cardinal43
Member
Title sums it up...would this be possible?
Escape AWD 3.0 V6 - Can I tow a four place open trailer with 3 sleds on it?
- Thread starter cardinal43
- Start date
cardinal43
Member
I am leaving Chicago this Friday for Crivitz and I have a 2 place enclosed (towed it many times with the Escape).
Problem is, we have a third guy joining us. Normally, I can fit 3 sleds on a two place, but since mine is enclosed....need to try to determine if I can tow my brothers four place with the Escape to get all 3 sleds north....
Problem is, we have a third guy joining us. Normally, I can fit 3 sleds on a two place, but since mine is enclosed....need to try to determine if I can tow my brothers four place with the Escape to get all 3 sleds north....
well looks like 3500lbs is the max your escape will haul 3 regular non yamaha sleds 3 guys gear and oil tools is about 2k the trailer prob 650 or 700 so 2700lbs 3 guys and there shaving kits 750 that is 3450lbs
so as long as you dont bring the 120lbs of booze you should be able to get away with it.
in 01 and 02 I would hall my old 14ft 3 place with 2 triples and a 660 tank from MN to longville MN bout 3hr with the wife's grand vitara v6 2 or 3 times a yr worked ok
so as long as you dont bring the 120lbs of booze you should be able to get away with it.
in 01 and 02 I would hall my old 14ft 3 place with 2 triples and a 660 tank from MN to longville MN bout 3hr with the wife's grand vitara v6 2 or 3 times a yr worked ok
Just a guess but, I would think the towing capacity on that is the same as my wife's Saturn Vue AWD which is 3,500lbs. I'm sure you could do it, but I would take it easy.
I did see last year, however, a Ford Flex pulling a Jayco 28' Bunk House travel trailer. I thought that was a little much though!
I did see last year, however, a Ford Flex pulling a Jayco 28' Bunk House travel trailer. I thought that was a little much though!
Get out your owner's manual and look up your tow rating - it's either in the manual or the supplement - take 80% of the rating and if your total is around that, you should be OK. My guess is you'll have enough power to run 60-65 but stability will be so-so and you'll need to plan ahead on your braking. You're going to have 2300-3800 pounds (3 sleds + trailer) hooked to a vehicle that probably weights 3800/4000 so it will be somewhat of a tug of war.
I looked up the tow rating on Ford's website...2012 AWD 3.0L is rating 3500. My guess is you're supposed to have brakes for over 2000 lbs so plan your stops early! You might also have some rear suspension squat depending on how you load the sleds. Easy does it and you should be OK. Good luck!
cardinal43
Member
Great posts, thanks guys... the rating is indeed 3500 so I think I'm going to try this and take it VERY easy
More to follow on this!
More to follow on this!
I think you"ll be OK as long as the trailer brakes are working 100% and you don't over load the tongue weight maybe put one sled on front of trailer with other two on the back. We used to haul 5 sleds on a 16' 4 place all sideways and facing opposite sides in a pinch. Yea they hung over the edge a little. Just don't over drive the capabilities of you and your Escape. Take er easy
legend02
Active member
Back in 1988, I towed a four place open trailer tio Eagle River with a 85 S10 Blazer with the 2.8
We took the 90/51/8/17 route. I have to get up extra speed before every hill to keep it at 55 or I would crawl at 45 till I crested the hill. So yo ucan do it but the vehicle will be working.
I suggest you go thru milwaukee to 894 to 45 north. Less hills that way.
We took the 90/51/8/17 route. I have to get up extra speed before every hill to keep it at 55 or I would crawl at 45 till I crested the hill. So yo ucan do it but the vehicle will be working.
I suggest you go thru milwaukee to 894 to 45 north. Less hills that way.
I have a 2010 Escape and it will do just fine with the weight you are talking about.Just push the overdrive button in on hills and long grades and it will pull the chit out of that load.I wish mine had a larger fuel tank,seems like it needs gas all to often but there is not much more room under it for a larger one.
cardinal43
Member
I do not have trailer brake hookup on the Escape. Do I absolutely need to get a tralier brake hookup added before the weekend, or just make sure I leave plenty of room for stopping?
Also, from a load standpoint on the four place, do you think 1 sled up front with 2 in the back of the four place?
Also, from a load standpoint on the four place, do you think 1 sled up front with 2 in the back of the four place?
Grant Hoar
New member
X2 on not doing this without trailer brakes.
I towed a buddies 4 place (loaded weight about 3500) with my half ton dodge pickup without trailer brakes, and that truck is a lot heavier than your Escape, and braking on wet roads was an experience I don't want to try again
Tongue weight should be 10 to 15% of total trailer weight, so arrange sleds as needed to get to that
I towed a buddies 4 place (loaded weight about 3500) with my half ton dodge pickup without trailer brakes, and that truck is a lot heavier than your Escape, and braking on wet roads was an experience I don't want to try again
Tongue weight should be 10 to 15% of total trailer weight, so arrange sleds as needed to get to that
One big difference to remember is the old S-10 was a full frame and weighed around 5,000 lbs compared to the uni-body Escape at around 4,000. Without brakes that could be a wild ride.