Modifications to Eggscape

[1200bruce]

I watch those videos part 1 and part 2 inside and outside it was amazing.
And it gave my wife way too many ideas....

[Eggscape]

Glad you liked them. They did a great job filming.
Part 3 will have to wait of course until we get the all clear and can go camping together again.

[Eggscape]

The Short Story...Using the screw that holds the corner pad in place, I installed a drink holder in the rear bed area.

The Details...Years ago when we had our Boler, my wife, being shorter than me, sort of volunteered to bend herself and sleep against the curved rear wall. Now that we have an Escape it is my turn to be at the rear. However, sometimes, depending where we are camping, I can get a little dry in the night and need a drink. Up to now I have had a glass of water beside the stove but that reach over can be a little disturbing to my wife and returning the glass to the correct position in the dark can be questionable.

Having removed the corner pads a few times I knew that there was a block of wood fiberglassed into the corner that was big enough for not only the original screw but a second one as well. This attaches the drink holder very securely. Make sure you check behind the pad for the block placement so you don’t miss with the second screw.

This particular holder is made for a bike and I am very happy in its flexibility to hold various styles of glasses and containers. I purchased it from AliExpress for less than $1. Yes...at that price I did get a few more for our boat as well. I could not find the same great price but did include a few links for under $2 each. Of course, for a bike drink holder like this you can just pop to your local Canada Tire or Walmart.

Keep in mind that over time these links...as do all links in AliExpress I have posted... can change. By change I mean all of a sudden the seller will want you to pay $60 shipping via DHL for a now $10 item that was originally $2. So if it does not look like a good deal...do your own search.

http://s.aliexpress.com/ZVzmYVba

http://s.aliexpress.com/vyQfeuiQ

[Eggscape]

The Short Story...We use two large sleeping bags zipped together with a custom made removable liner tied into each corner for our bedding.

The Details...Camping for both Marilyn and I means many things and one of them is being able to sleep in a sleeping bag as we did when we were kids.

It is bad enough that there is a fight to get the mattress cover on, but I am not going to relive that fight every day making a traditional bed with sheets tucked down the sides.

What Marilyn has done is sewn two appropriately sized, flat sheets together at the bottom and up about a foot on each side to form a liner for inside our sleeping bag. This way it can be easily removed and cleaned in a standard size washing machine. The two lower corners of the liner each have a fabric tie that connects it to corresponding ties Marilyn added to the sleeping bag.

Once the liner is in the sleeping bag we just lay it out in position...no tucking involved. We actually have 3 liners with us, allowing regular liner changes during travel until we find a suitable place to wash them all on route. Once we are back home the sleeping bag gets washed in our local laundry mat in one of their oversized machines. For us this is a tried and true method that worked extremely well on our cross Canada tour.

Picking a sleeping bag is personal preference of course but here is what I look for. I hate being “short sheeted” so aim for the longest one I can get and width is important as well. What temperature rating depends on what time of year you camp and if you are a cold or warm sleeper.

Of course you can buy double sleeping bags but also you can generally zip two identical single bags together to form a double. Also if you buy two single sleeping bags from the same manufacturer of the exact same size, there is a good chance you can mix and match and they will still zip together. This option allows you to buy a light duty one for one side and spend the big bucks for a thick one for the opposite side. This way you can flip as required for the temperature of the night.

Canadian Tire has a great selection of Granite Peak bags that are the same size to mix and match. Just so happens a lot of bags are on sale right now. If you don’t make this sale, I have attached some examples of what happens yearly.

[h2owmn]

I’m with you on the sleeping bag for ambience/nostalgia and also convenience. Since there’s just me, and my bed in the 17 is half of the front dinette area, I altered a mattress pad and twin sheet to fit the air mattress, which is easily accessible from the center of the bed, and my sleeping bag has the “liner “ on the outside instead of inside—enclosed in a duvet that fits perfectly. So I can easily launder components. I launder the sleeping bag like you do, at the laundromat, a few times a year.

Btw, I always get a little excited when I see your item in the list of new stuff. I think, what has he thought of now?

[Doyle]

Love all your mods! Watched your YouTube videos made at a rally. Could you tell me how to find the black window fans - great solution as everyone was! Thanks, Doyle

[Eggscape]

Glad you enjoyed all the modifications.
Looks like the link I posted for the fans is broken.

What you need to search for is a 120mm fan. They are also known as 12cm fans and measures just under 4 3/4 inches.

These are used in computer cases and are widely available. Generally the black fans don’t have leds lights built in, but most clear ones do. Personally I would not want the fans lit up at night while I am trying to sleep.

You should be able to purchase them for around $5 each.
They also come in bunches as well, like a 3 pack from Amazon Canada and a 5 pack from NewEgg in the US.

I have also included 3 links from China but they usually take 3 to 5 weeks to arrive unless you select “ePacket” for delivery which turns into priority post and still takes 2 weeks.

http://s.aliexpress.com/bI363uaQ

http://s.aliexpress.com/UfAJvmi2

http://s.aliexpress.com/MV3MVZV7

[Davin]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

THE SHORT STORY...I screwed in my winterizing tee valve I got from Amazon directly into the threads on the bottom of the fresh water tank. Quick, easy and works great.

THE DETAILS...over the next few months I will be posting many of my modifications. I have purposely waited to write up the mods giving us time to make sure they actually work. (I think I will do future modification posts in this format so people can do a quick read and if they are interested continue on with the details.)

Now for the details of this common tee valve install. Most of the time people install this valve inside the trailer on the pump input line so that they can use it to suck antifreeze into the complete water system. I was not looking forward to lifting the mattress and hatch in order to install the brass tee valve inline. Once installed, next year would not be as bad with the ability to feed the new antifreeze tube into a workable position.

However, I was under the trailer after blowing the lines with the supplied air adapter supplied by ETI and noticed water still in the supply line. This made sense as the pump blocks the air from blowing the input line clear. The pump also did not allow the water to just drip/drain back into the water tank that had been empty for 2 months. I undid the water line at the elbow that enters the tank and water poured out. Picture attached. I can only assume that if I had simply gone into the trailer and turned on a tap that this water would have been sucked clear.

I was thinking...what happens if each year I forget to clear this line? Yes, installing the tee valve by the pump would antifreeze that section, but what about the lower section where the elbow is. I then saw that the water tank had the same thread as the brass tee valve. Minutes later, it was installed with the thread seal tape provided. Quick and easy.

I got the kit from Amazon.ca and l also see it is available at Canadian Tire. U.S. Escape owners will find it cheaper everywhere. It comes with a brass end cap so you can remove the antifreeze hose and keep the threads clean.

I always carry an empty collapsible water container with us in case we run out of water. Getting more water is not usually a problem. Getting it into the water tank via funnel and a flexing container is a trick. I think next time I will just put it on the ground and use the antifreeze tube.

Is there a way to use the onboard pump to actually fill the tank? Ie: rather than pumping only from your collapsible water container (and having to leave it under your trailer)? Thanks!

[Eggscape]

Using the on-board pump would be more complicated than what it is worth...in my mind.
I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

Here is a video that Angie and Ronda did on installing an aux water tank and pump in the truck. Always nice to have a spare pump on hand that you can swap out the trailer one if you have to.

https://youtu.be/AeygbP9NZzY

[Eggscape]

The short story...One of the first things I did when we got our trailer was to add another 12 volt battery.

The details...Generally nowadays, when someone says they have dual batteries in their trailer, they are referring to two 6 volt batteries. However, I can not justify two 6 volt batteries just sitting in the trailer when we have so much demand for 12V batteries at the cabin. When we go up to the cabin I pull the trailer batteries and they travel with us. With 12 volt batteries needed for the boat, 3 trolling motors and 2 for the Cat track loader...they are always in demand. They also make for a good backup if we lose power as hydro crews are days away.

When at home I can take the batteries with me in the truck if I have an extended communications event. The radios in the truck can be isolated from the truck battery and run just off of these auxiliary batteries. Always nice to be able to restart the truck when the event is done.

I thought I would share some of the parts I used to make this all work. First I like to fuse or put in a circuit breaker as close to the battery as possible. This was possible by bolting it right to the positive terminal. I selected a circuit breaker from Aliexpress, but they are also available from Amazon for twice the price. The breakers come in many sizes and if you use an inverter I think the draw from that would be a consideration on the size you select.

From the batteries to the rear of the battery selector switch I used 6GA size multi strand very flexible welding cable from Princess Auto. This is a size that fits nicely into the Anderson Power Pole (style) 50 amp connectors I purchased from Aliexpress...but are also available on Amazon. If you want to use this large of wire, just make sure the connector you select has the correct size pins to accommodate it. If you need more than 50 amps to power a large inverter, larger connectors of this style are available.

Before the wires reach the power panel they go into a rotary battery selector switch that I also got from Aliexpress. This allows me to select which battery to use. Of course only one battery is selected at a time as these batteries are not a matched pair. I like this switch as you can have your wire enter via any side (or rear) and the terminals are protected from shorting by the sealed housing. The switch also has an off position as well, in case something starts to smoke.

For crimping the wire in the pins of the connectors and lugs at the rear of the switch, I use a lug crimper from Princess Auto. Just put the item to be crimped in the groove and tap the top with a hammer.

I also have a 3rd battery in a portable battery box that I can bring along in case we are planning on an extended boondocking stay.

In the future I would like to be able to remove one of the batteries while we are camping and charge it in the rear bed of the truck while we are out and about for a drive.

There are more pictures in the following post.

[Eggscape]

More photos...

[Ron in BC]

Makes sense to multi-task the batteries if you can.

Personally, what I like most about dual 12 volt batteries, is knowing that a fault in one won't affect the other. Or an accidental total discharge in one doesn't leave you powerless.

Ron

[Eggscape]

What I like is the usage guide.
Since the batteries are similar in capacity, we can use one boondocking in a spot and record how many hours or days the first one lasted. We then know if the conditions remain the same when the second battery will be depleted and when it will be time to move on.

[Eggscape]

The short story...I installed a lock on the fridge hatch.

The details...I have never been impressed by the two little twisty locks at the top of the fridge hatch and wondered what I would do if one broke while camping.

I decided to install the extra hatch lock from the five pack I ordered for the rest of the trailer hatches. I have been impressed with the operation of these locks and doubt there will be a problem with them. If so, I will have a quick fix replacement with me on the fridge hatch.

It is not that this hatch has to be locked as most aren’t, but it is not like I want anybody tinkering around in there. If anyone is going to screw things up in there...it is going to be me. I also don’t want somebody that has lost their hatch to find ours as their replacement.

I measured down the appropriate distance for the lock to clear the inner frame/support of the hatch and drilled the hole to fit with a step bit. A block was required behind the frame of the trailer due to the length of the shaft of the lock. I also added a little taper to the block so the lock bar that swings into place makes for a snug fit. That block is held in place with some double sided tape and the one stock frame screw.

The five pack of locks can be purchased here:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_dVVAa00

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

The short story...I installed a lock on the fridge hatch.

The details...I have never been impressed by the two little twisty locks at the top of the fridge hatch and wondered what I would do if one broke while camping.

I decided to install the extra hatch lock from the five pack I ordered for the rest of the trailer hatches. I have been impressed with the operation of these locks and doubt there will be a problem with them. If so, I will have a quick fix replacement with me on the fridge hatch.

It is not that this hatch has to be locked as most aren’t, but it is not like I want anybody tinkering around in there. If anyone is going to screw things up in there...it is going to be me. I also don’t want somebody that has lost their hatch to find ours as their replacement.

I measured down the appropriate distance for the lock to clear the inner frame/support of the hatch and drilled the hole to fit with a step bit. A block was required behind the frame of the trailer due to the length of the shaft of the lock. I also added a little taper to the block so the lock bar that swings into place makes for a snug fit. That block is held in place with some double sided tape and the one stock frame screw.

The five pack of locks can be purchased here:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_dVVAa00

Great idea Ed !Pat

[cpaharley2008]

What are those 2 little round items I see in the picture on your exterior vent cover lower vent?

[Eggscape]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Great idea Ed !Pat

Thanks

[Eggscape]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

What are those 2 little round items I see in the picture on your exterior vent cover lower vent?

That would be for the fridge awning...as seen in posts past.
More info on that here:
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post291904

[sdplonsky]

Hello Ed. We are new Escape owners. We enjoyed your videos. You mentioned that you had links to where we can purchase items you used. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Could you please help me? Thank you for your time.
Susan

[Eggscape]

Welcome to the Escape forum and the Escape trailer world.

It is thanks to Angie and Rhonda for taking the time to produce the videos as part of their ongoing “Adventure in NoMadness” YouTube series.

Generally at the end of each modification I supply the link to the product. However theses links do change or drop out. In posts 455 and 456 I had redone the links that we’re corrupt at the time. Many of the items can also be found on Amazon, etc.
Here is a link to post 455.
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post318484