Anyone towing with a 4 cylinder Escape? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

IHDiesel73L · 11-07-2011, 07:46

I am hoping to pick up a 2011 Escape for my wife toward the end of the year once they start getting motivated to move them off of the lot. I have a small trailer that I tow with my '91 Toyota pickup. If I load it up with firewood to the maximum capacity of the Toyota (1500lbs cargo and trailer) it handles it ok, but it's slow and steady. The Toyota also has a manual transmission which helps a lot. We are looking for the 4 cylinder Escape (unless they can give us a really good deal on the V6) which has about 60 HP and 30 ft/lbs of torque on my Toyota, so I'm hoping that it will handle the trailer a little better if need be. I don't plan to tow with it often, over great distances (50 miles max), or up any significant grades. Basically I'll be using it for when my wife and I go to visit her parents. They have a decent size woodlot so when we go to visit I will often bring home some firewood. When it was just the two of us the pickup worked fine, but now we have a little one so we need more room, but I'm hoping to retain the ability to tow the trailer. Ford's website states that the 4 cylinder capacity is 1500lbs. Is anyone else towing this much with a 4 cylinder?

**360ci** · 11-13-2011, 06:17

I took a 5 speed 4cyl for a test run last fall as a replacement for the wife's car (civic) as she prefers the manual transmissions but wanted more room for photography equipment.

At the time the dealer couldn't give me much of a deal so I walked away. It was great unloaded and passing was decent. I'm sure it could tow my 4x8' utility without worry (dry weight about 500lbs) with firewood. It's a shame that Ford doesn't offer a 6 speed as in the Fusion with a lower first gear so they can rate it at 2000-3000lb. I found the V6 and 6 speed auto would hunt a bit as you can't select any one gear with that transmission.

I haven't towed with it but if you're used to the Toyota you'll knowingly be pleasantly surprised with the Escape 5 speed. Also, check on YouTube for related video's, that place can be quite educational although a lot of times the drivers...can't really drive....