UPDATE - 19' with 3" frame (April 3 2018)

[reace]

Concerning those customers with a 19' trailer with 3" frame (2009-2014).

Regarding the recent finding of a 19' with a crack in the frame rails, we are again looking into this issue. The original upgrade was primarily designed to strengthen the welded joint on the corner of the frame.

We have now contracted a company that specializes in this field to perform a stress analysis on that particular chassis and design a solution to further strengthen the hitch/chassis. Once we have this information we will be contacting all owners effected.

If your contact information has changed since we were last in touch, please email your current information to info@escapetrailer.com

As we cannot determine when it happened or what caused this latest frame crack, please inspect your chassis in and around the front stabilizer jacks prior to travelling.

Reace

 

[thoer]

Reace, thanks for yet again being so pro-active and responsive to customers problems. This is one of the many things that makes ETI a special company to most of us!

 

[AllanEdie]

I will second that Reace, you really make an effort, and it is much appreciated. Your considerate and responsible approach to problems like this frame issue is one of the reasons I and my wife are confident and happy to be dealing with ETI.

Thanks very much also for clarifying the T1 issue on the other thread. It is very nice to know that dealing with T1 steel will not be one of the challenges we could face with our new trailer in the long term.

 

[bill&sandra]

I can't figure out how to get a reply to this, so here goes again
We own a 2011 19' Escape, bought 3rd hand. It definitely has the 3" frame with welded 'bend'. We will need the kit to do the rear. mailing address:

I will have the welding done here. Thank you for paying such close attention to your customers needs, even at second or third hand. You make a great product!
__________________

 

[Oldtimer-ESC]

Bill have you contacted ETI directly

 

[cpaharley2008]

I have sent a p/m to the op and temp deleted the personal info.....and forwarded to ETI

 

[frank_a]

Escape's attention to customers and quality are primary reasons we plan to purchase one for retirement travel. The layout of their 5.0TA is exactly what we're looking for as well, so that helps.

It won't be long (I hope).

Frank

 

[flatpick]

thanks Rease! I am happy to be an ETI customer and happy that you stand so strongly behind your product. We had to travel a few days away from the trailer and now I remember what I hate about hotels and restaurant food! Can't wait to get back to RVin'!

steve

 

[Jim Bennett]

..... and now I remember what I hate about hotels and restaurant food!

No kidding, eh! While I have enjoyed hotels to some degree at times, I always miss the amenities and convenience of what our trailers offer. I smile at the fact there are many out there that think we are suffering while roughing it.

 

[steve dunham]

Escape's attention to customers and quality are primary reasons we plan to purchase one for retirement travel. The layout of their 5.0TA is exactly what we're looking for as well, so that helps.

It won't be long (I hope).

Frank

I hope you have a long , healthy and fun retirement no matter where life leads you

 

[Moaboy]

Thanks Reace.
So refreshing to work with a company that gives a hoot and tries to do the right thing, even when it might cost them something.
One does not see that very often, especially in the rv industry.

 

[arniesea]

I have been following this thread with interest as we own a 2013 19' that we purchased "lightly used" 1 1/2 years ago. I have just completed a 3,530 mile journey and the trailer performed flawlessly. I inspected the frame when this issue first came to light 2,000 miles into my trip and have kept an eye on it since. No evidence of frame issue that I can see with my naked eye. (Note: the a-frame reinforcement plates were done by ETI on this trailer by the prior owner.)

I am grateful to be enjoying a trailer that was built with such quality by a company that truly cares about their customers after the sale. (I also appreciate the quality mods done by the prior owner. The fridge mod / fix has worked without any of the issues discussed by others on this forum. Thanks Rich!)

Thanks Reace and Tammy for all that you do for customers. I registered my new ownership with your office shortly after purchase and will follow any recommendation ETI has for this issue.

 

[hotfishtacos]

Just ...FYI

We loaded 4 6 volt batteries in the front box on our 2012 19' Escape for over 2 years and used the trailer off-road in the desert on many trips and have seen no frame cracking anywhere. Maybe we are just lucky. Since then we relocated two of the batteries to the rear bumper to reduce the tongue weight and even the load and life has been great since!

Steve

 

[rbryan4]

We loaded 4 6 volt batteries in the front box on our 2012 19' Escape for over 2 years and used the trailer off-road in the desert on many trips and have seen no frame cracking anywhere. Maybe we are just lucky. Since then we relocated two of the batteries to the rear bumper to reduce the tongue weight and even the load and life has been great since!

Steve

That's interesting Steve. Same trailer, supposedly same frame, and much more weight in an area that you'd think would stress the frame - and yet no cracks. Methinks some frames were built better than others. Either that, or there are significant variations in the structural steel.

 

[steve dunham]

That's interesting Steve. Same trailer, supposedly same frame, and much more weight in an area that you'd think would stress the frame - and yet no cracks. Methinks some frames were built better than others. Either that, or there are significant variations in the structural steel.

*** I do not know what grade , quality or where Escape buys steel for their frames . ***
I did a lot of work in chemical plants , refineries and manufacturing plants . Metals sold in the US and Canada are sourced from around the world and the quality varies greatly
We installed a 4" pipe line in a factory for transferring chemicals.
The pipe met ASTM & ANSI standards. Within 2 months the pipe had pinhole leaks all over . The wall thickness of the pipe varied from paper thin to double the standard . The metal was also full of impurities which the chemicals quickly ate away causing leaks.
The pipe was made in Korea and the purchasing agent bought it based on cost and that it supposedly met the standard.
I have also seen electrical conduit that was made of reprocessed
steel that was so hard that when bent it kinked and when subject to vibration it cracked.
It is entirely possible / probable that Escape is ordering the proper grade / quality of metal / steel for their frames but that doesn't insure that there getting what they ordered or paid for. Miscellaneous steel now days varies from extremely soft to brittle. This issue with frames seems to be hit and miss which could lead one to believe that the variable is the quality of the steel.

I know in our case , we trusted our suppliers and they didn't live up to their promises. We were in a large city and the simple answer was to change suppliers . I am not sure that Escape has that option.

 

[frank_a]

I agree with Steve. A lot of folks do not buy by price, rather than some sort of US standard so they can be assured what they're buying meets a certain spec, like ASTM A6. I would only buy steel made in the U.S. that met that kind of quality spec, and most of it (if not all) is manufactured in the U.S. You can certainly buy cheaper stuff if you're just looking for low bid.

Frank

 

[Escape Office]

I can't figure out how to get a reply to this, so here goes again
We own a 2011 19' Escape, bought 3rd hand. It definitely has the 3" frame with welded 'bend'. We will need the kit to do the rear. mailing address:

I will have the welding done here. Thank you for paying such close attention to your customers needs, even at second or third hand. You make a great product!
__________________

Hi Bill, please send an email to info@escapetrailer.com with your name, address, phone number, year of your trailer, VIN and the name of the folks you purchased your trailer from if possible. We'll ensure you are added to the list and that all our contact information is updated. Thanks in advance.

 

[bill&sandra]

We are at Bluebonnet right now, will reply as soon as back home.

 

[Yukon Escape]

With regard to the notification regarding a cracked frame.
My wife and myself have had our escape for a few years now.

I can attest to the strength of the material used for the frame under our 19’.

I have posted a few comments now on where we have been in our “Yukon Escape”.
I think I can say we have been over some of the roughest and toughest roads in the Yukon and also BC. [ Have you ever been over the trail that was once the road to Kispiox ]

Not only as I have said before,I hauled a Moose home over the Canol road.

In my opinion, the cracks in the frame, mentioned here can not be put down to the tubing used or the size of the tubing. The tubing used has a heavy wall, and is sufficient for this trailer.
I would believe the cracks are the result of the quality of the weld. And the welder.

I do not know, but would suggest the frames are not made in-house , rather jobbed out.
Unfortunately, Reece and Tammy have no way of testing the work or welds.

We carried out the fix, resulting from the callback last year, had the patch welded on as a safe guard, not because it was required.

Perhaps one thing Reece can request is an insert , to be placed inside the tubing, at he seam
And welded in with the seam. Just a thought.

Doug

 

[Brian B-P]

In my opinion, the cracks in the frame, mentioned here can not be put down to the tubing used or the size of the tubing. The tubing used has a heavy wall, and is sufficient for this trailer.
I would believe the cracks are the result of the quality of the weld. And the welder.
...
We carried out the fix, resulting from the callback last year, had the patch welded on as a safe guard, not because it was required.

Doug, I think all of that applies to the mitre joint, which was the subject of the earlier recall. A couple of incidents with failure of the frame rails rearward of that joint have raised the concern which Reace is addressing; the reinforcing plate of the recall fix does not address these failures.

Perhaps one thing Reece can request is an insert , to be placed inside the tubing, at he seam
And welded in with the seam. Just a thought.

An internal sleeve is an interesting idea, but doesn't seem practical to me for a retrofit (since the entire tongue would need to be cut off of the trailer and re-installed); for current trailers with 2"x4" frames there is no known issue to be addressed.

I'm sure Reace will have a suitable plan, once the specialist 's analysis is complete.