Forum

You must be logged in to post Login

Search Forums:


 






New Escape owner

No Status Selected
No Tags
UserPost

1:09 pm
April 16, 2012


BobB

Petoskey, Michigan

Member

posts 16

Just retired and purchased a 2012 Escape E19SB.  Have only pulled it back from the dealer in Grand Rapids MI to Petoskey MI (4 plus hour drive).  TV is 2009 GMC Sierra 1500, 4×4, 5.3 engine, tow package, 3.73 axle.  Dash readout said 13.7 to 14.1 MPG when on Interstate at 60mph.  It nose dived, of course, when I hit hills on two lane highway nearer to home.  Plan on full-timing when my lease on apartment is up end of July.  Until then, I need to learn everything about this trailer (I've never had a fully self-contained one before), get rid of my furniture (my daughters seem to have already divided it up between them), and decide what to take.  I lived for six months on the road in a Scamp 13 after a divorce, so I know how to pack light.  

2012 Spree Escape E19SB, 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab, 4×4, 5.3 engine, tow package, 3.73 axle, no wdh or sway control (truck weighs a lot more than trailer and I drive slowly).

3:45 pm
April 16, 2012


DECON BLUE

Member

posts 93

Have fun full timing.  I have been a full time RVer for 17 years now, I down sized a year ago from my 33 foot coach to my 2011 14RB.  Much easier to cool in the summer and all around cheaper to maintain and live in.  Just got to get used to living with just what you really need, no rat packing.  Enjoy and be safe, DeconCool

7:51 am
April 17, 2012


sandersmr

Texas

Member

posts 338

I love the area you are in – in fact we are going to have our family reunion in the Petoskey area next year so I may be heading up that way this summer to scout out some stuff to do.

Congrats on the 19SB.  That seems to be a good floor plan.

2010 16BH towed by 2002 F-150 Super Crew 4.6L V8

9:48 am
April 17, 2012


BobB

Petoskey, Michigan

Member

posts 16

Sandersmr: Petoskey is all about tourism.  It is somewhat highend for campers, however.  Many, many, expensive golf courses, ski slopes, and yacht marinas.  Not my cup of tea.  Best traditional camping is 30 miles inland at Elkwood Campground 7 miles east of Wolverine in Pigeon River State forest (good rates and slightly remote, but no natural water on site).  Petoskey State park on bay is extremely popular between Petoskey and Harbor Springs (very large beach, make reservations well ahead.  Service manager from Grand Rapids dealer where I bought my trailer said he spends two weeks every year camping at this park.).  Magnus city park for rv's in Petoskey on bay (small).  KOA not on bay (typical KOA).

Two easy points of interest: waterfront with public marina is the jewel of the city and new Bear River walk is on opposite side of street.  River walk is developed path on two sides of small but rapid and interesting river (pedestrian bridges cross river with sellected, viewing overlooks).

Petoskey itself has a specialized, large, tourist shopping district called the Gaslight District which connects with the waterfront by a wide, under road, pedestrian tunnel (no, its not dark and scary).

Other point of interest is 35 miles north: Machinac Island.  No motor vehicles permitted.  Its where the movie "Somewhere in Time" with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was filmed.  It's all about tourists also with horse carriage tours and bicycle rentals for ride around island.

Well, enough local boosterism.  My kids all said in their teens that they never wanted to live anywhere else.  Not the usual response from teens ("I want to get out of this stupid town!" is more usual).  Of course, that changed for two of them when events overtook youthful ideas.


2012 Spree Escape E19SB, 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab, 4×4, 5.3 engine, tow package, 3.73 axle, no wdh or sway control (truck weighs a lot more than trailer and I drive slowly).

6:25 pm
April 19, 2012


wanthony

CT

Member

posts 9

We have a 2012 Spree Escape 19SB purchased last year. Pull with a 2010 Toyota 4Runner 6 cyc equiped with a Reese WD and sway control. Have taken it from CT to FL twice and have 7500 mi on it. Heading to CA this summer and will add another 9000. Get 13.5 to 14.5 depending on the terrain. Have a tow bar extension which allows two bikes between the vehicle and trailer plus the overhang  of two 18' sea kayaks. Anti sway is a plus. All components work fine. KZ just sent me a new dinette table as the original was badly warped. We don't use the shower. Made a closet out of it. Steps are little flimsy. Bought a step platform at Harbor Freight and cut 3″ off the legs. Much easier getting in and out. AC can condinsate can leak a little. Best if the trailer is tilted slightly to the AC side. Have fun.

6:35 pm
April 20, 2012


BobB

Petoskey, Michigan

Member

posts 16

WAnthony: You haven't used the shower, because campgrounds have showers with lots of hot water which you don't have to empty later.  I'm wondering about not fully using the toilet.  When I was full timing, I didn't have a self-contained trailer.  So, I got used to using campground facilities.  However, I may actually use the shower despite the extra hassle of short showers and storing the run off.  I got athelete's foot twice from getting tired of wearing flip flops in campground showers and trusting that they actually cleaned the shower floors with something that was antiseptic.  They didn't.  Just a quick mopping from a bucket filled with dirty water and a little something that smelled like pine scent.  So, I'm thinking I may use my trailer's shower.

The toilet is a little different.  The idea of carrying around a load of black tank waist,  and looking down the toilet to see how high it's getting, detracts from my enjoyment of the trailer.  I had formerly reduced many trips to the bathhouse toilets by using plastic bottles for urine and dumping later (I had two small ones which fit inside a soft, thermal lunch bag/box that a bank gave me for starting an account long ago.  That way, no one had to be offending by seeing me carry urine in a bottle to the public toilets.).  I think I may use the same system and save myself the whole chemical treatment and dump ritual/hassle.  There is only one of me now, so that is more workable than trying to enforce such a system on a better half who doesn't have to empty the mess anyway, who is not as sympathetic towards not using the toilet you just paid for in other words.  I understand why couples use the black water system without a thought to the alternative of using campground toilets.  Although, I've read on the RV Net forum for full timers that many use the provided facilities as much as possible, actually always.

You've noticed from my original post that I am somewhat over tow vehicled for a 19sb.  I purposely bought the truck I now have with the idea that in the future I'd be getting a bigger trailer (I've never owned a pickup before.  I towed the Scamp 13 with a Chevy Tracker 4 cyclinder, and it was very marginal, although I  consistently got 18+ mpg on the highway at 63 mph.).  The GMC Sierra was purchased when GM was in bankruptcy.  I bought it off a lot in Petoskey.  The dealer was giving $4,000 off the sticker price with out me even asking to move the pickups which people had stopped buying.  GM was giving $3,500 off in addition to sell their backlog of pickups.  I have a GM credit card and had built up $2,500 in credits toward buying a new GM vehicle.  That all adds up to $10,000.  That's what I got off the sticker price.  Now, GM won't let you use all the saved up credits on a single purchase.  I bought when the stars aligned and the heavens were blessing me.

I was origanally thinking that I would buy a fiberglass egg type trailer (a bigger version of the Scamp) due to their better gas mileage and resistence to deterioration from water damage.  However, their prices are far more than the utility of their size, durability, or floorplan merit.  My finances weren't without considerable constraint when I bought the 19sb a week ago, being newly retired.  I  got a very good deal on it, and it better suites my plans.  Besides, the crowned aluminum roof and aluminum wall framing go a long way to alleviating my fears about water damage.  (I have a history of both my houses and cars suffering repeated water damage.  On cars, we call that premature rust.  It's really bizarre.)  I had done a lot of research (actually, years of research) and noted that KZ owners in general speak highly of their trailers.

So, now, I've got a tow vehicle that is completely adequate for its burden and a trailer that is so much more than what I had (have, its till in the process of being sold).  I'm well pleased.  (Yes, this is a long post, but reading posts from others who have KZ classics and Escapes is what this site is about.)

2012 Spree Escape E19SB, 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab, 4×4, 5.3 engine, tow package, 3.73 axle, no wdh or sway control (truck weighs a lot more than trailer and I drive slowly).

7:40 am
April 22, 2012


wanthony

CT

Member

posts 9

I am too big for the shower even tho it is a large shower by many standards. I have no problem with cg showers. Flip-flops are an annoyance. I wear crocs.

The 15 gal black water tank is fine for nightime use for a 5-6 night stay. When in FL, we stay up to two weeks at some locations and they don't always have full hookups. There I may use a tote cart pullable by the car if I can find a place to store it intransit.

One other item we discovered. If you elect to add to the dinnette seat  cushions you must reduce the back cushions by the same amount or they will interfere with the pushout window latch and the windows won't stay open. Also the awning rafter slide bar may have a weak rivet pin on the slide piece. Mine broke off. Not an immediate problem unless you have the awning pole(s) in the carport position.

No Tags