Snow Traction?
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Snow Traction?
this may get posted 2X sorry, I'm a lousy typist.
I haven't posted here berore. I have posted in the V-10 forum, as that's what powers my motorhome (2005 E350 SD in a 24 foot Class C)
I need a towable SUV. It also has to get me around in snow country. It might be nice to have just one mechanic. So, I hit on the idea of a Manual shift 4wd Escape (they are towable). I found a couple of 2006 and 2007s on the web I can afford. My other choice would be a Honda CRV (found one at a good price, ready to tow.).
My old SUV was a 95 4Runner 4wd - it did very well in snow with a 2 speed transfer case. It was also about 800 lb heavier than the Escape or CRV.
How does the 4wd ESCAPE do in snow?
Thanks in advance for the advice
Pat
I haven't posted here berore. I have posted in the V-10 forum, as that's what powers my motorhome (2005 E350 SD in a 24 foot Class C)
I need a towable SUV. It also has to get me around in snow country. It might be nice to have just one mechanic. So, I hit on the idea of a Manual shift 4wd Escape (they are towable). I found a couple of 2006 and 2007s on the web I can afford. My other choice would be a Honda CRV (found one at a good price, ready to tow.).
My old SUV was a 95 4Runner 4wd - it did very well in snow with a 2 speed transfer case. It was also about 800 lb heavier than the Escape or CRV.
How does the 4wd ESCAPE do in snow?
Thanks in advance for the advice
Pat
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2008
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I really like my '02 because it has the manual selector to engage the 4x4 mode that doesn't exist in newer models.. so IMO much more predicatble than the auto mode because you know how the the Escape will behave instead of suddenly the rear end is looser because the rear wheels engaged..
Here in Calgary we've had a ton of snow this winter and my Escape hasn't missed a beat
Here in Calgary we've had a ton of snow this winter and my Escape hasn't missed a beat
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Joined: Feb 2004
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I've had both variations, neither ever "suddenly" got loose in the snow.
With the fully automatic one, I could never tell it was locking and unlocking.
With the switch one, there was almost no difference in Auto or Locked except for punching the gas from a standstill.
With the fully automatic one, I could never tell it was locking and unlocking.
With the switch one, there was almost no difference in Auto or Locked except for punching the gas from a standstill.
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Thanks for the info. The 2 low mileage 4wd manual shifts I was looking at on the web turned out in one case to not be real, and in another case was from a dealer (near Phila.) with a terrible local reputation for being crooked. At the same time, I saw good deals on new ones. And, the automatic 2009s are all towable, due to the tranny they are now using. I was worried about the fully automatics being unpredictable, but now it sounds like I shouldn't be. I'll have to look into them more.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 373
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From: Ohio
the xlt sport's AWD or whatever is excellent in the snow. you can almost mindlessly drive with your pedal to the floor and it will still keep its senses about itself and you on the road. It's quite a luxury compared to my 2wd ranger, even if it has 300 lbs over the rear wheels.
EDIT: though you can drive with your pedal to the floor, keep in mind, once something has momentum on slick roads, it doesn't matter what kind of drivetrain you have, it's gonna be hard to stop
EDIT: though you can drive with your pedal to the floor, keep in mind, once something has momentum on slick roads, it doesn't matter what kind of drivetrain you have, it's gonna be hard to stop
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Thanks to all,
When I started talking to neighbors about my pending purchase, it turned out they had friends in Alaska and in Colorado Springs, both of whom love the traction on snow.
So, I bought it, a 2009 XLT V-6 AWD/FWD with the cargo package.
Regarding the stopping power, I learned that lesson safely years ago. I used to commute 20 miles in Nevada in a 65 Wagoneer. Did it later in New Mexico and now Colorado, in a 95 4Runner. In Nevada, novices in SUVs sometimes zoomed past me when I was doing 45 in a snowy area easily done at 55 on clear days. I'd soon pass a few pointed backwards on the median or shoulders in the icy areas.
It will be nice not to have to fiddle around shifting the transfer case from Hi-4WD to Hi-2WD in the dry areas.
Again, thanks
Pat from Pagosa
When I started talking to neighbors about my pending purchase, it turned out they had friends in Alaska and in Colorado Springs, both of whom love the traction on snow.
So, I bought it, a 2009 XLT V-6 AWD/FWD with the cargo package.
Regarding the stopping power, I learned that lesson safely years ago. I used to commute 20 miles in Nevada in a 65 Wagoneer. Did it later in New Mexico and now Colorado, in a 95 4Runner. In Nevada, novices in SUVs sometimes zoomed past me when I was doing 45 in a snowy area easily done at 55 on clear days. I'd soon pass a few pointed backwards on the median or shoulders in the icy areas.
It will be nice not to have to fiddle around shifting the transfer case from Hi-4WD to Hi-2WD in the dry areas.
Again, thanks
Pat from Pagosa
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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Thats where the escape really shine is in the snow, it's made for bad weather roads. I haven't had an suv any better in the snow than the escapes and I've had a lot of them. It takes no driver imput at all, the computer does all the thinking for you as it monitors wheel slipage several times a second. When I had my 01 escape 4x4, we had went up in the mountains of W,Va for the weekend in january. It snowed a foot over night. We needed to go into town and my cousin said I needed to put chains on my esacpe before trying it. "Heck", I cranked her up and drove off the mountain and went to town. On the way back up the mountain it got a little more exciting, but the escape climbed like a mounatin goat slinging snow as it went. The 4wd system is even better in my 08 mariner than it was in my 01 escape. I would highly recomend the escape for snow and they get good mpg and id pretty peppy with a manual tranny. It's a win, win, go with an escape and it's american !!!!!!!!!111
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From: Gresham Oregon
Good tires. That makes it really good in the snow. I put studded snow tires on my wife's 07 with awd and a 5 speed manual, and we were driving through 2 ft of snow. I got stuck once, I has a very deep drift in front of my house over 2 ft. My Escape actually plowed enough snow to lift the front end, a few shovels of snow and working the front back and forth in reverse and I was free. Later, A jacked up Chev 4x4 was stuck in the road and blocked it, I pulled up, dropped off my passengers and proceeded to turn around and leave right in front of them.
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That's really impressive traction.
I went ahead, and bought one. I now own a 2009 XLT with the AWD, V6 and automatic.
I just found a set of 4 near match alloy rims from an earlier model year for $125. I'll look into some studded snows next winter and swap them out seasonally.
I really like this "truck" as it is. I'll be done modding as soon as I get some flat roof bars to attach to the stock side rails. Then I can bring plywood home from the lumber yard, and life will be good.
Thanks to everyone who replied.
Pat
I went ahead, and bought one. I now own a 2009 XLT with the AWD, V6 and automatic.
I just found a set of 4 near match alloy rims from an earlier model year for $125. I'll look into some studded snows next winter and swap them out seasonally.
I really like this "truck" as it is. I'll be done modding as soon as I get some flat roof bars to attach to the stock side rails. Then I can bring plywood home from the lumber yard, and life will be good.
Thanks to everyone who replied.
Pat
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From: Warren, MI
The ITCC 4WD system used in the Ford Escape has little information written about it, so I've been trying to find out how it really works.
The '09 Escape shop manual states: Under normal driving conditions most of the torque is sent to the front wheels. The key word is "most"! Every time you accelerate from a dead stop, torque is sent to the rear wheels.
I've measured the duty cycled signal going to the torque control solenoid and would say that it's impossible to accelerate without sending rear wheel torque.
I'm not sure why they use the term "on demand" for this system because torque is sent to the rear wheels when there isn't any demand as far as I can tell! Seem like a waste of MPG also.
The '09 Escape shop manual states: Under normal driving conditions most of the torque is sent to the front wheels. The key word is "most"! Every time you accelerate from a dead stop, torque is sent to the rear wheels.
I've measured the duty cycled signal going to the torque control solenoid and would say that it's impossible to accelerate without sending rear wheel torque.
I'm not sure why they use the term "on demand" for this system because torque is sent to the rear wheels when there isn't any demand as far as I can tell! Seem like a waste of MPG also.
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From: Gresham Oregon
From what I've read, it will split up to 95% to the front and bias as needed for traction. My Auto WRX does that same thing with a normal split of 45% Front and 55% rear.
On your winter rims, make sure you have the tire pressure sensors installed or you'll get a dash light, not a Check Engine, but another light will come on. Your tire shop should have them or a dealer.
On your winter rims, make sure you have the tire pressure sensors installed or you'll get a dash light, not a Check Engine, but another light will come on. Your tire shop should have them or a dealer.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Warren, MI
One pinpoint test for a binding or noise condition in the ITCC is to monitor the torque control solenoid's duty cycle and make sharp turns at no more than 5MPH. This test should show at least 20% duty cycle. This is right from the Ford '09 shop manual. They don't list any similiar pinpoint test for driving straight.
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