Escape 15 in an 8' garage.

[michelehart]

We are really wanting to buy a used Escape 15. It looks like most owners list the height as 8'7". That means it won't fit in our 8ft garage. This, is a deal breaker for us and I hate to let go of the idea of buying one of these. Does anyone have any ideas? Could we remove the Maxxair fan? (FYI, the Unit does not have AC)

 

[Centex]

An 8-foot storage space clearance height (is your garage-door frame even that high?) presents a real challenge for many trailers with stand-up interior ceilings, not just the Escape 15.

Yes, you might gain a few inches by removing the MaxFan (there are lower-profile fan-vents that will fit in that opening), but I suggest you look at that relative to the height of other roof penetrations (fridge vent, black/grey tank vents) before undertaking that mod.

Other 'tricks' that work for some include:

• reducing tire pressure just for garaging (limited gain, likely not good for the tires in the long-term)
• removing the OE wheels to install 'tiny wheels' or place the trailer on a low-wheeled dolly just for garaging (yep, a tedious chore)

Good Luck in your search for a happy solution!

 

[occer]

Centex comments are very good. It would be a very tedious but something like this.

1500 lb. Capacity Vehicle Dollies 2 Piece

Amazing deals on this 1500Lb Vehicle Dollies 2Pc at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[GinoandLinda]

An 8-foot storage space clearance height (is your garage-door frame even that high?) presents a real challenge for many trailers with stand-up interior ceilings, not just the Escape 15.

Yes, you might gain a few inches by removing the MaxFan (there are lower-profile fan-vents that will fit in that opening), but I suggest you look at that relative to the height of other roof penetrations (fridge vent, black/grey tank vents) before undertaking that mod.

Other 'tricks' that work for some include:

• reducing tire pressure just for garaging (limited gain, likely not good for the tires in the long-term)
• removing the OE wheels to install 'tiny wheels' or place the trailer on a low-wheeled dolly just for garaging (yep, a tedious chore)

Good Luck in your search for a happy solution!

What Alan said. You'll be hard pressed to fit an Escape in there. If your garage door is located on the gable end wall, you may be able to have a contractor remove the 8' door and replace it with a taller door. There is a lot involved with that as those doors are significantly heavier and require stronger headers and bracing. However, it does add value to your home if done correctly.

 

[Bobbie54]

Been there. Answer is- well what I did was remove the 8' door and have 9' carriage doors installed. No door opener. But if you want a traditional garage door with opener you can also put a side pull door opener on so there is no mechanism above the door.

Other things I considered- removing the tires, rolling in on rims. Removing the tires, putting rims on dollies to roll them in. (With maxx fan gone.) Mine had a lift, asked about lowering, would not have given enough difference. And I wanted to be able to use it without a lot of effort of re-installing anything. Here's my 15 in the garage after the door job. (Looks like there was room if you removed the fan but not quite- so might have worked with fan gone, tires deflated, but this picture is with the 9' opening. (That was easy to do because the header was actually 9'.) Second photo is the 15 in front of the old door.

 

[DanandDaphne]

Been there. Answer is- well what I did was remove the 8' door and have 9' carriage doors installed. No door opener. But if you want a traditional garage door with opener you can also put a side pull door opener on so there is no mechanism above the door.

Other things I considered- removing the tires, rolling in on rims. Removing the tires, putting rims on dollies to roll them in. (With maxx fan gone.) Mine had a lift, asked about lowering, would not have given enough difference. And I wanted to be able to use it without a lot of effort of re-installing anything. Here's my 15 in the garage after the door job. (Looks like there was room if you removed the fan but not quite- so might have worked with fan gone, tires deflated, but this picture is with the 9' opening. (That was easy to do because the header was actually 9'.) Second photo is the 15 in front of the old door.

Wow, that's a tight fit! It looks like only a couple of inches of clearance to the sides. Nice trailer backing skills!

 

[DanandDaphne]

You may already know this but there were only a little over 100 escape 15s built about 50/50 with and without bathrooms.

Enough that they come around from time to time, more often than 13s.

Here's a 15a

2014 Escape 15 A for sale near Tucson, AZ

Escape 15A Travel Trailer in Excellent Condition Near Tucson, AZ Well cared for, stored indoors Dual 6 volt batteries w/Tri-Metric battery monitor Twin propane tanks with quick switch valve Full insulation on underside of trailer Thermal windows Draw down pleated shades w/valences 12,000...

www.escapeforum.org

 

[Bobbie54]

Wow, that's a tight fit! It looks like only a couple of inches of clearance to the sides. Nice trailer backing skills!

It's about 8" on each side as I go through the door but then there is two feet on each side inside- until near the back. The 15 fit in front of shelves I installed in the back part but the 17 sticks into that space so I have to stay pretty straight going back in. But I have a longer drive so getting straight happens before I am actually backing through. I do a lot worse trying to back into campsites especially if the angle is weird.

 

[Gingerdog]

Some time ago there was a post where the owner put bare rims on with no tires.
There where some pick . Don't know where the post is, sorry.

 

[Kanoer54]

I had a similar problem....raised the garage door header 8" and.replaced the wheel/tire with 15" wheel/no tire. I gained enough height that I could park in the garage. Kind of a hassle but only needs to be done a couple times a year. I have a Casita SD which is not quite as tall as an Excape 15.

 

[Donna D.]

You may already know this but there were only a little over 100 escape 15s built about 50/50 with and without bathrooms.

Enough that they come around from time to time, more often than 13s.

ETI made: sixteen 13As and nine 13Bs = 25 (2008-2010), fifty-seven 15As and forty-seven 15Bs = 104 (2010-2015)

 

[Bobbie54]

I had a similar problem....raised the garage door header 8" and.replaced the wheel/tire with 15" wheel/no tire. I gained enough height that I could park in the garage. Kind of a hassle but only needs to be done a couple times a year. I have a Casita SD which is not quite as tall as an Excape 15.

Yeah, I think for people who are storing for the winter it's fine. I wanted mine available all year so it was worth changing the garage doors. But if it were in in October and out in April riding a dolly in on the rims would have worked.

 

[soultrek]

We are really wanting to buy a used Escape 15. It looks like most owners list the height as 8'7". That means it won't fit in our 8ft garage. This, is a deal breaker for us and I hate to let go of the idea of buying one of these. Does anyone have any ideas? Could we remove the Maxxair fan? (FYI, the Unit does not have AC)

Been wintering our 2008 17B for 12 years in our garage with a 7’11” vertical door clearance. I unscrew the Max Fan and move it to a lower roof side, leaving the wiring intact. Dunno if the 15 is similar.

 

[Bobbie54]

I think it is. I considered doing that but as I mentioned above, I want more than one in and out during the off-season so it wasn't practical (plus would have had to lower it, too.) ANd probably deflate tires some.

 

[lloydjdorsey@gmail.com]

We've had our 17B for 6 or 7 yrs and park it in our garage that has a 7'11"+- high opening. As our neighbor has done for even longer with the same trailer and garage, we remove the MaxAir and the other vent each time. Allows about 1/4" clearance. No need to lower the tires. The neighbor is faster at doing this than I am, but I can do it (and then replace when we go camping) in about 1/2 hour.

 

[Fender]

You've likely considered a tarp building as an alternative. This one is way larger (40' long with 12' high door) than needed for my E19 as I originally used it for a Class A motorhome. It has a door on both ends so you can drive in and out if you have the room on your property to do so.
If this is an option don't buy the cheaper hardware store type. This one is 10 years old and still looks new, built by a Canadian company called Tarp-rite. In hurricanes and nor'easters this has never budged. A smaller one suitable for an E19 will probably cost less than retrofitting a garage and it's set up in a few hours!
PS: the little camera looking thing attached to one of the trusses is actually a wifi motion sensor connected to my home security system.