Preparing for Full Time RV Living

[BlueFish]

Hello from Kentucky! In about 4 years, we plan to live full time in our RV. We currently own a truck camper, but have decided that we need a bit more room and comfort for long-term. The Escape appeared in my internet search and we instantly fell in love with the 5.0 TA. Unfortunately, they are nonexistent in our part of the country and internet info is limited. I hope to learn more through this forum. When the time is right, hopefully I can find leads on a good used one.

 

[Ron in BC]

Welcome to the forum.

There is a wealth of info on this forum. Also, hopefully, there might be a trailer rally within driving distance where you can see one first hand or ETI might be able to tell you of one relatively close by.

Some have bought sight unseen but it's always nice to see the real deal in person.

Ron

 

[cpaharley2008]

Welcome Jill, to our little fg world. Contact the factory for names of owners near you, any Escape model can be viewed to see the quality, but if there is a 5.0 near, even better. Also attending a rally would allow you to view a whole bunch of Escapes, the one in Osoyoos, BC this year had close to 190 units in attendance.....

 

[BlueFish]

Thank you!

 

[Patandlinda]

Thank you!

We own a 19 Escape but do not full time in trailer . We also don’t deal with snow and very cold weather ,living in California . I would be looking at a Bigfoot or Oliver trailer for full timing . They have their plumbing enclosed and are 4 season for insulation . The Escape is lower in price but not 4 season . Pat

 

[cpaharley2008]

I agree the Escape is not as winter worthy as Bigfoot nor Oliver, but it is still capable of use in all seasons, less expensive than those other and not as heavy. If you plan on moving with the weather, the Escape will work and if you plan staying in one place, it can still work. Some owners have used their Escape as a ski cabin. Winterized and with heat, there is no where it can not be used.

 

[cpaharley2008]

and then if you want to stay in 70 degrees year around there is this https://www.tripsavvy.com/70-degree-rv-road-trip-3967947

 

[Patandlinda]

and then if you want to stay in 70 degrees year around there is this https://www.tripsavvy.com/70-degree-rv-road-trip-3967947

The problem Jim there is a world of difference full timing and just going camping experiencing cold weather and snow . Even Reace I remember said these trailers are not built for fulltiming . I know some do . I have looked at Bigfoot for a long time . I remember they used their product for the Mounties out in the snow . The poster just needs to be aware and they then can make their decision . Pat

 

[gbaglo]

I don't think any trailer is built for full timing. People do it though.

 

[Patandlinda]

I don't think any trailer is built for full timing. People do it though.

I know Glenn but the Bigfoot and Oliver are a lot better for handling full timing . Pat

 

[cpaharley2008]

I know Glenn but the Bigfoot and Oliver are a lot better for handling full timing . Pat

Why do you say this? I know of several Escape owners who full time without issues. What makes these other two more suitable for full timing, other than double hull and heavier? Full timers travel with the weather, they do not just sit in one spot. Thus the double hull and extra weight can be a detriment to full timing in moderate climate and towing to maintain that moderation.

 

[Red Dog]

Why do you say this? I know of several Escape owners who full time without issues.

Full timers travel with the weather, they do not just sit in one spot.

For us, the 21’ is the perfect size to travel in full time. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Fred M.

 

[Iowa Dave]

As the Packard slogan used to proclaim
“ Ask the man who owns one”
Happy Thanksgiving, Fred and Dora
Iowa Dave

 

[padlin]

What I've heard is a trailer for full timing needs to be heavy duty enough to withstand 24/365 use, which ETI said in the past was not the case. This has nothing to do with being 4 season, also which the Escapes are not.

Obviously folks like Fred do just fine full timing in his Escape the same as some folks do just fine using an Escape in the winter. The trailers were just not designed for such, if any cold or heavy use problems come up, it's on them.

 

[cpaharley2008]

What I've heard is a trailer for full timing needs to be heavy duty enough to withstand 24/365 use, which ETI said in the past was not the case. This has nothing to do with being 4 season, also which the Escapes are not.

Obviously folks like Fred do just fine full timing in his Escape the same as some folks do just fine using an Escape in the winter. The trailers were just not designed for such, if any cold or heavy use problems come up, it's on them.

I'm curious to know what makes a trailer heavy duty? weight? The appliances installed in your Escape is no less quality than those in an Airstream and people were living in them long before Escape's were hatched. Airstreams are routinely renovated after 20-30 years as can be your Escape.

 

[Donna D.]

Full-timing can be done in nearly any type of 'structure' including an Escape. However, ETI won't tell people it's doable because of the different comfort levels of individuals. AND IMHO a lot of that has to do with the appliances. Full-timing usually means long term and mid-level RV appliances are prone to wearing out in continual use.

I've been following two guys full-timing in 13' Scamps and a Scamp is a two-season trailer. One in the mid-west, the other in Canada. One in an RV park (with services) the other in a friend's backyard and off-grid. One with bails of hay around the bottom perimeter of the trailer and an electric heater under the trailer, the other installed a Cubic wood stove. Neither of these is my idea of full-timing because I'd prefer to be a traveler searching out warmer weather.

 

[padlin]

I'm curious to know what makes a trailer heavy duty? weight? The appliances installed in your Escape is no less quality than those in an Airstream and people were living in them long before Escape's were hatched. Airstreams are routinely renovated after 20-30 years as can be your Escape.

As I understand it, it's just durability. You've had a conventional camper, everything is light weight, nothing is built to last. Compare that to a DRV where it's exactly the opposite.

One's built for durability and long term comfort, one isn't.

 

[Iowa Dave]

Considering some less fortunate souls in my home town in Eastern iowa where temps routinely drop below zero in the winter, “full time” under bridges and interstate overpasses, obviously full timing to most means a high degree of comfort.......all the time. Can you imagine sleeping in a brush pile, along a creek in the dead of winter with only a sleeping bag and a couple of blankets? Even a rabbit can go down a hole where it’s much warmer than the surface temp. Nobody I know wants to truly “camp full time”. We are coming up on the time of year where Allied soldiers fought the Battle of the Ardennes 75 years ago. Compared to that endeavor, very few of us know discomfort, camping or otherwise.
Have a great day, throw another log on the fire, or punch a couple buttons on a thermostat and dream of warmer times.
Iowa Dave

 

[padlin]

Winter camping with the BSA when I was a kid was pretty close to what you describe except you under a set of half shelters. Of course the next day you got to drag all your wet stuff out to the car and go home.

 

[davidmurphy02]

When we bought our first trailer in 1999 we looked at a used one less than two years old. It was really, really worn inside - looked ten years old. We bought a new one, used it gently and took very good care of it and after 15 years of camping the interior still looked almost new. We took several trips of 6-7 months in it (small fifth wheel similiar to our 5.0TA) and could have easily gone longer had circumstances permitted that. A lot has to do with just taking care of things - any RV will have little glitches from time to time but if you can deal with that you can certainly full time in a small trailer.

Our first trailer was a stick and tin model, after repeated roof leaks the wood framework rotted in a number of places and it slowly fell apart. It broke our hearts to watch it being hauled off because everything inside was still in great shape. You'll never have that problem with a fiberglass trailer.