Towing with Ford Escape
I have a 2013 Ford Escape 2.0L EcoBoost. According to Ford, it develops 240hp and has a tow capacity of 3500# and GCWR of 7626 lbs. What are your thoughts about using that vehicle to tow a Forest Riv...
Forum Discussion
With the Escape I would tow a trailer with a dry weight of 1500 lbs. or less. Above all else I want to have 100% certainty that if the trailer brakes malfunction in any way for any reason that I can still bring the vehicle and the trailer to a full stop in a reasonable distance.
My 1998 Chevy Tahoe could according to GM, tow 7,000 lbs. but with a 3,000 lb. trailer load it would take more than 300 feet to bring it to a full stop from 60 MPH. It was not safe and so I avoided towing with it.
Need to differentiate between the maximum tow load that will not distort the frame or overload the engine's main bearings, the cooling system, the transmission, drivetrain, axles and wheel bearings, and other key parts of the vehicle, from the load that can be safely towed on freeways and over mountainous terrain.
As was mentioned the square footage of the front of the trailer is also very important as this generates the air drag that the car's engine also has to overcome and this increases with the square of the speed and you need to factor in a 15-20 MPH headwind as well.
For a car like the Escape I would be looking at the Casita type of trailer or one of the popups that collapse to half their expanded height for travel. I have seen many of the Casita trailers being towed by small SUV's and station wagons and their owners have all been very happy with them.
My 1998 Chevy Tahoe could according to GM, tow 7,000 lbs. but with a 3,000 lb. trailer load it would take more than 300 feet to bring it to a full stop from 60 MPH. It was not safe and so I avoided towing with it.
Need to differentiate between the maximum tow load that will not distort the frame or overload the engine's main bearings, the cooling system, the transmission, drivetrain, axles and wheel bearings, and other key parts of the vehicle, from the load that can be safely towed on freeways and over mountainous terrain.
As was mentioned the square footage of the front of the trailer is also very important as this generates the air drag that the car's engine also has to overcome and this increases with the square of the speed and you need to factor in a 15-20 MPH headwind as well.
For a car like the Escape I would be looking at the Casita type of trailer or one of the popups that collapse to half their expanded height for travel. I have seen many of the Casita trailers being towed by small SUV's and station wagons and their owners have all been very happy with them.
