anyone towing with a ford escape?

[mikedgates]

anyone towing with a ford escape? I just bought a used pop up it the 1500 lbs dry and plan on towing with my ford escape, it has the 6 cyl 3.0  engine.  I am wondering what kind of gas milage I might get? also if I would have any trouble towing .

[wavery]

anyone towing with a ford escape? I just bought a used pop up it the 1500 lbs dry and plan on towing with my ford escape, it has the 6 cyl 3.0  engine.  I am wondering what kind of gas milage I might get? also if I would have any trouble towing .

Hi mikedgates,

WELCOME TO PUT

What year is your Escape?
Does it have a factory towing pkg?
What is your Tow rating (should be in the owner's manual)?
What is your GCVWR (Should be on the drivers door post)?
What type of terrain will you be towing in?

A "Simple Search" for "GCVWR", in the search window above, may help answer your towing questions.

Chances are you may be OK. However, you need to take into account the total load of both the tow vehicle (TV) and the loaded trailer. If you are a family of 4 with 2 big dogs and a lot of camping gear, you may have a problem from the get-go  :p

--------------edit--------------
Just a little research on a 2005 Escape 6cyl (std vehicle) shows a little problem.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;jsessionid=IBHU14PEEYMSFLAYIEZE2UY?tab=specs&paId=238366582&recnum=39&actLog=true&tracktype=usedcc&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=ascending&sortfield=SORT_INDICATOR+ascending%2CPRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7CE-%7CM-_14_%7CD-_4767_%7CN-N%7CR-20%7CI-1%2C3%7CP-SORT_INDICATOR+ascending%2CPRICE+descending%7CQ-ascending%7CZ-90048&aff=recycler
In the left column, click on "Std Equip & Specs" then click on your particular model to get more accurate info. Change the year, if need be.

Curb weight on the vehicle that I checked is 3303#. The GCWR is 5000#. That means that it only has the capacity to carry 1700# including all cargo, passengers, fuel AND trailer. The Escape that I checked has a tow rating of 2000# but that means very little if you intend to carry anything in the TV. I just can't figure out how they could rate a vehicle towing capacity at 2000# when that weight alone would exceed the GCVWR with nothing in the vehicle itself :confused:  but we have seen that before. Your vehicle may vary so you will need to get your specs.

AS for MPG, no one can tell you that.....way too many variables. It may  be somewhere between 12 and 16mpg.

[ILUVTHEBEACH]

Just a little research on a 2005 Escape 6cyl (std vehicle) shows a little problem.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;jsessionid=IBHU14PEEYMSFLAYIEZE2UY?tab=specs&paId=238366582&recnum=39&actLog=true&tracktype=usedcc&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=ascending&sortfield=SORT_INDICATOR+ascending%2CPRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7CE-%7CM-_14_%7CD-_4767_%7CN-N%7CR-20%7CI-1%2C3%7CP-SORT_INDICATOR+ascending%2CPRICE+descending%7CQ-ascending%7CZ-90048&aff=recycler
In the left column, click on "Std Equip & Specs" then click on your particular model to get more accurate info. Change the year, if need be.

Curb weight on the vehicle that I checked is 3303#. The GCWR is 5000#. That means that it only has the capacity to carry 1700# including all cargo, passengers, fuel AND trailer. The Escape that I checked has a tow rating of 2000# but that means very little if you intend to carry anything in the TV. I just can't figure out how they could rate a vehicle towing capacity at 2000# when that weight alone would exceed the GCVWR with nothing in the vehicle itself :confused:  but we have seen that before. Your vehicle may vary so you will need to get your specs.

AS for MPG, no one can tell you that.....way too many variables. It may  be somewhere between 12 and 16mpg.

I have a 2002 Escape with the Tow Package.  With the tow package the escape is rated to a MAXIMUM of 3500lbs.  I think the 2000lb limit is w/o the tow package.  I think the gcvwr is somewhere around 7020lbs (according to my manual).  I looked at the manual yesterday trying to figure out weights for myself.  The label on the inside of the door does not have a gcvwr it only had a gvwr unless I missed something on the sticker.

[6Quigs]

The ford escape with the V6 engine has a tow capacity of 2,000 lbs.
With the factory installed tow package it increases to 3,500 lbs.

The GCWR is listed as 7,080 lbs, which is the max weight limit of the vehicle, fuel, people cargo in the Escape and the trailer being towed.

I think the 5,000 lbs Wavery found is the GVW or Gross Vehicle Weight, which is the max weight of the vehicle, cargo and passengers with no trailer attached.

[wavery]

I have a 2002 Escape with the Tow Package.  With the tow package the escape is rated to a MAXIMUM of 3500lbs.  I think the 2000lb limit is w/o the tow package.  I think the gcvwr is somewhere around 7020lbs (according to my manual).  I looked at the manual yesterday trying to figure out weights for myself.  The label on the inside of the door does not have a gcvwr it only had a gvwr unless I missed something on the sticker.

If your GCVWR is 7020 and your curb weight is around 3300# (I don't know that figure) that should give you around 3700# for your total package (passengers, cargo, tow etc). There are other things to consider if you were close but it looks good. A (Max) 2,500# tow would leave you about 1,180# for passengers and cargo. The  max payload for your vehicle listed at 1,180# (according to Cars.com). The only way that vehicle can tow 3500# would be with a driver that weighs about 150#, a half tank of gas and no passengers or cargo.

The only thing that I would caution mikedgates on is to be sure that it is a factory tow package and not just a std vehicle that a previous owner may have put a trailer hitch on. There seems to be a huge difference with the factory tow pkg.

[wavery]

I think the 5,000 lbs Wavery found is the GVW or Gross Vehicle Weight, which is the max weight of the vehicle, cargo and passengers with no trailer attached.

Nope.....5000# was the listed GCWR (according to cars.com) on a 2005 Escape w/o tow pkg. and a tow rating of 2000#. The GVWR on that vehicle is 4380#. When I posted that, I had no idea what he had.

[Shredder]

I have a 2003 Ford Escape with the factory tow package. I tow a small boat, utility trailer, and a 2005 Jayco 1006 PU. The title weight of the jayco is 2005 lb. I have some extras that make it that heavy, like dual propane tanks, bigger battery. I have electric brakes on the jayco and a controler in the car. It is within the limits and tows OK. But I consider it to be marginal, and would not go long distances or in mountains. We camp in MI. It can get hilly, and the rig handles them fine. The bad things are, it is a short wheelbase car, and has front wheel drive most of the time, and has a smallish auto tranny. So we don't load the front end of the trailer down much, as tongue weight could pull down the rear end. Not good with front wheel drive. We also are conscious of any extras we bring. Along with that at every oil change I drain as much of the tranny fluid I can from the drain plug (3.9qt) and replace with new fluid. These cars are noted for tranny failures due to tranny fluid break down, so it's cheap insurance to replace fluid often. The system holds 12 qt, so I figure I'm getting a tranny flush every year by this method. So with a little care and forsight it will work fine. Having said all that my next car/truck/SUV will have more towing ability.......Shredder

[wavery]

I have a 2003 Ford Escape with the factory tow package. I tow a small boat, utility trailer, and a 2005 Jayco 1006 PU. The title weight of the jayco is 2005 lb. I have some extras that make it that heavy, like dual propane tanks, bigger battery. I have electric brakes on the jayco and a controler in the car. It is within the limits and tows OK. But I consider it to be marginal, and would not go long distances or in mountains. We camp in MI. It can get hilly, and the rig handles them fine. The bad things are, it is a short wheelbase car, and has front wheel drive most of the time, and has a smallish auto tranny. So we don't load the front end of the trailer down much, as tongue weight could pull down the rear end. Not good with front wheel drive. We also are conscious of any extras we bring. Along with that at every oil change I drain as much of the tranny fluid I can from the drain plug (3.9qt) and replace with new fluid. These cars are noted for tranny failures due to tranny fluid break down, so it's cheap insurance to replace fluid often. The system holds 12 qt, so I figure I'm getting a tranny flush every year by this method. So with a little care and forsight it will work fine. Having said all that my next car/truck/SUV will have more towing ability.......Shredder

Shreader,

You may want to consider changing to Synthetic ATF. Studies have shown that it dissipates heat much faster and it does not break down at higher temperatures (although it still gets contaminates).

According to Chrysler, you never have to change synthetic trans fluid over the life of the vehicle. Although I wouldn't recommend it, especially on a TV. Although, I think it may be safe to double the time between changes and still lesson the wear & tear on the trans. Bottom line is, it seems to be a good investment, over the long haul.

12qts of synthetic ATF will cost you around $85 but that's cheap when you consider the price of a new trans.

[Shredder]

Shreader,

You may want to consider changing to Synthetic ATF. Studies have shown that it dissipates heat much faster and it does not break down at higher temperatures (although it still gets contaminates).

According to Chrysler, you never have to change synthetic trans fluid over the life of the vehicle. Although I wouldn't recommend it, especially on a TV. Although, I think it may be safe to double the time between changes and still lesson the wear & tear on the trans. Bottom line is, it seems to be a good investment, over the long haul.

12qts of synthetic ATF will cost you around $85 but that's cheap when you consider the price of a new trans.

Synthetic ATF is a BIG no no in the Escape. They use old fashioned mercon or it's more modern mercon replacement. The friction specs in this tranny were set up for mercon. Syn's are too slippery. For this car at least in 03, only mercon works. I don't know if the newer ones use something different or not. I wish it did take syn's........Duane

[wavery]

Synthetic ATF is a BIG no no in the Escape. They use old fashioned mercon or it's more modern mercon replacement. The friction specs in this tranny were set up for mercon. Syn's are too slippery. For this car at least in 03, only mercon works. I don't know if the newer ones use something different or not. I wish it did take syn's........Duane

You may want to do some research. I may be wrong but I think that the thinking has changed on that recently:
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/AskMobil/Mobil_1_Synthetic_ATF_Mercon_Approvals.aspx
http://www.a1lubricants.com/amsoil_synthetic_atf.html
http://www.mobil.com/Canada-English/Lubes/PDS/IOCAENPVLMOMobil_1_Synthetic_ATF.asp
http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/2002-ford-escape-transmission-problem-35904.html
http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=869376&Main=868410

[6Quigs]

Nope.....5000# was the listed GCWR (according to cars.com) on a 2005 Escape w/o tow pkg. and a tow rating of 2000#. The GVWR on that vehicle is 4380#. When I posted that, I had no idea what he had.

Look at what Ford says on their website.
The GCWR for the 4 cylinder is 5,000 lbs, but the 6 cylinder with the tow package is 7,080 lbs
Fordvehicles

[Shredder]

Synthetic ATF is a BIG no no in the Escape. They use old fashioned mercon or it's more modern mercon replacement. The friction specs in this tranny were set up for mercon. Syn's are too slippery. For this car at least in 03, only mercon works. I don't know if the newer ones use something different or not. I wish it did take syn's........Duane

I forgot to add, I get 16.5 to 17.5 mpg towing and fully loaded, 20-24 without     Duane

[wavery]

Look at what Ford says on their website.
The GCWR for the 4 cylinder is 5,000 lbs, but the 6 cylinder with the tow package is 7,080 lbs
Fordvehicles

I'm not sure what your point is. No one is disagreeing with you

They don't list the specs on a 2002 (in the link that you posted) I posted my source for a 2005 Escape with 6 cyl.
--------from cars.com--------------------------
Standard Specs and Dimensions
Engine type   V-6  
Engine displacement   183 cu.in.  
Engine horsepower   200-hp @ 6,000 rpm  
Engine torque   193 lbs.-ft. @ 4,850 rpm  
Valvetrain   DOHC  
Valves   24  
Engine bore x stroke   3.5" x 3.1"  
Compression ratio   10.00 to 1  
Fuel tank capacity  16.5 gal.  
Fuel economy city   20 mpg  
Fuel economy highway   25 mpg  
Curb weight   3,303 lbs.  
Front curb weight   1,999 lbs.  
Rear curb weight   1,304 lbs.  
GVWR   4,380 lbs.  
Front GAWR   2,380 lbs.  
Rear GAWR   2,175 lbs.  
Payload   1,040 lbs.  
Front axle capacity   2,480 lbs.  
Rear axle capacity   2,400 lbs.  
Front spring rating   2,440 lbs.  
Rear spring rating   2,400 lbs.  
Towing capacity   2,000 lbs.  
Maximum GCWR   5,000 lbs.
------------------------------------
However, I don't think there is an issue here. The OP may be within specs IF he has a factory tow pkg. If he doesn't have a factory tow pkg, he may have a problem.

[bud121156]

I tow a 2007  Fleetwood Westlake with a 2006 Escape. I have  brakes and friction sway control. Although starts are a little slow,(I have never been one for jack-rabbit starts) the Escape does well pulling down the road . The Escape is steady on the road, don't sit low in the back at all  (with the draw bar turned up),and stops well.
Have'nt checked mileage while towing, but it's not too bad.
I do have concerns about the transmission years down the road. I do regular  fluid changes.

[mikedgates]

ok guys it looks like I will be ok, the gcwr is 7260 with the factory install package. but I dont have the factory install package, I put on my own class II hitch, as far as I can tell the package only includes wiring and class II hitch, does any one know for sure, I will be towing about 5,000 miles my first trip.