First time 21' observations……and emergency cable discussion

Took these pictures on the road, coming home from Denver, yesterday morning in Lone Tree, and Colorado Springs, CO. Note there's no possibility of the electric cable dragging too low. Have no complaints with that very sturdy 5/16ths QuickLinks chain hook-up, and wow, after a couple inches of snow overnight was it beautiful at the Air Force Acacemy grounds yesterday! Had to stop to check it out.
 

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Thanks for the photos, Myron, but I really don't get the idea of wrapping the breakaway cable (assuming that's what it is) around the electrical cable. The point of the breakaway cable is to pull the plug out of the breakaway switch when the trailer separates; wrapping it up with the electrical cable just seems like a good way to keep it from working.

The popular coiled Zip breakaway cable is from Fastway, who includes these points in their Zip cable instructions:
WARNING
1. Safety chain or hitch ball failure may be cause of trailer separation. Attach breakaway cable directly to tow vehicle. Do not attach to safety chains, hitch ball, or removable ball mount.
...
3. Obstructions may restrict breakaway pin from being pulled in an emergency. Install switch and couple cable in a location that allows pin to be freely pulled. Do not feed or loop cable through safety chains(s).
Instructions for Use
...
5. Stretch the coiled cable forward, and clip it directly to the tow vehicle with the carabiner provided. Do not feed it through the safety chains or in any other way that might prevent it from being pulled in an emergency...
They don't even mention not wrapping it around the electrical cable - only the safety chains - but that seems to me like an obvious extension of the same logic.

If you want to hold the electrical cable up, I suggest a bungee cord. Seriously - I think that would be appropriate and would not interfere with other systems.
 
I take your point, Brian and agree. I may make that correction. Must admit however I think my brake away cable application has more practical daily use. The concept as an intended hedge against true disaster certainly addresses the "what if" scenario. Just as in... what if... the two welded link tongue attachments fail and the crossing chains are no longer crossing? Of course mine are on either side, G-bag, but that also could happen. Yet, I would never expect a B-52 to land on my 19's roof.
 

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re: my post #147 --for what it's worth.

Have to change my proposal to employ the 12th link out, and expand at least to the 13th or 14th link out as the best link to attach the QuickLink thingo and from there to looped last link of factory supplied chain. My close-up picture at Cabelas (post 161) sure makes the chains look stretched G-bag-tight. Today I found out they really are. To un-quick-the-link I had to jack knife the two vehicles in order to gain enough slack.

It also took an hour and a half to hose down and scrub off Colorado and New Mexico's I-25 but because Escape's gel coat is thick and new, and so baby smooth, it was a delightful chore.
 
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I'm amazed as to how quiet the Atwood 8012 is as compared to the unit in my Escape 19. It can not be heard from the bed! No smell either. I wonder if it is the location or install that has changed? .

Is the Atwood 8012 the same furnace that was in the 19? Anyone have any idea why it is quieter? This is welcome news to me
 
Yes, it is the same model, in the 21' it is located in the rear whereas in the 19' it is located under the closet closer to the bed.
 
Atwood 8012-II

Is the Atwood 8012 the same furnace that was in the 19? Anyone have any idea why it is quieter? This is welcome news to me
It is quieter because it does not have any furnace tubes. The hot air comes out the front grill. It does not need a big fan like the Atwood 7912 has for pushing lots of air through vents to registers.
Chuck
 
Yes, the 8012 has half the fan power - and a corresponding decrease in noise - than the 7912... but does any Escape model use the 7912? None have ducts as far as I know - correct me if I'm mistaken - so wouldn't all have the 8012?
 
No Escape model uses a 7912. This furnace has a strong fan. Escape only installs the 8012 which does a good job in the trailers.
Chuck
 
It looks like we have some confusion here: although we understand that an Atwood 8012 is quieter than an Atwood 7912 (and why) we have conflicting messages about which one ETI puts in an Escape 21'. Maybe it has changed, or owners have requested specific models?
 
No confusion, all Escapes use the Atwood 8012 unit, I have no idea where the other model 7912 was mentioned.
 
No confusion, all Escapes use the Atwood 8012 unit, I have no idea where the other model 7912 was mentioned.
From here:
It is quieter because it does not have any furnace tubes. The hot air comes out the front grill. It does not need a big fan like the Atwood 7912 has for pushing lots of air through vents to registers.
Chuck
... although now I don't know why Chuck was comparing the current 8012 to the 7912 because:
No Escape model uses a 7912. This furnace has a strong fan. Escape only installs the 8012 which does a good job in the trailers.
Chuck

Sorry - fixed typo:
Okay, all have the 8012, and the mention of the difference was a red herring.
 
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I installed my Fastway emergency cable today 4' ZIP Breakaway Cable (Universal Replacement) [80-01-2140] - $12.49 : Fastway Trailer Products Store and noticed my chains are welded on the bar so they can not move, removed the clevis hook end to shorten 4 links. I also switched jacks to a 2000 lb tongue jack with removable handle. It is about 2" smaller than the stock handle and with the new extended 1" stinger bar, I'm hoping my tailgate can be opened all the way. Will take pictures tomorrow after hooking up.
 
Blackjack

I installed my Fastway emergency cable today 4' ZIP Breakaway Cable (Universal Replacement) [80-01-2140] - $12.49 : Fastway Trailer Products Store and noticed my chains are welded on the bar so they can not move, removed the clevis hook end to shorten 4 links. I also switched jacks to a 2000 lb tongue jack with removable handle. It is about 2" smaller than the stock handle and with the new extended 1" stinger bar, I'm hoping my tailgate can be opened all the way. Will take pictures tomorrow after hooking up.
CP I sell the Zip cables and think they are the best to use. Don't know why Escape doesn't install them on every new trailer.
Chuck
 
I like the Zip cable as well. I got the idea from the original mods that Jim did to his 19. Just easier not to have to worry about the loop in the original cable. I have been very happy with it.
 

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