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05-15-2015, 01:02 PM
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#1
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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: 8,815
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Hidden spaces
Thanks to Mark's pioneering opening up hidden spaces I had previously opened up the space under the sink by adding a new door to the left of the entrance.
I wanted that area to store, um, long objects, out of the way and out of sight. At first I was just going to use a piece of paneling to cover the area but then I decided to make a locking door from 1/8" steel plate. The panel has 4 ceramic magnets on it and snaps onto the steel door. It isn't bomb proof but anyone looking to do a quick ransack and run probably isn't going to even suspect that there's a hidden compartment there. That's the hope anyway.
Ron
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05-15-2015, 01:09 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,347
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
................... It isn't bomb proof but anyone looking to do a quick ransack and run probably isn't going to even suspect that there's a hidden compartment there. That's the hope anyway.
Ron
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Nice idea. Your secret's secure with us.
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05-15-2015, 01:10 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
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Your secret stash has just been viewed by 3,700 members and who knows how many visitors.
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05-15-2015, 01:10 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Auburn, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 #3
Posts: 385
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Nicely done. I think you're right. A quick, and probably even a leisurely ransack wouldn't expose that compartment.
Tom
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05-15-2015, 02:00 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Penticton, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 5.0 TA
Posts: 82
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Love it! Thank you for the idea.
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05-15-2015, 02:50 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Ah. The 'long objects' storage compartment. Nice.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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05-15-2015, 03:52 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Brantingham Lake, New York
Trailer: 2001 coachmen
Posts: 274
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4
Ah. The 'long objects' storage compartment. Nice.
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Copy!
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05-15-2015, 05:34 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Trailer: Escape 19 26/May/2014 Sold New trailer 2016 Bigfoot 25B21FB
Posts: 449
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Hi Ron,
As always very nicely done Ron when I saw your hidden compartment I had to laught because I all so made a secret false floor hidden compartment . Just don't tell anyone about my hidden floor compartment and I promise I won't say about your new long hidden compartment my lips are sealed. One thought came up is when you go through customs between the US and Canada do you tell them about your hidden compartments or do you just let the custom officials find them on there own.
Mark
__________________
______________________
Mark & Karen Van Tiem 2014 Escape 19 sold, Now a Bigfoot 25B21FB Travel Trailer
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05-15-2015, 06:35 PM
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#9
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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: 8,815
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OK, it's a deal, my lips are sealed.
Anything I do at the border is open and legal. If I have anything they might want to look at I show them the paperwork and hand them the keys.
Ron
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05-15-2015, 07:48 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
OK, it's a deal, my lips are sealed.
Anything I do at the border is open and legal. If I have anything they might want to look at I show them the paperwork and hand them the keys.
Ron
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Yep. That's the best way. The Canadian Border officials are very good at their jobs.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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05-15-2015, 09:35 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,051
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Crossing the border, it's not about your hidden spaces, it's what's in those spaces. Mind your manners, pay attention to the rules for the country and you'll be fine.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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05-15-2015, 09:39 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
Crossing the border, it's not about your hidden spaces, it's what's in those spaces. Mind your manners, pay attention to the rules for the country and you'll be fine.
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True, but it's funny that some folks just disregard the rules of the country they enter. If you don't like the rules, don't go!
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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05-15-2015, 10:06 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Trailer: Escape 19 26/May/2014 Sold New trailer 2016 Bigfoot 25B21FB
Posts: 449
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
Crossing the border, it's not about your hidden spaces, it's what's in those spaces. Mind your manners, pay attention to the rules for the country and you'll be fine.
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Hi Donna,
I grew up living in a small city called St. Clair ,Michigan which is just across the St. Clair River from Canada. I have been in and out of Canada more times then a lot of people and I can tell you for sure a hidden storage compartment is going to get you a good second look. When every I pass through customs it is alway yes sir no sir and 100% honesty I have nothing to hide.
Mark
__________________
______________________
Mark & Karen Van Tiem 2014 Escape 19 sold, Now a Bigfoot 25B21FB Travel Trailer
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05-19-2015, 02:47 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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Back on topic... don't get me wrong, Ron, I think the hidden security space you made is excellent. For now, though, will continue using mine. Has worked well so far-- no border guard would even touch it.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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05-19-2015, 06:42 PM
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#15
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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: 8,815
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Now I know why they wear gloves. Nothing like hiding in plain sight.
Of course, as most 19 owners probably know, the space is accessible from the outside hatch looking forward. It's just not accessible from the interior. Well, technically it is, you could open the under bed doors and squirm in to access it, just not very convenient.
Ron
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05-19-2015, 07:04 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Just considering doing any of this is going to result in a guilty look when the border agent speaks to you. I would try to wipe it from your mind.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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05-19-2015, 07:47 PM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Just considering doing any of this is going to result in a guilty look when the border agent speaks to you. I would try to wipe it from your mind.
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Amen. A hidden space to prevent theft is one thing -- using it to circumvent a border check is quite another.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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05-19-2015, 07:52 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,051
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I'll be adding a small safe to Ten Forward. Thought it would be in by now. Won't happen before the rally. But, have already decided if I ever cross a US border into a foreign country, I'll make certain the door is open and it will be empty when I cross. Border guards don't give you time to go inside and "rearrange." The safe won't be large... like for "long" stuff, just big enough for cash, camera, etc. I don't want to carry on my body all the time. But secure (and relatively) hidden to prevent walk-away conditions. YMMV
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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05-19-2015, 09:49 PM
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#19
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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: 8,815
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Just to be really clear, my "hidden space" isn't there to circumvent any laws, quite the opposite, it's there to comply with storage laws for certain items. A second benefit is keeping the goods safer in the event of a break-in.
Yup, Donna's correct, you don't get a chance to go in and "rearrange" items once they've decided to search you. We found that out when we were busted for having 3 green onions Yep, it's true, we're guilty of having contraband, so embarrassing, but honestly we're still good people. It was, turn over all keys and wait until they'd gone though the truck and trailer. Luckily, only a gentle reminder green onions were on the forbidden list (a copy of which they helpfully gave us)
Ron
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05-19-2015, 10:01 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
It was, turn over all keys and wait until they'd gone though the truck and trailer.
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It seems to me that it would be appropriate and adequate to hand them the keys, with a comment to explain that one fits the compartment inside the cabinet beside the door. It would be clear that you are not hiding anything from them.
You'll probably even get some compliments on the design and installation.
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