Custom Mods for the Hokie Escspe

[Donna D.]

For those that are concerned no one would notice if the screen was open or closed, I've seen a house sliding glass door screen where the owner had threaded a couple of piece of colored thread through the screen at eye level. Not terribly intrusive, but made the screen a lot more visible when in the door position.

 

[Hokie Escape]

heh Jim. Yes, I had not put the door back on so you could see the slide out on the back drawer. With both doors on, it looks like every other 5.0. I guess when I check into a campground next, and they ask me if I have a slide out on my 5th wheel, I'll have to say "yes, 5!" The first time someone asked me that (in Colorado Springs), I replied, "Well, that's kind of personal...but yes, 2!....I slide out first, then my wife!" : - )

 

[escape artist]

Hi: HokieEscape...Nice work Dan...but it begs the question; "Who's drawers are whose"? Alf :-\
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[Hokie Escape]

Well Alf, I may get one to claim as my own : - )

 

[Thane-ESC]

Well done, I want some. Did you make the drawers or did Reace add them during the build?

 

[Hokie Escape]

Hi Thane. No, Rease doesn't offer these yet, although if someone asked, he probably would. They were my idea and project.....next is my wife's cherry shaker hutch, so she is glad I'm finished with this one. Probably added a little weight, equal to one 4x8 sheet of 3/4" plywood would be my guess, plus what my wife packs into the drawers....but, I think the 5.0 can handle it.

 

[Roger C H]

I found a cover for the telescope opening on the Hokie's roof:

http://www.astrodomes.com/specs.php

 

[Thane-ESC]

Would an aircraft astrodome be too small? Some of them are removable.

This isn't me, but it does give a sense of size. http://www.masseyaero.org/projects/dc3/dc-3dome.html

I bought one on E-bay for about $40 10 years ago, new in the original WW2 packaging, without the mounting ring so it is flat. It has a calibration card of distortion in each section but is very clear and I recall being impressed of how distortion free it was.

I've been thinking of using it for a skylight but it would have to be done by a fiberglass or autorepair shop to get it right and pretty.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Any updates?
It's been a couple months...

 

[Hokie Escape]

No new mods (I decided against the aircraft astrodome---growing up I always wanted to be a "tailgunner" in a B-52, not a top gunner), but the drawers are GREAT! You can pack the drawers full of clothes (or towels, sheets, or whatever) and actually get to them while standing up!
When Rease redesigns the 5.0 to use the slightly wider 19 floor, I'm going to order the first one, with full extension drawers. Sooooo much nicer to pack.

 

[Karen H.]

Re: Custom Mods for the Hokie Escape

The screen door is GREAT!!! However, with the little slider/lock, it's hard to handle, and if it gets away from you, it slams shut and all the innards gush out! Not a pretty site\!
I added this simple handle (inside and out) to help control the door. Works good, and it's cheap!

First post for this newbie...

Is that just a simple drawer pull? I was at the factory today (42 miles door-to-door) and tested the screen door having read this post yesterday. Youza! This seems to be a must-have item.

 

[cpaharley2008]

Welcome Karen...

 

[Karen H.]

Thank you so much! This seems to be a wonderful community with a wealth of information. I have the feeling that by the time my Escape is in production I will show up at the factory with a U-Haul, dump it in the yard, and say, "Please install all of this."

 

[float5]

Karen, congratulations on your Escape-to-be!
I know they are looking forward to your U-Haul. See previous posts for the 500-plus options. The only trailer that has 500-plus options.

 

[Karen H.]

Thank you, Cathy. I have been lurking on this site for months and only joined when I committed to buy. I have an entire sub-folder in Picasa of items suggested on this site by experienced owners; the pictures posted are the best. This forum is truly a great resource.

 

[Hokie Escape]

Hi Karen,
Yes, the handle on the screen door is a simple handle for a screen door (from Home Depot). You have to have one on the front and back. Hard to get grandchildren to use the handle though.....just sayin'
Welcome to the world of Escape!

 

[DonM-ESC]

I spoke with Reace about adding the handle to the screen. He WARNED ME that there is a hidden spring cable inside the channel that could get damaged when drilling the screws.
Just saying....be careful.