Ford escape towing capability

Was your DH was a truck driver? I towed jet skis with a wrangler and had to use the transmission to brake. slam the brakes and you would end up sliding across an intersection. That was long ago before the bloated fwd wagon craze started.

We towed our Jayco X17Z with our 2011 V6 Escape. It wasn't a pleasant experience and we only did it a few times, usually no further than about 70 miles.
The Escape had a tough time, especially on hills and in windy conditions - and DH (a truckie for 40-yrs) was exhausted after each trip keeping the beasts tamed.

The 2010 Escape requires the V6 engine and the optional HD-Class 3 towing package to boost the towing capacity from 2000 to 3500 pounds -- with only the driver on board. If there's a factory tow receiver and 4-pole "boat trailer" electrical plug on the back the package is fitted. I looked at an Escape to pull a popup but decided it lacked the capacity even for that.

-- Chuck

Question everything at the start is a good thing.
I doubt an escape can handle some of the offroad boat ramps i use to launch a jon boat. the towing package is good for......a bike rack.

Thanks for the replies. I thought it was at the limit.
Thanks again

bikendan wrote:

the Escape is good for towing small boats and popups/A-frames or something like the fiberglass "egg" trailers.
but not for a traditional flat-front travel trailer. the air resistance will stress the Escape's drivetrain. that's why Ford puts in a frontal area limitation.

Times two- except for the assertion that fiberglass trailers are any more suitable than stick-built standy-uppies of the same size. Those rounded edges make too little difference aerodynamically to overcome their far-beyond-spec frontal area.

someone posted a similar question on another hybrid forum.

first, the biggest issue is that a full height trailer's frontal area will exceed Ford's specs for the Escape:
http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/10FLMrvESCAPREsep09.pdf

second, with only a hitch capacity of 300lbs., the Starcraft will almost certainly exceed that when loaded. the 18RB's "dry" hitch weight is 284lbs. now add the 40lbs. for battery and 40lbs. for propane and you are over the the 300lbs. hitch limit for the Escape.
here's the brochure with specs for '07 18RB:
http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/10FLMrvESCAPREsep09.pdf

third, ONLY if the Escape has the 3.0 v-6 AND the factory tow package, can it tow 3500lbs.
and that's rated with only a 150lb. driver in it. any additional cargo, the WDH or passengers, lowers that 3500 number.

and not sure if pulling a 20' HTT with a CUV is a good idea. maybe if it was 17' but don't think that long of a trailer is a good idea, even with a very good WDH with integrated sway control.

lastly, the Escape's payload capacity will be the final limiting factor.

the Escape is good for towing small boats and popups/A-frames or something like the fiberglass "egg" trailers.
but not for a traditional flat-front travel trailer. the air resistance will stress the Escape's drivetrain. that's why Ford puts in a frontal area limitation.

Tows up to 3,500 lbs. when properly equipped (don't know if you're properly equipped)

Source


Looks like the trailer will weigh around 2,800# empty so when loaded you'd be pushing 3,300-3,500#. Once you put people and gear in you vehicle probably won't have much capacity left for the hitch weight.

Without specifics that's a guess. Look at the drivers door frame for a sticker which will tell you the GVWR of your vehicle, then weight it with family and fuel loaded. What's left is for the trailers hitch. Hitch weight is 10-15% of trailer so a 3,000# trailer is around 450#.

Check your owners manual for maximum frontal area, maximum tongue weight, and use of a weight distribution hitch. I think those factors will determine if you can or cannot.

V6? I dought it, but check your owners manuel