What did you do for your Escape today.....

[cpaharley2008]

Great idea, protects a vulnerable area from the elements................

[Rossue]

Gonna get me some; thanks Greg.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Greg A

For those with the manual awning, there is a weak point where the threads and the fabric start to disintegrate with the elements right where the awing attaches to the awning rail.
I did a mod yesterday that should allow 2-3 more years out of my awing cloth and it's inexpensive and simple to do.
It took 2 rolls of the following wonderful tape product:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gorilla-...1895/311042860
This is a 4" wide tape and you need to apply carefully as it isn't easily removed. This is applied right up against the awning rail and covers all the threads and 4" out of awning material.
Came out so well and is pretty much not visible, that I will apply this whenever I get new awning cloth to protect that area.

Good remedial catch Greg, before it reached the point of no return. Yes, some of the tapes now available vastly exceed the tapes formerly available.

On both our 19 and 21 we put on a awning cover if the trailer is going to sit for awhile between uses and not long enough to bother putting the trailer cover on.

Even consider it worthwhile in our, umm, sometimes rainy climate but it would be even more useful for you folks in the sunbelt.

Gen 2 trailers would benefit even more because the recess for the either loved or hated power awning leaves more fabric exposed.

Ron

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Greg A

For those with the manual awning, there is a weak point where the threads and the fabric start to disintegrate with the elements right where the awing attaches to the awning rail.
I did a mod yesterday that should allow 2-3 more years out of my awing cloth and it's inexpensive and simple to do.
It took 2 rolls of the following wonderful tape product:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gorilla-...1895/311042860
This is a 4" wide tape and you need to apply carefully as it isn't easily removed. This is applied right up against the awning rail and covers all the threads and 4" out of awning material.
Came out so well and is pretty much not visible, that I will apply this whenever I get new awning cloth to protect that area.

Great idea! The sun and water do a job on the threads. I can see some degradation on original 2010 19 awning but still holding on. Have always been impressed with anything made by Gorilla and will definitely consider this.

[Eggscape]

Just for a laugh I found the same tape for sale on the Canadian Walmart page. Almost $80 plus $35 shipping!
Luckily it is available at a sane price elsewhere.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

Just for a laugh I found the same tape for sale on the Canadian Walmart page. Almost $80 plus $35 shipping!
Luckily it is available at a sane price elsewhere.

Wow, $8/foot is highway robbery.......

[Eggscape]

Yup...with shipping and tax...over $12 per foot.
I did see it on Amazon.ca for $21 Canadian and the Gorilla products are widely available here so I am sure someone could find a better price.

[dfandrews]

Sounds like a work party item, for all trailers in attendance at Quartzsite!!

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Greg A

For those with the manual awning, there is a weak point where the threads and the fabric start to disintegrate with the elements right where the awing attaches to the awning rail.
I did a mod yesterday that should allow 2-3 more years out of my awing cloth and it's inexpensive and simple to do.
It took 2 rolls of the following wonderful tape product:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gorilla-...1895/311042860
This is a 4" wide tape and you need to apply carefully as it isn't easily removed. This is applied right up against the awning rail and covers all the threads and 4" out of awning material.
Came out so well and is pretty much not visible, that I will apply this whenever I get new awning cloth to protect that area.

Great idea. I did something similar (but much smaller scale) on my 19' a couple of years ago. I had noticed that a small hole had appeared in my awning near the attachment point to the trailer and I used a piece of Eternabond tape that I had left over from my solar panel install on the 15B to patch the hole. It is still holding up well now about three years later. I think the Eternabond tape would work well as a patch at any location on your awning.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

Sounds like a work party item, for all trailers in attendance at Quartzsite!!

Yup, little work parties was one of the things I enjoyed at Q'site. But, sigh, here I am stuck in Canada, not normally a bad place to be, but wondering if I'll ever be able to travel south for events like Q'site.

Some of these new tapes are on the pricey side. I thought the price of Eternabond was outrageous at first. But now that I've used it and can see how well it works and lasts I think that it's good value for money.

Ron

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Dave Walter

Great idea. I did something similar (but much smaller scale) on my 19' a couple of years ago. I had noticed that a small hole had appeared in my awning near the attachment point to the trailer and I used a piece of Eternabond tape that I had left over from my solar panel install on the 15B to patch the hole. It is still holding up well now about three years later. I think the Eternabond tape would work well as a patch at any location on your awning.

Hi Dave have used the Eternabond tape also for many years as well as our flexible solar installation. Another use was the lid on fantastic fan was cracked a couple years ago right at one of the hinges . Applied the tape and it is still holding . I received a replacement thanks to a forum member’s information but haven’t needed to replace yet . In past used also for sealing roofs etc. great tape ! Pat

[Centex]

For the flexible PV panel + Eternabond folks .... has anyone used the Doublestick Eternabond Tape under the perimeter of those panels in lieu of the single-stick tape lapping over the perimeter?

Just curious if that'd offer sufficient hold-down while being a bit 'cleaner' install?

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Centex

For the flexible PV panel + Eternabond folks .... has anyone used the Doublestick Eternabond Tape under the perimeter of those panels in lieu of the single-stick tape lapping over the perimeter?

Just curious if that'd offer sufficient hold-down while being a bit 'cleaner' install?

Haven’t used the double sided yet but I am sure it would work great . Just making sure you are starting with clean surfaces for the tape but you probably know that already. Pat

[Ron in BC]

Started making the top for my cargo box. Old time panel beaters would shake their head at my "cut and weld" treatment for the corners. Those with good panel making skills could have formed the rounded corners by shrinking and stretching them. Not me, been there done that building my car body and I'm not good at it.

I junked a 5' sheet metal brake after I finished my car. Sure could have used it for the top.

The rounded ends will echo the vertical rounded shape of the Escape. Would be easier to build a square cornered box but I don't like that look.

This will be a monocoque structure, no internal framing. The skin is the structure.

Ron

[Ops]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

ah, I found if I ran the water into the bowl before extrusions...

My first hard laugh of the day...thank you

[MyronL]

"Monocoque" structure? I'll take a back seat to that. If that's your tongue box it don't look deep enough to store a loaf of bread.

[Ron in BC]

Um, room for my laptop. I've used the base as a pattern for the top. There will be walls, tall enough for my zero gravity chair to be stored on edge.

When we both made tongue boxes we framed the structure and then covered it with sheet material. This box won't have a frame, strength primarily comes from the bends put in the skin. Work in progress but hopefully will be obvious soon.

Ron

[Ron in BC]

Started making the sides for the box. Always like this phase of a project where it starts to take shape.

Keep telling myself, yah, square corners would have been quicker but the rounded ones will match the trailer much better.

Ron

[gbaglo]

Looking good.
What's the colour match?

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

L
What's the colour match?

The white is a vinyl protective film that comes on one side of aluminum sheet to preserve that light brushed finish.

My two choices are; leave it natural aluminum or paint it to match the gelcoat. I left my 19 tongue box natural for awhile but in the end decided a paint finish was more appropriate for use with a f.g. trailer. Maybe good with an Airstream but not so much with white f.g.

The other reason for painting is that natural aluminum can be a bit higher maintenance and slight nicks etc. are more noticeable and harder to repair. I left my car natural because that's period correct and because it has a scotch brite finish that is more forgiving to maintain.

I don't know yet what the exact color will be. The f.g. on the 21 is quite white but the front tongue box is almost a very light almond. I tend to favor matching it to the front tongue box.

Ron