Tow vehicle

[Stacey H]

Hi all. I need to replace my tow vehicle and trying to figure out options I have a 19’

What size is your trailer and what is your tow vehicle?

TIA 🙂

[SageRpod]

Hi Stacy. You will have lots of options. A lot depends on the vehicle you want when you are not hitched up as well as when you are towing. Tell us a little more about how you will be using your tow vehicle and Escape and you will have no shortage of opinions from the forum.

[Viajante]

Yes, you can get a lot of opinions. If your current vehicle is inadequate then you probably will go larger. Whether you get a pickup or an SUV depends on your non towing needs for the vehicle. As for brands, there is a lot of brand loyalty out there. The E19 sits at a size point with many options from a mid-size SUV to a large pickup.

[splitting_lanes]

Originally Posted by Stacey H

Hi all. I need to replace my tow vehicle and trying to figure out options I have a 19’

What size is your trailer and what is your tow vehicle?

TIA 🙂

We tow a 5.0 with a GMC canyon 2.8l diesel. I know of another member on here that tows a 19 with a Chevy Colorado 2.8 diesel. The upfront cost of a diesel is probably not going to pay back unless you tow lots of miles. They are great for towing though…

[Stacey H]

Hi. I had a Tacoma that I loved but unfortunately it developed a rust issue on the frame. I was looking at the 4 Runner but it and most other vehicles only have a 5000lbs tow rating. I don’t think that’s enough as I live near mountains so almost any trip means up and down the hills. I don’t want to wreck the engine of a new vehicle

[Doug2000]

I had a 2017 4Runner and a 2007 17B. Later we purchased a 202 19' and it was way heavier than the 17B. I would not tow the 19' with a 4Runner, maybe around home but definitly not through the mountains. We useda 2017 Tundra 5.7L to pull the Tundra. Got a solid 11MPG.

If your looking for a tow vehicle, make sure to watch TFL The Fast Lane on Youtube. The have the best truck towing tests. Their ultimate test is called the Ike Gauntlet which is from the Eisenhower Tunnel at 11,000' down 8 miles and back up at 7% grade and max trailer capacity doing the speed limit. Yes they hold it to the floor for portions.

The uphill starts at 5:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zSB2VYCYr0

[Ian G]

We towed our 19' with a 2008 Toyota 4Runner, we loved the size and functionality of the 4Runner, it worked well but it was working on mountain passes. We upgraded to a Lexus GX 460, the same size as the 4Runner but with a 4.6L V8 and a 6500 lb tow capacity. Love the combination. But agree with many that you have lots to choose from, what works best for your camping & everyday life.

[John in Santa Cruz]

I'm extremely happy towing my E21 with a Ford Expedition (short body, not Max or EL).

Today's campsite at Las Glorias on the Mexican west coast...

[Sean Murry]

We tow our E19 with a 2018 GMC Canyon v-6 gas engine. Very happy with the performance even going up the mountain passes. We like a pick up so we can put dirty stuff back there like camp chairs, BBQ, propane tanks for the BBQ etc.

[salmo7000]

Originally Posted by splitting_lanes

We tow a 5.0 with a GMC canyon 2.8l diesel. I know of another member on here that tows a 19 with a Chevy Colorado 2.8 diesel. The upfront cost of a diesel is probably not going to pay back unless you tow lots of miles. They are great for towing though…

Maybe that would be me?? I still have my Colorado diesel and I would heartily recommend this pickup for towing a 19, but sadly, GM no longer makes either the Colorado or Canyon with the diesel. So a new one is not possible. This is very unfortunate, as their mpg, both towing and not towing, is unmatched, as far as I can tell. On my last trip towing my 19, my truck averaged 19.2 mpg up and down mountain grades of Idaho. I think the only truck that comes close is the Dodge Ram Ecodiesel, which has also been discontinued.

That said, if a person could find a late model used diesel Colorado, Canyon, or Dodge Ecodiesel, these would definitely be worth considering, depending on what a person wants. And if I was going to replace my 2017 Colorado, after much deliberation and researching the options and costs, I would probably do so with a 2024 Colorado, with the more powerful turbo 4 cylinder gas engine. The 2024 Colorados and Canyons are rated to tow 7,700 lbs and would make great tow vehicles for a 19, as did their predecessors. I would also consider a 2024 Tacoma but am waiting to see what the mpg ratings are for the hybrid trim. From what others have said, however, whatever it is may not translate to very good mpg while towing. But, if a person loves Toyotas and prefers a mid size pickup, the 2024 Tacoma lineup, hybrid or not, is definitely worth a look.

Other than that, lots of folks here love towing their Escapes with F-150s and other full size half tons. And Chevy is making a 3.0L diesel 1500 that is rated with almost as high mpg as the diesel Colorados, so they may be worth consideration as well, although the cost of a new one does become a factor. Then there is a whole suite of SUV options out there. Hopefully everyone will chime in!!

[YakRV]

Hi, Stacey H. We tow our 2022 21C with a 2021 F-150 PowerBoost (hybrid 3.5L EcoBoost). Easy towing for this relative newby, and it has a built-in inverter/generator for any days our Escape’s batteries and solar aren’t enough. We like this setup very much.

[iamunique127]

Oh boy, another truck thread. I love these!

Although our trailer is different from yours our Tundra is very capable with the 5.0TA and likely would with your E19 as well. Ours is a bit older being a 2013 but the 5.7L engine is still going strong. Admittedly, it eats a fair bit of gas.

Several ppl here on the forum use the newer 6 cylinder turbo Tundras which apparently get better mileage. That is what we'll get next.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by Stacey H

Hi all. I need to replace my tow vehicle and trying to figure out options I have a 19’

Would be interested to know what your current tow vehicle is, and how it does and does not meet your wants / needs?

That might provide some focus to an otherwise almost endless list of possibilities.

[jack sparrow]

Hi Stacey,


I have a 2023 Escape 21NE and I tow it with a Lexus GX470. It dose a great job of pulling and ride. Fuel mileage could be better. I run at a speed of 60-65 mph while towing. Bottom line...... it's all in what you want, your happiness #1 on what you tow with.


Good luck...


Cheers to ya... and Happy Trails.......Jack

[brroberts]

Ok , I’ll play. I have a 2021 Ford Ranger XLT with 7500lbs towing, 1827lbs payload, and 12,100lbs combined. It works great. Average 15.5 mpg towing and 21-27 empty. Payload is as important to me as towing capacity.

[SageRpod]

Article on turbocharged engines. Ecoboost comes out on top. I can vouch for the Volvo engine as well. It’s in my wife’s car.


https://www.topspeed.com/best-turboc...r-reliability/

[DanandDaphne]

We just got a new 2024 Tundra with the v6 turbo and it is a wonderful tow vehicle for our 5.0. I am so impressed with its power and handling and it's also very comfortable. We just got back home from Dallas TX and 2000 miles of towing. I found that I have much less fatigue after towing all day than I did towing with our old 2002 Tundra.

From your previous vehicles I would guess you are looking for a midsize truck. For a 19 I think the new Tacoma would be a great tow vehicle, a 4runner would also be good but I just feel like the 4runner is a bit of a dinosaur and due for the same upgrades they made to the Tacoma. I don't know where you live and the other uses your vehicle will be used for but for towing I personally like a full size truck, I like my tow vehicle to weigh as much as what I'm towing.

[brroberts]

“ I like my tow vehicle to weigh as much as what I'm towing.”

My Ranger does weigh as much as my 19. I prefer to tow with my midsize because it is easier to drive without the trailer also.

I have an older full size 3/4 ton, and it pulls my Escape just fine, but it’s overkill.

[DanandDaphne]

Originally Posted by brroberts

“ I like my tow vehicle to weigh as much as what I'm towing.”

My Ranger does weigh as much as my 19. I prefer to tow with my midsize because it is easier to drive without the trailer also.

I have an older full size 3/4 ton, and it pulls my Escape just fine, but it’s overkill.

Yes midsize trucks are getting closer to full size all the time I just looked up the curb weight of a 24 Ranger XLT crew cab 4wd SB and it said 4,415lbs, which is just 1,000 less than my Tundra.

A new Tacoma is much the same at 4,485lbs.

I understand not wanting to drive a full size truck around especially while not towing. After driving around Dallas with our Tundra I get it. If we weren't towing a 5.0 I would really prefer a Tacoma.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Centex

Would be interested to know what your current tow vehicle is, and how it does and does not meet your wants / needs?

That might provide some focus to an otherwise almost endless list of possibilities.

Post #5, rust on frame.

I towed my Gen 1 19 far and wide with the old version of Rangers. It did just fine. While our F150, 2.7 is a great tow vehicle for the 21 it might be overkill unless a person specifically wants a pickup.

Ron