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Post edited 3:14 pm – June 11, 2012 by jdrphs

Hello everyone.  I have been skimming through this forum for months.  My wife and I are looking at classics and escapes to purchase in the Spring.  I just poured a large cement pad this Spring to get ready for the investment.  I am struggling bad with what to get.

I have a 2006 Chevy Colorado Z71 i5 4×4.  The max towing is rated at 4k lbs, which GM later admitted was extremely modest.  I am going to add a tranny cooler, brake controller etc.  We have looked at the 16bh, 19bh, 16rbt and the 18rbt.  I have decided that I want to stay with 4 hard walls, so its down to the 16bh or the 19bh.  Not sure if we will go classic or escape, but I like the look of the escape a little better.

Wife really wants the 19bh, and I like the extra space.  I am a little nervous about it due to the fact that I only tow a 16ft Lund fishing boat at this time.  The 16bh, in my mind, is enough to do a few weekends a summer, and the occasional week, and looks way less intimidating to tow.  The difference in length is 3ft, about 300-400lbs, same width and frontal area.  Price difference is really not an issue, I am good with both.  Can you all help me with your towing experiences with these two models.  If I wasn't being a baby, I think I would rather have the 19.  The 16 just seems so much easier to reverse, park, pull, move around in gas stations etc.  Thanks for your help.  Forgot, we have 2 small kids also.

I'd go with the 19BH.  You won't regret having the extra space to move around a bit, and I like the idea of the beds being all ready to go and having the dinette useable at the same time.  There are people here towing 19's with Dodge Caravans and saying nothing but good things, so I'd be confident that the Colorado would be fine with the right hitch setup.  In my experience I've found that short trailers are twitchy and longer trailers are actually easier to back up because they respond slower to steering inputs and you can actually see the back end of them sooner when steering them into a spot. 

Mike M.

Post edited 5:03 pm – June 12, 2012 by BobB

Mike M and wanthony have given good advice about backing and gas stations.  I completely agree that you'll be glad for the extra 3 feet with four to house at night and in the rain.  I also agree with you're thought about the u-dinette.  The first thing that hit me when I read your post was that a two person dinette wouldn't work well.  Mom wants to be with her kids.  I haven't done the miles that the other two have, but my experience pulling a 19sb is the same: not a big deal.  The narrow width is really a help for towing ease.

Personally, I'd worry about bottoming out with the dump valves behind the axle on the 19bh.  If you pull your driver's side trailer wheel over a curb by accident, when turning out of a gas station for instance, the coach drops down with a thud.  The valves are right behind the wheel, which is right where the curb you just went over is now.  Oh course, you can decide to never make left handed turns around curbs, I suppose.  Or, be very careful.  The 19sb has the valves ahead of the axle, but its floorplan doesn't work well for more than two.

I notice that you are from Michigan also.  I bought from Vuerinks in Grand Rapids, despite them being 200 miles from where I live.  Have had dealings with their service department.  Very impressed with their service manager, Mike.  A good place to look all around, I'd say.  (My salesman was trustworthy and frank.  He said with a laugh that he wished he could have sold me a diesel pusher.)

Wow, Veurinks must be popular. Only 40 minutes from me.   I have a small dealer in Muskegon here where I live, but he doesn;t have much on his lot.  He seems to be nice.  the wife and I have already walked Veurinks twice, and last time were able to sit in all the models without being bothered.  Since I am not buying till Spring, I don;t want to waste someones time just yet.  I always shop for a year before I buy anything.  Glad I have.  First one we fond was the 16rbt.  Decided I don't like the noise of the hybrid among other things.Our last "date night" we went to both dealers right there on Division.  They had 4 19bh, but none with the u shaped.  I understand the bed table prob, but I cannot believe it isn't more popular an option. I really think I would get the escape 19bh with u shape, thats what I think I would buy today if I were ready.  Just poured 2200 bux in concrete to have a nice wider drive and parking 22ft past the garage so whatever I get will be able to be nest to the house, not in the front.  Who was the salesman you had?

Across the street from Veurinks they had the Jayco Swift SLX 154bh and 184bh parked right next to eachother. Like comparing the 16bh and 19bh.  We were able to sneak back to them and sit in both without being bothered there either.  I must say those are nice options also.  I liked the suade clothe on the cushions, but did not like the one piece counter top that the tv would have to sit on.  I also noticed a huge difference in the pleated shades in the Jayco.  Can the KZ's be easily swapped to these?  I know the jacks weren't down on the ones we looked at, but the metal shades were annoying in the KZ's.  I still go back to the u shaped dinette everytime though.  I could see us cross shopping them both when the time comes. 

All of your input is greatly appreciated guys.  I can't wait to announce the day I finally bring one home.  I grew up camping, and never thought I would get my own someday.  We are also waiting another year so that my daughter will be a little over 2, much easier a year from now.  My son is 6, and cannot wait.  We are going to set the tent up in the back yard Saturday and camp out, can't wait.  Keep the info coming!!

Exactly the kind of information I am looking to gather.  Appreciate you sharing with me.  I was aware of the wheels, but have been seeing some escapes advertised with the "not as pretty" 13's as well?  I like the idea of the better isulation since I have gone away from hybrids due to the noise.  I hate having to wake up with the campground so to speak.  I like to sit around the fire late, have a few beers etc.  Always hated the tent thing in the morning sun too.  Nothing worse than waking up feeling dirty, a little hung over, in a greenhouse.  Thanks for the help.  Anyone else got anything on these two compared.  Its really going to be down to the swift and the escape i believe.

Jeff

Thanks for the input jsclayton.  I actually enjoyed your "rambling" as you put it.  I am wondering if that kit would work for the 16 and 19bh, do they have the same axle.  I didn't realize it could be done so cheap.  I cannot weld, but I am guessing it will be strong enough without?  I would love for you to send me a picture of yours lifted to see the difference.  Anyone else have any insight on this mod??  I really don;t like how low they sit, but don't want to add any unnecessary wind resistance either, but would like the added clearance.  Thanks again!

Post edited 4:34 am – June 20, 2012 by jdrphs

So nice to hear someone pulling on ewith a minivan with no issues.  Curious about your setup.  Any weight distribution, sway control?  Brake controller I imagine…which one?  I am not worried about gas mileage really, the Colorado is aweful already for its size, so  expect like 10mpg when towing.  even my little boat kills that.  Have you mounted a TV yet, or just put one on the counter space designated for it?  How about mirrors, did you get some clip on deals or are the stock mirrors enough with the 84″ width?  I so much appreciate all of your input.  I absolutely cannot wait until Spring or late Winter when shopping gets serious, and I can finally have one parked outside.  Another question for all.  If I put an outdoor 110v outlet on the side of my garage, will it be enough to run the AC and maybe a few lights if my Son and I want to "camp out".  I am really thinking that we will be doing this a lot once we get it, and I have an outlet on the other side of the wall which would make it easy to cut in and install an outside outlet for the trailer for power when at home.  the circuit I am speaking of is standard 110v 20A, and has very little else on it but a bunch of unused outlets.  Just another step in my planning.  Sorry bout all the questions, but I guess thats what a forum is all about

jdrphs,

sorry it has taken me soooo long to get back about the axle flip.  Work and vaca have had me away from the internet for awhile.  Not sure what axel is on the 19bh, but sportsmen does use Dexter axles and Dexter makes 2 conversion kits one for the 2 3/8 inch axle on the 16bh and a 3 inch axle kit (my best guess is that the 19bh has the 3inch axle due to the increased weight of the trailer and cargo capacity).  The kit instructutions say you don't "have" to weld, but it is reccomended that you do.  To have the conversion done at a trailer shop would probably run in the neighborhood of $150 to $250.  I don't currently have a picture of the conversion, but I will try to get one and post it in a couple of days.  There was a web site that had very good step-by-step photos of the process on a pop-up, but it appears to be gone now.  If I find it again, I will post the link.

The added clearance was a must for me.  Where I park my rv, through a gate in my back yard, I had to back the trailer up over a curb.  Without the conversion, I would not have been able to clear the dump valves.

As for added wind resistance, I can't really comment on that.  I didn't do any pulling before the axle conversion except from the dealer to the shop.  The only thing I can say is that it pulls great with the conversion.  I don't use a weight distribuiton hitch or sway bars, and I have pulled in some very strong West Texas winds (30 to 40 mph sustained cross winds ) with no problems.