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Author Topic:   Compact SUV pulling 16/17 BW

Shadow posted 08-01-2003 05:52 AM ET (US)
I'm thinking of buying a Ford Escape with a trailer package. Has a V6 engine, 200hp, and front wheel drive with 4 wheel drive. Rated for 3500#'s Does anyone have any experience use a small SUV pulling a 16/17 BW.
JBCornwell posted 08-01-2003 07:45 AM ET (US)
Hi, Shadow.
Most 16/17 Boston Whalers weigh about 2,000lb with trailer.
You should be okay as long as you don't tow in OD.
Red sky at night. . .
JB
skred posted 08-01-2003 07:50 AM ET (US)
Just read that the Subaru Forester mini-SUV AWD with 165 hp has a towing capacity of 2000 lbs... You should be fine.
scaleplane posted 08-01-2003 09:02 AM ET (US)
I have a 2003 Mazda Tribute (same as Ford Escape)with the trailer towing package and have had no problem towing my '76 15' Sport with Johnson 40.
donel posted 08-01-2003 11:38 AM ET (US)
Add to the question what I've always heard ( besides do not tow in OD ) - is a front wheel drive suitable for towing a trailer without it's own brakes?
SuburbanBoy posted 08-01-2003 12:18 PM ET (US)
I have used the Mazda version of the Ford Escape to tow a rig, which weighed 3,500 pounds. I tested it with both electric and hydraulic brakes. It was fine.
It is interesting to note that in Great Brittan (and Europe) they have much more liberal laws regarding the regulation of trailer towing by passenger cars. Their trucking regulations are much more restrictive. For example, a tiny Honda Jazz (1000 kg.) can tow a trailer up to 1000 kg WITH trailer brakes.
sub
SuburbanBoy posted 08-01-2003 12:21 PM ET (US)
One more point, it (the Mazda version of the Escape) was front wheel drive as well. Never missed the 4WD, and appreciated the improved mileage. I did not have to pull a boat/trailer up a wet, steep boat ramp. Based on my experience with lighter duty stuff, I don't think you would have a problem.
sub
jimh posted 08-01-2003 10:41 PM ET (US)
When using a vehicle for towing, even at moderate loads, your engine and drive train will be stressed much more than in normal driving.
I was towing a light 15-Sport which probably only weighs in at about 1,500# with a vehicle rated for 5,000#. I found that trying to maintain speed on grades the engine would start to ping. After a tune up and some new parts, this went away. I had never noticed the pinging while driving without the trailer.
The best way to go is to use a vehicle with a tow rating that is generously larger than the tow weight you need to trailer around.
Currently I have a GMC Suburban (7,000# rated) towing a rig that weighs less than 5,000#. Ascending the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains I found that long uphill grades really put the engine and transmission to work, and that my towing vehicle was being pushed rather hard. I since added a very large transmission cooler. The vehicle already had an oil cooler and a trans cooler, plus an oversized radiator, as it came with the "heavy duty towing package."
ryanwhaler posted 08-02-2003 12:19 AM ET (US)
Shabow,
My suggestion is: don't use cruise control.
My dad and I pulled a 7,000 pound rig from MA to ME. My dads 3/4ton dodge ram is rated for 10,000 pounds.
For a short time he used cruise control, whenever we went up an incline the truck would drop to a lower gear to try to stay at 70 mph, this would cause the RPM's to go up, putting a lot of unnecessary stress on the motor, tranny and drive train. After the 2ed incline he turned off the cruise.
Shadow posted 08-02-2003 07:09 AM ET (US)
Thanks for your input. I just sealed a deal on an Escape. Funny on how it worked out. I picked out the SUV I wanted and we dickered. I told him I would think about it and walked out. Last night the salesman and manager called twice, each time the price got lower and since there was an option on a car that I did not want he threw it in. I figure I saved close to $500 by not sealing the deal during the day. By the way Ford has a $1500 rebate and you can do better than that. Shadow
AllanR posted 08-02-2003 12:47 PM ET (US)
One other point, besides not using cruise control and installing a transmission cooler. Don't use overdrive as it will stress both the transmission and the engine. It will use more fuel, but the the vehicle will run much better at the higher RPM and won't "lug" . It will last a lot longer.
Deanster posted 08-03-2003 05:33 PM ET (US)
The problem with this kind of question is that so much depends on what kind of towing you're doing. If I'm just going to the local ramp in Seatte, a couple miles away on mostly flat ground, at moderate temperatures, never over 30mph, I can tow right at the limit (or above) without any troubles.
If I'm at the limit going over Stevens Pass (3800') on the tight twisting and steep grades of Highway 2, trying to keep up 60mph and in 100*F+ temps, I'm not going to make it. My truck will overheat, my tranny will quit, I'll get pushed off a cliff by my tow.
Would I tow a 17' Outrage (~3000# wet with trailer) with an Escape - yes, under moderate conditions. I'd be hesitant to take it long distances or do freeway towing without brakes on the trailer, and I'd probably not take it over the aforementioned pass, just because the 'cute-utes' have such a short wheelbase that it's pretty easy for them to get pushed around.
I'd say a Chevy Blazer or Ford Explorer with a 5000lb rating would be the minimum for taking a 17' Outrage over the pass.
Good luck!

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Author	Topic: Compact SUV pulling 16/17 BW
Shadow	posted 08-01-2003 05:52 AM ET (US) I'm thinking of buying a Ford Escape with a trailer package. Has a V6 engine, 200hp, and front wheel drive with 4 wheel drive. Rated for 3500#'s Does anyone have any experience use a small SUV pulling a 16/17 BW.
JBCornwell	posted 08-01-2003 07:45 AM ET (US) Hi, Shadow. Most 16/17 Boston Whalers weigh about 2,000lb with trailer. You should be okay as long as you don't tow in OD. Red sky at night. . . JB
skred	posted 08-01-2003 07:50 AM ET (US) Just read that the Subaru Forester mini-SUV AWD with 165 hp has a towing capacity of 2000 lbs... You should be fine.
scaleplane	posted 08-01-2003 09:02 AM ET (US) I have a 2003 Mazda Tribute (same as Ford Escape)with the trailer towing package and have had no problem towing my '76 15' Sport with Johnson 40.
donel	posted 08-01-2003 11:38 AM ET (US) Add to the question what I've always heard ( besides do not tow in OD ) - is a front wheel drive suitable for towing a trailer without it's own brakes?
SuburbanBoy	posted 08-01-2003 12:18 PM ET (US) I have used the Mazda version of the Ford Escape to tow a rig, which weighed 3,500 pounds. I tested it with both electric and hydraulic brakes. It was fine. It is interesting to note that in Great Brittan (and Europe) they have much more liberal laws regarding the regulation of trailer towing by passenger cars. Their trucking regulations are much more restrictive. For example, a tiny Honda Jazz (1000 kg.) can tow a trailer up to 1000 kg WITH trailer brakes. sub
SuburbanBoy	posted 08-01-2003 12:21 PM ET (US) One more point, it (the Mazda version of the Escape) was front wheel drive as well. Never missed the 4WD, and appreciated the improved mileage. I did not have to pull a boat/trailer up a wet, steep boat ramp. Based on my experience with lighter duty stuff, I don't think you would have a problem. sub
jimh	posted 08-01-2003 10:41 PM ET (US) When using a vehicle for towing, even at moderate loads, your engine and drive train will be stressed much more than in normal driving. I was towing a light 15-Sport which probably only weighs in at about 1,500# with a vehicle rated for 5,000#. I found that trying to maintain speed on grades the engine would start to ping. After a tune up and some new parts, this went away. I had never noticed the pinging while driving without the trailer. The best way to go is to use a vehicle with a tow rating that is generously larger than the tow weight you need to trailer around. Currently I have a GMC Suburban (7,000# rated) towing a rig that weighs less than 5,000#. Ascending the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains I found that long uphill grades really put the engine and transmission to work, and that my towing vehicle was being pushed rather hard. I since added a very large transmission cooler. The vehicle already had an oil cooler and a trans cooler, plus an oversized radiator, as it came with the "heavy duty towing package."
ryanwhaler	posted 08-02-2003 12:19 AM ET (US) Shabow, My suggestion is: don't use cruise control. My dad and I pulled a 7,000 pound rig from MA to ME. My dads 3/4ton dodge ram is rated for 10,000 pounds. For a short time he used cruise control, whenever we went up an incline the truck would drop to a lower gear to try to stay at 70 mph, this would cause the RPM's to go up, putting a lot of unnecessary stress on the motor, tranny and drive train. After the 2ed incline he turned off the cruise.
Shadow	posted 08-02-2003 07:09 AM ET (US) Thanks for your input. I just sealed a deal on an Escape. Funny on how it worked out. I picked out the SUV I wanted and we dickered. I told him I would think about it and walked out. Last night the salesman and manager called twice, each time the price got lower and since there was an option on a car that I did not want he threw it in. I figure I saved close to $500 by not sealing the deal during the day. By the way Ford has a $1500 rebate and you can do better than that. Shadow
AllanR	posted 08-02-2003 12:47 PM ET (US) One other point, besides not using cruise control and installing a transmission cooler. Don't use overdrive as it will stress both the transmission and the engine. It will use more fuel, but the the vehicle will run much better at the higher RPM and won't "lug" . It will last a lot longer.
Deanster	posted 08-03-2003 05:33 PM ET (US) The problem with this kind of question is that so much depends on what kind of towing you're doing. If I'm just going to the local ramp in Seatte, a couple miles away on mostly flat ground, at moderate temperatures, never over 30mph, I can tow right at the limit (or above) without any troubles. If I'm at the limit going over Stevens Pass (3800') on the tight twisting and steep grades of Highway 2, trying to keep up 60mph and in 100*F+ temps, I'm not going to make it. My truck will overheat, my tranny will quit, I'll get pushed off a cliff by my tow. Would I tow a 17' Outrage (~3000# wet with trailer) with an Escape - yes, under moderate conditions. I'd be hesitant to take it long distances or do freeway towing without brakes on the trailer, and I'd probably not take it over the aforementioned pass, just because the 'cute-utes' have such a short wheelbase that it's pretty easy for them to get pushed around. I'd say a Chevy Blazer or Ford Explorer with a 5000lb rating would be the minimum for taking a 17' Outrage over the pass. Good luck!