Towing an E23 with a Blue Ox Sway Pro?

[Genebuilder]

I’m looking to find out if my Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch rotating latches will fit our new E23 when we pick it up in October. They are supposed to be located 29 inches from the center of the ball coupler. Doesn’t look like a lot of frame space between the propane tank cover and the front storage box. I can’t find any frame assembly dimensions anywhere.

Anybody towing a 23 with a BO Sway Pro? Any problems locating the rotary latches between the propane cover and storage box? Thanx in advance!

 

[Yerfdog]

Did you end up going with the Blue Ox for your E23?

 

[Genebuilder]

Yes. We are using the Blue Ox Sway Pro with the 1000lb bars to tow our E23 with. The hitch performs flawlessly.

It is important to note that the Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch will not mount properly on the E 23 in the trailers as built condition. The service department had to remove the propane tanks and relocate the tank pan a few inches forward before the rotating latches could be mounted 29” from the center of the ball coupler.

The modification was cheerfully performed and we were on our way!

It will be interesting to note what happens going forward. Will Escape make and engineering change to relocate the propane tank forward to accept a popular and desirable hitch setup, or will they just make the repair as people request.

We love the E23 F1. And the Blue Ox Sway Pro.

 

[Yerfdog]

Thanks for the info, can I ask what your tow vehicle is?

 

[Genebuilder]

I have a 2017 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5 EcoBoost, HD Tow Package. Perfect match for the E23. Anything bigger in trailer size and I would have to consider a 250.

 

[BoxBuster]

I have a 2017 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5 EcoBoost, HD Tow Package. Perfect match for the E23. Anything bigger in trailer size and I would have to consider a 250.

I am also looking for a tow vehicle for a 23 and was thinking of a f150 3.5 ecoboost like you but with HDPP or Max payload option as I want to take larger cargo weight in the truck. Regarding the Blue Ox is it better than the Escape option of the E2 Fastway WDH? Why did you choose it?

 

[Genebuilder]

If it matters, I think the HDPP is only available on the XLT model.

I’m a long time user of the Blue Ox. I like the rotary bracket engineering, with the sway bars putting downward force on the bracket. The brackets don’t move, as opposed to designs where the sway bar moves back and forth across the bracket, under friction, causing the bracket to slide out of position on the tongue rail, even if substantially
torqued down.

The round sway bars are a little more flexible under loads. Makes for a smoother ride and less dynamic loading on the trailer tongue. Important for me since the E23 has an aluminum frame.

Just my opinion. I’m sure there are other great options.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Somewhere I pointed out before, the BOSP hitch rotary latch has a set screw that secures it to the frame. This will be a steel bolt digging into an aluminum frame. I would want a patch of aluminum added by tack welding the corners of it, so the bolt has something to dig into other than the base frame material. This will avoid dissimilar metal corrosion to the frame.

Is the corners of the frame square/sharp corners, or rounded like steel frame material? I sure would like to see some close ups of the rotary bracket installation on an E23, especially from front or rear angles.

Charles