3" Frame Recall on 15', 17' & 19' Escape Trailers

[reace]

What Greggo is describing is exactly what our 2013 15a has. The tube was notched, bent, the 3 cut sides welded back together and a 1/4 inch plate welded on the back. There is definitely no weld on the outside of this bend/joint on our trailer. I am a journeyman welder, trust me, I know what I'm looking at.

Can you attach a photo of your frame. Unless the frame shop was experimenting with your frame, all frames are miter cut and welded with a backing plate.

Reace

 

[Greggo]

See post #43. Bent = no recall.

What is depicted in #43 is not the "bend" on my frame. The photo shows a sloping curve, mine is a complete angled direction change right where the bend is. I'm wondering if there were other vendors used to fabricate the frames. Like I said earlier, not all Escape 3" frames seem to be created equal. Just to be safe, I plan on doing the mod anyway, heck the more steel there the better, esp when somebody else is picking up the tab.

Greg

 

[skogan]

Can you attach a photo of your frame. Unless the frame shop was experimenting with your frame, all frames are miter cut and welded with a backing plate.

Reace

Will do. I was planning on getting in touch regarding the recall and our frame this week as well.

 

[Jmn n]

What is depicted in #43 is not the "bend" on my frame. The photo shows a sloping curve, mine is a complete angled direction change right where the bend is. I'm wondering if there were other vendors used to fabricate the frames. Like I said earlier, not all Escape 3" frames seem to be created equal. Just to be safe, I plan on doing the mod anyway, heck the more steel there the better, esp when somebody else is picking up the tab.

Greg

I agree, yours does not look like the bend in Reace's picture. Is yours a really nice clean weld or a bend? I can't tell.

 

[Brian B-P]

When Reace referred to the earlier (pre-2009) "bent" design, I believe that he means the intact tube was bent, so there is no cutting at all at the angle in the frame - not this cut/bend/weld three sides idea (which is valid, too... just not what was done on early Escapes.

This is what I saw in earlier Escapes (back in the days when all Escapes were 17 Foot). It is a smooth bend which cannot be made sharply so it is much more gradual than the abrupt corner shown on any of these recently posted photos. I see now (but had forgotten) that it seems to have a reinforcing plate on the inside (also barely visible in Reace's photo). The attached photo is the first one I saw (in a showroom in 2006), just for different perspective from the same thing already shown by Reace in post #43. This is not subject to the recall, and has no issues that I know of.

 

[Brian B-P]

What Greggo is describing is exactly what our 2013 15a has. The tube was notched, bent, the 3 cut sides welded back together and a 1/4 inch plate welded on the back. There is definitely no weld on the outside of this bend/joint on our trailer.

It that is the case, I would wonder if the mending plate is needed.

Even by this method, there is a weld across the bottom of the frame which is under tension, and is a potential failure point... possibly leading to a tear up the outside. The reinforcement plate reduces force on the bottom weld and reinforces the outside of the frame.

 

[Jubal]

Well, we really need to give ETI credit for making the recall work and responding to costumer concerns in this instance.


Wewill ship the brackets along with instructions by the end of the week. Onceshipped we will provide you with an email identifying the mehtod of shipmentand a tracking number.
Pleaseremember to provide us with a copy of the invoice for reimbursement. Pleasenote after receiving feeback from several customers Escape Trailer Industrieshas opted to increase the cost for reimbursement upto $100cdn or $100usd.
Wesincerely apologize for this inconvience. Please feel free to forward anyquestions you may have.
TammyHarmatuik, Business Manager

 

[Greggo]

Reace and Tammy, you guys are the best! My kit arrived today, 2 day priority mail, includes everything I need with illustrated instructions.

Thanks!

Ps-after I posted this, I got a letter with more info and reimbursement instructions!

 

[skogan]

I stand corrected. After taking a better look it is quite likely it was welded and ground smooth. It is actually easier to see the grind marks with the photo than the naked eye.So much for knowing what I'm looking at

 

[Greggo]

Can you attach a photo of your frame. Unless the frame shop was experimenting with your frame, all frames are miter cut and welded with a backing plate.

Reace

Hi Reace, looking up close, its really hard to tell. Its absolutely smooth with no grind marks. Apparently, they did a nice job grinding the weld smooth.

Greg

 

[Parker-ESC]

Here are three of photos of the left side of our 2013 19'. This doesn't add much to the discussion other than I said I would post pictures, and now I can retract what I said earlier about this being something fancier than a simple miter joint. I was confusing the jack base as having something to do with the joint. Well, it sort of does. Looking at that doubler on the inside of the frame, I can't believe this joint is the weak spot in the frame though.

I am a rocket scientist, and I sometimes know what I'm talking about. Sometimes, I don't.

 

[Jubal]

A little history from ETI describing the circumstances that resulted in the recall would be helpful.

 

[gbaglo]

A little history from ETI describing the circumstances that resulted in the recall would be helpful.

How would it be helpful?
Don't they have enough to do?

 

[Jim Bennett]

How would it be helpful?
Don't they have enough to do?

LOL... Almost exactly what I was about to post. I sure hope this doesn't mean our minds are melding. ;D

 

[thoer]

LOL... Almost exactly what I was about to post. I sure hope this doesn't mean our minds are melding. ;D

Been watching old Star Trek reruns Jim?

 

[Parker-ESC]

I agree that they have plenty on their plate right now, but I'm also curious about the background for this recall. I'm reminded of the issue a couple of years ago with some spare tire mounts not being welded correctly. I remember the video instructing us on how to test our Escapes by grabbing the mounting post and giving it a mighty pull. If it didn't break off, it was okay. This frame joint is clearly in a different realm, but I'm wondering if a few Escapes didn't have this joint executed correctly and the external doubler is a cure-all.

 

[Donna D.]

I follow manufacturer recalls for motor vehicles... kinda fun! Just like the solar panel attachment points... a couple of failures makes ETI check it up. They care enough about their customers and the business to get in front of issues rather than waiting until lots of folks complain. Isn't that refreshing?

 

[Greggo]

How would it be helpful?
Don't they have enough to do?

Agreed. I was just thinking, what if we were dealing with Winnebago or Thor and trying to get anything out of them! HA! Fuhgedaboudit!

 

[Iowa Dave]

Greggo
Didn't realize you were mobbed up. I'll start treating you better and hope you don't need a favor.
Dave

 

[Ron in BC]

Here are three of photos of the left side of our 2013 19'. This doesn't add much to the discussion other than I said I would post pictures,

Well it's been an interesting thread for those who like to know these sorts of things. I hadn't specifically looked at that area of the frame previously so I'm happy to see the interior backing plate. Between that and a weld that's difficult to tell from a bend I'm confident that I won't be having any issues with that area.

For those with the 3" frame that have the mending plate added I think that the frame will also become free from potential problems.

Ron