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06-20-2022, 09:14 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Kamloops, British Columbia
Trailer: 17a escape
Posts: 7
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Cracks in fibreglass
When I stored my 17A trailer last fall, I noticed a small crack in the fibreglass over the wheel well. The crack was small and I filled it with clear epoxy as a preventative measure. This year, a much bigger crack has appeared just beside the first crack. I have included pictures of the two cracks. These cracks don’t seemed to be caused by rock impacts as there is no indication of an impact and the cracks are on the side of the trailer not inside the wheel well.
The trailer was bought new in 2021 and was only used for a few outings and never on gravel roads. I am worried that these cracks may be a sign of improper fabrication of the fibreglass shell or curing of the fibreglass. I purchased an egg-shell trailer thinking that these were the most resistant to water leaks. I am concerned that if cracks are appearing in the shell after such a short time and so little usage, I may face much bigger problem in the near future.
Has anyone other Escape owner experience these cracks? I would like to know what could be causing these cracks and most importantly, what can be done to prevent and repair them.
Thanks
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06-20-2022, 09:34 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,207
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I have never heard of Escape selling an uncured fiberglass trailer before its time...nor of any trailer being improperly fabricated....hopefully, this is not the case. I will inspect my 2022 Escape and report back. On edit, I found no cracks in any of my wheel wells where it meets the trailer sides....
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__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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06-20-2022, 09:35 AM
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#3
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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: 10,162
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Contact Escape. The shell should still be under warranty.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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06-20-2022, 09:44 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,207
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Perhaps sending the photos to ETI may results in a different answer....?
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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06-20-2022, 10:12 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Madison area, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19 Chevy 2012 Express 3500 Van
Posts: 1,421
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Gel coat crack?
That sort of cracking is very typical in fiberglass construction and is often a cosmetic issue and not a structural one.
Learn more at this site. It is referencing boats, and there are a whole lot more of them in fiberglass than travel trailers, but the info is pertinent to Escapes.
https://www.mintouchrefinishing.com/...ou-should-know
See what Escape says about it and warranty coverage. Fairly easily repaired.
The article above states the cracks can be caused by temperature changes with thermal expansion/contraction and not necessarily impact. If that is your case, the crack is purely cosmetic. You'll likely see a few more develop over the years. It comes with the use of gel coat, which cures more brittle than the underlaying fiberglass.
To speculate, your spider crack is on a surface transition area from the wheel well to the flatter body. There may be internal core stress in that area because the the transition. No biggie at all, just an artifact of fiberglass layup & construction.
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06-20-2022, 01:25 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,207
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Excellent explanation there, Tom......
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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06-21-2022, 05:49 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 842
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I have a couple that appeared over the years. One on top front, one toward right rear. Never grew, couple inches long. Will see what 10,000 miles of Alaska does?
__________________
Carl,
"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
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06-21-2022, 09:17 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Kamloops, British Columbia
Trailer: 17a escape
Posts: 7
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Thanks to all who replied to my post.
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03-15-2023, 09:34 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Burlington, Ontario
Trailer: 2022 5.0
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivan Desjardins
When I stored my 17A trailer last fall, I noticed a small crack in the fibreglass over the wheel well. The crack was small and I filled it with clear epoxy as a preventative measure. This year, a much bigger crack has appeared just beside the first crack. I have included pictures of the two cracks. These cracks don’t seemed to be caused by rock impacts as there is no indication of an impact and the cracks are on the side of the trailer not inside the wheel well.
The trailer was bought new in 2021 and was only used for a few outings and never on gravel roads. I am worried that these cracks may be a sign of improper fabrication of the fibreglass shell or curing of the fibreglass. I purchased an egg-shell trailer thinking that these were the most resistant to water leaks. I am concerned that if cracks are appearing in the shell after such a short time and so little usage, I may face much bigger problem in the near future.
Has anyone other Escape owner experience these cracks? I would like to know what could be causing these cracks and most importantly, what can be done to prevent and repair them.
Thanks
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Hi Ivan,
would be curious to hear what escape had to say about the cracks?
thanks
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03-17-2023, 08:44 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, Ontario
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,075
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Yes Please report back with Escapes response,
I figure it is just a crack in the gel goat. My SeaDoo had many spider webs but that was from the fun.
__________________
2020 Escape 19, AKA The Escape Pod 2
Trailer #6 was a 2007 Escape 17B
2017 Toyota Tundra 5.7L 4X4 DC Silver
Following TravellingRobert on Youtube
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03-19-2023, 10:24 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Trailer: 2012 E19
Posts: 1,240
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It would only be concerning if the crack went all the way through. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone experiencing that type of crack on Escape FG, though.
__________________
Losing weight puts one at much greater risk of becoming thin.
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03-20-2023, 07:05 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: USA, Texas
Trailer: 21
Posts: 392
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Has Escape not responded yet. Almost 9 months since first reported
__________________
REMEBER PEEPS WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND and PAYBACK is a #%$&$&
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03-20-2023, 09:07 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 10,579
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The OP hasn't been on the EscapeForum for a while:
Last Activity: 11-23-2022 02:10 PM
__________________
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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