text: 19 or 21 ft, pls provide your input - Page 4 - Escape Trailer Owners Community
  01-22-2015, 10:25 AM #31
  I prefer the window at the rear of my trailer (21) since I already know what my truck looks like on the other end. I'd rather look at the campsite than the drive bys.
  01-22-2015, 10:37 AM #32
  Can the 19 be made with a dinette at the back that can be converted to a bed (in addition to the dinette at the front)? And if so, do you lose comfort in that back bed? We don't camp in campgrounds a lot, and where we do camp, we are usually backed up to trees, with the better view out the front. Some choice sites in some places do have the best view out the back, like waterfront lots.
  Though big windows are a bonus for an eating area, I love them at the bed too. When I first wake up in the summer (when there is actually light by 5am), I love watching the world for a while,as I contemplate my heading out into it.
  You can have a dinette at the rear of the 19, with the front used as a bed. The front is a bit tight for two though, at 42", though is a full 80" long.
  A lot of the window size and location issue with us is fairly moot though, as we spend the vast majority of our time outside, not coming in until bedtime most nights, and preferring to eat and cook in the great outdoors. Others do like to cozy up inside though.
  01-22-2015, 10:53 AM #33
  I remember well the agony of trying to decide between the two models. I'm a tent camper and in all honesty still would prefer to spend more nights in a tent than in our 21'. It's just that I cannot haul a trailer behind a canoe or up a mountain when backpacking. As our family is used to small living quarters and spending most of our time out of doors when camping, we debated between the 17' with gaucho, 19' and when it became available, the 21'. Got the 21' and we love it and have no regrets.
  What's really nice about the 21'? Not having to crawl over my spouse to get out of bed. More hallway space to move about - 4 people living in a small trailer can be tight. More counter space - now that we've got it, not sure how we could live with less. The countertop on top of the set of drawers at the foot of the fixed bed - great spot for charging devices, leaving my camera bag, laptop (downloading photos/photo editing), etc. Sitting on the foot of the bed while putting on hiking boots. Bigger bed for the kids (the dining table makes for a wider bed in the 21').
  The only small dislike is the extra 4" width is a wee bit harder to see around in the rear view mirrors. A queen bed (19') would be a nice luxury too.
  It sounds like you only need space for 2 people so I don't think you could go wrong either way. If you expect to mostly cook and do dishes outside, sit outside in the evenings, explore the area during the day, then I think you'll be fine with the 19' or even smaller. If you would prefer to live in your trailer more, then I think the added space of the 21' would be most welcome.
  Our tow vehicle (VW Touareg TDI) can tow 7700 lbs and unless I look in the rear-view mirror, it's easy to forget I'm towing anything. I rarely even notice the trailer back there. Towed it a little over 4,000km last summer and that was my first towing experience.
  01-22-2015, 11:35 AM #34
  This is a really tuff choice. We have had both and both are great trailers. It really depends on your situation. How many people are with you most of the time? How long are your trips ? Do you prefer to cook in or out of the trailer? The other really big one is are you a minimalist type person or like to have lots of stuff with you.
  For us it came down to a few things. Counter space, food storage for longer trips.
  As for the difference in towing I think the 21 was actually a little better but I did get a Anderson hitch with the 21 and that may well have been the difference.
  As for tow vehicle ratings, they are just Iron and they make more of them every day, buy the trailer that makes the most sense and deal with the vehicle when you need to. I have seen so many freinds and family buy the trailer that they can tow with what they have, shortly after are disapointed with both and and up switching both. Would have been easier and much less expensive to just buy the right trailer in the first place.
  01-22-2015, 11:38 AM #35
  I agree Dave, If I was a sinlge guy I would have a 15B in a heart beat. Absoulty love that trailer for a single person on the move.
  01-22-2015, 12:15 PM #36
  What's really nice about the 21'? Not having to crawl over my spouse to get out of bed.
  01-22-2015, 12:26 PM #37
  We chose a 21 for many of the same reasons listed here -- floorplan (we prefer the dinette in the rear, storage space, no-crawling over anyone to get out of bed, etc.
  To your point about tow vehicle, we pull our 21 with a Toyota Highlander (5000 lbs towing capacity). The only passengers are the two of us, and Murphy-the-Dog. We have a bunch of stuff in the back of the highlander, and the usual sort of stuff in the trailer (folding chairs, weber grill, a couple of bicycles, cooking gear, etc etc). We transitioned from our Escape 17 (which we liked lot) to the 21, and are still amazed at how much room there is.
  While some on this forum wouldn't tow a 21 with anything less than an F250, we have been happy towing with our Highlander. We came home from Chilliwack, managing to cross the continental divide 3 times. Never on the freeway (passes are usually graded better on the freeway than on secondary roads). Never had any problems, and always had a great towing experience. We do have an Anderson Hitch, and that may contribute to our good experience.
  01-22-2015, 12:36 PM #38
  I prefer to have enough headroom to stand up comfortably inside, at 6'3" I have a more limited selection. We will be outside at all opportunities, love the outdoors. We plan to camp in spring and fall, may retreat inside depending on the weather. Still on the fence, I hope to get by the factory in a couple weeks on the way to Whistler.
  01-22-2015, 01:28 PM #39
  That is the nice thing about Escapes, they will make the trailer the way you want it. Yes, you can have a dinette in the rear that converts to a bed and a dinette in the front that converts or make the front into a permanent bed if you so choose.