cpaharley2008
Senior Member
The ez lube feature is standard but I do not think self adjust brakes are available.....
We don't use the EZ Lube feature and every 10,000 miles max have our brakes inspected, and then it only takes 15 minutes to have the bearings cleaned and repacked. The EZ Lube has been known to fail, polluting the brakes with grease (it happened with our Lance, and know three trailer places that have seen it).The ez lube feature is standard but I do not think self adjust brakes are available.....
We don't use the EZ Lube feature and every 10,000 miles max have our brakes inspected, and then it only takes 15 minutes to have the bearings cleaned and repacked. The EZ Lube has been known to fail, polluting the brakes with grease (it happened with our Lance, and know three trailer places that have seen it).
This likely comes from using a power grease gun, and not a manual grease gun and/or not rotating the tire as the grease is being added. I sincerely doubt an RV service department would take the time and effort to do it properly. Not when they can just stick a power grease gun on and blame the EX Lube system if they mess it up.
https://youtu.be/XT0RKDGgDm8
I have been reminded that the Nev-R-Adjust Dexter axles are a special order item. I would still recommend them if they are available and affordable for you.
Thank you for pointing it out. Do we ask them about it in the context of High Lift Axle option? Or, are these break enhancements that are put on their (high lift) axle?
Adjusting my post earlier to add this to the list.
PS: Sorry if that's a dumb question but we are on the clueless side and figure it is best to confirm. I did add it on our ordering worksheet (just an Excel file I am keeping), but want to make sure I have the context right.
Thank you for pointing it out. Do we ask them about it in the context of High Lift Axle option?
I have been following your discussion with vicarious enjoyment, because I am going through the same processes as you with the same basic conclusions and possible timeframe. Remember that I am a complete newbie like you, so these comments will be firmly grounded in ignorance.
You might also include in your spreadsheet what you're not doing. [For the rest of us], and for comments by the experts on this forum.
- bathroom window. I would be inclined to get the opening slider to make it easier to get a rinse hose into the bathroom.
- I was leaning to slider windows everywhere but saw a Bill and Nora (?) youtube today of a new 5.0TA with the frameless windows and they open much more than I had expected, so I might go that way. Undecided but still probably leaning to sliders.
- Are you doing the manual awning? I would be inclined for automatic because of personal mobility issues.
- U shaped dinette? I'm on the fence on this one since I think there will be more wiggle room without the u shape, and can still comfortably seat 4 without. Thoughts?
- I would also go for the higher-end ceiling fan with the remote, again for the mobility reasons. There's some hints on the forums that Escape won't do this any more.
- Foot toilet? Seems more convenient to me, although I saw the discussion about breaking.
- Agree about the Lithium batteries and compressor fridge. Those Lithium batteries are still pretty pricey ($1000 for 80ah, compared to $200 to add 125 ah with the Escape batteries, based on a 5 minute exploration of the campingworld online store. (I have no loyalties there - it just came up on a google search for the batteries)
- folding Kitchen counter extension. Adds counter space for little cost in space.
- I would do the oven instead of the stovetop, but that's just me. I do bake from time to time at home. I may need to learn to make biscuits. If they're as light and fluffy as others on the forum, they would help offset the weight of the trailer.
- That same video showed the standard height axles on the trailer attached to the pickup truck. It looked like there was lots of room. I think that will all depend on the nature of the roads you head for and height of the truck walls.
For a truck, I'm still leaning to midsized, Ranger, Colorado/Canyon or Tacoma with the Anderson hitch. If the Ranger Supercab has a big enough back seat for the grandkids, I would probably prefer that with the 6' box. Otherwise it would be the GMC/Chev supercrew+6' box. There are hints Ram is coming with a midsize for 2021, so that might be worth looking at. The payload rating on the Tacoma is not quite enough for my comfort. And the 5' box on the Supercrew Ranger isn't quite long enough.
I've noticed there were 4 5.0TA in the Escape trailer inventory last week and this week there are 0. I'm wondering whether this pick up in orders is a normal thing for this time of year, or if something else is going on. Not to belabor that video, and it was just the one case, but they waited something like 8 months for their trailer to be delivered. So you might want to take that into consideration with your ordering lead time.
Thanks again for sharing your thinking kavm. Like I said, I'm finding it very useful for my own thinking.
You may want to consider your table mount options. Stock comes with two poles and ETI has the option of the Springfield (single pole). Besides one pole, I believe one other advantage with the Springfield is lowering it into a bed if you need to do that on a regular basis.T
[*]U shaped dinette. Same thought process. There will be just the two of us. Thinking more space without the U-shaped. This is one thing that looking at some's camper will clarify - but we are very cautious about Covid and reluctant to pursue putting us or an Escape owner at risk right now.