5.0TA vs new 5.0 interior width

[Joe & Cherie]

Hi All,

We are now 1.5yr from retirement and one of our pre-retirement checklist items is to sell our EggCamper and either buy an Escape 23 or 5.0.

A few years back we toured both the classic '21 and the classic 5.0TA. No offense to the current owners, but they both seemed to feel very narrow and hallway-ish inside. Especially to a taller/bigger person like myself.

We have just recently toured both the new E23 and the newer flat sided 5.0. Obviously the 23 felt very open and roomy, it was a nice surprise! But then went into the newer 5.0 and to my surprise, it also felt roomier and open vs the hallway feel I remember on the classics.

So I guess my questions are for the 5.0 only. Were the new molds on the 5.0 made to increase the trailer overall width vs the classic 5.0TA? Was the interior also changed to add more hallway width?

Being almost 6'6", the ONLY FGRV's that work for us are the EggCamper, the 5.0, and (barely) the '23. While the '23 was nice and has many nice features, I'm still afraid my head just barely skimming the ceiling if I stand up straight, or the ducking under the AC will get old fast. This alone has us considering the 5.0 over the 23.

Thank you so much for this info in advance!!

 

[Centex]

So I guess my questions are for the 5.0 only. Were the new molds on the 5.0 made to increase the trailer overall width vs the classic 5.0TA? Was the interior also changed to add more hallway width?

Joe, attached FYI is a 'brochure' for the 'classic' 5.0 TA with curved sides.

You'll note the overall exterior width is shown as 7'4", same as the current 'straight side' mold. Unfortunately, there's no mention of the aisle width.

Presumably both are measured at the widest point (belt line?), perhaps the inward curve of the earlier model walls makes it seem narrower inside than the current straight-side version?

The lighter-colored interior finishes more common to the current models can also have a significant impact on the perception of spaciousness (the early was apparently only available with the somewhat darker Oak cabinetry and lacked the light-colored translucent upper-cabinet door panels now used). Having been in a 2018 straight-side 5.0TA with Oak and solid upper cabinet doors, I'll opine that trailer 'felt' less spacious than mine with Maple and the translucent panels, even though dimensionally identical.

Anyway, hope that brochure helps, happy shopping!

 

[sleepy]

Joe, attached FYI is a 'brochure' for the 'classic' 5.0 TA with curved sides.

Thanks for sharing the early brochure. I have a 2014 5.0 TA (#9) and don't recall seeing a brochure.

 

[Joe & Cherie]

Joe, attached FYI is a 'brochure' for the 'classic' 5.0 TA with curved sides.

You'll note the overall exterior width is shown as 7'4", same as the current 'straight side' mold. Unfortunately, there's no mention of the aisle width.

Presumably both are measured at the widest point (belt line?), perhaps the inward curve of the earlier model walls makes it seem narrower inside than the current straight-side version?

The lighter-colored interior finishes more common to the current models can also have a significant impact on the perception of spaciousness (the early was apparently only available with the somewhat darker Oak cabinetry and lacked the light-colored translucent upper-cabinet door panels now used). Having been in a 2018 straight-side 5.0TA with Oak and solid upper cabinet doors, I'll opine that trailer 'felt' less spacious than mine with Maple and the translucent panels, even though dimensionally identical.

Anyway, hope that brochure helps, happy shopping!

Thank you for the brochure Centex!! It is quite interesting the dimensions are the same. We "may" look for a used 5.0, as we are aware of the (arguably) quality concerns with the new ones. We are trying to decide if we should eliminate the classic but it does seem like maybe those should stay in the running.

Things we do want are a manual awning, slider windows, and a 12v compressor fridge and preferably no solar and no inverter. I am aware I would have to modify the classic to upgrade the fridge to compressor, and be stuck with the holes in the side/top, and also the door width consideration on the new fridge install. But it is good to know the classic could be a contender if the right one was available. Lastly we would want max Lithium, so it looks like a project to change out the converter/batteries would be in the works. We would also want Houghton A/C, so another project.

Maybe we just order new and hope for the best on quality issues.

Thanks again for the info!

 

[Centex]

Thanks for sharing the early brochure. I have a 2014 5.0 TA (#9) and don't recall seeing a brochure.

I think I downloaded that from the 'files' library on this forum

Just out of curiosity let's see if we can answer the aisle-width question ....

In my 'straight-side' 2021 TA, from the face of the sink (PS) cabinet to the face of the fridge (DS) cabinet I measure 37-1/2" (actual cabinet faces, not doors or drawers).

How about yours (if it's convenient)?

edit - please see the following post about entry door clearance measurement

 

[Centex]

.... I am aware I would have to modify the classic to upgrade the fridge to compressor ....

More just FYI, be aware that entry door width for moving old / new refrigerators out / in may come into play.

My entry door maximum clearance (between the aluminum weatherstrip 'fins') is 22-3/4"; that's with the strut removed and the door opened completely out of the way. Perhaps sleepy can measure his entry door clearance?

On the current straight side TA you can get a ~24" clear opening (shell cut-out opening) by removing the entire door frame assembly if needed (ETI puts the fridge in the trailer before installing the door on this model).

Some but not all refrigerators can pass through without removing the door frame, some with the fridge door removed, etc. Door-frame R&R is fairly easy on the straight side TA, I have no idea what's involved in removing the early curved side door frame or what might be gained.

 

[marsman]

I'm just curious; what year did they switch from the curved to straight wall? I have a 2019 - is that a curved or straight wall design. Speaking of quality issues on the new 5.0's we toured a brand new 2023 5.0 in Quartzite and I noticed wrinkles in the headliner which definitely did not impress me!

 

[Jim Bennett]

I'm just curious; what year did they switch from the curved to straight wall? I have a 2019 - is that a curved or straight wall design. Speaking of quality issues on the new 5.0's we toured a brand new 2023 5.0 in Quartzite and I noticed wrinkles in the headliner which definitely did not impress me!

I picked mine up in January 2017. It was one of the first out of the new straight wall mould that Reace built.

The outside width did not change in the middle, just at the bottom.

There were a few reasons Reace built the new moulds. Looks, the awning detent for other than the 5.OTA, looks and a few other reasons. The main one is so he could get a larger refrigerator in. The original moulds with the moulded door was too small to allow a fridge that worked well in real hot southern climates in.

 

[emers382]

I'm just curious; what year did they switch from the curved to straight wall? I have a 2019 - is that a curved or straight wall design. Speaking of quality issues on the new 5.0's we toured a brand new 2023 5.0 in Quartzite and I noticed wrinkles in the headliner which definitely did not impress me!

Ours was one of if not the very last curved wall 5.0 built in Sept. 2016.

 

[sleepy]

Aisle Width

I think I downloaded that from the 'files' library on this forum

Just out of curiosity let's see if we can answer the aisle-width question ....

In my 'straight-side' 2021 TA, from the face of the sink (PS) cabinet to the face of the fridge (DS) cabinet I measure 37-1/2" (actual cabinet faces, not doors or drawers).

How about yours (if it's convenient)?

edit - please see the following post about entry door clearance measurement

The measurement between the faceframe of the stove cabinet and the same at the fridge is 37.5".
And the measure between counter edge and the face of the fridge is 35.25"

I didn't measure the door width. But last year I replaced the fridge. The new one is a Dometic XT. It fit thru the opening, and worked well this summer during the hot weather.

 

[Centex]

The measurement between the faceframe of the stove cabinet and the same at the fridge is 37.5".
And the measure between counter edge and the face of the fridge is 35.25"

I didn't measure the door width. But last year I replaced the fridge. The new one is a Dometic XT. It fit thru the opening, and worked well this summer during the hot weather.

So, the same as far as the interior aisle-width, and you fit a replacement compressor fridge through the door - thanks for that interesting info!

 

[sleepy]

The Same but Different!

So, the same as far as the interior aisle-width, and you fit a replacement compressor fridge through the door - thanks for that interesting info!

The Dometic XT that I installed is an absorption fridge. I think they also make an XT that is a compressor style.

Do you have a compressor fridge? And how do you find it?