Towing with Ford Flex

[Ynnde]

Any experience towing a 19 with a non turbo Flex (2018) ? It did not come with factory towing but I have added the factory hitch and a B&M transmission cooler for what we tow now. I was comfortable with out initial order of a 17B but we are now at a 19. I think that it will be about ~4350 lb with full tanks and gear which is coming up to the Flex tow rating of 4500 lb and I don't have the bigger radiator or oil cooler. The oil cooler looks easy to add , but not so much the rad. Thanks !

[John in Santa Cruz]

my biggest concern with a vehicle like that is, payload. I would take the vehicle with its normal complement of stuff you everyday carry and weigh it, subtract this from the GAWR printed on hte door frame weight sticker, that is your useful payload. now, a 4000 lb loaded Escape 19 likely has 450 lbs or so of tongue weight, so subtract 500 lbs (or measured actual tongue weight when loaded) from your calculated payload, and thats how much total you can put in the vehicle while towing.

I also noted in the 2018 Ford Towing Guide, if your non-turbo Flex is FWD, then you MUST use a WDH. those are like 60 or 80 lbs additional tongue weight.

[Ron in BC]

I think that it's a given that you're in a marginal situation.

I was in the same situation with my old Ranger towing a 19. It gave all the appearances of doing just fine except for high mountain passes. But towing with a marginal tug can get old fast. Towing the 19 with a F150 ecoboost was almost a life altering experience.

Ron