Decision on Escape19F1, Now to build an order.

[Cathleen Shea]

Photo from my For Sale ad

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[Sean Murry]

If you tow without water, and I can say from experience we do notice the difference when towing our E19 with a GMC Canyon. It is still very capable with water, but without it just feels lighter. One thing I found very handy is my own "white made for drinking water" hose that I can attach to the taps. I also have a filter that I attach in line with the hose to catch any dirty water you might encounter.. Another product called a "Water Thief" is handy to attach to taps that don't have a threaded end to which you could attach a hose. Having said all that we do not use our onboard water for drinking, just dish washing, showers etc. We buy jugs of water for drinking and making coffee etc.
One thing I can almost guarantee is you will have a lot of fun and our E19 has been super.

 

[TTMartin]

Hello All,

Pleased to find this forum. My wife, Nancy, and I have been studying the possibility of going full-time on the road for about two years. After a few pissy days of annoyance at youngsters on YouTube not giving the whole story to life in a Sprinter van... which led to months of thinking we couldn't swing the prices... we realized a trailer would suit our needs just as well, if not better. ETI is a wonderful solution to the ridiculous prices of the middle man.

We're both at age 60... retired... and drive a 2018 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road model, 4.0 liter, 6-cylinder engine. My greatest concern is to not overload our tow vehicle... and whether or not we need to upgrade to a larger tow vehicle for a 19 footer? The 4Runner... Squatchy... is stock at present. I'm wondering about mods like beefier springs, and shocks... and any other engine mods that could boost our model's ability to safely tow the listed weights on the 19.

So, certainly more homework yet to do. I believe I'll find most, if not all, of my answers around the forum. Thanks for having this resource.

Yes, you are much better off with an Escape trailer than trying to fulltime in a Sprinter. We have spent months on the road in our Sprinter and with our Sprinter and an RV despite being married for 39 years after about a month in the Sprinter we were bumping heads.



If your 4Runner does not have a 5000lb tow rating there is nothing you can add to to it to legally increase its towing capacity. If it doesn't have a 5000lb tow rating you need a new tow vehicle. If your 4Runner has a 5000lb tow rating, the things you mentioned can help it behave better when towing your Escape 19.

 

[Cathleen Shea]

Yes, you are much better off with an Escape trailer than trying to fulltime in a Sprinter. We have spent months on the road in our Sprinter and with our Sprinter and an RV despite being married for 39 years after about a month in the Sprinter we were bumping heads.
View attachment 72582

If your 4Runner does not have a 5000lb tow rating there is nothing you can add to to it to legally increase its towing capacity. If it doesn't have a 5000lb tow rating you need a new tow vehicle. If your 4Runner has a 5000lb tow rating, the things you mentioned can help it behave better when towing your Escape 19.

Thanks, T. Yes we're rated at 5,000 lbs. towing. Nancy and I have been through 23 yrs of life in close quarters as we've gone to progressively smaller abodes. This will be our tiniest by far. But we've got a very cute Australian Cattle Dog mix (Cedar) to run interference if we get pissy with each other. Haha!

We put down our deposit on the E19F1 this morning. Very excited to be starting the next phase of our adventures. ��

 

[Cathleen Shea]

T... I feel compelled to ask... how'd you wind up with a Sprinter, and a trailer? Is the trailer your doghouse when the wife is cranky?

 

[rubicon327]

Congrats on your new trailer. The 4Runner with a 19 is fine but you have to watch your numbers. We tow with Gen 4 4Runners - a V6 and a V8. The GVWR on the 19 was lowered to 4400# so you are fine when simply looking at tow capacity and tongue weight but it’s a bit more complicated. If you travel heavy on long trips that will likely push items to the tow vehicle. Your limitation will be payload (found on door jamb sticker). This includes all passengers, cargo, hitch components and tongue weight. Do an online calculator and you’ll see what I mean. I recommend a weight distribution hitch. You should really hit a scale with the trailer and know your axle weights too. The door sticker will give you GAWR for front and rear axle.

 

[Cathleen Shea]

Congrats on your new trailer. The 4Runner with a 19 is fine but you have to watch your numbers. We tow with Gen 4 4Runners - a V6 and a V8. The GVWR on the 19 was lowered to 4400# so you are fine when simply looking at tow capacity and tongue weight but it’s a bit more complicated. If you travel heavy on long trips that will likely push items to the tow vehicle. Your limitation will be payload (found on door jamb sticker). This includes all passengers, cargo, hitch components and tongue weight. Do an online calculator and you’ll see what I mean. I recommend a weight distribution hitch. You should really hit a scale with the trailer and know your axle weights too. The door sticker will give you GAWR for front and rear axle.

Definitely good wisdom. All in the works. Our deposit is in!

 

[iamunique127]

Definitely good wisdom. All in the works. Our deposit is in!

Congratulations!

 

[TTMartin]

T... I feel compelled to ask... how'd you wind up with a Sprinter, and a trailer? Is the trailer your doghouse when the wife is cranky?

Had an F250 and a stick built RV trailer. F250 got totaled (broadsided while sitting at a red light). Other trailer had water damage. Purchased the Sprinter. Found out the Sprinter alone wasn't enough space for extended travel. Purchased our Escape 19.

 

[Cathleen Shea]

Had an F250 and a stick built RV trailer. F250 got totaled (broadsided while sitting at a red light). Other trailer had water damage. Purchased the Sprinter. Found out the Sprinter alone wasn't enough space for extended travel. Purchased our Escape 19.

Oh wow! I'm sorry about the accident. It must have been horrific. And glad you moved forward.

We're very happy with this fiberglass design for keeping water at bay. We lived on the Oregon Coast for 13 years... keeping water out is a must.

 

[DanandDaphne]

Congratulations you are going to love your new escape!

Your 4runner will be adequate but just, and if you are going to be full timing it that means you will have more stuff than if you are using it for camping and occasional travel. My guess is you aren't going to be traveling light, and it will get heavier as you go along. Before you spend a bunch of money on upgrading the 4runner take it on a couple of trips that involve some mountains and see how it works for you. You will also not have a lot of range with the 4runner with the reduced gas mileage while towing. Just plan on about 10 or 11mpg, you can do better with a long down hill with the wind behind you. We live at almost nine thousand feet elevation so we always do better going than returning home.

We have been towing our 5.0 with our 2002 Tundra with the 4.7L V8 and it is fine for most towing but in the mountains you spend a lot of time in second gear. We just got a new 24Tundra and we are just getting it all set up for towing. We are really looking forward to the increased HP and torque, ten speed transmission and the 32gl fuel tank.

What's the F1 about? Is Escape offering different floor plans now on the 19? I took a quick look and see an F1 and F2 but it wasn't easily apparent what the difference is.

 

[Cathleen Shea]

Congratulations you are going to love your new escape!

Your 4runner will be adequate but just, and if you are going to be full timing it that means you will have more stuff than if you are using it for camping and occasional travel. My guess is you aren't going to be traveling light, and it will get heavier as you go along. Before you spend a bunch of money on upgrading the 4runner take it on a couple of trips that involve some mountains and see how it works for you. You will also not have a lot of range with the 4runner with the reduced gas mileage while towing. Just plan on about 10 or 11mpg, you can do better with a long down hill with the wind behind you. We live at almost nine thousand feet elevation so we always do better going than returning home.

We have been towing our 5.0 with our 2002 Tundra with the 4.7L V8 and it is fine for most towing but in the mountains you spend a lot of time in second gear. We just got a new 24Tundra and we are just getting it all set up for towing. We are really looking forward to the increased HP and torque, ten speed transmission and the 32gl fuel tank.

What's the F1 about? Is Escape offering different floor plans now on the 19? I took a quick look and see an F1 and F2 but it wasn't easily apparent what the difference is.

Hey there. Thanks for the wisdom. I do keep wondering if we'll wind up trading to a Tundra. We're beginning the process of assessing our weight of stuff. We've got a 23 gallon tank right now, but excellent reminder on much less gas mileage.

The F1 model has a fixed bed, while the F2 has a second dinette which can be broken down for a bed. We liked the fixed bed option for our needs.

 

[DanandDaphne]

Twenty six gallons is pretty good, I think that's what our old tundra has. I say give it a try since you already have it and I agree 4runners are great we have owned three of them. I understand, they are so much more maneuverable than our giant tundra is. Although I am pretty impressed with all the new technology to prevent you from backing into something.

Just hope neither of you are rock collectors.

Thanks for the F1 F2 distinction I was aware of this just not the designation.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Cathleen Shea]

Twenty six gallons is pretty good, I think that's what our old tundra has. I say give it a try since you already have it and I agree 4runners are great we have owned three of them. I understand, they are so much more maneuverable than our giant tundra is. Although I am pretty impressed with all the new technology to prevent you from backing into something.

Just hope neither of you are rock collectors.

Thanks for the F1 F2 distinction I was aware of this just not the designation.

Best of luck to you!

Rooocccckkkksss...

 

[Great Eggstrications]

Submitted for your consideration:

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f10/4runner-as-a-tow-vehicle-20057.html

 

[Cathleen Shea]

Woohoo! Updates... we put in our deposit for an E19 this past week. And yesterday bought ourselves a newish Toyota Tacoma. A 2021 TRD Off Road, with only 17K miles on it. Traded our beloved 4Runner. Mannnn, that was a tough one to see it being driven away without the plates on it. But, I feel much better about our increased towing capacity.

And holy cow, the difference three years make from the 2018 4Runner, to the 2021 Tacoma. I can stream my Gaia GPS app to the 8-inch console screen via the Android Auto app. That was a revelation right there. I'll be studying quite a bit in the next few days to learn all my new systems. Even the tailgate... it doesn't slam open. It's a soft open system. Nice!

The truck is Barcelona Red... a bright candy apple kind of color. Appropriate for Valentine's Day today. So, our new beast is named "Val."

Onward in adventures.