Do you need a WDH to pull a Escape 19? - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Towing and Hitching
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-08-2013, 12:19 AM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Belleville, Ontario
Trailer: None yet
Posts: 75
Do you need a WDH to pull a Escape 19?

I'm thinking of getting either Toyota Highlander or a new Hyundai Santa Fe (the long wheel base version). Both are V6 and both have 3 rows of seats. The Santa Fe is a bit longer and the wheelbase is a bit longer too. The engine is also a bit more powerful. Both are rated to pull 5000lb.

Do I need a WDH on either of these vehicles if I choose to pull the Escape 19?
yhbae is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 12:20 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
techfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
I have a 2012 Santa Fe and the WDH is recommended for all SUV's especially with primary FWD/AWD and unibody construction. One caution, Hyundai mileage is notoriously inaccurate. I am getting 25% less than stated for around town; 15 mpg unloaded. It is also worse on the highway. This is the first vehicle that I have ever purchased where the mileage was worse than was stated. JD Power and Associates now lists this as a major complaint among Santa Fe owners. There are also lots of quality control issues on the build, at least there are on my 2012. My advice- go with the Toyota. Good luck! Tim
techfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 12:37 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Bruce Wray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Pollock Pines, California
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19
Posts: 453
Definitely the Highlander, and yes to the WDH. That's what Rick and Laura use to pull their 19, I'd suggest you PM him.

Bruce
Bruce Wray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 12:43 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
Posts: 743
Everything I've read said that even if you don't need WDH, it does improve the stability and quality of your ride. I'm planning on going with a WDH with a Nissan Frontier when the time comes.
__________________
Doug

2013 Escape 19 ("The Dog House") , 2018 Ford F150
dbailey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 01:19 PM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Belleville, Ontario
Trailer: None yet
Posts: 75
Thanks guys, looks like WDH all the way!

As for Santa Fe vs Highlander - I will need to look into it more carefully.

I currently own 2012 Sonata Limited 4cyl and it is the most trouble free car I have ever owned. Zero issues in 2.5 years.

I was never able to get the listed mileage from any of my past cars, this one included. Having said that, I thought its highway mileage is pretty impressive - around 34mpg on the highways around my town. This is about the same as what I used to get from Civic while back.
yhbae is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 06:43 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Silverdale, Washington
Trailer: No more Escape 21
Posts: 412
Just catching up . . . As Bruce said, we pull our 19 Escape with a 2008 Highlander. And yes we use a WDH.

A good combination of a everyday driver and a tow vehicle, just like Jim Bennett's description of his Honda Pilot.
__________________
2008 Toyota Highlander
RickM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2013, 12:43 AM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2010 Escape 15B (c)
Posts: 66
The traffic on the 427, 401, 407, QEW and Don Valley Parkway must have improved dramatically since I left there three years ago, especially in rush hour
__________________
2010 Escape 15B (c) pulled by a 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport

"It's quicker to go slow" &
"You're only young once, you're a helluva long time dead"
Dixhiccup is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2013, 12:49 AM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Belleville, Ontario
Trailer: None yet
Posts: 75
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dixhiccup View Post
The traffic on the 427, 401, 407, QEW and Don Valley Parkway must have improved dramatically since I left there three years ago, especially in rush hour
During rush hours, of course its pretty bad.

But outside that, its not that bad. I averaged from my house to Niagara Falls return trip, averaging around 35mpg as well.

I have a friend who also owns 2013 Sonata and he never exceeds the limit. He consistently gets over 38mpg... He lives in St Catherines but needs to travel back to Toronto often.
yhbae is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 11:49 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N/A, Indiana
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 976
From Escape trailers :

What does an equalizer hitch do ?

The EQ hitch evenly distributes the trailer tongue weight of the trailer throughout the front and rear axles of the tow vehicle and the trailer axle. All front wheel drive vehicles will require an equalizer hitch.

Thank you for your interest in the Escape Trailer.

We have had a couple of people ask for a sway bar however, it is not something that people request very often. The key to preventing sway is loading the trailer properly; maintaining a 15% hitch weight. In the 19’ Escape we offer a permanent queen bed in the back of the trailer with storage underneath this storage space is easily accessible and is often filled before any of the storage compartments in the front of the trailer are used.


The equalizer hitch we offer does not include a sway control feature however it does distribute the weight evenly throughout the frame of the tow vehicle and trailer maintaining a positive hitch weight.
__________________
"Never argue with an idiot. They only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlin
Jubal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 12:23 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
I think saying these hitches distribute the weight evenly is not exactly true. Yes, it does distribute the weight, but in no way does it equally. Wheel base length of the tow, axle to tongue length of the trailer, and the way both units are loaded will all play on the degree of distribution.

I kinda think that is why most manufacturers now mostly call them a WDH (Weight Distribution Hitch), and they do in fact distribute the weight is a beneficial way, but not that the weight is distributed equally.

THIS Andersen WDH that Dave had linked to before does have sway control, I know little about it, but it does look like a nice simpler and lighter system, which would be way easier to store when not needed.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 01:57 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
Our weight transferred is about 300 lbs. You can check it on a truck scale. We have 100 lbs. going back to the trailer and the rest up to the front of the tow.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 02:20 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
techfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
Re Highlander vs. Santa Fe
When I suggested Highlander over SantaFe (which we have) I neglected to mention that we too, had another Hyundai, an Elantra which has been a great car! In fact, it was the Elantra, that made us feel good about getting a Santa Fe. For some reason, the Santa Fe has not worked out nearly as well, hence my suggestion about looking closer at the Highlander for your tow vehicle. Good luck on your research and decision making for both the tow and the Escape!
__________________
Tim and Julie
2013 Escape 15B
2014 Nissan Frontier, Previous 2012 Santa Fe
techfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 03:50 PM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Belleville, Ontario
Trailer: None yet
Posts: 75
Quote:
Originally Posted by techfan View Post
Re Highlander vs. Santa Fe
When I suggested Highlander over SantaFe (which we have) I neglected to mention that we too, had another Hyundai, an Elantra which has been a great car! In fact, it was the Elantra, that made us feel good about getting a Santa Fe. For some reason, the Santa Fe has not worked out nearly as well, hence my suggestion about looking closer at the Highlander for your tow vehicle. Good luck on your research and decision making for both the tow and the Escape!
Thanks for the info.

2012 - is that the latest generation or is it one gen before the current one? Hyundai seems to have made a huge jump in their latest generation Sonata and Santa Fe. I'm hoping that the new Santa Fe will be as good as my Sonata.
yhbae is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 04:19 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Check tow rating on new Santa Fe. Apparently you have to get the 7 seat version to get the 3,500 lb. tow rating. The standard version has been downgraded, like everything else.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 06:57 PM   #15
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Belleville, Ontario
Trailer: None yet
Posts: 75
Actually, the 5 seat version does 3500lb. 7 seat version will do 5000lb. And the 7 seat version only comes with V6.
yhbae is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 07:01 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
OK. I stand corrected. My buddy has a Santa Fe and doesn't want to buy the 7 seat to get the V6.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.