Brake controller installations

bikendan wrote:

Kibbis wrote:
Can I ask where you gettin that information? I have a class 2 hitch and I will double check but I believe the manual says 3500. From what I read online the tow package just includes the hitch, wiring and a sway control which I would think I could use sway control and weight distro at the hitch.

I'll call the dealer to confirm. If i do need an trans cooler, it runs about 60 bucks. We are getting a great deal on this camper and will probably upgrade the car in the next year anyway so I would hate to miss out.

Apparently I'm incorrect with the 7 pin connector, only 4 pin.
I would still verify the hitch receiver being factory.

BUT the 16rb's loaded hitch weight will exceed the Escape's max of 350lbs.
And Ford states the the max frontal area for the v-6 Escape is 30 sq ft, which any full height trailer, like the 16rb, will exceed.
I confirmed that from the 2011 Ford Escape towing guide page.

The camper says (I believe), the gvw is 2995. That gives me about 500lbs wiggle room. I won't be hauling it with full tanks, but I'm fairly new to bigger campers, so would this still exceed the towing capacity of 3500?

The dealer did say that a good weight dist. Will allow me to tow 500 extra lbs. That I'm not trusting and sticking with 3500. We have only 2 more camping trips planned this year so if we can make it for those two, we should have a new suv or truck for next year.

I'll look into the hitch weight as well.

ScottG wrote:
FYI, the "sway control" provided by Ford is not the same as sway control a hitch provides. The factory system senses catastrophic (your going to crash) and brings the vehicle to a stop. It is not for on-going sway control.

Seems like a great safety feature, but is it necessary to tow with?

To calculate frontage area, deduct the portion blocked by the Escape.

Have the dealer install the auxiliary transmission cooler and the brake controller. At least get a good controller like the Prodigy P3.

FYI, the "sway control" provided by Ford is not the same as sway control a hitch provides. The factory system senses catastrophic (your going to crash) and brings the vehicle to a stop. It is not for on-going sway control.

Kibbis wrote:
Can I ask where you gettin that information? I have a class 2 hitch and I will double check but I believe the manual says 3500. From what I read online the tow package just includes the hitch, wiring and a sway control which I would think I could use sway control and weight distro at the hitch.

I'll call the dealer to confirm. If i do need an trans cooler, it runs about 60 bucks. We are getting a great deal on this camper and will probably upgrade the car in the next year anyway so I would hate to miss out.

Apparently I'm incorrect with the 7 pin connector, only 4 pin.
I would still verify the hitch receiver being factory.

BUT the 16rb's loaded hitch weight will exceed the Escape's max of 350lbs.
And Ford states the the max frontal area for the v-6 Escape is 30 sq ft, which any full height trailer, like the 16rb, will exceed.
I confirmed that from the 2011 Ford Escape towing guide page.

Also, I will verify, but I believe the escape we have came with a transmission cooler standard.

I'll look into the frontal information you are talking about.

Can I ask where you gettin that information? I have a class 2 hitch and I will double check but I believe the manual says 3500. From what I read online the tow package just includes the hitch, wiring and a sway control which I would think I could use sway control and weight distro at the hitch.

I'll call the dealer to confirm. If i do need an trans cooler, it runs about 60 bucks. We are getting a great deal on this camper and will probably upgrade the car in the next year anyway so I would hate to miss out.

Kibbis wrote:
It's only wired with the 4 wire plug for lights. Not 7 cable. I didn't mean brake booster, I meant controller and it's a 2011 escape v6

You have a number of issues.

The biggest one is the the Escape has a towing capacity of 3500lbs ONLY if it has the factory tow package, which yours doesn't. So you can't tow that trailer.
I believe that you can only tow 2000lbs since your Escape doesn't have to the factory tow package, which would have the 7 pin connector.

Next the Escape has a frontal area limitation listed in the Escapes owners manual, which that trailer will easily exceed, by a lot.

So you have no business towing anything, other than a popup, with your Escape.

Tekonsha says you have some work to do.
No wiring for seven pin trailer connector from factory, only flat four.
No connector for brake controller.
Maybe get it converted to surge brake?