Towing with an Escape

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 4, 2005 | 07:06 PM

mack63

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 53

Likes: 0

Towing with an Escape

Hello everyone,
I am thinking about buying an 05 Escape xlt v6 fwd with the trailer tow package and I'm curious how well it will tow. I'm looking to tow a 12' utility trailer with 2-3 atv's and the total weight will be around 2,500lbs. Ford rates their tow package at 3,500lbs. I would appreciate any opinions.
Mike

Apr 5, 2005 | 06:47 AM

DoctorCAD

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 401

Likes: 0

Should be OK, Longer stopping distances and sucks gasoline.
Keep it out of OD and do a flush-n-fill of Mercon twice as often as recommended, (15,000 instead of 30,000).

Apr 5, 2005 | 12:27 PM

seamonkey49

Junior User

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 94

Likes: 0

I have the same with 4WD, but I'm not planning to tow a lot right now, may get a tent trailer later. I am adding some key performance additions that you might want to consider: computer tuner (when available for '05 Escape), cat-back performance exhaust, performance air induction or air filter. These should add enough extra power for you.

However, my sister had an '04 XLT 4WD with the towing package, to pull a tent trailer around 2500 lbs., but had a lot of problems in the mountains near her home in Colorado. She and her husband sold the Escape and replaced it with a new Toyota Tacoma truck.

Apr 5, 2005 | 09:02 PM

99F150

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 1,344

Likes: 12

From: Sioux Falls SD

Has any one with the 05 XLS 4cyl FWD and 5speed towed any thing yet? I would like one of these but have a Starcraft tent camper that weighs about 2600lbs and the factory rating is 1500lbs. I had a 95 Ranger with the old 2.3 L and that pulled it ok. I would love to get rid of the gas guzzeler truck I have if this would work.
Thanks Dan

Apr 27, 2005 | 05:50 AM

cmj685

New User

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 7

Likes: 0

We have been pulling a 2500 pound pop-up trailer for several years with our 2002 v6. The thing to understand (we always learn the hard way) is that the Escape isn't a truck. It is a car dressed up to look like an SUV...and not a very good car at that. Just look at the number of problems on the forums with transmission, suspension, brakes, electrical.... Last time I checked there were 110 advisories from Ford on the vehicle to its service people--for reference, the 2002 Toyota 4Runner had 11 such advisories. And most of those advisories we and others like us have had go wrong already on the car. You can do it--we've pulled through the Rocky Mountains every year without any great difficulty actually pulling...but three years later the car is literally falling into pieces despite impeccable maintenance. You might want to buy yourself a more brawny (and far better built) vehicle if you are going to put any kind of stress on it at all! You will be far happier in the long run.
cmj

May 4, 2005 | 09:42 AM

CobraXP

Logistics Pro

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 4,123

Likes: 2

From: Fort Smith

I bought my wife an 05 Limited with the 3.0. It came with the towing package, but I'm not real sure what I would actually tow with it. Maybe a single jet ski, but I don't think I'd put much more behind it. As CMJ said, the vehicle would pull whatever I wanted to put behind it fairly reasonable, but the stress on everything in the Escape would create headaches down the road.

I would look at an Explorer or equivalent for things like that. I have pulled anything you can think of with my 97 - from 2 jet skis to grossing over 8000lbs between a trailer and John Deere tractor (mine is set up to handle that type of weight if needed - stock they are not). I have not had the first problem...

May 9, 2005 | 12:54 PM

gas_turbine_boy

Freshman User

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 35

Likes: 0

From: Des Moines

I have an '04 XLT 4WD with the trailer package. I pull my 17 foot runabout short distances with no problem. I pulled a small uhaul trailer last summer for 4oo miles with only a slight decrease in MPG. The 'scape is not an ideal pulling vehicle, but for limited use it should be fine, just keep your speed down.