9 Tips for Getting Your Escapod Adventure-Ready

Summer is upon us which means it’s time to dust off the Escapod and hit the road! Before you head out for your first camping trip of the year, there are a few things you’ll want to make sure are in working order.

First up, wheels & tires.

You’ll want to run through the following three steps once a year or every 2,000 miles, whichever comes first.

1. Ensure that the lug nuts are torqued to 100 ft/lbs. To do this yourself, you’ll need a torque wrench set to 100 ft/lbs. You can pick up the same one we use in the shop right here!

2. Grease the wheel bearings. To do this yourself you’ll need an allen wrench to remove the hubcap and a grease gun. Pick these up at your local hardware or auto parts store.

3. Inspect your tires for damage, uneven wear & adequate tire pressure. If you have the Dick Cepek Trail Country EXP tires that come stock on the 2020 TOPO Series, you’ll want to inflate to 35 PSI. If not, check the sidewall of your tire for the manufacturer's recommendations.

To see these steps in action and do this maintenance yourself, watch this video on our YouTube channel. (Be sure to subscribe to stay up to date with our latest content!) Or just visit your local tire shop and they’ll take care of you.

Next, check the water system.

1. If you have a water system and you winterized it to prevent freezing water damage last fall, you’ll want to dewinterize your water system now. We wrote a step-by-step tutorial of the winterization process, complete with video, on our blog. You can follow the steps outlined at the end of the post to properly dewinterize the system before use.

2. Check for leaks! If water is seeping out from behind the brass quick-connect you may need to replace the rubber gasket. To do this, simply unscrew the brass quick-connect and remove the rubber gasket on the backside and replace it with a new one. You can order replacement rubber gaskets here.

Third, test the battery.

1. Check your battery’s health. To do this, follow these steps:

- Give your battery a full charge overnight (a few days before your trip in case you need a replacement)

- Take the battery off of the charge for at least 30 minutes and then check the voltmeter (on the driver's side USB charger inside the cabin). If it is reading 12.7 or above, then you’re good to go. If not, bring your battery to an Interstate dealer to have them run diagnostics.

Finally, check your connections.

1. Check the coupler to ensure proper fit to your hitch ball. You want to make sure it’s latching securely and that there isn’t too much play. Watch this video to learn how to do this yourself.

2. Grease the hitch ball to ensure a smooth ride. Use a thin film of wheel bearing grease to prevent wear. Doing this each time you tow, will keep things running smoothly.

3. Ensure that all your lights are in working order - run through the blinkers, running lights, and brake lights. If something isn’t working, check the connection between the trailer and vehicle for corrosion.

We hope these tips help you get your Escapod in prime condition for the camping season so you can enjoy your time outdoors!