21' Escape - MY impression

[cpaharley2008]

They could sell many more 21's with a queen bed.
They are almost sold out for next year already, only 6 weeks left for 2014 before 2015 starts in December, I think they have a winner.

 

[float5]

Each Escape trailer that comes out is a winner. I have no doubt though that they would prefer to sell many more 21's than the 19's they are selling now because of the bigger queen bed. It's great that the 21' suits you, but as quite a few have said, it does not suit them.

The reason many 19's are sold over 17's is also the bed. That makes the 19' look like the biggest winner. It would be a smart move for them to have another trailer with a queen. Who knows if they are thinking about a 23' but they would definitely be out of reach of the small TVs and their present customer base with that. A 21' with a queen would be big business.

 

[escape artist]

Hi: All... In the 19 vs 21 debate... I don't think Escape wants to compete against themselves. The 5.0 Tandem has a queen sized bed as well as the 19'er. Lots of variety in the line up!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[Karen H.]

Also, one thing to keep in mind is that more configurations, options, and customizations slow down production significantly. Remember ol' Henry Ford and color of the Model A?

 

[float5]

It has occurred to me that they save a lot of trouble by having only one layout per model with only the minus-bath situation. I wonder if the customizations they make are less trouble than having a second layout.

They are now in new territory with the bigger size. Larger trailers always have more than one layout and often multiple. They are trying to compete for people who have such trailers and want to downsize. It is, of course, easier to come up with different layouts the bigger the trailer.

I find it amazing that they have so many models, a new one at least every two years. I don't know how they do it. 13', 15', 17', 19', 21', 5.0, new 5.0. So many in a very short time. As someone said, the mind boggles.

 

[escape artist]

Hi: Floating Cloud... I think it takes about 3 weeks from start of mold to finished trailer. That means mod's. make sense.
Stick builts are banged together so fast, they must offer several layouts sans mod's.
Sorry my prejudice is showing... must be the ice in my eyes!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[MyronL]

The market must be really good now. Parkliner, Oliver, now Nest coming up. How many times have you read about business enterprises going belly up because they expanded their plant, added new procucts, increased the work force, and their liabilities, all when things are booming then --suddenly the market changes, and --BOOM. Let's hope that doesn't happen here.

 

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, Oliver stopped for 5 years before restarting. They only have one model in production as does Parkliner and Nest. Be interesting to see if they expand their product line similar to ETI, although ETI maybe eliminating some of the smaller units, ATUS.

 

[Jim Bennett]

I think the market is doing fine, and that Escape, Oliver and the upcoming Nest are finding niches to fit in to.

I really like what Robert Johans is doing with Nest. I would like to see a couple more things, that would necessitate a slightly larger unit though, but he really has put some good thought into the design. I like a lot of things built into the Oliver, but to me it is by far the least aesthetically pleasing trailer to look at of pretty much all that FG trailers made, both the busy looking exterior, and the stark institutional looking interior.

No doubt Escape could incorporate lots of these things, but it would drive the price much higher, and heck, they work great as they are, and we do get to add some of our own personal preferences. You can get the new 5.0T with more room than the Nest at about the same cost, or a $10k less than the Oliver and still have more room.

The bottom line is, is that it is great to see other quality units being built. Good for the competition.

 

[Brian B-P]

Yes, Oliver stopped for 5 years before restarting. They only have one model in production as does Parkliner and Nest.

... and Nest is far from in production: they don't even have a prototype bodyshell, or final specs for mechanical components. There's also Team Trillium (with the Outback) and Lil Snoozy, in the one-model moulded fiberglass travel trailer market.

Even the longest-established manufacturers in this game (Evelands/Scamp and Casita, plus Bigfoot if you count reincarnation) have only three models (plus floorplan variations) each.

 

[Jim Bennett]

Bigfoot has had many models over the years, though currently do only offer 3.

 

[Dave Walter]

My honest opinion about the new 21' Escape is that it is another awesome trailer from a great company, but it does not suit my style or interests relative to size or layout. I am not keen on the front permanent bed concept for the 21' . In theory, I do like the extra space that the 21' provides in comparison to the other Escapes. However, the biggest reason for us buying an Escape is that we wanted a small, compact and maneuverable trailer. I wanted to stay with a size that could be towed easily by a mid- sized vehicle. The 21' is moving in the opposite direction from these things. Because our family is quite large, but shrinking steadily as the kids go off on their own, the19' fits our needs quite well at the moment. When at the Escape factory, I fell in love with both the 15B and the 5.0. All of the Escapes are truly fine trailers and I think that I could be happy in any of them. Who knows, if my circumstances were to change, I could be shopping for the new 5.0T a few years down the road.

 

[float5]

Hi: Floating Cloud... I think it takes about 3 weeks from start of mold to finished trailer. That means mod's. make sense.
Stick builts are banged together so fast, they must offer several layouts sans mod's.
Sorry my prejudice is showing... must be the ice in my eyes!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

May you get the ice out of your eyes and see your retirement clearly! You could even take the trailer for a spin around the inside of the building!

 

[DeadEyeDan]

... and Nest is far from in production: they don't even have a prototype bodyshell, or final specs for mechanical components. There's also Team Trillium (with the Outback) and Lil Snoozy, in the one-model moulded fiberglass travel trailer market.

Even the longest-established manufacturers in this game (Evelands/Scamp and Casita, plus Bigfoot if you count reincarnation) have only three models (plus floorplan variations) each.

Do they need an entire new mold to change the floor plan? Are the window openings molded in or cut in?

I like the front bed, rear bed option in the bigfoot. It would be reasonable to have a couple of floor plans on the 21. I like many others would opt for a bigger bed.

(But I dont see us ordering a 21 anyway. We are still getting used to our 19.)

 

[Brian B-P]

Do they need an entire new mold to change the floor plan? Are the window openings molded in or cut in?

Typically no, so floorplan variants are easier than different lengths. Escape is unusual in having six body sizes but only one or two floorplan variants of each, while other moulded trailer manufactures have no more than three moulds but in one case (the Scamp 16') seven interiors/floorplans.

 

[Donna D.]

Escape would need to fiberglass the different attachment points inside for the different layouts. Scamp cheaps out... they just rivet through the shell... no attachments points on the inside except for the very basic cabinetry and those are always in the same place.

 

[Brian B-P]

Escape would need to fiberglass the different attachment points inside for the different layouts.

Good point... although changing attachment points shouldn't require a different mould.