Spree Escape or Roo? opinions?

cheap tow vehicles are everywhere. Get a dedicated one and open up for future trailer considerations.
Cheapest 1/2 ton suv, high mile 5.4 triton engines, and seating for 7: the expeditions.
1/2 ton burbs are everywhere in 5.7, 5.3, and 6.2 liter configs. All cheap!
2500 burbs and trucks are another 5 grand or more.

On the Roo Forum, I gave you a few yellow stickers. This is one from a Jayco x18B

I have owned a Rockwood, and I currently have a KZ Escape. I would put them at about the same level in quality. Both are decent.

The E20RBT at 420 lb dry hitch weight is going to be too much. Realistically expect the loaded hitch to be 100 lb to 130 lb heavier once you are ready to roll. You have to add the battery and LP to the tongue, and then start filling cabinets and adding fresh water. It really adds up. You would be better off looking at models with about a 350 lb dry hitch. Like the E18RBT, E19BH, etc. In the Roo, you would be ok with the 17, 183, or 19 (not sure which model you had in mind when you mentioned this brand). And yes, Jayco is another brand of similar quality; you might take a look at their floor plans (I have not).

leamaarie wrote:
We have a weight issue (Acadia with tow package has 5200lbs towing capacity) and a hybrid seems to be our best bet. It will be 2 adults and 3 small kids and we need the space without the weight. We are thinking about the Roo or the Spree Escape Hybrid E20RBT. We are not too familiar with either models besides looking at the Roo's and I am curious which one is better rated? Less leaks, wear and tear, better quality etc. This is our first trailer, so we are very new to all this. I have not met anyone who has had an Escape, so I don't have any second hand knowledge.

Has anyone seen these two and can give me some feedback about which one is good for now?

first, your Acadia has a 5200lbs. towing capacity IF it has the factory tow package AND only a 150lb. driver in it.
the extra adult and kids weights, along with any cargo in the car, will lower that 5200 number by their total weight.
this will also impact the Acadia's payload capacity, along with the 100lbs. WDH you'll need to pull a hybrid with.

i suggest you look at the Roo/Shamrock 183, instead of the Escape due to the its lighter hitch weight. overall the weights are close.
the Roo/Shamrock hybrids are much more popular and get much better pricing than the KZ.
check RVW and RVDirect's prices on the Roo or Shamrock.

How many people are you planning on having in the HTT? Are these your only options because that's what you've found locally?

The Roo 17 is similar to our old Aerolite 174es and we nearly bought one before we found the Aerolite. It is however even more compact and less roomy than our old HTT or the Roo 19. The Roo 17 replaces the couch with a wall of cabinets, which made Roo 17 claustrophobic. My preference would be the Roo 19. The Spree Escape is nice, but the water tanks are very small. The Roo 19 has more than double the fresh water capacity. However, that may not be a huge deal if you are going to always have full hookups.

If I were looking again for an HTT, I'd seriously consider one of the Jayco models. However, if I were limited to one of those three, I'd choose the Roo 19 simply because of the tank capacities.

I know some folks with a Traverse that tow a Jayco X213 (which is a rear slide TT)...I don't know your actual weight limits (rear axle gross weight, etc.) but that may be an option too if you travel light and don't plan on taking others with you.