Will the 17b get up this inclind driveway?

[karliefoxk]

Hi Escape Community,
Will my 2022 Highlander Hybrid 3500lbs tow capacity vehicle be able to back a 17b up my driveway Mine is a short and steep uphill driveway that probably is 50 feet long and a 15-foot rise. I see that the 17b has 15" wheels, and I can get a lift. Will that be enough to not scrape my trailer while backing to driveway parking spot? What do you all do to ensure your trailer doesn't scrape?
Thanks, Kk

[Ron in BC]

My neighbor has a driveway that I get out of breath just walking up. He had the same concern and got the lift kit on his 17B. The driveway is a non-issue.

Ron

[splitting_lanes]

I’d agree with Ron, I don’t think the driveway will be an issue.

[karliefoxk]

Aah, great to hear! Thanks

[karliefoxk]

So glad to see that you agree. This is making my decision easier

[IanC]

For my 17B (with lift kit) and Toyota 4Runner, the low point is the E2 hitch. If I don’t have the trunion bars installed, the hitch scrapes the driveway at the entry point due to the dip. With trunion bars installed, no problem. And if I use a standard hitch, absolutely no problem. Hard to tell, but my driveway may be similar to yours at the entry point.

Perhaps you could find a nearby Escape ambassador willing to bring a trailer by to test it.

[daveandalice]

A good quality set of wheel chocks would be in order for once it's parked and unhitched.

[h2owmn]

imho a 3500 tow capacity is not enough for a 17. ymmv.

edited to add 17b dry weight is 2640 without water and all stuff like pots and pans, food, clothing, etc. which some estimate an average of @1000 lbs.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

imho a 3500 tow capacity is not enough for a 17. ymmv.

+1

Hybrids do not make good tow vehicles.

FWD centric cars don't, either.

[dosby]

If you want to be 100$ sure, you can get a large trailer at U-Haul and test with it. But this incline % should not be an issue when backing up - trailer will be pushing down on the tongue more. The worst that can happen is sliding back to the road - better than not being able to pull the trailer upwards in a sloped down driveway or not being able to stop it backing up towards the house.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Slope transitions can be problematic too, scraping hard parts...

PS. Most UHauls will NOT rent a class 3 trailer to a vehicle with a class 2 hitch receiver

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

imho a 3500 tow capacity is not enough for a 17. ymmv.

Yeah that’s the bigger issue at hand here. Forget about the driveway.

[dosby]

This can simulate your Escape 17

https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/6x12-...ler-Rental/RV/

2,000 lbs dry weight, can load it with heavy stuff up to 3,500 and try hauling or backing it up or anything else.
No $/mile for trailers and pretty cheap overall.
1.5" hitch can be adapted to 2" or have a 2" ball, I guess.

[scubarx]

Originally Posted by dosby

1.5" hitch can be adapted to 2" or have a 2" ball, I guess.

This is not an opinion, it is a fact based on years of towing experience. A Hylander hybrid is an extremely poor choice of tow vehicle for a trailer that will easily weigh in at 3500 pounds when loaded and ready to camp. Using an adapter on your hitch receiver only makes your situation worse as it reduces your towing capacity by half.

You need to buy a real truck to tow with if you want a safe and enjoyable towing experience.

[dosby]

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpower-7043000-Interlock-Starter/dp/B004J8KVEY

Single axle 17b is rated for 3500 yet no one says let’s have 2 axles just in case

[GPS]

I was towing our 17 fully loaded without concern for what we put in it as far as added weight with our town n country van. 3500 lb towing capacity. However my main reason for moving on from that after 2 years as our primary tow vehicle was limited hitch weight. 350 lbs. We have the front box and all the coolers n stuff in the large back of the van for a family of 4 felt and looked like a bit much. So rather than stress that vehicle too much i turned that into my rafting vehicle n got a new to us jeep gc. I think a lot of vehicles can tow a 17 with a standard ball hitch. But in the west where i am, it becomes a lot to ask over time. I had a large pop up before our escape and the van was perfect for that, which was maybe 500 lbs less. So in my experience it was close to working, but not ideal. At least it worked just fine for a couple years.

[bborzell]

A few observations:

The suggestion of a front receiver (if easily installed), makes sense. I had one on a tow vehicle and it made short work of both uphill parking as well as tight maneuvering.

Do you have 4WD low range? If so, you might consider using it.

Check the overall gear ratios for 1st through top gear as well as reverse. Many reverse gears are closer to forward 2nd gear than forward low. Backing a trailer up a long driveway in “2nd” gear might not be the hot setup.

[Mike G]

Originally Posted by scubarx

This is not an opinion, it is a fact based on years of towing experience. A Hylander hybrid is an extremely poor choice of tow vehicle for a trailer that will easily weigh in at 3500 pounds when loaded and ready to camp. Using an adapter on your hitch receiver only makes your situation worse as it reduces your towing capacity by half.

You need to buy a real truck to tow with if you want a safe and enjoyable towing experience.

If someone already had a 17B and were shopping for an ideal tow vehicle, then yes, the newer Highlander Hybrids aren't a great choice. V8 powered vehicles are much better choices. Pickup trucks with strong engines are much better choices. But let's not forget that the manufacturer has rated the Highlander Hybrid to tow 3500 lbs, and a 17B can weigh less than 3500 lbs if the owner doesn't stuff too much junk into it. So in a case where the person already owns the vehicle, it's really not applicable (and rather tacky IMO) to label the vehicle they own "a poor choice." The vehicle is capable of doing the job; it just won't do it as well as a more capable vehicle.

[dosby]

Originally Posted by GPS

I was towing our 17 fully loaded without concern for what we put in it as far as added weight with our town n country van. 3500 lb towing capacity. However my main reason for moving on from that after 2 years as our primary tow vehicle was limited hitch weight. 350 lbs. We have the front box and all the coolers n stuff in the large back of the van for a family of 4 felt and looked like a bit much...

We have a 440lbs hitch weight and towing 17b is fine, but I never load anything heavy in the back, I put everything in the trailer. That is especially important for FWD vehicles as your back would sag if overloaded. Overall, though, with 4 ppl in a minivan designed for 7-8 + cargo, it should not be a big problem. Structural load on the hitch could be a problem for sure if exceeding by too much.
We carry 4 bicycles at the back of our 17b, it balances out the heavy front a lot but adds a little sway.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

Slope transitions can be problematic too, scraping hard parts...

PS. Most UHauls will NOT rent a class 3 trailer to a vehicle with a class 2 hitch receiver

That's what I'm thinking. If it gradually changes from level to inclined and back, you'll be good. A sudden change and you won't be.