Hello from Central Arizona

[Neil_231]

Current Casita 17 SD owner, but, in the process of ordering an Escape 23 F1 now. The Casita introduced me to fiberglass travel trailers and I have really enjoyed it -- and have upgraded it a lot. But there is no getting around the fact that it is small. Fine for me solo but too cramped for me and my wife. So, I am upgrading. Escape says my trailer will be ready in September, which is fine for me because I have a total knee replacement scheduled for mid May and I doubt that I will up up to camping for a few months anyway. I know that Escape will deliver the trailer (for a fee) if I want, but I would like to drive my Ram 1500 5.7 V8 to Chilliwack to pick up the trailer if I am up to it. The drive back to Arizona would present many fun camping opportunities. Cheers.

 

[GinoandLinda]

Congrats on the E23. A September trip to Chilliwack sounds like great time to go. Hope your knee replacement goes well. Stay on top of your PT and rehab exercises and you’ll be back at it in no time. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Escapeesinmo]

Congrats! Hope everything goes well with your surgery. You'll be camping in no time.

 

[DT6]

Best wishes on the upcoming knee replacement. I had mine done two years ago and remember I spent the first four weeks pushing my range of motion in PT. It was somewhat painful but I'm glad I did it. I've got about 95+% range of motion and most of the time I'm not even aware of the knee.

The 23 will definitely make it easier to move around inside! Enjoy your drive back from Canada!

 

[Neil_231]

Thanks all for the comments. I am a bit anxious about this surgery but I know most folks grit their teeth and get through it just fine. I am hoping to pick up my trailer in Chilliwack and drive home to AZ from there.

 

[mr.stang]

Two hips and two knees over a period of five years, severe arthritis. Best choice for me, take your meds for the first month as prescribed and work your butt off in PT. You will be fine.

 

[Drives1937]

Current Casita 17 SD owner, but, in the process of ordering an Escape 23 F1 now. The Casita introduced me to fiberglass travel trailers and I have really enjoyed it -- and have upgraded it a lot. But there is no getting around the fact that it is small. Fine for me solo but too cramped for me and my wife. So, I am upgrading. Escape says my trailer will be ready in September, which is fine for me because I have a total knee replacement scheduled for mid May and I doubt that I will up up to camping for a few months anyway. I know that Escape will deliver the trailer (for a fee) if I want, but I would like to drive my Ram 1500 5.7 V8 to Chilliwack to pick up the trailer if I am up to it. The drive back to Arizona would present many fun camping opportunities. Cheers.

Two hips and two knees over a period of five years, severe arthritis. Best choice for me, take your meds for the first month as prescribed and work your butt off in PT. You will be fine.

Howdy and welcome to the forum. I am down here in Mesa Arizona with my Escape 19. I am headed up to the factory and the rally in BC in a couple of weeks. Let me know if I can help with any questions, you might have.

Ken in AZ

 

[Neil_231]

The people I have been communication with at the factory have been very nice and very prompt. I am positively impressed so far. I am about to finalize the build sheet and pay my initial 10%.

 

[GinoandLinda]

Not sure how the AZ MVD works, but when we registered our new trailer in NM, the MVD required a physical inspection of the trailer on premises of the MVD.

 

[Luvnlife-ESC]

Similar in Texas. Must be inspected by the ATTF (automotive theft task force). They basically do the same thing that happens at the border.

 

[Neil_231]

If there might be a tariff on imported Canadian goods, would be be added to the sales price and collected by the seller? Or would it be collected by agents of the US at the border?

 

[Thrak]

Not sure how the AZ MVD works, but when we registered our new trailer in NM, the MVD required a physical inspection of the trailer on premises of the MVD.

We recently bought a 2020 E19 in New Mexico and brought it home to California. Not only did the DMV insist on physically seeing the trailer they also charged thousands of dollars in "use tax" (essentially sales tax) as well as processing fees, etc.

 

[Thrak]

Howdy and welcome to the forum. I am down here in Mesa Arizona with my Escape 19. I am headed up to the factory and the rally in BC in a couple of weeks. Let me know if I can help with any questions, you might have.

Ken in AZ

Can you point me to information on this rally?

 

[Donna D.]

Can you point me to information on this rally?

Unfortunately ETI didn't post the info and it's a mishmash of information here: Escape rally 2025

 

[GinoandLinda]

We recently bought a 2020 E19 in New Mexico and brought it home to California. Not only did the DMV insist on physically seeing the trailer they also charged thousands of dollars in "use tax" (essentially sales tax) as well as processing fees, etc.

When we registered our brand spankin’ new 5.0 in New Mexico, we went to one of the many privatized MVD offices. The person inspecting the camper said NM required the VIN to be stamped on the frame, which it is not on our camper. After considerable push back from me, the supervisor was called in and corrected the agent. The VIN only has to be in two locations on the unit.

 

[Neil_231]

I don't think that AZ requires an inspection of the trailer. I am assuming that once I pay ETI in full, they can send me the title and I can then get the trailer registered in AZ and receive a temporary plate on the spot. My knee replacement surgery was 3 days ago. The first two days were mighty miserable. Today things are much better. Started PT today.

 

[Escapeesinmo]

I don't think that AZ requires an inspection of the trailer. I am assuming that once I pay ETI in full, they can send me the title and I can then get the trailer registered in AZ and receive a temporary plate on the spot. My knee replacement surgery was 3 days ago. The first two days were mighty miserable. Today things are much better. Started PT today.

Hope you feel better quickly!

 

[mr.stang]

It is downhill from here!

 

[kathytony1985]

I don't think that AZ requires an inspection of the trailer. I am assuming that once I pay ETI in full, they can send me the title and I can then get the trailer registered in AZ and receive a temporary plate on the spot. My knee replacement surgery was 3 days ago. The first two days were mighty miserable. Today things are much better. Started PT today.

When we got our trailer in 2021 we had to have it inspected before we could register and tag it. We had to make an appt., pay a $20 fee and get a paper that verifies the VIN number. We then took that to a third party vendor and paid the sales tax and registration fee. They gave us a paper tag and the hard license plate arrived in the mail about 10 days later. They will not register or give a temp tag without the inspection.

 

[wackyburggeezer]

Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles offers a "30 day general use permit". You can apply at any DMV office. I recommend calling ahead to the office you will use, to confirm that they understand what you are asking for, and to confirm that ETI has given you all of the data on the specifics of your trailer before you apply for the permit. We did that in 2019, and it worked smoothly. Things may have changed, but forewarned is forearmed.