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

[HABBERDABBER]

(Except for that hood vent cover that sort of disintegrated!)

This is the brand I used and it is more robust than your existing brand.

THETFORD RV Camper Endura Oven Range Vents​

Amazon, et al have them. There may be different insert depth versions. I had to trim a bit the model I acquired.
My post on it.

Damaged fiberglass when replacing stove vent

I am in the process of replacing the stove vent because the old one had deteriorated in the sun. In the process of removing the adhesive around the vent I damaged the fiberglass (see photo). I have some questions: 1. How do I fix the damage? I have no experience working with fiberglass, but...

www.escapeforum.org

Have at it!

 

[MrLynn]

Best wishes for a quick recovery!

Thanks ML.

 

[occer]

The propane tanks in the 5.0, point to the rear and connecting and disconnecting difficult. I decided to turn them to face out.
Not a big improvement but sometime it’s the little things in life.

 

[Genebuilder]

Installed grab bars and a stool to help us “olds” get up into and enter the dry bath in an E 23 F1

 

[Thrak]

Ordered the hitch lock from Proven Industries. Paid for the upgraded core. Tired of having my rig unsecured. On our last trip we were at a campground that was sparsely filled and went to town for supplies (beer!). Just after we got back two trucks slowly cruised the campground. One was a large pickup and the other a big flatbed. Neither of them had any camping stuff visible and there was no reason at all for them to be cruising that campground. We had the feeling that our rig had possibly been scoped out while we were gone and these folks had come back for the easy snag. Up to that point my wife wasn't real sure about spending the bucks for a good lock. Right then and there she changed her mind.

 

[Genebuilder]

I know how it must feel to be threatened with theft. Unfortunately, some thieves are smarter than we think, and raising the front end of a trailer is the easiest part of the theft.
I would think disabling the ability of the four wheels to roll would be more effective.
If all else failis, LoJack or Apple Tags might help.

 

[Thrak]

Multiple deterrents is always an option. A heavy cable through both wheels on one side can work. Of course, as with any deterrent, a well prepared and determined thief will still be able to "win". One does what one can and hopes the next rig presents an easier option for thieves.

I read that cargo trailers are the most often stolen type. On a walk this morning I noted no fewer than 3 sitting parked on the road in front of houses with zero deterrents to theft. One of them was a large and quite expensive toy hauler. That's in addition to a really nice boat on a trailer with no security. It wasn't even a very long walk...

 

[Zach S]

“Installed” a magnetic cover by VanEssentials for the Maxxair. Noticed a lot of heat coming in from the opening during the summer so this might help with internal temp.

 

[Zach S]

Installed a sliding shelf for the pantry/closet.

 

[Thrak]

Hitch lock just arrived. This thing is an absolute beast! Upgraded core was $40 extra. Shipping was $15.

 

[Mike G]

I replaced the old shower curtain last week. Got rid of that stiff, ratty old thing. I bought a "Clorox" brand waterproof fabric-look shower curtain at WM, cut it in half vertically, and mounted it on the hangers. Wow, so much nicer looking, and flexible so it drapes nicely.

I got one of those VanEssentials covers for the Maxx vent last week, too. It will make a nice difference in the coming cold months.

Next week, new Shurflo water pump will go in. The old one kept losing its prime and getting worse, until finally this week it simply would not pump. Thanks to John in Santa Cruz for his recent comment about which pump he put into his 2014; I figure the same 'exact fit' is likely to apply to my 2012 19' as well.

 

[Fazer8]

After being on my list of things to do for a while, I finally insulated the fridge cabinet with Reflectix.

 

[Dave Miller]

I installed a new sail switch and replaced the entry door lock as the dead bolt didn’t like to unlock at times.

 

[iamunique127]

Today I went out to put the cover on the trailer but it is far too dirty. There is a truck wash nearby so that’s where I’ll be going in the next couple days.

I did get the trailer winterized. Blew out the lines and added antifreeze to the traps and toilet.

When I opened up that pesky full width back dinette seat to top up the water in the batteries I found the battery box had shifted badly. There were 9 short little screws holding it in place and they’d all popped out. Those dual 6V batteries are heavy and I usually leave them in but for this they had to come out. I repositioned and secured the battery box, topped up the batteries and buttoned er all back up. Good for another winter.

 

[JohnK-ESC]

Lyle, I appreciate that those 6v batteries are heavy. Mine weighed 63.5 lbs apiece to be exact. They are rated at 230 amp hours of which only 115 amp hours are realistically available. I replaced them with a 45 lb 230 amp hour LiFePO4 battery of which 200+ amp hours are readily available for use. It does not require a battery box but does need to be secured of course which is easy enough to do for a 45 lb battery not needing a battery box.

 

[Ron in BC]

I had a FLA deep cycle battery that was surplus now that I'm fully lithium. I carried it out and installed it in my boat. What a shock once you've become used to light weight lithium batteries.

Ron

 

[iamunique127]

Lyle, I appreciate that those 6v batteries are heavy. Mine weighed 63.5 lbs apiece to be exact. They are rated at 230 amp hours of which only 115 amp hours are realistically available. I replaced them with a 45 lb 230 amp hour LiFePO4 battery of which 200+ amp hours are readily available for use. It does not require a battery box but does need to be secured of course which is easy enough to do for a 45 lb battery not needing a battery box.

I didn't realize they weighed that much. No wonder I was grunting.

This is our second set of 6V batteries and the simplicity of the set-up suits us fine. We have minimal energy needs, the batteries are fully recharged every morning even on cloudy days and the system just works, I never even need to think about it. I do check the state of charge on the rudimentary ETI-provided gauge occasionally but really it's unnecessary.

Not that we ever feel lacking in charge capability but one thing I may do is upgrade to a MPPT solar controller from the GoPower controller. Just so we're getting the max capability out of the solar panel.

Maybe we're weird but we adapted to the trailer the way it was provided to us by ETI and all the systems have just become second nature. Would I chose lithium if I were to buy now? Absolutely but I don't see a need to change this trailer. That said, I do enjoy doing the odd mod. Told you I'm weird.

 

[iamunique127]

I finally picked up a tire inflator to carry for the truck and trailer.

I was initially put off by the premium price of the Milwaukee inflator but I looked at several other inflators and there was something about all of them that just seemed crappy, even ones that were approaching the price of the Milwaukee. I already have other Milwaukee tools and batteries so the choice was made easier.

I like to pump up the truck tires while towing but when we leave the trailer somewhere and go exploring the truck rides unnecessarily rough. It will be nice to be able to air down the tires and then restore tire pressure for towing.

I also decided to mount the external battery maintainer solar panel. It came in a kit with a small 8.5A solar controller. I had the kit so decided I might as well put it to use.

After a good scrubbing at the local truck wash I dried off the trailer and awning and put the cover on.

 

[Ron in BC]

I also decided to mount the external battery maintainer solar panel. It came in a kit with a small 8.5A solar controller. I had the kit so decided I might as well put it to use.

I did that for years when I kept my boat overseas. For FLA it works especially well, the difference between life and death.

That rear rack looks really familiar, PA?

Ron

 

[iamunique127]

I did that for years when I kept my boat overseas. For FLA it works especially well, the difference between life and death.

That rear rack looks really familiar, PA?

Ron

I ended up with two of the solar maintainer kits so I will use one for maintaining the starting battery in my boat. I tend to motor short distances to fishing spots and then use the trolling motor. I don’t want to kill the starting battery from frequent starts and not enough driving for the alternator to keep it charged.

Yes, I believe it’s the same rack you have. They go on sale for very reasonable prices.
I added LED brake/tail lights near the reflectors.