What did you do for your Escape today.....

My Escape got a new shed. Several years ago I put up a plastic shed and the wind ripped the roof off pretty quickly, and by the time the company sent me the right parts I'd lost the first ones they sent, so never really repaired it. So I finally had a real wooden shed built. Why is it my Escape's shed? The Escape fits neatly in the single car garage, but there isn't room for the stuff I normally carry in the truckbed- chairs, dog fencing, and various other things. So they live in the shed which makes for easy packing when it. is time to go somewhere. (Now I am working on reassembling the old shed in back where the wind rarely hits but naturally I can't find the bolts I took out when I took it apart. Or one of the new hinges but hoping I can get by with bending the less damaged old one back into shape.)
The ultimate Escape cover!
 
The ultimate Escape cover!
Well, the garage is the Escape cover! The shed is for the stuff that doesn't fit in the garage once the Escape is there.
 

Attachments

  • 17b in garage.jpeg
    17b in garage.jpeg
    145 KB · Views: 29
Battery maintenance
Hope everyone has had a good camping season. We ended ours camping with some friends on the Mississippi in SW Wisconsin. Lots of big bluegills ready to filet. Fall color in a Pin Oak we planted in the front yard in honor of Rita’s mom when she passed.
Iowa Dave

That is a nice mess of Bluegills.
 
A simple but overdue magazine rack for beside my dinette seat.

Because I'm a compiler of resource materials, or a keeper of junk, I had a couple of pieces of old table that didn't look all that good. A quick skim through the thickness planer improved their looks.

Wow, for folks that difficulty uploading photos previously this will be a huge improvement.

Ron
That shelf is almost exactly what my wife wants for the same location in our 5.0TA. I have two questions:
-what kind of wood is it that matches so nicely?
-is the wall reinforced on the inside? I have been reluctant to mount anything to that wall because ours is only the 1/8" plywood with a space in between the two sides. I'm afraid any screws will possibly pull out after a bit of vibration on the road.
 
That shelf is almost exactly what my wife wants for the same location in our 5.0TA. I have two questions:
-what kind of wood is it that matches so nicely?
-is the wall reinforced on the inside? I have been reluctant to mount anything to that wall because ours is only the 1/8" plywood with a space in between the two sides. I'm afraid any screws will possibly pull out after a bit of vibration on the road.
It's red oak with a water base Varathane finish. Yes, it matches very nicely. This photo of some over the bed cubbies shows how well red oak with a varathane finish matches the nearby existing wood.

There's lot's of places where there's underlying framing but this isn't one of them. I used sharp sheet metal type screws, no pilot hole, and very carefully snug them up. I've done this before without any problem. Worst case, insert a plastic drywall anchor if ever needed.

Ron
 

Attachments

  • IMGP0006.JPG
    IMGP0006.JPG
    113.4 KB · Views: 38
  • Like
Reactions: SRS
Stove Vent exterior cover replacement

I inherited a functional but wonky vent as the flapper hinge pins were broken off. I replaced it with a sleeker Thetford unit for $30.


Escape uses a tough caulk/sealant, and lots of it, so removal of the old one was a chore. A Dremel with an abrasive wheel was used to cut through a portion and pliers used to pull off sections of the old vent cover.


The new vent had to be cut down 1" as it was too tall to fit flush to the body. A table saw did this work. An +1/8th inch of the opening was removed as the new vent was just a bit larger in height.


I think Escape is currently using this newer vent style.



I was impressed with the thickness of the fiberglass in this area. It needs to be load supporting, and is a bit over 5mm (.200") thick, and a .030" gel coat thickness, both substantial layers.


Old screw holes did not match at all, so new ones were drilled. Butyl tape was used for sealing the vent cover to the trailer body. All is well again.



A shroud cover snaps in place over the vent for a sleek, rounded appearance. The vent can be snapped closed for travel or when in storage.
I bought a new vent cover as well and am glad I found this thread prior to tackling the project- thanks!
 
It's red oak with a water base Varathane finish. Yes, it matches very nicely. This photo of some over the bed cubbies shows how well red oak with a varathane finish matches the nearby existing wood.

There's lot's of places where there's underlying framing but this isn't one of them. I used sharp sheet metal type screws, no pilot hole, and very carefully snug them up. I've done this before without any problem. Worst case, insert a plastic drywall anchor if ever needed.

Ron
Ron - Which color Varathane did you use?

thanks
 
This is what I use. On red oak it will give a finish that appears identical to the original finish. There are some variations already in the trailer as the vinyl embossed plywood, the solid stock on the doors and the door panels all have slight variations.

Ron
 

Attachments

  • IMGP0010.JPG
    IMGP0010.JPG
    140.7 KB · Views: 16
Winterized my Escape yesterday! Drained the water heater, blew out the lines with the air compressor, and added some RV antifreeze to the p-traps. Had only a half gallon, which I distributed amongst the three p-traps. Was that enough?
 
Winterized my Escape yesterday! Drained the water heater, blew out the lines with the air compressor, and added some RV antifreeze to the p-traps. Had only a half gallon, which I distributed amongst the three p-traps. Was that enough?
You did good.
 
Winterized my Escape yesterday! Drained the water heater, blew out the lines with the air compressor, and added some RV antifreeze to the p-traps. Had only a half gallon, which I distributed amongst the three p-traps. Was that enough?
I noticed in your profile picture that you had found a portable tent garage that the escape fits into. I be interested if you had any info on it? I been looking some but most I find are not tall enough.
 
I noticed in your profile picture that you had found a portable tent garage that the escape fits into. I be interested if you had any info on it? I been looking some but most I find are not tall enough.
It's the Advance Outdoor Heavy-Duty 10x20 Carport. We got ours from Walmart, but it's available at Amazon, too, for less than we paid:


They are available with sides for more $$. The posts should be fastened down; my son bolted his to concrete blocks. I used metal fenceposts and tied the carport poles to them with 2x4 blocks and U-bolts. Our cover was fraying after four years, so we bought a new one from Advance (which took some finding).

We originally bought the canopy for our Casita 17; it's a little short for the E21C, but not too much. The height extends to 11' at the center. Has survived snow and wind fine; keeps the leaves and tree junk off the trailer, which is a boon.
 
Has survived snow and wind fine; keeps the leaves and tree junk off the trailer, which is a boon.
Tell that to my local building department. Not allowed here because they don't meet the snow load requirements. Otherwise I'd have one too.

Ron
 
When we moved to East Idaho, one of the homes we looked at had the skeletal structure of one of those shelters. The owner told us he was planning on putting a new cover on. He also said that he went through a cover a year. That doesn’t seem cost effective to me but maybe those were cheap covers.
 
It's the Advance Outdoor Heavy-Duty 10x20 Carport. We got ours from Walmart, but it's available at Amazon, too, for less than we paid:


They are available with sides for more $$. The posts should be fastened down; my son bolted his to concrete blocks. I used metal fenceposts and tied the carport poles to them with 2x4 blocks and U-bolts. Our cover was fraying after four years, so we bought a new one from Advance (which took some finding).

We originally bought the canopy for our Casita 17; it's a little short for the E21C, but not too much. The height extends to 11' at the center. Has survived snow and wind fine; keeps the leaves and tree junk off the trailer, which is a boon.
Thanks that might be just what I am looking for. I will have to check into snow load. I guess if I home i can just keep the snow off.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20210203_074247.jpg
    IMG_20210203_074247.jpg
    101.6 KB · Views: 12

Try RV LIFE Pro Free for 7 Days

  • New Ad-Free experience on this RV LIFE Community.
  • Plan the best RV Safe travel with RV LIFE Trip Wizard.
  • Navigate with our RV Safe GPS mobile app.
  • and much more...
Try RV LIFE Pro Today
Back
Top Bottom