Rant/

Why is it that people are afraid to tow with any but a truck and heck even sometimes with a truck? For example our 04 Escape 3.0L/auto. It's rated to tow 350/3500 or 500/5000 with WDH, not recommending the latter just stating what the hitch states.

I've personally pulled a pickup bed trailer that weighed up to 2.5-3k last weekend had the whole family and a big dog house catching the wind. Not to mention the several cars on tow dolleys pulled up to 200 miles. Started, stopped and if I allowed it to would fly over the hills just as good if not better than the 00 F150 5.4L/auto I had before. I would like to get a small hybrid travel trailer.. 16/17ft. Most weigh 3500 max. Before any long haul tanks would be emptied and should be several hundred pounds below 3500, yes including all our gear. But on the rv forums I can't even get opinions on the different hybrids due to all the opinions on our tow vehicle.

When I have any trailer attached I only go 60-65mph and take my time, regardless of the tow vehicle or trailer. Most would never even put a hitch on this vehicle. I wonder if most assume they can't pull at 80mph a vehicle it's not meant to pull?? That's a common occurence around here trailer pulling 80mph. I can't see how that could be any better than us pulling a hybrid. Seems to me there's a bunch of sissfied city boys out there these days... or just one dumb country hick can't decide.

/Rant over

 

I tow live weight so I need the extra size and stability of a larger footprint. Plus, rarely does my trailer weigh in under 3000lbs Most of the trailers I pull are 4000-5000lbs empty. On top of that, I use goosenecks, which aren't very Escape friendly I see the opposite as you a lot of times... people towing with trucks that are way too small for their loads.

 

its a safety issue sometimes as well, I agree that a smaller vehicle can tow that weight you are decribing. My thoughts are if that is all you are doing then you are fine.

I tow a 7500 27' travel trailer up thru the mountains of MD/PA/VA. Your setup would not work for me. So that is why I have a truck.

 

Let me relate one story, a guy I used to work with had a toyata 4 runner, said it could pull 7500lbs or something like that, rated from factory. They bought a nice travel trailer that was under the limits and such. First trip out, wind caught the trailer, started whipping and put them into the guard rail. Fortunately no one was hurt. However, it messed the 4runner up pretty good and totalled the trailer.

Some of that comes from inexperiance towing and some is the setup. If you hybrid trailer is somewhat small in profile and you are comfortable towing. I don't have anything against it.

On a side note there are people who have the best setups and still get into trouble. People are people, if you are smart about it, it will work great.

 

My buddy works for u-haul and some of the vehicles he tells me about putting hitches on blows my mind. He had one guy get a hitch put on a Subaru WRX Sti simply because it helps stiffen the frame. How much weight can a civic hybrid pull?

 

I guess 50 lbs...

 

I think mine was rated for something like 500 :P But it wasn't a hybrid, just a standard sedan.

 

At least there's some logic on this board, or experienced towers. I'm surprised a 4Runner has that high of a tow rating. Not much bigger than the Escape. Something else that annoys the hell out of me is the Jeep Liberty has a tow rating of 5k. I know they have a frame but those piles of junk aren't any better than the Escape. Our worn out beat up Escapes ran circles around the new ones where I used to work. Brakes are better would be the only advantage.

Regular Civic has a tow rating of 1500 or somewhere around there. I've seen one person towing Aliner with a Civic.

 

I use a GM fullsize wagon (1991) to pull Chris (my boat) - ~4700-5000 on the hoof depending on crap and fuel in it.

I use the WDH with the pole adaptor, and 4 wheels of surge discs on the trailer - no issues. But it draws a crowd. Now granted I will use my F150 for long trips, but my old one rusted the frame and the new one aint ready so this summer the wagon got the nod.

about 8+ years ago I did a couple mag articles on hopping up these wagons to pull their full freight. Of course the cars are no longer made but everyone once in a while I get emails for the schematics on my trailer tow relay box or where to get the hitches (and thats getting HARD!) so someone is still doing it.

 

Honda Civic Hybrid "towing not recommended". Towing capacity "towing not recommended" I would think the worse thing about towing with an Escape would be the front wheel drive. My limited knowledge and experience with them is they are a good suv, everyone I have talked to that have them love them.

 

It's not a Civic so I feel more comfortable.

I now have an all aluminum trailer so it helps out even more. I can keep the tranny out of O/D and still get better mileage pulling the trailer with my car than I get driving just my 78 F-250 around with no trailer.

 

Possibly one of the "CUTEST" travel trailers of all time - they look like soap bubbles, and I've always wanted to see one towed behind an aircooled '66 VW Bus with a matching paint job....

"CASITA" Travel Trailers

*NOTE: Proudly MADE IN TEXAS, USA!!!


"Casita" = "Little House"

They are primarily fiberglass construction, so you can forget about resealing the roof.... Quite an intrigueing idea. They are also lighter in weight, and aero dynamically shaped. Not for everyone mind you - but still a fun concept!

 

just b/c youve dont it, doesnt make it safe, or smart.

id be learing of towing that much, on such a light, short wheelbase rig. thats just asking for trouble. also thats towing at the MAXIMUM. which im pretty sure they didnt have in mind when they made it.

 

My Poppa towed horriffying loads with a 1957 Oldsmobile Delta 88 (400 ROCKET motor).

But it weighed more than an F450, the bumper alone was 400 pounds of chrome.

Time tells on the vehicles we drive, and fuel cost limits what we can practically do in a day to day use paradigm.

We don't drive TANKS anymore! (During the 1940's - Oldsmobile DID build tanks!)

Good thing - but where do we go from here??????

I miss that old ride - the dash panel looked like it was designed by the Wurlitzer Jukebox Company....

The greatest thing about old cars and trucks - the MAGNIFICENT thing about them - was the pure style and opulence of them.

It has never been matched since in the way it was once upon a time.

Please excuse me - this is not the topic this thread was written for.

 

If it was just the two of us I'd prefer a fiberglass trailer. Low maintenance and very aerodynamic. If they made on with bunks like a hyrbrid we'd be all over it. Small trailers are getting more expensive than Class C/A's now days.