Looking to purchase a 5.0 -what's a good towing vehicle

[edal3325]

Of the escape family of owners who has the smallest vehicle towing an Escape 5.0?

We currently have a 2001 Ford Ranger Regular Cab with a 3.0L V6 and automatic transmission.
Trying to find out if anyone else is towing with a 3.0L V6 and automatic transmission.

[kvermeulen]

I am towing with a 4.0L, ranger with 5spd auto, and am finding that it is ok with OD turned off. Not sure I would tow it with a 3.0L.. We get about 19MPG towing the 5.0...

Just my thoughts.

Ken

[amirie]

Heck we couldn't even tow a 17B with the 3.0 motor--the GCVW with a canopy for the truck did not add up at all...

It was a complicated procedure as we bought the truck to tow a 15' trailer--then took it over the scale at the dump and realized it would not be legal--took it back because they knew what we wanted to tow with it--explained the legalities and so we ended up with our Ford Escape and then a 17B!!!

[macsim]

This is the first time I have posted here...We are purchasing a 17B and we have a 3.0 l engine in our Equinox....The Equinox specs say it can handle 3500 LBS...We assumed ( perhaps incorrectly) that it would be able to tow a 17B...Am I wrong?! BTW this whole forum has been really gresat to read as we wait for our trailer.
D

[thoer]

D,

Welcome and soon welcome to the 17B owners group! You will love it.

I think it would take a lot of overloading to get a 17B to weigh more than 3500# so you should be fine. Always dumping your grey and black water tanks and traveling with a mostly empty fresh water tank will help. The engine may work hard when going up over mountain passes, but you should be ok if you just slow down and go up at a speed that the engine is comfortable at. I would definitely recommend a weight distributing hitch when you buy your 17B - it will make for a much better (and safer) ride.

Eric

Originally Posted by macsim

This is the first time I have posted here...We are purchasing a 17B and we have a 3.0 l engine in our Equinox....The Equinox specs say it can handle 3500 LBS...We assumed ( perhaps incorrectly) that it would be able to tow a 17B...Am I wrong?! BTW this whole forum has been really gresat to read as we wait for our trailer.
D

[JeffZ]

I echo the WDH - it will just add the stability & safety factor..

[gharms]

Also from my side an echo about the WDH. I love how secure Cafe Egg tows, even when big rigs come by!!

[gocamp]

a number of rv forums advise stay 8 to10 percent below your 3500 LB rating. A saftey margin I guess? I never read why. There have been some posts here of an all loaded up ready to camp weight of 17's. Can anyone find them? I searched with no luck.

Originally Posted by macsim

This is the first time I have posted here...We are purchasing a 17B and we have a 3.0 l engine in our Equinox....The Equinox specs say it can handle 3500 LBS...We assumed ( perhaps incorrectly) that it would be able to tow a 17B...Am I wrong?! BTW this whole forum has been really gresat to read as we wait for our trailer.
D

[paulw]

There was one Escape 17 weighed at the Oregon Gathering in 2008 and again in 2009.

An Escape owner weighed Last Year (2008)...
08 ESCAPE B 17
TRAILER AXLE 1: Left Wheel=1300, Right Wheel=1200
TRAILER AXLE WEIGHT=2500
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=500
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3000

...and came back and weighed again This Year (2009):
08 ESCAPE B 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1220, Right Wheel=1120
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2340
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=320
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=2660

...The owner told me that the major difference was that in 2008 the Fresh Water Tank was Full, and in 2009 the Fresh Water Tank was Empty.

There must have been some other explanation for the 180# difference in hitch weight since the fresh water is behind the axle.
Hopefully a few more of us attending the OR Gathering this year will be able to participate to get more data points.

[ronstew]

This thread is supposed to be about a tow vehicles for a 5.0.

First, it should not be in the For Sale section.

Second, it should not wander off into discussions of other configurations. Why? Because people who are not interested in the 5.0 won't even look at the thread.

You can roll your eyes at me if you want, but even with a little forum like this, we ought to keep our threads properly labeled.

For a discussion of the weight of my 17b, please see this thread.

[Jim Bennett]

Welcome EDP.

You must not only look at the towing capacity of your tow vehicle, but use the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) as the primary guide. This is the total of the tow vehicle, plus its occupants and contents, as well as the total weight of the trailer and its contents. I believe the towing capacity of your truck is around 4,100 and the GCWR is 7,800. The vehicle is about 3,000 dry . So if the trailer did end up being 3,500 loaded, then you have 1,800 left for the weight of fuel, occupants and payload. You should be able to bring this in under the limit with not too much trouble. If your trailer weight is more, obviously then you would have less capacity for the trucks payload.

You do have to remember that operating near the weight ratings will definitely affect performance, both in fuel economy and power. Those long steep hills will draw your power and speed down in a hurry. The main thing is, is that you would be safely operating within the limits of the vehicle.

I have seen way too many folks bring their towing weight right up to capacity, and then load lots more weight into the tow vehicle not paying attention to the combined weight, drastically reducing performance and more importantly safety.

[edal3325]

Thanks for the input.

This was my first post and so I put it in the wrong section, sorry...

I will learn and hopefully it will not take too long for that to occur…

[gocamp]

you bet, a number of folks here are more than happy help someone new. Get in here and ask any question you'd like, Dont be bashful.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by EDP

Thanks for the input.

This was my first post and so I put it in the wrong section, sorry...

I will learn and hopefully it will not take too long for that to occur…

Jeff will have to split and move this thread. I'm not moderator of this section so I can't do it.

baglo

[JeffZ]

it'sa moved froma the utta board.