Towing Ability

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

I just bought an 03 ford escape, its 4 wheel drive but it only has a 3.0 v6 engine. do you guys think it will have enough juice to tow my 18 foot I/O, which has a 4.3 v6 in it. I only have about 400 extra pounds of weight in it other than the normal boat weight.

What you think

pet575 · Posted: Feb 25, 2009 2:13 pm Post subject:

What is the "dry" weight of the boat on the trailer? My guess off the top of my head is that you've got the Class II hitch on the Escape with the small receiver on it? If so, I'm guessing your dry weight is going to be WAY over the rated towing capacity for that Escape. Will it tow it? Yes. Will you be safe? Most likely not. If you're towing a few miles, probably not a big deal. If you're going 20 one way, different story.

cbennett · Newbie Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 1 City: Kansas City

I agree with pet575, I had a buddy that used a ford escape to pull a 20' IO. But he was only going probably 10 miles at most. But you can definitely feel it tug on the escape.

So if your going more than 20 miles I would highly recommend not doing it

Brit Rider · Posted: Feb 25, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

I tow an 18ft I/O (1800SR3 Maxum - w/4.3 V6) with a 2.5 litre 4 banger (Diesel) in my pick up truck. Used to tow a 20ft Super Air behind a 2.7 Mercedes ML 4x4...

I have had zero issues...

I've said it time and time again on here - There's some weird thinking going down that you need an enormous motor to pull a boat to the lake...

I regularly tow 100 miles and have yet to have a problem at at; just adjust your driving speed and style to match the load and conditions. Stopping distance is roughly doubled so take this into account with a boat on the back Cool

I'm not suggesting go and buy a family sedan and hook it up to your 247 LSV... but get real... how often if the vehicle required to tow the boat? and do you need to be able to get the rig to 60 in under 12 seconds or so? Probably not....

Jayhawk04 · Newbie Joined: 14 Sep 2008 Posts: 3

It's not the engine as much as it is the tow rating for the vehicle. If you overload a vehicle not only is it unsafe, but if you get into an accident your insurance company may decide not to cover you.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Feb 25, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject:

You can google search towing capacity of vehicles. I suggest doing something of the like. It's what made my decision between a 2000 blazer and a 95 ford explorer simple.

mikebu · Criminal Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 51

I have a 25' travel trailer that weighs probably 4500 lbs and used to tow this with a Dodge Dakota Extended Cab pickup with a 5.2 V8 engine. It could pull the trailer ok. However braking wasn't all that great and I could feel the trailer constantly pushing my truck around.

I then bought a Chevy 2500 HD crew cab pickup with the stock 6.0 V8 engine. Towing with this truck is night and day different then the Dakota. I now longer feel the trailer pushing around my truck and braking improved tremendously.

I also never understand why the same vehicle is "safe" towing just a couple of miles but unsafe if you tow 20 miles.

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

well i live in illinois, which has no hills or mountains, and its about 10 miles to the lake, and 10 miles back. I have a big for F250 thats available to use most of the time, sounds like i should just use that.

fish6942 · Addict Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 603

The question shouldn't be "can the vehicle pull it", it should be "can the vehicle STOP it". If the boat trailer has good brakes I may consider it for short trips. If it doesn't have brakes then no way.

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

no brakes, so no way. got it

pet575 · Posted: Feb 26, 2009 9:14 am Post subject: