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12-09-2019, 12:33 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: Escape 17B, July 2019
Posts: 347
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I can understand being cautious drilling or cutting holes but after the first few it gets easier !
Lots of good advice from Ron and others here.
I don't have experience on RV's but have drilled and cut many holes in FG boats.
On smaller holes I like to run the drill bit backwards at first to prevent it from taking too big a bite at first.
On holes for bolts to say hold a flange, I do a small counter sink to allow the sealant to squeeze in and get around the bolt.
On square or rectangular holes I like to try and have radius-ed corners to prevent a crack forming. At least 3/8" radius or bigger if possible. Large cutouts a 1 or 2" radius is nice if it will work with a hatch or whatever it is your installing.
So I'd drill the four corners first then cut the straight sides. Then use a sanding drum in drill to do a nice job blending the radius to the straight cuts.
Often I would cut a hole a bit shy and creep up on it with the sanding drum if was a critical fit.
Bob
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12-09-2019, 03:59 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eggscape
You are right on the timing Ron...the first one always takes twice as long to make and that does not include the planning.
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Do you think for our 1st gen trailer , I could make use of the round inspection plate , the same one you used ? I have the heater that requires you to pull out to get to sail switch . Our heater is fine but some that have worked on theirs , is hard to get back in etc. Pat
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12-09-2019, 04:23 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 2,720
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I really can’t comment if it would work as I don’t know the heater used and where the switch would be located in relation to body line in that area.
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12-09-2019, 05:27 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eggscape
I really can’t comment if it would work as I don’t know the heater used and where the switch would be located in relation to body line in that area.
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When I get a chance I can get you pictures and info o heater if that would help. Pat
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12-09-2019, 06:07 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,809
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I don't know the answer either because in the 5 years we had the 19 the furnace was trouble free.
Someone who has pulled out their Gen 1 furnace and dealt with the sail switch would be the person who would know the answer.
Ron
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12-09-2019, 06:10 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
I don't know the answer either because in the 5 years we had the 19 the furnace was trouble free.
Someone who has pulled out their Gen 1 furnace and dealt with the sail switch would be the person who would know the answer.
Ron
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Myron , Ron . Pat
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12-09-2019, 06:14 PM
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#27
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Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,154
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i had to pull the gen 1 furnace on my 21, an access hole wouldn't have helped, as the sail switch side of the furnace is right up against the cabinetry under the fridge on the classic 21, the wheel wells, and the water fill ports and plumbing are squeezed in there too..
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12-09-2019, 06:31 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz
i had to pull the gen 1 furnace on my 21, an access hole wouldn't have helped, as the sail switch side of the furnace is right up against the cabinetry under the fridge on the classic 21, the wheel wells, and the water fill ports and plumbing are squeezed in there too..
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Thanks John . Might be a little different in the 19 though . Yes our furnace is under the clothes closet . The wheel wells are next under the refrigerator . I made a cabinet under the closet , lots of space there . Oh heck need to go out and take a look later , can’t remember. I do know different then 21 though . Later . Pat
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12-09-2019, 06:38 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,547
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I do like the new furnace access on the exterior, but with the older style furnace being relatively easy to remove, why even bother with an access port?
I ask as in 10 years of Escape ownership I have never actually had to replace or dust off a sail switch.
__________________
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
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12-09-2019, 08:29 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
I do like the new furnace access on the exterior, but with the older style furnace being relatively easy to remove, why even bother with an access port?
I ask as in 10 years of Escape ownership I have never actually had to replace or dust off a sail switch.
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I know I never had to either but I was just asking . Pat
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12-10-2019, 09:50 AM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Moyie Springs, Idaho
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 151
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"All you have to do is take the first steps, the rest will follow. The biggest hurdle for most folks is just taking the first step."
So true. I have procrastinated on some projects in the past because I anticipated a nightmare but once started it was often less painful than I thought it would be.
__________________
Keith & Lauren
2018 Escape 19
2019 RAM 1500 5.7L V8
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12-10-2019, 09:58 AM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Moyie Springs, Idaho
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 151
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
I do like the new furnace access on the exterior, but with the older style furnace being relatively easy to remove, why even bother with an access port?
I ask as in 10 years of Escape ownership I have never actually had to replace or dust off a sail switch.
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That is reassuring. Perhaps I am seeking a solution to something that I will not experience or will not experience often.
We often hear about problems on the forum because the folks who have a problem want to share with others to seek a solution or to alert us. Unfortunately, there is no way to really know if any problem is a design flaw that everyone will experience, a common problem or a rare occurrence.
Thanks to all who have provided their thoughts and "words of wisdom".
__________________
Keith & Lauren
2018 Escape 19
2019 RAM 1500 5.7L V8
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12-10-2019, 10:42 AM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19 "Seventy Degrees"
Posts: 3,495
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I’d seriously doubt that everyone or even close to a majority are experiencing this problem or ETI would have been inundated and put out some type of remedy as they did with the early fridge issues.
One of the theories seems to be revolving around latest furnace design in combination with pet hair. If you aren’t traveling with pets that have a high shedding issue, you may never have the issue, We don’t know for sure, but there does seem to be some possible correlation to the sail switch problem and pets on these furnaces.
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12-10-2019, 11:14 AM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2019 5.0TA "Junior", 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
Posts: 1,600
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Since we travel with a trailer full of cats I wanted to head off potential sail switch problems and installed a screen filter on the intake behind the metal grate as soon as we got the trailer. On our first big trip the sail switch quit. When I removed it I found ONE HUMAN HAIR and nothing else - I blew the contact points out really well with compressed air and reinstalled it. Haven't had a recurrence of the problem yet, fingers crossed. But I carry a spare sail switch and with the external access panel it's quick and easy to remove and clean or replace so I'm not too concerned about it going forward.
__________________
David, Mary, and the cats
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12-10-2019, 02:16 PM
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#35
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Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,154
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my sailswitch was tangled up with some poly fibers that were probably from insulation. I vacuumed the area around the furnace when I pulled it.
btw, the old furnace is NOT that easy to pull, and harder to put back in, due to the exhaust port
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12-10-2019, 03:02 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: Escape 17B, July 2019
Posts: 347
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I think adding an air filter to the furnace is very smart regardless of any pets or not. Sounds like a spider web could cause a cold night.
When we had our orientation on our new trailer I asked ETI to sell me a sail switch for our furnace. Thought it was a good idea to carry a spare. That way I'm sure I have the right part.
My orientation in life is to be as self-sufficient as practical. Being an ex-sailor I have no problem carrying spares on board "just in case". Since picking the trailer up last July I've been outfitting it with spare axle seals, bearings, grease, fuses etc. Anything I consider consumables.
I would be interested if anyone has compiled a list of spares they carry on board their Escape.
Bob
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12-10-2019, 03:11 PM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Beer, whiskey, more beer, wine, poutine...
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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12-10-2019, 04:24 PM
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#38
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Alaska, Washington
Trailer: 2014 5.0 TA
Posts: 451
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How about something like this, a borescope endoscope: https://www.amazon.com/Industrial-YI...FNHQ3FH7DRRXZE
Earlier this summer I was kicking around the idea of drilling a small hole in the front or coming in from the bottom side cabinet of the blower section of the furnace. So if the switch gets hung up you can just give it nudge with the scope.
When I pulled ours I was surprised that the cabinet was very clean and dust bunny free. The sail switch passed a continuity test on the meter. I’m thinking ours got hung up due to the bumpy road we were traveling on. Scott
I LIKE BIKES!
__________________
Scott and Lori
Aurora Borealis
2014 5.0 TA
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12-10-2019, 09:40 PM
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#39
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 2,720
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