which 3 row mid sized SUV for 17B or 19 Escape?

[oak1056]

Hi, Brea, When towing, what's the MPG with your expedition? (you have max tow package, I assume)

thanks,
Wendy

[Bea]

Originally Posted by oak1056

Hi, Brea, When towing, what's the MPG with your expedition? (you have max tow package, I assume)

thanks,
Wendy

Hi Wendy, I think you are asking me so I'll pipe in and say, yes we have the Heavy Duty Tow package and 3.5 EcoBoost on our Expedition. For our local Bay Area trips, which is a combo of freeway and city miles we get around 13/14 mpg. Longer road trips (more freeway miles) will bump it up a notch. -Bea

[oak1056]

Hi, Bea, so sorry for the fat finger. I live at south bay area also. Glad to know the first hand info about the expedition. Now I need to find out a good deal for it. thank you again.

[Bea]

No worries! Best of luck in your quest! -Bea

[BobG]

Look at Q7 with larger engine than the Atlas. Does fine towing the 17. No WDH. Average 17.9 mpg towing 4,200 mile trip Idaho to Arizona and back. Average 18.4 mpg overall. Normal highway not towing 27 mpg.

[cpaharley2008]

Sometimes those restrictions are for only trailer size, not the entire frame and unit.......

[WillyB]

Unfortunately, I do not own an Escape (yet) to be pulled by our F150. So we are taking our 3-Row V6 All Wheel Drive Honda Pilot (5,000 Lb Towing Capacity) on a camping adventure this weekend on our way to get our 2nd Moderna vaccination on Sunday morning.

Although the Pilot does not have a shower, stove, running water or a toilet the 3-Row seating makes for great storage to haul our gear and quickly converts into a perfect queen size bed.

The V6 Honda Pilot is a great vehicle. At a mere 100,000 it's just getting broke in.

Happy Camping!

[MBtigger]

Using our new to us 2011 Honda Pilot, we towed our new 17B home (empty) from Sumas this week (We live within a days drive of Sumas, which is one of several reasons we went with Escape as our trailer).

The pilot only seemed to strain the the very steepest incline on our trip home, and to be fair we have had trouble maintaining speed with our Toyota Sienna up that particular hill (depending on circumstances)

Loaded up with another 500 lbs it might be quite as responsive, but my initial experience with the 17B and Pilot was very favorable. It is going to be a few weeks before we head out with it fully loaded, and we won't be going over any mountain passes. July and August will see us really testing the capacity of the combo...

MB

[azjack]

Kids seem to adjust, the 6'2" son has a 6x9 camp trailer on order and daughter has rented MH for her family.
AZjack

[dfandrews]

This will reiterate some previous points, but allow me to post for emphasis.
When we ordered our classic edition 2015 17A, I had many months to research tow vehicles. We wanted an SUV, and not a truck.
It came down to the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander as being the most reliable (by far) and of sufficient capacity. Both have 3.5L V6 engines and almost identical HP and torque.

Our choice was made when we acquired a great deal on a used 2011 Honda Pilot 2WD (w/built in tow package w/factory receiver, pre-wired for electric trailer brakes, heavy duty radiator, alternator, and trans. cooler). It has worked fine for us, even over high mt. passes throughout the Western US. However, we are 2 adults and our gear, with an Escape 17 that is lighter than the 2nd gen. 17, espec. 17B.
During our analysis, I checked Gross Combined Weight Capacity (tow, towed, people, & gear) and found that, allowing for the weight of passengers and their gear, we could maybe add a 3rd, but not a 4th person, without exceeding Honda's published limits.
Also, with over 5 years of towing, I wouldn't recommend 2WD if you have the choice of 4WD. I also wouldn't recommend towing a 19 with it. It will do it, but I wouldn't be happy about lack of spare capacity to allow for unusual circumstances.


Edit: FYI. Per my contact at Honda, the difference in published tow capacity between Honda 2WD and 4WD comes down to differing shift profiles programmed into the automatic transmission. Engine, trans. gearing, and cooling system are the same, and and frame/suspension are about the same allowing for the 4WD components.

[MBtigger]

I don't know if I specified, but I made certain to grab a 4WD Pilot.

We are discussing what to do it to keep the load light if we have 3 people and the trailer. Our chances of taking 4 are slim, and we will probably take a second vehicle in those unusual circumstances.

MB

[harvest]

Thanks for all the helpful comments!
I am going to look and see what deals we can find between both, and it sounds like whichever one I choose, it will be ok and they aren't that different. I have been reading about the infotainment issues about the Pilot which are discouraging. Whichever one we get, we will most likely get certified used, so hopefully if there are any issues, they will be resolved successfully.

My understanding is that if we get a certified used without the tow package, that it can be added, but it would add to the cost. Not sure if I should get that done at the dealer or a place that specializes.

[BobG]

Harvest, it is possible that if you ask the dealer to install the tow package, they will have the work done at an independent shop that does hitches. That has been my experience.

[MarGen]

For anyone reading this that wants the 19 and will have more than two passengers, you could consider the Dodge Durango. It's not a whole lot bigger than the Pilot/Highlander, it has three rows and it tows three thousand more (depending on model).

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I'll remind you that my buddy waited six months to get his Santa Fe back as the dealer searched North America and then the world for parts.....

this seems to be a issue with just about all Korean manufacturers. Try and find parts for Samsung or LG kitchen or laundry appliances, good luck.

[azjack]

One reason I had my Durango and now the Ram. Of course the hemi engine was also a factor.
AZjack

[cpaharley2008]

Jack,
You are my hero, trying all the different Escape models while I seem to be stuck in the 19&21 models only....

[Greg A]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Jack,
You are my hero, trying all the different Escape models while I seem to be stuck in the 19&21 models only....

Jack must have checked with Iowa Dave first to see if he wanted a 5.0 for his next trailer.

Can’t wait to see Jack n Nancy all hitched up in the new rig.

[JamieT]

I have a 2011 Acura MDX which easily pulls my 17B and can accelerate up a hill when towing. Have been very eased with it, and it also has 3 rows of seats.

[gklott]

Recommend Infiniti QX80 or Nissan Armada. 8500 towing. We use our QX80 to tow our 19’ Escape and our 30’ Airstream Classic. Three rows, plenty of axle load capacity, and comfort for everyday use.
73/gus