4WD Escape
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4WD Escape
I need a bit of input from someone that has a bit of experience. I have ordered a 2001 Escape, XLT, 4 WD. Is the 4 WD system on the Escape dependable??? This is a new system that Ford has never used before and I just wonder how well these systems will hold up. I understand that Ford does not recommend off-roading with the Escape. I simply want it to be able to pull my small boat out of the launceh. I test drove a 2 WD with the V6, runs pretty good. Help, it should be here in about a week and I am not even sure if I want it.
Thanks
Danny
Thanks
Danny
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4WD Escape
The only complaint I've heard from the magazine reviews is the low clearance. Other than that they loved it. I think its too new to get a good indication of reliability.
Ken Payne
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Ken Payne
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4WD Escape
My Escape is a 2WD so I have no personal experience with it, but from all the reviews I have read, 4WD is supposed to be great for on-road traction. It should be perfect for you as long as your boat isn't too big. 
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4WD Escape
In regards to your question about the Escape 4wd capabilities:
I have a 2001 4wd Escape and a 1962 F100. I do a lot of goose hunting in the soft mud rice flats(which get flooded with water and have 2 feet of soft,gumbo mud) down here in Katy, Texas outside of Houston. The Escape 4wd has been very good in some downright NASTY mud flats during the last 6-8 hunts I've done in the last 30 days or so. The Escape's 4wd is a dual type system....it's either 4wd full time(via the ****) or it is 2wd with the system going into 4wd when a sensor indicates traction is slipping. This is a great idea for people who want the economy and traction only when needed who live in wet climates. In my opinion, I'd turn it onto 4wd when I pull that boat and keep it on until I unhitch it into the garage. Don't let the lack of a low torque transfer case bother you...it's for the HARD CORE 4wd guys who want to transverse deserts and ridiculous terrains. By the way, I hope you got the Vortec V6 200 HP motor($1500 extra) for the needed pulling torque. Also, I'm assuming your boat isn't a 20 foot huge seagoing vessel. But all in all, I'm enjoying 20 MPG while driving in Houston's crowded morning traffic and still getting the benefit of 4wd on the 2 foot flooded rice marshes on weekends. What a deal!!!!
Katydude
I have a 2001 4wd Escape and a 1962 F100. I do a lot of goose hunting in the soft mud rice flats(which get flooded with water and have 2 feet of soft,gumbo mud) down here in Katy, Texas outside of Houston. The Escape 4wd has been very good in some downright NASTY mud flats during the last 6-8 hunts I've done in the last 30 days or so. The Escape's 4wd is a dual type system....it's either 4wd full time(via the ****) or it is 2wd with the system going into 4wd when a sensor indicates traction is slipping. This is a great idea for people who want the economy and traction only when needed who live in wet climates. In my opinion, I'd turn it onto 4wd when I pull that boat and keep it on until I unhitch it into the garage. Don't let the lack of a low torque transfer case bother you...it's for the HARD CORE 4wd guys who want to transverse deserts and ridiculous terrains. By the way, I hope you got the Vortec V6 200 HP motor($1500 extra) for the needed pulling torque. Also, I'm assuming your boat isn't a 20 foot huge seagoing vessel. But all in all, I'm enjoying 20 MPG while driving in Houston's crowded morning traffic and still getting the benefit of 4wd on the 2 foot flooded rice marshes on weekends. What a deal!!!!
Katydude
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4WD Escape
Katydude: I am in Lake Charles and know of what you speak when you say "Gumbo Mud". With a last name of Thibodeaux, I know gumbo. Give me a call, I would like to talk to you about your Escape. I am the Performance Chip Tech for this site. Call Danny at 1-877-399-6417. Yes I did order the V6 and my boat is only about 1500-2500 pounds. I have seen so many front wheel drive vehicles spinning at the launches here that it made me a bit leery.
Thanks for the input!!!
Danny
Thanks for the input!!!
Danny
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4WD Escape
Take a look at the Car and Driver website for the road test and review of the 2001 Escape for the full details of how the 4WD system works. But the short version is this: The system transfers power to the rear wheels only when there is front wheel slippage detected. Even with the 4WD system in the 'ON' position, ONLY the front wheels are driven until slippage is detected. The difference being, in the 'ON' position the system 4WD kicks in immediately instead of ramping up. This would still work in your favor at the boat dock, since the rear wheels would kick in as soon as the fronts begin to slip. But by no means will your Escape be a fulltime 4x4. But, that isn't why you bought it in the first place!
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