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Old 01-06-2014, 07:43 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blond1 View Post
Thanks Brian - I was thrilled to see that someone was using a Prius to tow a 19' Escape.
Don't know where you got that from. The guy Ken over on FGRV was towing a 16' Scamp. And, he didn't tow it that far.
If your tow vehicle is not rated to tow, even if it goes a few miles, it's going to wear out rapidly and cost you more in the end.
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Old 01-06-2014, 08:11 PM   #22
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Slip of the finger - 16 ft. And yes, it was a Scamp.
But I've been talked out of towing with the Prius - it was such a nice thought, though.
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Old 01-06-2014, 08:25 PM   #23
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If your tow vehicle is not rated to tow, even if it goes a few miles, it's going to wear out rapidly and cost you more in the end.
Maybe, maybe not. Many tow limitations are about extended high-load operation, and would not be an issue at all for short distances or gentle (e.g. flatlands at moderate speed) operation. That's the problem: we don't know which limiting factors determine a specific tow rating, so exceeding that rating is risky; I'm not suggesting it, just discussing what would need to be considered.
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Old 01-06-2014, 08:40 PM   #24
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Maybe, maybe not.
How true.
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Old 01-19-2014, 11:06 PM   #25
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The truck is rear wheel, so not likely an issue. We were towing a 17B with a FWD Nissan Murano, and it was ok on most surfaces, however feel much safer with a 4WD Highlander now. What you can tow vs. what you should tow can be two different things.
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Old 01-19-2014, 11:44 PM   #26
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The truck is rear wheel, so not likely an issue.
I assume that this was a reference to rear-wheel-drive. What truck, and what is not likely an issue? Rear wheel drive is better for traction than front-wheel-drive if the tug is heavily loaded in the rear, if the concern was traction.

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Originally Posted by Rossue View Post
We were towing a 17B with a FWD Nissan Murano, and it was ok on most surfaces, however feel much safer with a 4WD Highlander now.
4WD certainly makes people feel more safe; whether or not they are more safe is another matter entirely. It's winter here for at least half the year, and the ditches collect at least as many 4WD as 2WD vehicles.
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Old 02-02-2014, 10:05 PM   #27
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Brian, you are absolutely right and I argued with my bro-in-law for years about the need for 4WD. Told him I am a spring skier, so if I drive to Mammoth/Tahoe, I am only going to need chains. Plus, at least in CA you need chains with 4WD too unless you have snow tires on contrary to popular belief or the CHP will tow.

My desire to get the 4WD Highlander came as a result of coming out of a dispersed campsite near Sedona on Oak Creek (you can see it if you Google Earth Angel Valley). The UPS guy said no problem when I asked if I could turn my trailer around. What he didn't tell me was the significant slope at the very end, which was then the beginning out my drive out. Barely scratched my way up with that 2WD Murano. Pretty stressful.

I started researching suitability of the Murano, and although it spec'd out, something was telling me that it wasn't the right tug. I started asking questions and it got down to the fact that although I could tow my 17B, it was not really designed to be a tow vehicle. None of them come with a hitch installed, or offer tow packages. The Highlander is far superior in feel and though the 2WD no doubt would have done it, the price I paid for my 4WD SE at the end of the model year and the 1 mpg difference was worth it.
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Old 02-03-2014, 05:49 PM   #28
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Smile Attention Frontier Owners!!!

Something new has been Added!
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Old 02-03-2014, 11:08 PM   #29
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Okay, I'll ask, where did you get those mirrors?
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Old 02-03-2014, 11:53 PM   #30
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Okay, I'll ask, where did you get those mirrors?
Escape Artist mentioned this company in a thread awhile back. I had them installed by my Nissan Dealer in Vancouver and that were very impressed with the quality and asked me for the same information.2013 Nissan Frontier Side View Mirror | 2013 Nissan Frontier Replacement Passenger & Driver Side Mirrors | Aftermarket 2013 Nissan Frontier Side Rear View Mirrors At 1A Auto They are well worth it \. No vibration. No blind spot.
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Old 02-04-2014, 08:02 AM   #31
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I like those mirrors. I check, and they don't have extending or dual mirror for a Pilot, just the regular replacement. Too bad.
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Old 02-04-2014, 08:50 AM   #32
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My son just bought a new GMC Sierra 2500 that came with these mirrors. He thinks they're the cat's meow; it was one of the first things he pointed out to me when showing me the truck. I, too, checked but could find nothing for my old Ford 150.
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Old 02-26-2014, 06:15 AM   #33
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The truck is rear wheel, so not likely an issue. We were towing a 17B with a FWD Nissan Murano, and it was ok on most surfaces, however feel much safer with a 4WD Highlander now. What you can tow vs. what you should tow can be two different things.

TRUE!

If a factory tow package is not offered, There is a good reason.
So don't tow with it!

The manufacturers factor in the entire vehicle, not just the engine. Transmission, Engine, cooling, springs, struts, brakes, chassis, and other components, all factor in. And just because a given vehicle tows fine on flat ground, doesn't mean it will do the same in the mountains where air is thinner and horsepower is down.

Our Honda Fit is a fine vehicle for it's purpose, and a Prius even better, but I would not attempt to tow with either. We have been towing for 40+ years and have come to the conclusion to not skimp with the TV. Ours is rated at about 58-60% higher than our loaded trailer weight. Sometimes that is barely adequate to maintain posted speed on an 8% grade.

In the past, with 2wd and limited slip axle, we did manage to loose traction in something as simple as wet grass on a slight incline. Haven't had that problem with the 4WD TV.

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Old 02-26-2014, 07:37 AM   #34
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I tow my 17ft Casita with a 6 cyl Honda Ridgeline and it tows beautifully without any special hitch configuration. The Ridgeline has a tow rating of 5,000 pounds giving us a high margin of safety. I expect the same smooth towing from the new 19 ft Escape we ordered. The Ridgeline has 4 wheel drive when needed and a wonderfully handy storage compartment below the bed for all manner of stuff. The only negative is 11-12 mpg under tow.
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Old 02-26-2014, 08:21 AM   #35
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Old 02-26-2014, 08:25 AM   #36
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I think Kip has some great points about vehicle suitability, but one comment concerns me:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kip in Ga. View Post
Ours is rated at about 58-60% higher than our loaded trailer weight. Sometimes that is barely adequate to maintain posted speed on an 8% grade.
What are trailer owners expecting? Do they really expect to maintain their flat-ground cruising speed while climbing the steepest grades they will encounter on a typical mountain highway? Just to elevate the weight of a fully loaded Escape 17 up an 8% grade at the 110km/h (68 mph) speed limit of BC's Coquihalla highway takes an additional 33 kW (44 hp) beyond the requirement to keep it moving against mechanical and aerodynamic drag... and a greater amount to elevate the tug's greater weight. You can do that, but you'll need that 300 hp engine and should expect that high fuel consumption.

When towing the trailer I maintain a reasonable speed up grades, enough to pass the big trucks when there is a lane to do so, but often less than my flat-ground cruising speed. I need higher engine speed than typical cruising, but I'm still not using all of the available engine speed or power. The tug easily meets my expectations.

There seems to be a tendency in this sort of discussion to confuse performance and safety. It is not unsafe or unreasonable to slow down somewhat while climbing hills. When climbing those grades I've noticed how many of the big commercial trucks maintain the speed limit, even when running empty: absolutely none. They would need - for my example grade and speed and a modest 30-ton load - about 1500 hp... nothing on the road comes close to that, 1/3 of that is great, and many make do with less.

Reliability and stability are important; every owner needs to decide whether or not the rig is expected to compete in hillclimb races.
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Old 02-26-2014, 08:44 AM   #37
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Brian, out of curiosity, is there a formula for hp loss on grades? I found one for altitude loss but not grade.
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Old 02-26-2014, 09:26 AM   #38
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Who needs a tow vehicle at all? Check out this trailer mod. Reace, how about this?
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Old 02-26-2014, 09:41 AM   #39
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Ellentob,

We too tow a 17' Casita SD with an '09 Ridgeline. We tow at 57ish mph. On the North Ga rolling hills, We generally average in the 15-17 mpg range.

Differences in your fuel mileage and mine may be the speed we travel. Or the terrain. Although one trip from south of Montgomery Ala to home the mileage dipped to 13ish due to a head wind.

Interesting enough, I've talked to a bunch of "Egg" owners that tow with V8s and they claim about the same mpg as I do, towing. But lower than the RL when not towing.

We do enjoy the RL. And that trunk under the bed, and side swinging tailgate, and wonderful ride work fine for us. We (I) have been giving serious consideration to an Escape 19.

We are headed to the GE&H rally in Montgomery next month. Hope there are some Escapes there for us to see.

Kip
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Old 02-26-2014, 10:11 AM   #40
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Kip, there will be at least 8 Escapes here in April http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f1...d-tn-2834.html
if you can wait that long?
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