Advice needed on my 5.0 build

[breeves2245]

Taking my time with the online Escape website build tool.

Got a lot of questions but I'll only go a couple at a time.

1) When I visited a 5.0 owner to look at their trailer they mentioned they took out their range hood as it was a head knocker. I am not concerned at all about cooking smells in the trailer, much more concerned with it being at forehead level for the inevitable head hit. What's the group think here?

2) My biggest concern with the 5.0 layout is can I relax in the U-shaped dinette. I did sit in the owners 5.0 and it was "ok". Does the option to extend from 18" cushions to 22" make "relaxing" more comfortable?
By relaxing I mean feet up not in a sitting prone position. There is also an options for "filler cushions" to help in the lounging mode. What is the feedback here?

Thanks for any advice and I got more questions to come!

 

[Centex]

1) When I visited a 5.0 owner to look at their trailer they mentioned they took out their range hood as it was a head knocker. I am not concerned at all about cooking smells in the trailer, much more concerned with it being at forehead level for the inevitable head hit. What's the group think here?

As with most things, the 'group think' runs the gamut - see this thread, among others on the topic:

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f7/range-hood-26148.html

Not sure what model year 5.0 you looked at, but FYI the later models (e.g. my 2021) use a range hood that only projects 1-3/4" beyond the face of the overhead cabinet (much less than previous versions). I do not consider it a "head knocker", personally I'm glad to have it. YMMV.

I'll also offer that it is much easier to remove and block-off than it is to add after-the-fact.

 

[TTMartin]

Taking my time with the online Escape website build tool.

Got a lot of questions but I'll only go a couple at a time.

1) When I visited a 5.0 owner to look at their trailer they mentioned they took out their range hood as it was a head knocker. I am not concerned at all about cooking smells in the trailer, much more concerned with it being at forehead level for the inevitable head hit. What's the group think here?

What year was the Escape 5.0 that you looked at? Newer Escapes have much lower profile rangehood that only extends less than 2 inches past the front of the cabinets and and about the same down at the front. I am 6 (183cm) feet tall and my wife is 5 foot 4 inches (162.5cm) tall and neither of us has ever hit our head on the rangehood in our 2020 Escape 19. It would be nearly impossible. Out of an abundance of caution, after hearing about the possibility of hitting our heads I put some clear corner protectors (left over from putting them on the corners of our solar panel to protect the trailer cover from being ripped by the sharp corners of the solar panes) on the corners of our rangehood, just in case.
Corner Protector for Baby, Protectors Guards - Furniture Corner Guard & Edge Safety Bumpers - Baby Proof Bumper & Cushion to Cover Sharp Furniture & Table Edges - Clear and Transparent - (12 Pack for $9)
The corner protectors on the rangehood have never been needed. They are however necessary on the solar panel corners.

 

[occer]

I agree with the above comments..
Here is a picture of our exhaust hood.

We have bench seating not the U Shape. We chose the bench so four people could sit around the table to play cards or whatever.

What I can say is the bench is only 48” wide and to short to take a nap at, I’ve tried.

 

[breeves2245]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep the range hood in play and remove my delete option at -$30. Sounds like I can remove it easy enough if needed.

I'm hoping someone will provide feedback on the U-shaped dinette options. That is my most comprised feature on the 5.0 decision.

 

[GinoandLinda]

Taking my time with the online Escape website build tool.

Got a lot of questions but I'll only go a couple at a time.

1) When I visited a 5.0 owner to look at their trailer they mentioned they took out their range hood as it was a head knocker. I am not concerned at all about cooking smells in the trailer, much more concerned with it being at forehead level for the inevitable head hit. What's the group think here?

2) My biggest concern with the 5.0 layout is can I relax in the U-shaped dinette. I did sit in the owners 5.0 and it was "ok". Does the option to extend from 18" cushions to 22" make "relaxing" more comfortable?
By relaxing I mean feet up not in a sitting prone position. There is also an options for "filler cushions" to help in the lounging mode. What is the feedback here?

Thanks for any advice and I got more questions to come!

Some of this is going to depend on your dimensions. I'm 5'10" and relatively thin. My wide is 6'0" and also thin. Neither of us have hit our heads on the range hood. We have both hit our heads on the door opening, but we've only done it once .

We have the extended cushions and a U-shaped dinette and both find them comfortable enough. I would not want to lounge the day away on them but we can stretch out.

 

[nepaweb]

Another vote for keeping the range hood. We use the kitchen in our trailer frequently and run the hood fan whenever using the stove or the coffeemaker. Neither of us has come close to hitting our heads on the hood and we are the type of people that our friends describe as "accident prone." :-[

We have the standard non extended u-shaped dinette in our trailer and are happy with this setup. We could seat 4 average sized adults on the sides with room for a couple of grand kids in the back.
If we're going to spend any time lounging with our feet up in the trailer we will lower the table to convert to a bed then use a couple of husband pillows in the back corners for support. We have the flip up end tables on each side to hold food and drink while set in this configuration.
Perhaps my favorite feature of the u-shaped dinette is how handy the space under the bench is for installing electrical components and running wire from one side of the trailer to the other. I've managed to squeeze most of my batteries and solar equipment into this space.
Also, if you are considering installing a Lagun style table mount the u-shaped is definitely the way to go.

 

[splitting_lanes]

We are a big fan of the deep U shaped bench seating. We have a selection of pillows on ours and it is pretty darn comfortable.

 

[breeves2245]

Thanks for the dinette replies. Never thought of using the dinette table in the drop down position for "enhanced lounging". I was wondering about the extensions in those positions, now it makes sense to get them for this situation. Great tips!

 

[jjdeluca]

I agree with the above comments on the range hood - we've had no problems, glad we got it. We also ordered the U-shaped dinette with extended seat cushions and added the Lagun table mount on my own (ordered with standard table mount but requested ETI to not install the posts) . I've found the pool noodle trick behind the seat back cushions (as discussed on other threads) also improves comfort. Congratulations on your future 5.0!
Jim

 

[iamunique127]

We also have never hit our heads on the range hood in our 2015 5.0TA. We are both 5'10".

And we also have the u-shaped dinette and two side tables. We each sit on one side, a bed pillow behind our backs and stretch our legs toward the back, up on the cushions so our view is out the back and side windows. That seating works for us when we are not just sitting upright at the table.

On rainy or inclimate days when we are not outside, we make the dinette into a bed and, with cushions from the bed and side tables up, lounge around on the full size bed.

 

[Perry Butler]

Both of us hit our heads on the Heng's hood that was installed in our 2018 5.0, so it was removed. Since the 5.0 has a sloping ceiling, the humid air has a continuous path to our Maxxfan that was always cracked with the fan on low in our 5.0, so no grease issues that we ever observed. We found the new bright light installed over the stovetop was worth it on it's own.

The sad thing is, some here can't fathom how others can, and have, hit their heads on the Hengs hood while they didn't. There are enough here that removed their hood to find it was actually an improvement TO THEM, while others have no problem. I understand we're all different and accept others differences.

In fairness, for various reasons that apply to only us, after 4 years and well over 600 nights on the road we sold the 5.0 and bought a Bigfoot 25RQ. I talk to many interested in our Bigfoot vs our Escape. I'm guessing well over half the time I recommend an Escape over a Bigfoot for their camping needs. Many that I recommend Escape are surprised in our recommendation, but it opens their eyes.

Owners have made many changes to an Escape camper that I wouldn't do, but, again, understand that we're all different. I pick and choose our changes and am happy with OUR results, and that's the important thing.

Don't know what year they changed the hood to one that appears to be in a position we wouldn't hit our heads. Regardless, I would include the hood today in our build, even if it was the old Heng's.

Since I've installed solar/batteries/inverter on a few campers, I would definitely include solar, with Victron components, two solar panels and whole house 120v. It took well over 40 hours for me to install three panels, lithium batteries, proper switches and a 2,000 watt inverter. How handy are you? Escape installed solar/batteries/inverter is a steal at their prices.

I also would include a 12v drop on EACH side of the bed in the upper cabinets, and a 12v drop on EACH side of the dinette area in the upper cabinets. It's surprising the number of 12v devices that we charge, including Terry's CPAP.

We chose to reinforce the bathroom wall so we could put hooks and a sloped railing at the steps anywhere we wished. We didn't, and didn't need, any other walls reinforced. YMMV.

Decide if you REALLY will use an oven. We don't, but Terry does use an Omnia oven to bake calzones, enchiladas, quiche, muffins, cornbread, etc. We wanted and needed that extra space you get with just a stovetop. We know how to reheat pizza in a frying pan.

Escape builds a quality camper,

Perry