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

[Iowa Dave]

I use the impact wrench to set the lug nuts before the torque wrench routine when I rotate or get new tires.
Once in a while I want to take the nut off of a trailer hitch ball, I use the impact there too. I have nothing against them, I just have my way of doing things. Sometimes I don’t feel so good after lifting heavy stuff I shouldn’t but most of the time I know my limits and stop short. Certainly the stabilizer cranking isn’t one of them. So I muddle along, hang my clothes on the clothesline to dry, eat raw tomatoes off the vine in the garden, and water my trees with a bucket with holes drilled in it. At least I sleep well every night.
Iowa Dave

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

I use the impact wrench to set the lug nuts before the torque wrench routine when I rotate or get new tires. . .

I still use the old X-cross lug-nut wrench and just spin 'em. Never used a torque wrench on lug nuts until I got the Escape, where everybody thinks torquing is so important. Mine were probably never up to 110 ft-lbs or such, but they didn't come off. Now I got this fancy torque wrench, so I torque 'em, too.

[brroberts]

I don’t mind drills on the stabilizers even though we are manual, but I hate the noisy impacts when I’m out to get away from such sounds.

[YakRV]

This falls more under the category, “What did you do for your tow vehicle today,” but got the new Yakima bed racks and crossbars on the truck. Our next camping trip we’ll be putting the “YAK” (kayak) in YakRV.

[John in Santa Cruz]

oops, today was a two-fer... last camping trip a week or so ago, and our propane alarm started signaling EOL, new one came today... so, unscrew,unscrew... snip, snip. strip, strip, crimp^4, heatshrink the marine crimps I use, and screw,screw and done. good for another 5 years.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by brroberts

I don’t mind drills on the stabilizers even though we are manual, but I hate the noisy impacts when I’m out to get away from such sounds.

yeah, do NOT use impact wrenches on those jacks, WAY too much torque. a standard 2-speed drill-driver on the lower speed is just right.

[Doug2000]

So not spending $$$$ on a Lagun and besides it didn’t really accomplish what we wanted. We wanted a smaller table with the floor clear. I made this from extra stuff in my garage. Eventually I’ll add the matching Formica which is a brown speckle. That’s why the bracket and legs are brown. The plywood matches other mods in the trailer.

[Selkirk]

I installed a WeBoost "Destination RV" Signal Booster into my E19, in order to address the marginal (at best) cell coverage at the trailer's semi-permanent summer-season location.

I ordered the trailer with the cable TV prep package...specifically so I could easily pass the 75ohm coax lead from the exterior antenna into the trailer.

I mounted the booster on the wall that separates the fridge from the bed area, directly below the radio. The AC power brick is hidden in the upper cabinet. I reused the former cable outlet location to pass the power plug to the AC outlet. The cabling for the interior antenna is run through the overhead cabinets. The antenna is mounted on the overhead cabinet face above the sink , which provides good coverage throughout the trailer.

It works great. With the mast extended the full 25', I don't have any feedback issues between the two antennas. I now have a strong cell signal and good voice/data connections inside the trailer.

I still have to wire in the 12v power supply for the booster. Since I have access to AC shore power at my present location, that is not a high priority. 12v power is very accessible, so it should be easy enough to do.

My only mistake was positioning the lower mast mounting plate a little too high up the exterior wall. I should have positioned the lower bracket the same distance from the bottom as the upper bracket is from the top. This causes the mast to lean inward slightly....but not enough to worry about for now.

[Ron in BC]

We've had the WeBoost for several years and, yes, it can definitely haul in a slim to non-existent signal and make it usable.

It still surprises me that despite the huge buy-in of cell phone use that a lot of areas still have poor to no signal.

Ron

[Ooshkaboo]

Impact drivers are one of the best tools out there.
Everyone could benefit by using these, absolutely anyone can become accustomed to them.
Just use a spare piece of wood and and practice with various sizes of screws.
Once you get the feel of it using one for stabilizers will be a breeze.

[brroberts]

Impact tools are great for the right job, and terrible for the wrong job Ike stabilizer jacks. A good drill is okay if you don’t over torque the jack. I own 4 impact tools and have never used one on a stabilizer.

[oldwave]

I carry both an impact driver and a drill with me. I’d never use the impact on the stabilizers.

[Rossue]

Saw a newbie last year with a 21NE using an impact driver on the stabilizers to level his trailer.

[Ooshkaboo]

I have no problem, it just takes getting the right feel for it down.
I constantly use them for way more delicate uses than a crank. But I suppose it’s always good for someone to know their limitations.

[BobG]

Originally Posted by Ooshkaboo

I have no problem, it just takes getting the right feel for it down.
I constantly use them for way more delicate uses than a crank. But I suppose it’s always good for someone to know their limitations.

I should just ignore this but I won't. I know my limitations and have been using drills since I was a young one and impact tools for over 50 years. My favorite tool is my brushless Makita impact that I paid like $400 for when they first came out. It is an amazing tool and I use it a lot.

A couple years ago when I bought the trailer and converted the manual trailer jack to use a socket, I tried the impact on low power (it has 3 power settings). That is as far as I got. Not only did I recognize no one would want to listen to it, I didn't either. I leave it at home and take my drill for the jack and stabilizers. It has a clutch for screw driving and works better on cranking as the impact. No need to hammer the **** out of the jack or stabilizers while annoying the neighbors.

[jontom]

John In Santa Cruz, curious, how did it pop off the ball? I had the same thing happen to me this spring with my boat trailer and saw that there was an adjustment nut on the hitch. kinda scary actually. Fortunately not on busy road, chains held, and no damage. Was there a reason for hitch to come off the ball and a fix for it?

[Ooshkaboo]

I might use these tools more than others so I have to go full out tool time. I do my best to travel with the least amount of equipment and still be able to accomplish most task. I haven’t carried a regular drill in my work truck for years, much less would I carry one in my camper.
I use the hex shank bits that fit securely into the impact driver, the quality of them has greatly improved over the years. These tools are used for hvac, electrical work, on and on.
The trigger on these drills is where you get your control, if you’re hitting the spot where the noise kicks in, your stabilizers need lubrication and or you’re over doing it.

[Allan Bornestig]

OK.So I painted the cable hookup connection and the little flap that hold the access door open to the basement.
Also removed and painted the outside cap over the stove fan exit.Totally not needed to remove the cap.That was dumb, but reinstalled and have to do some haevy caulking there.
But it sure looks good.Paint I used,Krylon Fusion All-In-One paint primer Gloss White.
Purchased at Canadian Tire Store.Those plastic parts hade changed colour and started to look old.Nice and clean and shiny now.Good colourmatch.Worth the effort.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by jontom

John In Santa Cruz, curious, how did it pop off the ball? I had the same thing happen to me this spring with my boat trailer and saw that there was an adjustment nut on the hitch. kinda scary actually. Fortunately not on busy road, chains held, and no damage. Was there a reason for hitch to come off the ball and a fix for it?

I don't think there is an adjustment on these 'saddle' hitches Escape uses.

[Chasing Trials]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

So not spending $$$$ on a Lagun and besides it didn’t really accomplish what we wanted. We wanted a smaller table with the floor clear. I made this from extra stuff in my garage. Eventually I’ll add the matching Formica which is a brown speckle. That’s why the bracket and legs are brown. The plywood matches other mods in the trailer.

Nice. I did somewhat the same. So wanted clear floor space under the table for a puppy crate.