Ford Escape Towing a 929

[Don Depew]

I was wondering if anyone could help me with this. The company I work for buys us a new vehicle every 18 months. There are many vehicles to chose from but this year there is only one SUV on the list, the Ford Escape XLT. I currently have a 2001 Blazer and this towed my Targa with little effort. I just purchased a Nitro 929 and I havent brought it home yet. Total towing cap. for the Escape is 3500lbs. The Nitro total package is around 3300lbs. The Escape is a 201hp V-6 4x4 with a 2:91 rear end. Will the nitro be too much for this vehicle? I sure dont want to buy a new truck right now so if I could get by with the Escape, that would be good. Thanx for your help!



Don



Don

 

[Bill McElroy]

You should be okay as long as you're not traveling great distances,..(i.e. all over the country)..if you're just doing local and interstate stuff you'll be fine. The Escape is on par with the current Chevy S-10 Blazers, and i pull my 901 with no problem......BUT i have a 3:8.1 rear end and "towing pkg". You should be fine with a 929 and that vehicle. It might be hard on brake pads though,...keep an eye on those!! Enjoy the boat,...but when you're ready to buy a new tow vehicle,...."Like a ROCK Baby!!!"

;O)

Mac

 

[Mark Hofman]

Oh, Lordy, Mac. First I have to suffer through the Ranger vs. Skeeter/Triton/Nitro/Champion/Stratos/.... dribble on the BFHP board. Now this board gets into the "Which is better? Ford/Chevy/Dodge" arguement. LOLOLOL



My opinion is that the best tow vehicle is ANY vehicle that can tow my boat to a lake full o' fish!!!!!!!!!!



Mark

 

[Sam Elkins]

Don, That rear end is below the recommended ratio for good towing. You really need something between 3.5:1 and 4.1:1. It may do you a good job like Mac said as long as you stay with short hauls and relatively flat terrain. I would try and get a different rear end if I was you. But then if you only keep the vehicle for 18 months you might be ok.

 

[Jon Jackoviak]

Just have to say it MOFish!! "DODGE POWER" LOL!!



Jon

 

[TrepMan]

OK i'll bite Mark...



Domo Arigato - Honda Power!

 

[Staci Matheis]

Although great for fuel mileage, 2.91 is quite high for towing........



Be sure to spend the bux to add an aftermarket transmission cooler if there isn't one already installed.



And I would not recommend towing in over-drive.



me!

 

[Staci Matheis]

P.S.



Remember, that 3300# package weight is WITHOUT fuel in the tank, oil in the resevoir, tackle in the bins, ice in the cooler, fish in the livewell, spare tire.........

 

[Greg Meyer]

I figure a day's supply of beer will put him over the rated towing capacity...



Like Garth says...it's a "B" double "E" double "R" "U" "N"...



hgbear

 

[Mark Hofman]

Mac:



Did you know that the ad team for Chevy came up with the "Like a Rock" slogan because the lead agency guy had his Chevy break down so many times? He came to work that morning, stormed into the conference room and said,



"Those $#)$! Chevy's run just about as well as a big rock! Yeah, that's what I said - LIKE A ROCK!!!"



Then he stormed out of the room, leaving the rest of the group to ponder his suggestion.



(Hope you realize, I'm jus kiddin' ya. My Funny Old Re-built Dodge is in the shop with a short-circuited electrial system, so I'm definitely NOT braggin'.)



As I said under another post: "Durn re-accurin' case of dat dredded cabin fever!"

 

[TrepMan]

Jim - Good points, this get's to my earlier post about how manufacturers define towing capacity. The Escape has the same engine (with a few differences) from my Sable Wagon, the 3 ltr Duratec V-6. The difference in weights between my wagon and the Escape I can't find, but would assume my Sable weighs more than the escape (given that's the wagon is 24 inches longer), but has 1/2 the tow rating.



As to being able to tow the specific boat w/the Escape I can't speak to that.

 

[Mark Hofman]

I also have to agree with Scott. My truck has a 4.6 V-8 (should have upgraded to the 5.4 liter!), a 3.55 limited slip differential, and towing package replete with transmission cooler. In the Ozark hills (I'm from Colorado, so I can't call them 'mountains' quite yet), I can't pull our TV18 in overdrive. The gear ratio on that Escape is not high enough for towing. Going to different gearing, and adding a transmission cooler will make a tremendous difference, especially on slippery, wet boat ramps.



Mark

 

[Staci Matheis]

I just got to thinkin'......

(Don't do this at home, folks - leave it to trained professionals like me!)



With that high a rear axle ratio, the Escape may not have an over-drive transmission...... Maybe something like a 3-speed direct-drive to keep manufacturing costs down.......



me!

 

[Don Depew]

Yes, I agree guys. The Escape may not be enough. My Blazer is the TrailBlazer version and it has 3:73:1 rear end. But its a free vehicle for work/play, so I would like it to be able to pull my rigg. I was just on the FORD web-site and there it says something about drive train ratio 3:4:1. I cant figure out if the thing is front wheel drive or not. I would really like to have the new Trail Blazer w/270 ponys to do the haulin, but my company took it off the list.(Too much $$$$$$) Oh well, If the escape wont work I guess I will havt convince mamma daddy needs a new truck! I can only imagine how that conversation will go!



Don

 

[Rich Stern]

Not a good match, in my opinion.



Scott and I used his Jeep Cherokee 4.0 to haul a 929 from Springfield, MO to Warsaw, MO and back last year. The Cherokee has a 5000 lb. rating, if I remember correctly. It's a stouter towing platform than the Escape, with a body-on-frame construction and traditional leafspring suspension.



The Jeep did pretty well, but the suspension did sag heavily from the tongue wieght. It was safe towing, but I wouldn't describe it as easy towing.



The Escape will simply be overmatched by the 929 both in terms of weight and size. The wheelbase on the Escape is pretty short and things might get a little hairy in tough situations.



Most folks I have talked to say to plan for using 75% to 80% of your vehicles tow rating. It's a pretty good bet that the 929, fully fueled and loaded, could easily be at 110% of the Escape's tow rating.



Don't do it.

 

[Bill McElroy]

Yo MO,...you don't expect me to be too PRO Ford, when my paychex have a big blue square on them do you?? LOL!! It's hard enough as it is to say nice things about other manufacturers' boats, let alone tow vehicles!! ahahaahhaa

As much as I'd love a new TrailBlazer,..(Don, You're my hero!!) my Hi-Wider (just a off-road suspension pkg) is plenty strong enough to pull my 901. I think I could pull a 929 easy'nuff too, since my tournament travels rarely exceed 500 miles round trip!! I'm just being loyal to the company that's provided my family's income and transportation for the past 20 yrs,....can't blame me for that! I have my favorite choices from every manufacturer too,....I like the Durango,..I like the Ford Escape,..I'd LOVE a Suburban or Tahoe,...or Trailblazer (LOL),..I'm not picky,..like Scott says,..if it'll tow my boat,..it'll work!! LOL

Mac

 

[Steve Helscher]

My son has a new Escape and it is rated for 3500 lbs. It comes standard with a Class II receiver. I would be afraid of putting that large of a boat behind that vehicle.

 

[Mark Hofman]

Mac:



Yeah, I suppose having sponsors and endorsements and corporate support can really foul up a fisherman's life.



BTG (Big Toothy Grin)



No, seriously, you're right. You appreciate what the good Lord provides, whether its a certain brand of truck or the employer that allows you to put food on the table.



Don, it might be wiser to look at a year- or two-year old full-size, low mileage truck that can do the job correctly. Or a even a high-mileage full-size truck that you only use to pull that beautiful boat around.



Mark

 

[Don Depew]

Well guys, I never thought this would get so much attention and Im sure glad it did. Im convinced that the escape wont do the job! Ive got a 78 chevy with a strong motor I rebuilt last year and I know it would pull my rigg just fine. The only thing is the Chevy is rough to ride in for very long and no real leg room for my 6,6" frame. But I guess it will havt to do for now or until I find a good deal on a nice used chevy. Thanx to all for your help!



Don

 

[Mark Hofman]

Man, that Jeep Wrangler will be SQUIRRELY! Short wheelbases like that are murder to control when towing any kind of a trailer. We had a '63 IH Scout and tried to tow a pop-up camper on hunting trips. Bad news.



The frame would handle the hitch, but you'll definitely have to drive that thing.



Mark

 

[Staci Matheis]

Since Rich mentioned it...... See the sag in the rear!