Towing a '21'

[steve@umthermoform.com]

Can you recommend a midsized SUV to tow a Escape21? (Palisade, Highlander, Pilot) We want to take it up the Alcan Highway to Alaska - 5,000 altitude & 10% grade.

[7th Heaven]

Originally Posted by steve@umthermoform.com

Can you recommend a midsized SUV to tow a Escape21? (Palisade, Highlander, Pilot)

WHen we first purchased our 21 we had a Volvo XC90. It worked well for us for shorter weekend trips during our first few years.

Things to be aware of:
the tow capacity of smaller/mid SUV will limit the cargo carrying capacity inside the cab, read the tow limits carefully.
Climbing/descending performance will be low

[steve@umthermoform.com]

What altitude and grade did you take the Escape21 on with Volvo?

[Doug2000]

The trailers are heavier than advertised. My 19 is advertised at 3150lbs, I bet its over 3500 lbs. It's way heavier than my 2007 Escape 17B.

If your heading up in elevation, get a full size truck, best something with a Turbo. Many talk about the F150 EcoBoost. For every 1000' of elevation, you lose 3% horsepower. At 5000' your down 15% horsepower.

Your way safer in a truck. The first near miss you have, you'll thank me for the advise.


https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...-43010-21.html

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

The trailers are heavier than advertised.

The dry weight is what is advertised and a delivered trailer will have options and fluids.

You haven't actually weighed yours either, apparently.

[tractors1]

My 21 weighed in at 4200 lbs loaded for travel with 1/3 tank fresh water - tongue of 445 lbs. Tows well with 6400 lb rated vehicle.

[kellymc]

Toyota Land Cruiser or Sequoia

[YCG]

My Lexus gx470 tows my 21 real well. Plenty of power, I towed it to many places in the mountains of Colorado including gravel roads

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by steve@umthermoform.com

Can you recommend a midsized SUV to tow a Escape21? (Palisade, Highlander, Pilot) We want to take it up the Alcan Highway to Alaska - 5,000 altitude & 10% grade.

Funny that I can't even recall any significant pass when towing my 19 on the Alcan with my slightly gutless Ranger V6. Certainly remember all the higher passes in the lower 48. So it must not have been a very big deal. It's also about the same elevation as Siskiyou and the Ranger towed those passes marginally OK.

But I think the bottom line is that it'd probably get you over the pass but there are much higher passes in other areas and if it was marginal for a lower pass it probably wouldn't do for others. So that could be a bit limiting for future travels.

Hate to say it but I'm now in the F150 fan club and towing has never been so easy.

Ron

[gbaglo]

There is safety of course, but should consider if it's really worth an extra eight grand ( or whatever ) to reach the summit two minutes sooner, especially if you only crest that summit twice a year.

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

There is safety of course, but should consider if it's really worth an extra eight grand ( or whatever ) to reach the summit two minutes sooner, especially if you only crest that summit twice a year.

It's more than that. Noise = fatigue. If you are constantly downshifting with 4K rpm's then it can get tiring over a day's drive. And that doesn't account for the fact that many towing a 21 with a "mid-size suv" have a trailer weighing about as much as their tow- especially with Gen 2. Our trailer dry weight is stamped 3125, yet we consistently weigh 4300 at scales. Very glad I ditched the Highlander which did fantastic with 17B. Yukon SLT was great for five years, but lemme tell ya about 3.5 EcoBoost!

[7th Heaven]

Originally Posted by 7th Heaven

WHen we first purchased our 21 we had a Volvo XC90. It worked well for us for shorter weekend trips during our first few years.

Things to be aware of:
the tow capacity of smaller/mid SUV will limit the cargo carrying capacity inside the cab, read the tow limits carefully.
Climbing/descending performance will be low

Originally Posted by steve@umthermoform.com

What altitude and grade did you take the Escape21 on with Volvo?

Trips from home( San Francisco area) to Yosemite & Tahoe (Sierra Mountains) . By the time we were traveling to Crater Lake, Yellowstone and Glacier our kids had grown and needed the additional elbow room of the Sequoia

[Mike G]

Well, the Expediion and some Explorer models can be had with an ecoboost. The previous version Explorer Sport came with the same 3.5L ecoboost as the pickup has had, although its HP and torque are reduced a bit for the sake of the other drive train components. Same with the Flex, too, come to think of it.

As far as a non-turbo, for the 21 I’d say the V8 is the thing to get. I like my Lexus GX pretty well; the Highlander rode and handled somewhat better, but I’m sure the 21 will slow the 3.5L V6 down a fair bit more on the grades.

[Rossue]

Hi Mike! Grades are one thing; descents are quite another. There is a story here about folks with a Gen2 17B toasting their brakes in Death Valley. 21's are at least another 1/2 ton to think about.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Hi Mike! Grades are one thing; descents are quite another. There is a story here about folks with a Gen2 17B toasting their brakes in Death Valley.

Engine braking is the solution to that.

[Rossue]

Yes, and one thing with a Highlander vs. Expedition. The difference between my 2013 Yukon and 2019 Expedition is significant. Had a 2013 Highlander and the engine grade braking was so so.

[cpaharley2008]

I could not ask for a better tow machine than my 2014 Ram Sport with the hemi v-8 engine and tow package. Everything operates seamlessly while in tow mode, great engine braking, and pretty good 13-15 mpg towing. With storage and 4 wheel wheel drive, there is little that it can not do nor go.

[stephen99]

When we were full timing in our 21 it weighed in at 4600 lbs. Tow vehicle is GMC Canyon with the 2.8L diesel rated at 7700 lbs. Never had a problem either climbing in the mountains or coming down from the mountains thanks to the engine braking.

[Bill and Earline]

Originally Posted by steve@umthermoform.com

Can you recommend a midsized SUV to tow a Escape21? (Palisade, Highlander, Pilot) We want to take it up the Alcan Highway to Alaska - 5,000 altitude & 10% grade.

Steve,
1). The newer 21 weighs somewhat more than the “classic” that several tow with the SUVs you mention. I think it’s around 200 lbs.

2) On the AlCan the advice is to keep your vehicle full of fuel as much as possible. This accounts for probably an extra 100 lbs on average.

3) Onthe AlCan you will probably travel with a mostly full fresh water tank, due to some sites without available water. Again, this adds another 200 lbs or so.

You might mention why midsized is important. If it’s step-in height, running boards help, and some vehicles can be optioned with self-leveling and selectable ride height choices, making getting in and out easier.

Bill

[75thRanger]

I tow my 21 with a F250 diesel with Banks exhaust brake. My trailer weighs 4450 with about 1/3 water and 100 lb on the rear hitch. Tongue weight is abut 600lb.

Surprised me when I weighed it cause I have very little inside. No reinforced walls. I have the 2 6V batteries. Propane tanks were full.

'Stuff' just adds up fast!