I am looking to downsize from an Explorer to an 2008 Escape. I tow an 18 Ft boat that with the trailer weighs in under 2500 lbs during the summer. From what I have seen on this forum and in the Escape specs is that the trailer tow package only has the hitch and 4 pin electric connection. There are no additional coolers (engine oil or transmision) added. What I am curious to find out can I just then buy a hidden hitch and put in my own 4 pin connector instead of buying the factory package? Or should I be concered about looking at an additional oil cooler or transmission cooler?
The V6 Escape has an auto transmission cooler standard. The tow package includes an engine oil cooler. Sometimes its mentioned in the literature and occassionally it isn't but I'll bet my favorite buzzbait that any Escape on the lot with the tow package has an engine oil cooler.
What model boat and motor are you going to tow? I have towed an aluminum Triton V176Mag with an Opti 90 the past 3 years with my V6 Tribute (Escape clone). I havent' weighed my rig but specs on my rig are 950 for the boat, 375 for the motor plus the trailer. I figure 2000 lbs. plus batteries, gas, Motorguide and way too many plastics puts me in around 2300 lbs.
I have a 1999 Chaparral 180. Registraition for trailer lists it at about 2000 lbs. I have always towed with an Explorer, which is rated for a larger load than this. Just want to be safe with the Escape. Everything I have is based on a 2" reciever, so it would be cheaper for me to just fit a hidden hitch then use the stock class II reciever. Next time I stop at the dealer I will look at one with the tow package to see if there is a oil cooler on it. Funny it is not listed in the literature as it is in the 2001-2007 models.
Some additional info that might interest you is that thee 2009 Escape will have a revised 3 liter V6 with 230 hp compared to today's 200 plus 6 gears instead of 4. I don't know if the torque numbers or profile will change or not but the extra gears will help keep the motor in the sweet spot when pulling a load up to speed.
I tow an 18ft camper, 2200 lbs. with a 2008 V6 4x4 Ltd. It came equipped with the tow package, all I did was add the brake controller by adding one wire to the back and then making my own 4 pin, plus 1 pin to 5 pin plug adapter, to plug into the trailer wiring. It was very simple and clean to install and works great. The Escape has enough power to tow this weight, the wind resistance on a large camper is felt when there is a strong head wind. I also changed out the tranny fluid, transfer case and rear differential oils to AMSOIL as an added precaution. Dont know if the oil is really that much better. Towing a boat should be NO problem due to the areodynamics of a boat.
I towed practically the exact same package with my Trib for 3 years without any issues, OK, except much faster brake wear. Mine had the factory tow package and the only other mod was an XCal with a towing tune (by far the best thing ever invented for these vehicles).
I have a 85 Ebbtide Dynatrac F/S with a 150 Merc that weighs 2800 pounds full.
I ended up buying an Explorer Sport Trac and the only thing different that I notice is that the tail doesn't wag the dog nearly as much.
Didn't affect it at all. Some people say they get better mileage with a good tune, but mine was strictly for towing, not horsepower.
If you talk to the tuner, you could get 2 different tunes, one for pulling and one for MPG's. I am getting exactly that for the EST. It only takes seconds to change tunes.
Join Our Site - Its free, quick and easy!
