21' Ordered Today!

[float5]

Good for you, Calbal! That is quite a list. Not much to add!

Welcome to you also, Fun&Sun! Have a fun time making yours. You are so lucky to be in Chilliwack.

 

[Karen H.]

I bet they found that folks mostly ordered all five...

I never did. Didn't see the point then; don't see the point now.

(Unless it's extremely important to have all matching rims in case of a flat.)

 

[gbaglo]

I almost replaced my white steel wheels with aluminum, but looking at the trailer one day, I realized, I really like the white. Bonus is the trailer came with wheels, and a matching spare.

 

[Bill and Earline]

That's a great list. Very similar to what we ordered two years ago.

The one thing I'd get some more opinions on is the jack antenna. It adds to overall height if you ever plan to garage it or use a cover. Reviews are mixed on its effectiveness.

 

[Jim Bennett]

I never did. Didn't see the point then; don't see the point now.

(Unless it's extremely important to have all matching rims in case of a flat.)

Some people like to rotate their trailer tires, which should include the spare. Plus for those that change out a flat, they can just use the fixed tire as a spare rather than remount.

I was not certain if I would order 4 or 5, but I guess it is one less decision I will have to make.

 

[gbaglo]

Seems to me that ETI said to only rotate tires front to back ( tandem axle ) and never side to side. Not sure what one would do with a spare in rotation.
My spare is original and has never been exposed ( removal of tire cover ).

 

[Jim Bennett]

Not sure why they say that, just so long as tires are not directional. I have always rotated vehicle, whether truck, passenger or tandem trailer in the first pattern shown here.

 

[gbaglo]

I donno. Was posted in earlier thread. Good luck finding it. Maybe OP will pipe up.

 

[Karen H.]

In my former life I drove a company car and was told by our national fleet management never to allow mechanics to rotate the tires. Never could figure that out.

 

[Brian B-P]

The discussion from January: Trailer Tires Rotation. It has come up in other threads, as well, such as New Tires,

Seems to me that ETI said to only rotate tires front to back ( tandem axle ) and never side to side. Not sure what one would do with a spare in rotation.

Yes, but there never was a valid reason given, as I recall. If you don't rotate side-to-side, you would presumably not include it in the rotation, but even then a matching spare wheel saves a remounting of tires when the spare is used.

Not sure why they say that, just so long as tires are not directional.

I agree that the tire tread is not directional, and that the tires are not built for a specific direction of rotation. As discussed previously, early radial tires were assumed to take a "set" once they were used, and so the direction of rotation was not supposed to be changed. I have not heard of that concern in this century.

 

[Loren & Cathy]

In my former life I drove a company car and was told by our national fleet management never to allow mechanics to rotate the tires. Never could figure that out.

Probably because so many places will chop the tires on with an air impact and never worry about the correct torque. Good luck then if you ever have to change a flat on the road and at the worst, over tightening can warp the rotors. Loren

 

[Fun&Sun]

Here's what we have on our build sheet so far:
2 Burner stainless stove - no range hood
External Fridge Fan
B/I Microwave
2-way hot water tank
foot flush toilet
winterizing T-valve
Exterior Shower - driver side
Dual 6V batteries
Addtl 120V interior outlets x 3 (2 - each end of dinette + under cabinets in kitchen
Inverter 1500W all outlets
160W solar panel
surger protector
removable power cord
Addtl exterior light for above front storage box
LED captains lights x 4 (above bed + above dinette)
air conditioner
MaxxFan Upgrade 7000K
Stereo/DVD
Jack' TV Antenna
Xtra insulation & frame-less thermal windows + bath window
Aluminum rim package
Power Tongue Jack
counter extension x 2 = at each end of u-shaped dinette
Exterior Access hatch
Exterior propane quick connect
Spray foam insulation for under trailer
storage box - front of trailer
custom flooring
custom formica
custom fabric
u-shaped dinette
2-filled propane tanks
E2 Fastway hitch
fridge fan
WHEW! Lots of stuff, but we figure if we're going to do it, do it right!
Good Luck!

Wow that's quite a list, you should be very happy. I like a quote I saw some where when I was looking at trailer information " Buy you second travel trailer the first time"

 

[GregandTeresa]

Wow that's quite a list, you should be very happy. I like a quote I saw some where when I was looking at trailer information " Buy you second travel trailer the first time"

I'll definitely agree with that quote. That is why our initial order of a new 17B was changed to a 19 before our build date.

Many years ago when we first seriously started looking at campers (and knew nothing about these wonderful fiberglass units so were looking at the dreaded stickies), a very honest salesman told us, make sure you buy a big enough trailer the first time, because if you don't, when you come back to me to trade in your first camper and buy a bigger one, that is when I will really make my money.

 

[jennykatz]

build a 21

We signed our build sheet today Yahoo it's done
We a few things from first thoughts This is in order from my build sheet
1-rotate stove 90 degrees
2-External fridge fan (living in Fl I think I need it )
3-2 way H2O heater
4-Exterior shower I don't know if I need this but got it anyway
5-12v drop over rear dinette for lights or radio ? just in case?
6-1 additional light over front belly band
7-1 additional sw for getting in camper light switch( should be standard )
8-dual batteries
9-run elec wire from microwave cabinet to battery location for future inverter to run microwave (maybe a 2000watt?)
10-160 watt solar panel
11-A/C
12-Camera drop wired to clearance light (to put in future camera in back )
13-Jack TV Antenna
14-toilet shut off valve (I put one of these in my Lil Snoozy )
15-Extra insulation and frame less windows
16-1 additional cabinet door under bed platform (easier access)
17-counter extension for kitchen sink area
18-storage cubby now standard
19-custom Formica Colorado slate thanks Spokane escape
20-custom fabric sapphire blue
21-1 reinforced wall w-6 by bed and bathroom wall
22-graphic color RED ( so we can be seen )
23-extendable tv arm
24- microwave install kit? ( buying my own microwave still not sure but wanted the cabinet door
GRAND TOTAL $37,630 cd
BTW I didn't get the Storage box ,or ext propane or the extra exterior hatch but we got everything else and then some Thanks to all the Escape contributors for making this a
Great buying experience .
I kept the trailer under 30k $US but with Tax and reg and delivery it will be a little more ?
Now we can't wait until Nov . I will try to go out again and do the walk through and orientation JIm

 

[escape artist]

Hi: jennykatz... Boy!!! I'd sure miss not having the exterior hatch. We didn't have one on our 5.0 so I made sure to get it on the 5.0TA. "It ain't over till it's over"!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[stephen99]

Which exterior hatch are people talking about? Is this at the dinette end?

 

[Rossue2]

The standard one included in base price is street side front of trailer to access area under bed. After seeing someone deleting that and argument for doing so I thought of doing same. Sure glad I didn't and have had zero problems with any water intrusion. Don't miss not having a second hatch though.

 

[Fun&Sun]

We signed our build sheet today Yahoo it's done
We a few things from first thoughts This is in order from my build sheet
1-rotate stove 90 degrees
2-External fridge fan (living in Fl I think I need it )
3-2 way H2O heater
4-Exterior shower I don't know if I need this but got it anyway
5-12v drop over rear dinette for lights or radio ? just in case?
6-1 additional light over front belly band
7-1 additional sw for getting in camper light switch( should be standard )
8-dual batteries
9-run elec wire from microwave cabinet to battery location for future inverter to run microwave (maybe a 2000watt?)
10-160 watt solar panel
11-A/C
12-Camera drop wired to clearance light (to put in future camera in back )
13-Jack TV Antenna
14-toilet shut off valve (I put one of these in my Lil Snoozy )
15-Extra insulation and frame less windows
16-1 additional cabinet door under bed platform (easier access)
17-counter extension for kitchen sink area
18-storage cubby now standard
19-custom Formica Colorado slate thanks Spokane escape
20-custom fabric sapphire blue
21-1 reinforced wall w-6 by bed and bathroom wall
22-graphic color RED ( so we can be seen )
23-extendable tv arm
24- microwave install kit? ( buying my own microwave still not sure but wanted the cabinet door
GRAND TOTAL $37,630 cd
BTW I didn't get the Storage box ,or ext propane or the extra exterior hatch but we got everything else and then some Thanks to all the Escape contributors for making this a
Great buying experience .
I kept the trailer under 30k $US but with Tax and reg and delivery it will be a little more ?
Now we can't wait until Nov . I will try to go out again and do the walk through and orientation JIm

congratulation, sounds fantastic and has given my wife and I lots to think about. When do you pick it up?

 

[jennykatz]

build a 21

The second hatch would be under dinette where the converter and the 25ft 30amp cable is in .So whatever I put in there will be stuff I hardly use ? On the other side is the battery box and that will have my supplied 2000watt inverter plus batteries so not much room for other stuff another hardly used area for me ? Now under the bed in front I ordered the extra cabinet door and I will build a sliding shelf hopefully 2ft by 4ft or so ? the other will have place for shoes .There is so much storage in these Escape trailers compared to other FG trailers .

 

[stephen99]

The second hatch would be under dinette where the converter and the 25ft 30amp cable is in .So whatever I put in there will be stuff I hardly use ? On the other side is the battery box and that will have my supplied 2000watt inverter plus batteries so not much room for other stuff another hardly used area for me ? Now under the bed in front I ordered the extra cabinet door and I will build a sliding shelf hopefully 2ft by 4ft or so ? the other will have place for shoes .There is so much storage in these Escape trailers compared to other FG trailers .

Ok, got it. I don't see any need for it on our build either. We are getting a modified standard dinette (sort of a Non U U).