lefttee
Senior Member
We picked up our 19 just under two weeks ago and feel a need to share some of our experiences with forum members. The entire crew at Escape was GREAT...answering questions...resolving problems...making sure we were happy with our new toy. It still wasn't pain free. Consider the following:
1) Stay close to Chilliwack for the first day or so. We spent our first night at the Lynden KOA about 20 miles from Sumas. I noticed a substantial amount of morning sunshine coming in around the door the next morning. One gap in the lower left hand corner was about 1/4+ inch wide and 2-3 inches long. Another gap along the side of the door was at least 4-5 inches long and 1/8 inch wide. Long story short...back to Chiiiwack...put up overnight at Cottonwood Meadows by Escape (thank you) and the entire door was replaced the next morning.
2) We purchased two plastic storage bins on wheels that fit under the bed. Walmart price in Chilliwack was $24+. Stateside price is $16. While we were having the door replaced, one of the Escape craftsman make a nifty little brace to keep the storage bins in place under the bed. Took 5 minutes and they didn't charge me (thank you).
3) We purchased two keyed alike padlocks at Walmart to secure the outside storage box. We found the hole in the hasp is too small for a standard lock. You can't return Canadian Walmart locks in American Walmarts.
4) The surge protector works. The third night out, the microwave and fridge shut down. After reading the manual, we found out the protector shuts down at 132 volts. Campground voltage was 133 volts.
5) Only the lower 1/2 of the inverter 110 volt socket supplies current when using inverter/batteries. The upper 1/2 is dead (when off line). Still not sure why this is the case. We were told this is the way it is wired. Seems to me that as long as the total draw is less than 1500 watts, it shouldn't matter how many plugs were active.
6) Store your toilet paper directly in the cubby directly under the fridge. While reorganizing things after arriving at home, I found 5 very wet rolls of TP in the cubby. After reviewing the situation with Reace, I checked out the pump mounted on the back side of the cubby under the bed. Water was (almost literally) pouring out the side of the pump when turned on. The TP had soaked up all of the water and there was no damage. New pump is in the mail and shouldn't be too hard to replace.
7) Customs at Sumas (for us) was 15-20 minutes entering Canada and 1 - 1 1/2 hours getting back into the states. The customs folks don't smile a lot...like not at all. All business. Not a time for humor or cleverness. Just "yes sir" and "no sir."
8) Gas in Sumas (USA) was about $3.79/gallon. In Chilliwack it was $1.39 per liter (think quart).
9) They don't have weeds in BC...they have blackberries. Just a short walk along the frontage road near the Best Western took us to the RR tracks and acres and acres of blackberries. They were everywhere. Many were thumb sized and wonderful on my oatmeal. Plan to pick up your trailer in August and enjoy.
10) Route 20 across northern Washington was a great drive. Colonial Creek campground was great (check out the northern 1/2 first). We also stayed at Deception Pass campground just north of Oak Harbor. Nice but noisy with many aircraft. The camp at Lake Como near Hamilton, Montana was our favorite. Seniors (over 62) can pick up a lifetime pass for $10 when you enter a National Park. It gets you 50% off in most of the federal campgrounds. We spent $5, $6, and $8 for three nights respectively. KOA was $45 and poor.
11) Towing will impact your gas budget. Our tug is an AWD Chevy Traverse rated at 5200 lbs. We didn't need an equalizer hitch. Gas mileage (normally 22-24 mpg highway) went from 13 mpg pulling up and down hills on route 20 to 17-18 mpg over one 100 mile stretch that was mostly downhill from 7000 feet to 4500 feet. I would buy another Traverse (same as GMC Acadia or Buick Enclave) in a heart beat. Just get the AWD and the towing package. Trailer is wonderful to tow after having pulled a 28 foot stickie with a diesel Suburban. You just have to feel for those folks pulling (dragging) the 45 foot 5th wheels.
12) The trailer is not big but it is big enough. The first 24 hours were interesting...finding places for our "stuff" and defining my space and her space. A little charity and patience goes a long ways.
Sorry for the long post. Too much information, I know. We have found the forum to be an invaluable tool as we planned and waited for our Escape. We recognize an Escape has many complex parts and pieces and represents several hundred man hours of skilled labor and craftsmanship. We are somewhat disappointed by the QC issues with the door and pump. Still we would not hesitate to buy another one.
1) Stay close to Chilliwack for the first day or so. We spent our first night at the Lynden KOA about 20 miles from Sumas. I noticed a substantial amount of morning sunshine coming in around the door the next morning. One gap in the lower left hand corner was about 1/4+ inch wide and 2-3 inches long. Another gap along the side of the door was at least 4-5 inches long and 1/8 inch wide. Long story short...back to Chiiiwack...put up overnight at Cottonwood Meadows by Escape (thank you) and the entire door was replaced the next morning.
2) We purchased two plastic storage bins on wheels that fit under the bed. Walmart price in Chilliwack was $24+. Stateside price is $16. While we were having the door replaced, one of the Escape craftsman make a nifty little brace to keep the storage bins in place under the bed. Took 5 minutes and they didn't charge me (thank you).
3) We purchased two keyed alike padlocks at Walmart to secure the outside storage box. We found the hole in the hasp is too small for a standard lock. You can't return Canadian Walmart locks in American Walmarts.
4) The surge protector works. The third night out, the microwave and fridge shut down. After reading the manual, we found out the protector shuts down at 132 volts. Campground voltage was 133 volts.
5) Only the lower 1/2 of the inverter 110 volt socket supplies current when using inverter/batteries. The upper 1/2 is dead (when off line). Still not sure why this is the case. We were told this is the way it is wired. Seems to me that as long as the total draw is less than 1500 watts, it shouldn't matter how many plugs were active.
6) Store your toilet paper directly in the cubby directly under the fridge. While reorganizing things after arriving at home, I found 5 very wet rolls of TP in the cubby. After reviewing the situation with Reace, I checked out the pump mounted on the back side of the cubby under the bed. Water was (almost literally) pouring out the side of the pump when turned on. The TP had soaked up all of the water and there was no damage. New pump is in the mail and shouldn't be too hard to replace.
7) Customs at Sumas (for us) was 15-20 minutes entering Canada and 1 - 1 1/2 hours getting back into the states. The customs folks don't smile a lot...like not at all. All business. Not a time for humor or cleverness. Just "yes sir" and "no sir."
8) Gas in Sumas (USA) was about $3.79/gallon. In Chilliwack it was $1.39 per liter (think quart).
9) They don't have weeds in BC...they have blackberries. Just a short walk along the frontage road near the Best Western took us to the RR tracks and acres and acres of blackberries. They were everywhere. Many were thumb sized and wonderful on my oatmeal. Plan to pick up your trailer in August and enjoy.
10) Route 20 across northern Washington was a great drive. Colonial Creek campground was great (check out the northern 1/2 first). We also stayed at Deception Pass campground just north of Oak Harbor. Nice but noisy with many aircraft. The camp at Lake Como near Hamilton, Montana was our favorite. Seniors (over 62) can pick up a lifetime pass for $10 when you enter a National Park. It gets you 50% off in most of the federal campgrounds. We spent $5, $6, and $8 for three nights respectively. KOA was $45 and poor.
11) Towing will impact your gas budget. Our tug is an AWD Chevy Traverse rated at 5200 lbs. We didn't need an equalizer hitch. Gas mileage (normally 22-24 mpg highway) went from 13 mpg pulling up and down hills on route 20 to 17-18 mpg over one 100 mile stretch that was mostly downhill from 7000 feet to 4500 feet. I would buy another Traverse (same as GMC Acadia or Buick Enclave) in a heart beat. Just get the AWD and the towing package. Trailer is wonderful to tow after having pulled a 28 foot stickie with a diesel Suburban. You just have to feel for those folks pulling (dragging) the 45 foot 5th wheels.
12) The trailer is not big but it is big enough. The first 24 hours were interesting...finding places for our "stuff" and defining my space and her space. A little charity and patience goes a long ways.
Sorry for the long post. Too much information, I know. We have found the forum to be an invaluable tool as we planned and waited for our Escape. We recognize an Escape has many complex parts and pieces and represents several hundred man hours of skilled labor and craftsmanship. We are somewhat disappointed by the QC issues with the door and pump. Still we would not hesitate to buy another one.
