A comfortable tow...

[John in Santa Cruz]

for a heavier trailer like an escape 21, I wouldn't want anything that wasn't full framed, and RWD or (ideally) proper 4x4 (the kind with manual transfer case that lets you select 2H, 4H, 4L). while IRS suspension gives you a plush ride around town, it has a lot more moving joints that are heavily stressed when towing (both pulling, and braking with the trailer).

having just had an emergency experience (towball coming off the tow bar) with our E21, I was really really glad for the massive stability of the F250 diesel truck (curb weight 6600 lbs, gvwr 8800 lbs, max tow 12500 lbs, trailer weighed close to its GWR of 4500 lbs). until I brought things to a stop, the disconnected trailer was whipping back and forth quite violently, this could have flipped a lighter tow vehicle. instead of the potential catastrophe, I was able to stop on the shoulder, unhitch, drive to an O'Reilly's 15 mins away and pick up a new towbar+ball combination, and was back on the road an hour after the incident, a bit shaken, but not stirred.

[Rossue]

Remember meeting Dennis in Santa Fe who wanted to see our 21 as he had ordered a 17B without ever having seen an Escape. About his Dodge 3500 he said it was someone else's dream foisted on him and he couldn't wait to get out of his stickie 5th wheel. He towed the 17B with it until recently then switched to a 23' AS.

My point is very few Escape owners tow with a 3500 or 2500. Lots of F150's though. The tow ball thread strip is a prime example of the need to check your tow for several items daily when towing and the hitch setup is #1. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a 6600 lb. TV.

[BC Rockcrawler]

I don't think I have seen anyone mention or discuss GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) on the forum when discussing towing. My Ranger has a GVWR of 5000 LBS and a towing capacity of 5000 lbs but a GCWR of only 9500 LBS so if I am at max GVW I can only tow a maximum of 4500 lbs and still be legal. You would be surprised how quick you can get to max GVW on a vehicle. The Ranger with myself and my wife, a full tank of gas, a tool box in the bed, the tools etc. I haul when traveling brings the weight of the Ranger to 4410 LBS. I can only carry another 590 LBS in the truck and that's not accounting for the tongue weight of the trailer. I have an 2005 17B so GVW of that is 3500 LBS and I have only towed it at about 3100 LBS (Axle weight + tongue weight) Last time through the scales (last week) I was over the GVW of the truck by about 250 LBS but still about 3100 LBS on the trailer. I will need to change a few things before the next trip.


The point here is you should consider GCWR and know the weights of your trailer and tow vehicle because there is always a chance of being stopped by the CVSE (Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement) here in BC or whatever inspection authority of your Province or State and if you are over the specs of your rig and trailer, they could make you call a towing company...

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by Rossue

... The tow ball thread strip is a prime example of the need to check your tow for several items daily when towing and the hitch setup is #1. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a 6600 lb. TV.

Or use a "Fusion Ball Mount" (welded) like below. Another advantage is that a would-be thief can't just unscrew the ball in an attempt to steal the trailer. No ball threads to drag in the dirt or snag on anything, either.
https://www.curtmfg.com/towing-acces.../2-inch/fusion

[Iowa Dave]

We will be in NE Colorado next week with the 21 behind the Highlander and just after the Fourth of July at Wainfleet in Ontario.
Properly adjusted, impeccably maintained and with full attention on the project at hand we have no problems including defensive maneuvers we’ve experienced in 40,000 plus miles of towing in the past 6 years. Safe travels to all in the tow vehicle of your choice. YMMV
Iowa Dave

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Or use a "Fusion Ball Mount" (welded) like below. Another advantage is that a would-be thief can't just unscrew the ball in an attempt to steal the trailer. No ball threads to drag in the dirt or snag on anything, either.
https://www.curtmfg.com/towing-acces.../2-inch/fusion

I would have loved to get one of those, one less thing to worry about, but they don't come in the 11.5-12" length I need so the Escape clears my tailgate while hitched.

[richardr]

TV reliability is my #1 priority. For an SUV to pull our Casita we bought a 4Runner. Then for a pickup to pull our Escape 21 we bought a Tundra.

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by BC Rockcrawler

I don't think I have seen anyone mention or discuss GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) on the forum when discussing towing. My Ranger has a GVWR of 5000 LBS and a towing capacity of 5000 lbs but a GCWR of only 9500 LBS so if I am at max GVW I can only tow a maximum of 4500 lbs and still be legal. You would be surprised how quick you can get to max GVW on a vehicle. The Ranger with myself and my wife, a full tank of gas, a tool box in the bed, the tools etc. I haul when traveling brings the weight of the Ranger to 4410 LBS. I can only carry another 590 LBS in the truck and that's not accounting for the tongue weight of the trailer. I have an 2005 17B so GVW of that is 3500 LBS and I have only towed it at about 3100 LBS (Axle weight + tongue weight) Last time through the scales (last week) I was over the GVW of the truck by about 250 LBS but still about 3100 LBS on the trailer. I will need to change a few things before the next trip. ....

That's one of the reasons I question people adding a heavy WDH if they really don't need one.

[gklott]

Originally Posted by BC Rockcrawler

I don't think I have seen anyone mention or discuss GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) on the forum when discussing towing.

Our 2017 Infiniti QX80 Limited comfortable tow weight values (from manual and door sticker - lbs.):
GCWR = 14480
GVWR = 7400
Curb weight = 5888
GAWR Front = 3616
GAWR Rear = 4343
Towing = 8500
Tongue weight = 850
Our 2019 Escape 19' specs:
GVWR = 5000
GCW tow and trailer = 12400, or 14% margin within GCWR

QX80 wheelbase = 121"
Measured rounded total combined length hitched = 38'

73/gus

[cpaharley2008]

I would have loved to get one of those, one less thing to worry about, but they don't come in the 11.5-12" length I need so the Escape clears my tailgate while hitched.

John there is always Jack E Up for using shorter draw bars and clearance issues...
https://jack-e-up.com

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

When you compare two vehicles of equal towing capacity, what would make one better than the other for ease of towing? Overall vehicle weight? HP? Shocks?

The better one would obviously be the Toyota FJ.

[Blue goose fan]

Love my Ridgeline... for me it had the most comfortable seats and ride! I put 8k miles on it Towing a 19’ Escape this year! Gets great mileage 27 mpg on my way to BC from WV. Averaging 16 mpg after I left BC! The only drag was I didn’t realize the tailgate didn’t lock, only the trunk. So I had to buy an aftermarket lock. They fixed that mistake on the 2019 Ridgeline!

[Farther]

Originally Posted by Blue goose fan

The only drag was I didn’t realize the tailgate didn’t lock, only the trunk. So I had to buy an aftermarket lock. They fixed that mistake on the 2019 Ridgeline!

I have a 2019 Ridgeline. The tailgate locks are still a dealer installed option for the Honda one or owner installed option for the aftermarket one.

[Rpcart87]

Vehicle towing?, My former truck was a regular 2008 Tacoma, when I bought a 2013 Tacoma TDR which has stiffer suspension I found it to be better for towing our 2010 Escape 17' trailer.

[Losangeles]

dont know if torque has been mentioned in the past 8 pages....

but be sure to look at torque.... not just HorsePower.

torque = grunt.... very good for merging, uphill, onto a busy freeway.

[Fox hunt]

i towed my 17B with the Highlander i loved the combination and the Highlander was a great car towing and not towing. Very comfortable ride I sold it because i wanted the 5.0 trailer but i still miss that car...

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Rpcart87

Vehicle towing?, My former truck was a regular 2008 Tacoma, when I bought a 2013 Tacoma TDR which has stiffer suspension I found it to be better for towing our 2010 Escape 17' trailer.

there are at least two TRD packages on Toyotas. My 08 was a TRD Off Road, this has tall tires and soft suspension suitable for off roading, and adding airbags to stiffen up the rear end, and better shocks, hugely improved the towing experience

the TRD Sport package on the otherr hand has 17" wheels with /60 series tires which have much stiffer sidewalls, and it has a stiffer 'sport' tuned suspension, also superior for towing.