.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by TesaLD

By the way, Tammi told us the water tank is over the axel, so doesn’t come in to play re: the tongue weight.

I think there has been some miscommunication here - the fresh water tank is close to the axles, but behind them. The effect of fresh water weight on tongue weight has come up in discussion here quite a few times.

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

... the newer Escape with the raised rear floor is where the fresh tank is located and I believe it is behind the axles.

Raised floor or not, the fresh water tank in Trillium-pattern trailers (which includes all Escapes) is behind the axle, I think without exception. In the early 21' and 5.0TA with the floor dropped between the frame rails in the dinette area, the tank is still in the same place; without the step up in the floor, there would not be much space for the tank between the floor and the axle crossmember.

Originally Posted by TesaLD

We’ll have to verify with the Escape people re: the water tanks when we pick up the trailer.

It's easy to check, as long as the trailer doesn't have the under-floor foam: just bend down and look for the big rectangular translucent white tank. If you get the foam, they can still point out what lump is the tank.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by TesaLD

I know I touched the brakes to disengage the cruise control...
... the state trooper said I’d slammed on the brakes because of the skid marks, but I have no recollection of that...

Every cruise control system that I've seen has a button or lever to disengage cruise control without touching the brake pedal - I suggest checking out how to do that in your vehicle, even if you don't intend to tow with cruise. Smooth and delicate control actions are difficult while in a panic.

[Rossue]

So sorry to hear of your accident and glad you did post it here. Perhaps a heavier tow vehicle could have been more stable. The Chevy Traverse at 4,362 isn't much heavier than a loaded Gen2 19.

[gbaglo]

Fresh water tank in my 17B

[TesaLD]

I’d have to look next week, but we had it installed in Chilliwack and bought it from Escape (I think).

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by jnfrombigt

Has anybody in the Escape community tried one of the Hensley designed hitches?

There have been a few discussions of the Hensley: see the results of a Google search in EscapeForum.org for "Hensley".
Although it appears that no one is towing an Escape with a Hensley hitch, the discussions are probably worth reading for anyone interested in the Jim Hensley design (Hensley Arrow, or ProPride 3P).
One Escape 21' owner (Art M.) did try a Hensley, but later went to no WD hitch at all, and "couldn't tell the difference in towing with or without the Hensley".

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by rbrandenstein

The hitch height was correct, I believe. When connected and ready to go, the trailer was level. Not passing or going too slow is not realistic or wise, I concur. I guess what I meant is we are going to be a lot more cautious.



I don't think I had a tire blow out, but I don't know for sure. After being righted, both wheels on the down side where bent and flat.



There was also some interior damage. The medicine cabinet mirror is broken and the upper cabinets in the front driver side corner are broken. We lost some dishes and had to throw out our food.


I am also not a fan of Camping World, but we did not have much choice. With both the car and trailer out of commission, we couldn't shop around.



BTW. If you don't have car rental coverage on your auto policy, I advise getting it. We did not and we spent a grand getting back home.

Hi: rbrandenstein... So sorry to read of your plight. Glad no one was injured though. We travelled the same I 10 corridor only from east to west. One thing I noticed from your pictures is you were in the area where the trees have been removed due to the hurricane damage during Irma. The winds seemed more intense there and could contribute to your control issues. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[TesaLD]

Thanks!

[TesaLD]

I believe it was an Equalizer with anti-sway bars.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by TesaLD

I believe it was an Equalizer with anti-sway bars.

Which would presumably be what Escape calls

Equalizer Hitch with Sway Control Bar - $475.00

in their option list, and which is actually not an Equal-i-zer® system at all, but a Pro Series 600 lb Trunnion WD with Friction Sway Control device.

[escape artist]

Hi: All... When I need to "Blow my nose" I don't care if it's a Kleenex or a No Name tissue, I'll use it.
During our 5,000 mile trek to Florida and back our worst driving was thru Tallahassee Fl. in a car wash like rain. Even the driving rain and fierce headwind on the 401 from Windsor home seemed better. I believe we had a wet brake wire connection after crossing the Ambassador bridge causing a disconnect message on my trucks screen. I pinched the brake controller when the screen cleared and they worked. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[kstock11]

I knew someone else who went with the Hensley Hitch. It was after a similar situation. They rolled their trailer and car with both totaled. After that, the choice was to either stop towing or get the “best” hitch that money could buy. (Their opinion, not mine) They had made mistakes - towing with cruise control on in heavy traffic and rain. I don’t know if they were aware of loading the trailer correctly. My vehicle is equivalent to the Traverse, (GMC Acadia) but my Escape is generation 1. Also, I tow with the Anderson hitch.

[Chama]

We just returned home on Friday from Big Bend National Park on the last part of our trip after picking up our E21 in Sumas on January 14th. We got caught up in the powerful storm last week in West Texas that eventually affected most of the US. The winds were forecast to be 50mph gusting to 85 mph. We layed over in Ft. Stockton, TX an extra night but there were thunderstorms and tornadoes touching down all around the area so we wanted to get out of there. So, we took off on I-10 Wednesday morning despite the high winds for home in New Mexico.

Thank goodness we had Escape install the E2 Fastway hitch with anti-sway on our GMC Canyon diesel pickup. Both truck and trailer were fully loaded and heavy. We had two recumbent trikes strapped down to the tonneau cover on the trike but nothing on the trailer hitch. On the drive, we passed one blown-over semi on the side of the road so yes, the winds were really high. I normally drive at 65 mph when towing but slowed down to 60 and eventually 55mph when the winds were the highest.

During the drive, I practiced how to quickly get my hand to the brake controller but never needed to use it to put the trailer brakes on during the drive to stop a sway. We had full water tank, empty black and grey tanks and drove with cruise on. On one stretch of I-10, I was in the center lane of 3 lanes and was passed by a semi on each side, both going much faster than I was. Didn't like that experience at all so stayed mostly in the outside lane where I had the shoulder to take to if the winds blew me. I never need to do that however. All things considered, I thought the truck and trailer performed as one would hope despite the high winds. It was not a relaxing drive however.

[Rrgramps]

I’m hoping our JGC works with the E2. I spent half an hour on the phone with ETI, until he gave up and is reluctantly going to sell it to me. I’ve got the auto leveling shocks, which are rejected on the ETI build sheets for all of us.

“E2 by FastWay Integrated Sway Control and Weight Distribution Hitch *Not Compatible with vehicles that have an Air Leveling Suspension System. CX has Air Leveling suspension see note in file. SEE REACE”

[Nindy]

Bob and Katie and Tesa,
So sorry to hear about your incidents! Glad no one was hurt. I once had to swerve sharply to miss something in the road and immediately looked in the rearview mirror. Just about threw up watching the trailer rock from side to side. I'm a lot more careful now.
Linda

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by rbrandenstein

1. I plan measure tongue weight. One site suggested always emptying the fresh water tank since many trailers, like the 19, have it behind the axles. The weight of the water reduces tongue weight.

Has anyone tried the Weigh Safe ball to measure hitch weight? Unfortunately it can’t be used with WDH setups.
https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Ball/.../WSUN-1.html#/

[caddoster]

We have a weigh safe hitch, (not this exact same one) we use it from time to time to get some idea of tongue weight, especially after a major "re-arrangement" of things.

The scale is not very friendly to smaller trailers .. you can get a ball park number such as 400 or 500 but not much in between.. probably still good for finding out if it's way out of whack tho.

[reace]

Very sorry to read about this accident and glad to hear everyone is ok. I have never been in a situation like this and can only imagine how scary it was!

I just wanted to chime in about using the E2 by Fastway WD Hitch with a vehicle that has a factory installed auto-leveling system. This type of 'built-in' sway control is effective when there is full pressure on the torsion bars. When installed in conjunction with an auto-leveling system, the vehicle will take most of the load off the WD hitch, thus reducing the effectiveness of the anti-sway feature. Our biggest concern is that there is a false sense of sway control security with this setup.

Originally Posted by Rrgramps

I’m hoping our JGC works with the E2. I spent half an hour on the phone with ETI, until he gave up and is reluctantly going to sell it to me. I’ve got the auto leveling shocks, which are rejected on the ETI build sheets for all of us.

“E2 by FastWay Integrated Sway Control and Weight Distribution Hitch *Not Compatible with vehicles that have an Air Leveling Suspension System. CX has Air Leveling suspension see note in file. SEE REACE”

Pasted from the E2 by Fastway Install Manual

"Tow vehicle “auto-level” systems should also be disabled or turned off."

Hope this helps explain our position on this setup.

Reace

[cpaharley2008]

So Tesa, does your Jeep GC have the auto leveling system?