19 Coming to Arizona

[Jmn n]

We will be getting our 19' in early 2014. (We will drive up to the factory and tow it home.)

We had a 2005 17' Liberty Deluxe Casita which we had customized a fair bit. It is really nice with Escape that we can get most of what we want done by the factory.

2 mods I will undertake after we get it will be to put some of the outlets on a transfer switch to the inverter and add the under bed storage drawers as seen in this forum. (Well - I'll pay a cabinet maker to do the drawers. I am pickier than I can do.)

Doug

 

[Donna D.]

Wooohooo! Casita builds a nice trailer, but you're gonna love the fit and finish on the Escape!

 

[Kountrykamper]

Another Casita converter! Welcome and hope you enjoy building yours as much as we have.

47 days and waiting!!

 

[PRAIRIEDOG]

Where do you find under bed drawer modifications?

Kim

 

[Jmn n]

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8/19-under-bed-storage-1464-2.html

 

[Jmn n]

We live in Arizona and plan to camp in the Western half of the US - without hookups the majority of the time. We had a Casita for 8 years, a big 5th wheel for a few years, and have done a lot of tenting.

We do much of our cooking outside on a propane stove and grill with an extra 20lb propane tank. We have a Honda 2000i generator (and may switch to something slightly larger after testing it with the new A/C.)

Here is our order (subject to change until the last minute.)

Personal preferences:
Custom formica, pearl, 934-58, Formica Laminate Swatches - Product Details
Custom fabric, Sunbrella Dupione Galaxy, 8016-0000, Sunbrella: Fabric Showroom
SS 2 burner stove for more counter space
Replace vent hood with light for more open feeling
opening windows in kitchen and bath
Stereo
Jack TV antenna and TV arm
U-shaped front dinette
foot flush toilet
Planning to use Springfield 1660230 pedestal instead of 2 RV legs
Non-Andersen equalizer hitch
SS sink to avoid concerns with hot pans
large fridge
Additional 110V outlets
Interior switch for driver side exterior light
Interior switched 12V circuit to spare tire for backup LED light
Removable power cord
Surge protector
Reinforced some walls to allow mounting stuff
Additional set brake/turn lights
2 way water heater (for when we do have hookups)
3000lb axles - not needed, but I like the extra margin
Propane tanks full

For hot/cold weather and noise:
Texas (hot climate?) fridge vent fan
Dometic A/C due to reports of extremely noisy new Coleman A/C
Digital thermostat for furnace-A/C
Extra insulation, thermal windows, spray foam under trailer

For storage:
Cabinet door at end of bench
Front storage box and LED light
Vents under bed and benches
Shelves/drawers in wardrobe cabinet
raise bed 2" for extra space below

For no hookups:
Captains LED reading lamps
Additional 12v outlets with 14 Gauge wire
dual 6V batteries and solar
1500W inverter and microwave - I will be wiring in a transfer switch
all LED lights

 

[cpaharley2008]

really nice...can you give some detail on the refrigerator fan?

 

[Jmn n]

really nice...can you give some detail on the refrigerator fan?

It is whatever Escape installs when you ask for a refrigerator vent fan. Tammy/Kim put "Texas Fridge Fan" for $125 on my build sheet.

 

[Tonny LR]

Doug,
Thanks for sharing your build sheet which is very detailed. We are in the process of building ours. We like your choice of fabric and we had sent for samples. Kim told us that they don't install split outlets for solar anymore. Is it easy to install a transfer switch yourself? We are going to have solar panel but we are not sure about having a inverter which only provided one outlet by the factory unless we also order a transfer switch. Please give feedbacks.
Tonny

 

[stoney-ESC]

Cool build sheet Doug alot of thought and time spent congrat's , we would have thought to see alot more build sheets and pics of the 21 foot trailers considering the 1st one built for a reserved customer gets picked up in no less than 10 day's from now , cheers mike

 

[Tonny LR]

Dough and Karen'
When you install a Springfield 1660230 Pedestal for front dinette, are you still able to convert the dinette table into a full size bed? How many pedestal do you use? Do you have to order parts and ship it to the factory? Thanks.
Tonny

 

[Jmn n]

Tonny,

Xfer switch:
Some trailers may be harder to partially rewire for a transfer switch than others. I think our 19 should be relatively straight forward. I do not know of any problems installing a transfer switch, but I expect some to show up. I will need to install an additional breaker box. Until I actually do it in January I will not know how hard it is.

I am very leery about telling others how to wire 110Vs - this is lethal voltage. I would STRONGLY recommend you contact an electrician or QUALIFIED RV shop and have them do the work.

Springfield pedestal:
Although we do not plan to ever make the dinette into a bed, it should be doable. This pedestal is designed to go from table to bed height and will require 1 pedestal. We are planning to take it with us and have Escape install it on pickup day. (Although I am sure they would prefer we buy it and ship it ahead of time.)

I believe (but do NOT know) the pedestal used by http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8/voil-its-a-dinette-and-voil-its-a-bed-1560.html is the same one.

 

[jamie beers]

3000lb axles - not needed, but I like the extra margin

Hi Jamman,

I'm interested in your 3000 lb axles, and hopefully can ask you a few questions?

How much extra did they cost to add to your build?
How much extra weight do they add to the 19' approximate total dry weight?
What is the new GVWR?

Thanks! j

 

[Jmn n]

Hi Jamman,

I'm interested in your 3000 lb axles, and hopefully can ask you a few questions?

How much extra did they cost to add to your build?
How much extra weight do they add to the 19' approximate total dry weight?
What is the new GVWR?

Thanks! j

Cost - $100 = $50 per axle
Added weight - I don't know but I think it is minimal - I think it is just different torsion rubber.
GVWR - No change

They must be ordered quite a bit ahead of time. Reace ordered them from Dexter 9/12/2013 for my 1/8/2014 delivery.

I did it to have more reserve strength/capacity.

 

[jamie beers]

Cost - $100 = $50 per axle
Added weight - I don't know but I think it is minimal - I think it is just different torsion rubber.
GVWR - No change

They must be ordered quite a bit ahead of time. Reace ordered them from Dexter 9/12/2013 for my 1/8/2014 delivery.

I did it to have more reserve strength/capacity.

Thanks for the info. I'm just trying to figure this all out. It seems like the heavier axle would allow it to carry more weight. In reality, would it be more like a 4500 lb GVWR as the 21' is (with the 3000 lb axle)? j

Perhaps I'm just thinking about this issue in a wrong way...

 

[gocamp-ESC]

"Dometic A/C due to reports of extremely noisy new Coleman A/C"

Is the Coleman model the Polar cub? Thanks.

 

[kstock11]

The "quiet model" was the Coleman Polar Cub. When they discontinued the Polar Cub, it was replaced with a unit said to be very loud. When I heard this, I went back to the Dometic. I couldn't see paying more for a lesser unit! I'll have to wait until next summer to see if I made the right decision!

 

[Kountrykamper]

The "quiet model" was the Coleman Polar Cub. When they discontinued the Polar Cub, it was replaced with a unit said to be very loud. When I heard this, I went back to the Dometic. I couldn't see paying more for a lesser unit! I'll have to wait until next summer to see if I made the right decision!

After returning from a week in Florida a few weeks back I still don't think the Dometic is any noticeably louder than the Polar Cub. It may be to some but after 6 years having the Polar Cub I cannot tell the difference. We ran it a lot at night while there and with the digital thermostat setup it automatically changes to low speed as it gets closer to set point and cycles off completely when it does reach set point. It also seems to start smoother and with less of a bang. I think this is partially because it starts the fan first for about 15 seconds then starts the compressor so everything does not come on at once.

 

[cpaharley2008]

Glad to hear that the digital thermostat is working well with the Dometic. When my 19 was delivered last year, another 19 came with the Dometic, I had the Polar Cub. Standing outside the Dometic was louder. Inside was unknown. But with this 2 speed set up with the digital, it must be a lot quieter on the low speed. So all should be good.

 

[Jmn n]

Thanks for the info. I'm just trying to figure this all out. It seems like the heavier axle would allow it to carry more weight. In reality, would it be more like a 4500 lb GVWR as the 21' is (with the 3000 lb axle)? j

Perhaps I'm just thinking about this issue in a wrong way...

Escape Industries sets the GVWR - and Reace said it doesn't change with the higher capacity axles. BUT it means each axle can take more weight/abuse if unevenly loaded. And for me, a cheap increase in the strength/capacity of just about anything for little to no weight penalty is good.

"Overly built" is just barely in my vocabulary.