Our New Escape

[amirie]

Yeah!!! ;D

We just went today and spent a number of hours out at Chilliwack and are now the proud owners of a 2008 Plan B 17 foot Escape!!!! Our little "Howie".

We were in line for a 15' and then with the 15' not being manufactured right away I had too darn much time to think (as dh says--that usually means more $$!) Started thinking about the bathroom and shower and more room etc etc etc...

So, there was a used one out there and we looked it over today. We will get a couple things added (like the stereo)and we have to get a different hitch put on our Escape (it has a factory installed class 2 hitch) We will get the equilizer hitch so need a class 3 installed.... Couldn't bring it home today anyway as there is too much snow piled where the trailer will be parked.. And yes Reace it will fit over the small retaining wall.....

So after a few hours of looking and dreaming of warmer weather I wrote the nice man a cheque and now I have to work more hours and hopefully a lot of them will be in overtime...

Can hardly wait for our first trip---will be such a nice upgrade from our little 13' Boler....

 

[Sandra L]

Congratulations! How exciting!!! I'm sure you'll be thoroughly delighted with it. Hopefully you can make some of the gtgs to show it off.
Sandra

 

[escape artist]

Hi: And Congrats... You sure know how to "Escape" the winter blahs!!!p.s. the extra room will come in handy... I just know it.
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[Jim Bennett]

Congratulations!!!!!
Where do you live, and what trips do you have planned for it?

 

[cheryls]

Congratulations, Amirie!! I'm sure you're going to love your little "Howie" and it must have been great to have the instant gratification of meeting him right then, even if you do have a wait a bit to take him home!

 

[PGDriver]

Congratulations, hope you can take a little time off work this summer to enjoy your new purchase..
and don't forget to post some pictures once you ge it home.

 

[amirie]

Well, now have the new heavy duty hitch installed on our vehicle. Ready for the equalizer bars.

They had to leave the class 2 in place as it is part of the bumper system and would have been major $$$ to take it off and get the new bumper piece..
Installed with some of the same bolt holes and they had to weld a new brace..

Anyway t'is done (and the hitch place stated that the class 2 wasn't really that strong and they wouldn't have used it to tow a larger trailer)

MELT SNOW MELT........

 

[wpski]

Hi All

this may sound like an AA meeting but here goes my name is walt and tammy just recieved my deposit for a new 19 that i will be picking up around aug 17.
I am going to tow it with my toyota tacoma 4 wd extra cab with tow package, does anyone think i should change the rear shocks to gabriel load levelers or go with timbren.
I will be using a honda eu2000 gen set when dry camping would it be worthwhile to change the lighting to leds. Our first trip with it will last about two months since we live in florida we have traveled from key west fla to prudo bay alaska we love to drive that trip was 19333 miles but this will be a new experience traveling with our own hotel room can't wait. One last question does anyone know if the 5.0 fridge runs on 12 volt power as well as propane and how much propane does it burn.
thanks new escapee

 

[Jim Bennett]

Hi wpski, and welcome to the Escape Forums.

I known little about what shocks you should use, but you do have a great tow vehicle.
If there will be little chance that you will be without 120V power, either from the grid or from a gen set, then you would not need to change the bulbs. Changing them would help conserve energy though.
The 5 cf fridge is only 120V, or propane, not 12V (I believe). They don't likely burn too much propane, but it is all dependent upon how cold it is set, in real warm temps you might burn a fair bit, but if out in cool temps, the flame is quite low.

That sounds like a FANTASTIC trip to do. I have never been to Alaska yet, but as soon as I can spare an extended length of time, it is tops on my list.

 

[PGDriver]

Greetings wpski and welcome to the form.
I couldn't think of a better tow vehicle, you won't have to do anything
they are fine right out of the box.
I have a 07 Tacoma TRD 4x4, I ordered my
19" Escape with the high lift axle so it will be
level with the truck, will also use a equalizer hitch
from Escape Trailers (they have a good price).
If you have a generator you won't have to worry
about changing the lights as they will run off the
inverter while the generator is running.
By the way if you will be in colder climates on
your trips you might want to ask Reace or Tammy
to put the fresh water tank under the bed (inside the trailer)
to prevent freeze ups at night.

 

[Jim Bennett]

By the way if you will be in colder climates on
your trips you might want to ask Reace or Tammy
to put the fresh water tank under the bed (inside the trailer)
to prevent freeze ups at night.

I decided to leave the tank as it is. I will likely insulate real good around it, and maybe add a heat tape. The other option is to do like Dirk did and add a smaller tank inside. I really could not bring myself to lose the space in the storage area due to the need of keeping a low height tank in there.

 

[Sandra L]

Hi Walt,
Welcome to the forum! I'm sure you'll be so happy that you elected to get an Escape. If your eyes won't get worn out, check the things others have done in the way of additions and modifications. Reace and Tammy are very accommodating and will let you know what can be done and if an idea that you have is feasible or desirable.

 

[wpski]

thanks D.
But why the 2" lift I thought the 19 had a 19" ball heirht and thats what my toyota has now?
thanks in advance Walt

 

[PGDriver]

thanks D.
But why the 2" lift I thought the 19 had a 19" ball heirht and thats what my toyota has now?
thanks in advance Walt

I think you will find that the 19" is to the receiver the top of the ball height is a couple of inches more.

 

[Jim Bennett]

Actually, I measured the hitch height on the 19 when I was there and it was 19" to the top of the ball. Reace thought is was level then. 1" either way won't make much of a difference. If you load your vehicle &/or add weight to the hitch, it will bring down a fair bit too.

 

[wpski]

thanks again D. and jim
I dont think I will opt for the 2" lift