Have a small portable ice maker we carry when it’s hot and we have electricity. It would not come out of the PS dinette bench storage without moving a bunch of stuff. So I’m rebuilding the bench access hinged plywood cover to work better for us. I need some 1x4 before I can finish. The supports are not full length just like the bed. I will change that since I cut the plywood. Here’s a couple of starting pictures.
What the heck is going on with the cross supports not being full length?
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Bill & Cindy Evans
"Remember, we are guests in nature....no one likes a houseguest who trashes the place"
Most, if not all of the bench / bed supports are not full length. Some people have replaced them. I am only replacing what I need for strength. They have always been adequate, but since I have cut down the plywood width, I decided to increase the support while I have it apart. I might not need to since it’s always worked, but it’s easier to be sure while it’s apart than to take it back apart later to fix if needed. All Escapes have been built like this forever without failures, but you can search forum threads about this if you want to read more.
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Randy & Barb
1998 C 2500 (Cruncher) and 2021 Ranger (Yoda)
What the heck is going on with the cross supports not being full length?
Lot's of previous threads on this going way, way back. Some folks have had the mattress off and knelled on the bed plywood and heard it creak. Some felt the need to rebuild the area. There's never been a problem with a collapse that I know of. Simplest analogy is cast your eyes skyward in a big box store and look at the trusses. Notice that only the top chord is supported. I view the plywood as the top chord.
The PS dinette access mod is about done. I just need to finish the poly on the top side of the plywood. The solid metal furnace duct is also installed.
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Randy & Barb
1998 C 2500 (Cruncher) and 2021 Ranger (Yoda)
I picked up our new E19 last Thursday in Kansas City. I debated which truck to take, but chose Yoda, the new 2021 Ranger. I’ve been too sick to care, but yesterday in the late afternoon I went out to have a look.
I installed the Proven Lock bought without the puck, and added a LockPickingLawyer suggested puck lock. I found out the old keyed a like pad locks I have won’t fit the front box. It needs locks with fairly small shackles. I dumped a little out of the black tank that unfortunately was black, the gray was empty, and fresh probably had 15 gallons. Now to go inside.
The door lock was stubborn at pickup. I discovered I have one of the many typical thumb press to release RV locks. Works great that way. I need to get the shop vac and take care of construction debris. Lights and fans work on 12v. Lights flicker until the sun goes down and solar shuts off. I’ll have to look into that. This is our first RV with solar. Pulled the cushions and mattress, and Barb varnished the raw ply underneath. I’ll work on the Froli for the bed, and the Hypervent for the cushions.
Lots of things to do. Registration is running slow in our county right now. I’ve been sick, so we are pushing our first trip back a bit. The big projects for now are to get the Dickinson in and create a Lagun table mount in a bench dinette.
I’ll also plan on checking water and 120v today.
We are planning the simple milk crate under bed storage for now.
I’ll update as I can, and will try to answer questions.
Hi Randy, Is it recommended to varnish the plywood? this is the first time i've read of someone doing that. Thanks! Kim
The PS dinette access mod is about done. I just need to finish the poly on the top side of the plywood. The solid metal furnace duct is also installed.
That's the way the cross supports should look
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Bill & Cindy Evans
"Remember, we are guests in nature....no one likes a houseguest who trashes the place"
It can and does work either way, but since I reduced the plywood and used fewer screws, I cut new cross braces. To do the forward one, I used one of the old cross braces as the support for the new full length brace.
that new support looks crooked due to camera angle. It fits 3/4” correctly.
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Randy & Barb
1998 C 2500 (Cruncher) and 2021 Ranger (Yoda)
Most, if not all of the bench / bed supports are not full length. Some people have replaced them. I am only replacing what I need for strength. They have always been adequate, but since I have cut down the plywood width, I decided to increase the support while I have it apart. I might not need to since it’s always worked, but it’s easier to be sure while it’s apart than to take it back apart later to fix if needed. All Escapes have been built like this forever without failures, but you can search forum threads about this if you want to read more.
Early 19's actually had a vertical support that went to the floor at and along the plywood seam. Makes it much stronger but also takes up some storage space. For us it now does double duty as a mount for inverter/charger shut off switch.
We camp year round, so no matter how careful we are, we get condensation around cushions and mattress. This is proactive against moisture.
I agree and that's what I do also. I was a little shocked when I first saw the unpainted plywood. Not something that I'd ever do and I'd always painted plywood on anything that I've ever built.
Standing moisture from condensation on plywood can and does create perfect mold growing conditions. I do have first hand experience with that.
I agree and that's what I do also. I was a little shocked when I first saw the unpainted plywood. Not something that I'd ever do and I'd always painted plywood on anything that I've ever built.
Standing moisture from condensation on plywood can and does create perfect mold growing conditions. I do have first hand experience with that.
Opening up the space under the furnace to throw shoes. Hoses and wires, even after some work, will still be somewhat in the way.
Discovered here, and under the kitchen in front of wheel wells, ETI used both glue and staples on my paneling. This makes it harder, but not impossible to finish off nicely. The kitchen area is where my outside 12V / USB is located.
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Randy & Barb
1998 C 2500 (Cruncher) and 2021 Ranger (Yoda)
Opening up the space under the furnace to throw shoes. Hoses and wires, even after some work, will still be somewhat in the way.
Yes, there's a lot of useful hidden spaces. I use that area for my tool bag and trays of commonly used tools.
If you kneel down you can reach around the corner into the valley between the two wheels. I've found it a handy, out of the way, but accessible place for things like spare parts.
While I understand the maintenance headaches this design causes, it's really a mechanically-sound and savvy construction technique for lightweight strength and durability.
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Inhabiting "Peregination", an E21C. Take a micro-vacation with nature sounds!
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ad·ven·ture: (noun) An endeavor in which more than half of the fun is in telling the tale afterwards.
Dustin at ETI assured me it was staples only. Other pieces I’ve pulled were stapled only. Under my fridge is also obviously glued from my attempt to pull it and stopping because I could tell it would break before a staple would pop.
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Randy & Barb
1998 C 2500 (Cruncher) and 2021 Ranger (Yoda)
It's been a mixed bag for quite a few years. On my 19 I did extensive panel removing and some popped off without any damage and some, when possible, I had to insert a very thin putty knife and work it back and forth sideways to keep from doing major damage to the panel.
What the heck is going on with the cross supports not being full length?
I have been under & worked both places. In fact did some major work on the bed area. All while sitting on just the plywood, after I took the mattress out. I'm thinking might be to have a "give" space for torquing/twisting that may go on rough roads. As to not crack/punch through the fiberglass shell(focused in one spot). The benches & bed plywood is the only support in the horizontal on these trailers. The plywood is custom fitted tight & so disperses the contact points.
There's one panel I was glad that it just popped off without damage.
Running new wiring for an inside hot water tank shutoff switch it was convenient that the panel at the end of the bed just popped off without damage. Made it easier to run the new wiring.
It pops on and off easily but kind of snaps into position and stays there firmly.
Makes a good place to put valuable objects out of sight but easy to get to.
Under the furnace I also found dead end wiring, but it’s not hot. Ron under my furnace there is more electrical and propane to deal with, but I’ll make it as workable as I easily can. The outside USB, as mentioned in the USB thread is behind a pex 90 to the sink and the aforementioned glued paneling.
One picture of the wiring and propane under the heater, and two of the dead wire under there.
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Randy & Barb
1998 C 2500 (Cruncher) and 2021 Ranger (Yoda)
and some popped off without any damage and some, when possible, I had to insert a very thin putty knife and work it back and forth sideways to keep from doing major damage to the panel.
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