Furnace change on Escape 21 a shocker

[reace]

Hello all,

As usual, we are always listening. The first mock up of the drawer cabinet is obviously not being well received. Tonite I did a quick rebuild of the cabinet with everything tightened up and by raising the counter three inches, I was able to get two drawers in above the furnace. Tomorrow I will order new drawers and a new, slightly wider trim ring for the furnace grill to match the drawer width.

To address the concerns of placement, the wheel well is below the furnace so it can't be lowered and the rear seats would need to be raised 4" for it to fit there. The new design has definitely been a challenge to make work and we, along with many other manufacturers have expressed our disappointment with Atwood on the new grill design. The new furnace itself is really a giant leap forward as it has been completely redesigned. The 8012 was introduced in 1980...it was definitely ready for an overhaul. To bad they didn't spend any time on the grill. The stock grill that comes with it has a second larger black trim ring that made it look even worse. We swapped it out with a door trim ring to help with aesthetics. I may look to see if I can find a paint that will work on the grill.

Hopefully in the next day or so I will have the new doors and can show the new mock up.

Reace

 

[float5]

Many would gladly take the seats being raised 4". Don't know if that means the floor would need to be raised. Any other solution would be better than ruining those drawers. They are beautiful! Hope you can do something else. Thank you for working on this. Also, the under-the-sink idea sounds smart, facing bath.

 

[currinh]

Suburban also makes similar sized direct discharge furnaces. There are a ton of trade offs and mounting considerations with either, but it might be an option.

Thanks.

 

[Bobbito]

Once again I am so impressed with Reace and Tammy's devotion to their customers. Getting back one more drawer by raising the counter a bit is certainly more acceptable to us. I look forward to Reace's new design effort. THANK YOU REACE!

Unlike some people, for us it is mainly function over form. The NASH 21' had much more storage and would have been perfect for us if it didn't repeatedly incur major water damage. Hence the search for a better trailer and discovery of the ESCAPE!

Bob K

 

[rbryan4]

You'll probably be happier with the new furnace too Bob. By all accounts it uses less energy, puts out great heat -- and is quieter.

The 8012 was introduced in 1980...it was definitely ready for an overhaul.

True Reace, but on the other hand, according to Atwood, "This furnace [Atwood 8012] was carried by the American Medical Research Expedition to Mt. Everest and used in the record setting Pacific Crossing of the Double Eagle Balloon." Gotta admit, that's pretty cool.

 

[padlin]

Dometic strikes again. Another fine mess brought to you by the makers of the RML8555.

 

[gbaglo]

Dometic strikes again. Another fine mess brought to you by the makers of the RML8555.

If stuff didn't change, we'd be sitting around a fire in a cave.

 

[cpaharley2008]

Everyone talks about the new heater being better and efficient, but I can not seem find any stats on it's performance, anywhere? I had a Atwood 2 speed/stage in my Lance and it was nice but used a lot more volts while operating.

 

[abby-ESC]

If storage remains an issue, you could add drawers or a cabinet above the existing drawers/furnace.

 

[Jim Bennett]

If the loss of the two drawers is your main concern, you could just add the storage box and still have a ton of storage space. Another thought I have always had for under the dinette is to do a roll out drawer/bin to easier access the space under a dinette seat. In reality you are not really giving up any storage space, it is just shifting around.

I do understand it does not look as great in the cabinet as you enter the door, but I bet you would get used to it pretty quick. I certainly would like the furnace centered more for better heat distribution. What is folks experience with the heater right at there feet at the dinette, I really think that would be uncomfortable.

 

[abby-ESC]

What is folks experience with the heater right at there feet at the dinette, I really think that would be uncomfortable.

It is . . . on bare legs.

 

[Jim Bennett]

If stuff didn't change, we'd be sitting around a fire in a cave.

You see this reaction whenever there is change. It is a pretty common human trait to at first resist change, as we have seen many times before. Once people realize it is for the better they move on.

One of the ones that gets me, is that when Facebook makes some big changes, there are tons of people up in arms about it, wanting them to take it back to where it used to be, and threatening to leave if they keep making these changes. I suggest they just ask for their money back..... oh wait, they get it for free.

 

[Jim Bennett]

Oh, and you most definitely would not want the furnace on the galley side. The exhaust gasses under the awning would be awful. We spend a lot of time sitting at the table under the awning, and this would be a definite deal breaker for us.

 

[Donna D.]

I'm wondering too if moving the furnace further away from the refrigerator will help with THAT issue. No, we're not going to start talking about refrigerators in this thread :fingerwag: I was just merely thinking out loud.

 

[cpaharley2008]

The heater is it's present position is far enough from the bed that it's operation is almost silent vs next to the bed in the 19' model. As far as the exhaust and siting outside, they are mutually exclusive, it is that cold to have the furnace on, you are probably not sitting out under the awning for shade, perhaps further away at a campfire.

 

[reace]

Dometic strikes again. Another fine mess brought to you by the makers of the RML8555.

The furnace is by Atwood, not Dometic.

The problem with raising the seat is the back rests are already an inch away from the bottom of the window.

The furnace can't be mounted in the kitchen cabinet facing the bathroom as the exhaust needs to be ducted straight out the rear of the unit.

I looked at the Suburban furnace and it is (in my opinion) junk. I think I would have more of you upset with that move.

I missed mentioning in my earlier post that the furnace location has not changed in the other size trailers.

Reace

 

[Jim Bennett]

As far as the exhaust and siting outside, they are mutually exclusive, it is that cold to have the furnace on, you are probably not sitting out under the awning for shade, perhaps further away at a campfire.

Not at all. Most people I know set up their table under the awning, where they cook, eat and clean dishes. Plus whenever it is raining, we gather under the awning, sipping our coffee or cocktails. It is true though, that we usually turn the furnace off, or down, when outside, but often Momma is doing stuff inside, and likes to be cozy then. Unless it is quite cold, and people need the warmth, a fire is a rare thing for us until at least supper time.

I have never seen a furnace in any trailer vented out the front. Not sure if there is a code thing, or not, or just common sense on the manufacturers part.

 

[rbryan4]

Reace's post above shows that he's already on top of it. I'd wait it out until you see the photos with two drawers above the unit.

 

[Escape While You Can]

Once again, I'm very impressed by how Reece and Tammy listen to their customers. Bravo!

 

[Jim Bennett]

Reace's post above shows that he's already on top of it. I'd wait it out until you see the photos with two drawers above the unit.

Makes good sense Robert, but what are the odds on that actually happening? ;D