Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

[LarryinBoise]

2013 Escape titanium with the larger 2.0 engine and standard 6 speed automatic transmission is rated at pulling 3500 lbs with the Class II hitch & package. Does anyone have any experience pulling a trailer or boat with this new Ford Escape SUV? My Alumacraft, Yamaha F70, trailer and tank full is right at 2K. Ad a little gear and right around 2200 lbs would be the max. I am a very modest driver usually never over 55 pulling the boat. What say yea?

I would like to know if any has real experience trailering with this newer ford escape?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

2013 Escape titanium with the larger 2.0 engine and standard 6 speed automatic transmission is rated at pulling 3500 lbs with the Class II hitch & package. Does anyone have any experience pulling a trailer or boat with this new Ford Escape SUV? My Alumacraft, Yamaha F70, trailer and tank full is right at 2K. Ad a little gear and right around 2200 lbs would be the max. I am a very modest driver usually never over 55 pulling the boat. What say yea?

I would like to know if any has real experience trailering with this newer ford escape?

Hopefully, someone with one of those Escapes will chime in . . . but are you worried about it at all . . . 3,500 lbs capacity versus 2,200 lbs load? You might not even notice that you are towing something.

 

[JB]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

Ahoy, Larry.

Welcome to iboats.

Assignment of tow capacity includes evaluating the brakes. You should be just fine.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

2013 Escape titanium with the larger 2.0 engine and standard 6 speed automatic transmission is rated at pulling 3500 lbs with the Class II hitch & package. ?

If that is the factory rating you are good...and with a pretty good margin too.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

You need brakes on the trailer, and you better get the AWD/4WD, not the front wheel drive version.




From the 2013 Ford Escape towing guide.

""For your safety, Ford
Motor Company recommends that a separate
functional brake system be used on any
towed vehicle.""

 

[Splat]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

I regularly pull my #2500 landscaping trailer loaded and I have no issues. I do have electric brakes on my trailer and highly recommend them on any trailer. Due care should be taken in the new escapes like any small SUV during panic stops and swerving. There's not a lot of wheel base or weight there to stabilize hard steering during a hard stop. Its one of those vehicles where you have to think about hitting brakes hard, slowing down and stabilizing the suspension and only swerving as a last resort.

Bill

 

[NYBo]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

Welcome to iboats!

Assignment of tow capacity includes evaluating the brakes. You should be just fine.

However, that evaluation is likely to state that brakes are recommended/required above a certain gross weight. Read the owner's manual carefully on this point.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

You're right at the max of what I'd want to pull with an Escape. I had a 2000 V6 model and it was a great SUV.

 

[LarryinBoise]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

You're right at the max of what I'd want to pull with an Escape. I had a 2000 V6 model and it was a great SUV.

Thanks for the responses everyone. It sounds like I will be okay. I am a very modest driver on the highway whenever I pull a trailer. Rarely go above 57 MPH and always try and keep a good "safety zone" around the vehicle for braking, blowouts, or anything that can happen.

I was pulling this boat with the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. It had enough power, but it just seemed to be a real strain on the frame. It just didn't feel right. With gas prices high these days, it a balance between getting good mileage on your 95% of driving without the trailer and having a rig that can "handle the trailer" the other 5% of the time. After I try this 2013 Escape, I will pipe in with some results. Happy Holidays.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

Thanks for the responses everyone. It sounds like I will be okay. I am a very modest driver on the highway whenever I pull a trailer. Rarely go above 57 MPH and always try and keep a good "safety zone" around the vehicle for braking, blowouts, or anything that can happen.

I'm pulling a 17' sterndrive bowrider with a 3 liter two wheel drive Ford Ranger with automatic transmission and towing package. My towing package didn't initially include a transmission cooler but I had one installed. I also have a ScanGauge that allows me to monitor transmission fluid temperatures as I drive down the road. I tow with the overdrive locked out. No problems pulling; no problems snatching the boat out of the water; no problems at all.

Most of the safety issues mentioned can be mitigated by driving very conservatively, as you apparently do. I leave a lot of space in front of me at all times so I've never had to see what happens in a panic stop. I don't speed with the trailer hooked up... the gas would be prohibitive and the transmission fluid temperatures might become a factor in the summer. But the biggest single thing you can do to prevent scary moments is leave plenty of space ahead to get stopped. What requires a panic stop for others ought to be a leisurely stop for you.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

front wheel drive Ford Ranger

?? I've never seen one of them

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

?? I've never seen one of them

Oops. I meant to say TWO WHEEL drive.

 

[san dimas]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

My 2008 Escape with the 3.0 V6, pulls my tin boat beautifully. The boat only weighs about 250 lbs though.

 

[LarryinBoise]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

Thanks for the responses everyone. It sounds like I will be okay. I am a very modest driver on the highway whenever I pull a trailer. Rarely go above 57 MPH and always try and keep a good "safety zone" around the vehicle for braking, blowouts, or anything that can happen.

I was pulling this boat with the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. It had enough power, but it just seemed to be a real strain on the frame. It just didn't feel right. With gas prices high these days, it a balance between getting good mileage on your 95% of driving without the trailer and having a rig that can "handle the trailer" the other 5% of the time. After I try this 2013 Escape, I will pipe in with some results. Happy Holidays.

Okay-I have pulled my 17 foot alumacraft (with 70 HP Yamaha) now several times with my 2013 Escape Titatinum with the bigger 2.0 engine, 6 speed transmission and factory trailer package. It handles it like a dream. The car does not seem labor. The frame doesn't seem stressed. Now, I do drive at very reasonable speeds (62 MPH on hi-way). It does wonderful. Thanks folks

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

That may be my next car (it looks more like a car now), good to know it will tow a boat OK. My current 2011 Escape does OK with the boat, but is rather loud and a bit crude due to the age of the design.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

The 2013 does fine with your load. I've pulled about 2500# with it. Past Escapes are not even comparable to the new one. Ignore past Escape advice.

 

[Highlander70]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

past and present escapes will pull that fine.
my escape is a 2006 AWD 3.0L and it pulls my 17.5' fish and ski just fine, had a couple of quick stops mostly cause i was yapping instead of watching the road and it stopped just fine.
ford escapes are very well built vehicles but ford is no longer in collaboration with mazda on them so time will tell

 

[bman72]

Re: Pulling Boat with 2013 Ford Escape Titanium with 2.0 engine and Class II hitch

Okay-I have pulled my 17 foot alumacraft (with 70 HP Yamaha) now several times with my 2013 Escape Titatinum with the bigger 2.0 engine,

If that's the BIGGER engine, I sure would hate to see the little one!!!!