19ft Escape - Progress

[Hokie Escape]

A bit curious here, if you fly into Seattle and driving back to Virginia, are you buying or renting a vehicle then?

Heh Jim, we are heading 3 1/2 hr east to Richmond, VA where our youngest son lives with wife and 6 of our 11 grands. They are buying our Honda Pilot (they're running out of room). So, we'll fly out of Richmond to Seattle, take delivery on a Nissan Frontier, and head to Burlington for the night. Guess what's there? A Camping World! I've got my list's for Camping World, and for WalMart (sheets, pillows, towels, toiletries, etc). Between the two, we should be able to get all we need to get back to Va. We're taking an extra suitcase for some costlier items (from our old Casita, and cooking stuff - particularily our favorite camp percolator : - )) Wish we could ship our Coleman camp stove, but it'll probably be too cold to cook outside anyway. Tammy said that where we are camping Thursday night is close to a grocery, so we'll pack the new refrig with all the necessary goodies. I was planning on visiting a Best Buy and picking up a 19"TV with DVD lplayer there too, but Edgar messed me up with the 12V TV and radio/CD/DVD player! I like that idea!!! So, I'll wait to I get home and get that all worked out. We are planning 2 1/2 weeks to come back. Should be enough time to have fun and not be rushed! We are READY!!! Somebody was asking about the demographics of Escape owners. We'll definitely be the most Easterly : - )

 

[Jim Bennett]

The Sienna is a minivan, is it not. You should be able to bring lots of stuff with you. The contents of our 24' trailer, which sits at our property collecting lots of stuff, could likely fit in the back of my car, with room for the dog. You might have mentioned Sandra, but are you planning on an extended holiday, or are you just headed back home. You could use a sleeping bag which would be way less bulky just for this one trip.

 

[Jim Bennett]

Heh Jim, we are heading 3 1/2 hr east to Richmond, VA where our youngest son lives with wife and 6 of our 11 grands. They are buying our Honda Pilot (they're running out of room). So, we'll fly out of Richmond to Seattle, take delivery on a Nissan Frontier, and head to Burlington for the night. Guess what's there? A Camping World! I've got my list's for Camping World, and for WalMart (sheets, pillows, towels, toiletries, etc). Between the two, we should be able to get all we need to get back to Va. We're taking an extra suitcase for some costlier items (from our old Casita, and cooking stuff - particularily our favorite camp percolator : - )) Wish we could ship our Coleman camp stove, but it'll probably be too cold to cook outside anyway. Tammy said that where we are camping Thursday night is close to a grocery, so we'll pack the new refrig with all the necessary goodies. I was planning on visiting a Best Buy and picking up a 19"TV with DVD lplayer there too, but Edgar messed me up with the 12V TV and radio/CD/DVD player! I like that idea!!! So, I'll wait to I get home and get that all worked out. We are planning 2 1/2 weeks to come back. Should be enough time to have fun and not be rushed! We are READY!!! Somebody was asking about the demographics of Escape owners. We'll definitely be the most Easterly : - )

Ah, now that makes good sense. 6 kids and 2 parents is one too many for a Pilot. Wow, lotsa kids there.
And that Edgar, who does he think he is messing you up like that? ;D You would not have to have a 12V TV, but for boondocking it sure would be nice.

 

[Hokie Escape]

Ah, now that makes good sense. 6 kids and 2 parents is one too many for a Pilot. Wow, lotsa kids there.
And that Edgar, who does he think he is messing you up like that? ;D You would not have to have a 12V TV, but for boondocking it sure would be nice.
[/quote]
Yes, that Edgar. We boondock most of the time (85%+), but would enjoy watching an old B/W movie occassionally when we can't get outside due to foul weather. Except for that, I probably wouldn't have one. Yep, lots of kids, and they're everyone a keeper! They are THE reason we sold the Casita, and are going with the 5.0. More space when it's just the 2 of us, but a bed (table) to sleep a couple of grands on (taking them out 2 at a time). Good "one on one" time with the grands, introducing them to the woods, camp fires, "some-mores", hiking, and splashing in creeks with Poppy and Nana. As Master Card says, priceless!!!

 

[Jim Bennett]

I only have 2 grandkids so far, and plan to take them with us some of the time too. And I am the same with the TV thing, never used it trailer camping yet, but have always had kids along who kept use very busy. The odd movie is all I really plan on for now, so my laptop with aux. speakers should work while I figure out what I really wanna do.

S'mores, what ever makes you think the grandkids will like them. ;D

 

[ellen smith]

Hello All

We owned a 2005 17 foot Escape Plan B for 2 1/2 years and I loved everything about it. We did a month long trip to the Yukon and Alaska with it (6,248 km) and last year a trip down to the Kootenays and back home through Banff and Jasper. We usually travel with friends who tow a 73 Boler and on the nights that it was cold or rainy we found it a bit of a pain to put up the bed for dinner and our nightly cribbage games. The 19 footer will solve this problem and provide a bit more bed space for my 6' 3" husband. For our pick up trip we'll stay around Chilliwack for the long weekend and hopefully do some golfing with our son then it's a leisurely trip back to Terrace.

 

[ellen smith]

Hi Sandra

We also tow with a Sienna and find there is lots of room for "stuff" . When packing to leave do what seasoned travellers do with their suitcases - pack what they think they need and then cut the amount in half. I know when I go travelling I don't use half the things I take.

 

[gbaglo]

You would not have to have a 12V TV, but for boondocking it sure would be nice.
[/quote]

I don't know why you guys are worried about whether the tv is 12V or 120 AC. You have AC outlets in the trailer that work whether you're plugged in at a campground or not. There is a converter that takes power from the battery and outputs 120 AC. I'm just not sure if that is as efficient as running on DC though.

My TV plugs into AC 120 and then along the power cord is a converter that changes it to 12V. So, I'm going from 12V to 120 and back to 12.

baglo

 

[Jim Bennett]

Glen, as I mentioned in the TV thread, there is definitely a power loss when using an inverter, and to add to it, many devices such as those with motors run do not run as efficiently with a converter. Some of the radios and TV's designed to run on 12V are often way more energy efficient then those that run off of AC, and many devices (such as portable radios, laptops, etc.) all us power converted to DC anyway, just as you mention your TV does. Could you not just plug it in to 12V?

Don't go writing an inverter bible on what I am saying though, as most of what I have learned has only been in the last few weeks anyway. I am still in the learning phase, and things are just slowing coming to grips in my aging brain. ;D

I forgot to ask Tammy when emailing with her today about the inverter thing because there is no mention of it in the specs for the trailer. Maybe it is an expected standard, does anybody else know?

 

[Sandra L]

I learned from my darling son that he bought a soft sided car top carrier, but didn't use it because his skis were too long. It is still in the box and he said Mom can have it.(Me). I told him that I didn't want it; just wanted to use it. (We are all cramped for storage space; but I think I'll be ending up with it.) C'est la guerre. ;D

 

[gbaglo]

I forgot to ask Tammy when emailing with her today about the inverter thing because there is no mention of it in the specs for the trailer. Maybe it is an expected standard, does anybody else know?
[/quote]

First thing I did when I got my Escape is I bought a binder to store all the instruction manuals that come with it.

Quoth I ...

The electrical system in your RV is composed of 120V and 12V capabilities. All installations are made in compliance with CSA codes.

Skipping ahead here: When connected to an exterior 120 V outlet, power will be supplied to operate you refrigerator, wall receptacles and any other 120V item.

The second electrical system in your RV is the 12 Volt DC system. It will provide power for lighting and other living needs when 120V is not available.

Your RV is equipped with a 120V AC to 12V DC converter, which will automatically switch the load from battery to converter when the RV is plugged into a 120V source.

Included in the converter is a battery charge circuit, which is designed to recharge the RV battery and automatically shut off when the pre-set required voltage is reached.

A Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) protects the kitchen outlet.

If you want, you can google Parallax Power Supply L.L.C. series 7300 Power Center

Back to my confusion, I know that I plugged my laptop and shaver into AC to charge them while boondocking. I'm just going to have to unplug the trailer, re-connect the battery and plug a 120V lamp into an outlet to confirm this.

I'm not gonna worry about the TV. I'd only use it if at a campground with cable. It came with a cable to connect it to a PC to use as a monitor. At 15" compared to my 13" MacBook, there doesn't seem much point.

Anyway, I'll try to check out the AC outlets in the next day or two.

baglo

 

[PGDriver]

Welcome Ellen,
Does anyone know how many 19' are ordered? I'm guessing 5 at this point. (My 17' is going to be between 19's.)

I was just talking to Tammy and indicated that I would pick mine up when ever it was ready, no rush
I just need it by early June. I was number 6 but told them they could bump me to 10 if needed.
There are busy she said, no sleep for Reace.

 

[PGDriver]

Hi Glenn, a converter takes 120 volts AC and changes it to 12 volts DC to run the furnace fan, water pump and lights etc.
To plug anything 120 volt in you need a inverter (Large metal thing with heat sinks wired direct to your battery with heavy cable)
Hope this helps, Oh by the way Escape doesn't offer this as an option, it would have had to be put on afterwards.

 

[Jim Bennett]

Glenn, where are you headed on your first major trip with your new Escape 19?

 

[gbaglo]

No 19' for me ( assuming you're asking me ). I've had the 17' for less than a year and I have no desire to move up. It's lighter weight makes it an easy tow with the RAV and best of all, there's no room for the kid to move in. I'm looking forward to the RV show in Chilliwack for a first-hand look at the 19 and the new 17.

baglo

 

[Jim Bennett]

Oops, I meant Doug. I read both your posts and got all confused. ;D

I had thought about going out to see the Escape 19 at the Chilliwack show, but I would bet that Reace and Tammy will be quite busy then, so I will likely to the following weekend.

What new 17 is there?

 

[PGDriver]

Hi Jim, going to pop down in a couple of weeks to pick colors, options etc.
Then May, June when ever its ready to pick up and take a week or so to get home.
After that.... going all over northern BC and AB.
How about you.

 

[Jim Bennett]

I am headed to meet with a bunch of photography friends in Northern Oregon the first weekend in June. I will take of the weekend before, and then home the following weekend. Other than that, a bunch of shorter trips this year with it. I am doing a 2 week canoe trip in early September, so that will limit the amount of time I can get away.

In the future, we plan to do a bunch of extended trips to all the far reaches on North America, with the first focus on Alaska and other points north, and out to the Maritimes.

 

[gbaglo]

My previous attempt to reply seems to have disappeared.

Anyway, second hand via my buddy Keath, the new 17 has an inch more headroom after Reace modified the frame. Also has LED interior lights and tail lights and the new screen door.

Back to inverter / converter, my memory has returned and I believe I charged the laptop via an inverter in the RAV, not in the trailer.

So, since the Sirius Executive Dock is powered by an AC cord with an in-line converter, I'll have to see if there is a 12V cord in my collection of accessories and I'll have to get one or two 12V outlets installed.

baglo

 

[Jim Bennett]

That's right, I do remember Reace sometime saying something about redoing on of the 17's moulds.