To build on hmknightnc's and other's answers a little - he's right that it may tow a properly loaded flat trailer, but your future TT is going to have a lot of wind resistance trying to pull that large flat front end through the wind. That's going to make your fuel economy go down because it isn't going to be working in the higher gears and this is also why you'll need a larger or additional transmission cooler. Just plain weight is one thing, all of the wind resistance is another whole subject. If the tranny goes, it's probably $3 - 4K to get it rebuilt.
I also own an Escape which came with a factory receiver on it, but it was the dinky 1-1/4" receiver. It was sort of like they wanted to be able to say that it could pull a trailer, but don't pull anything of any size. One of my pickup trucks broke down one time and we pulled it home about 12 miles with the Escape. Granted the PU weighed about 6,000# which is more than your 3,500# rateing, but the transmission on the Escape was deffinately hot and we only did 35 MPH on flat rural roads.
I would also question the ability of the Escape being able to control a 3,500# trailer in a panic stop or a TT in stiff side winds. If I had 3,500#s behind my Escape, I'd always be nervouse when driving it. I'd go for something larger.
Bill
