Ford Escape (2018 year). Manual — part 51

TOWING A TRAILER

WARNINGS

Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended

gross trailer weight exceeds the
limit of your vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transmission damage, structural
damage, loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and personal
injury.

Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the

certification label.

Note: See Recommended
Towing Weights (page 208).

Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See Fuses

(page 228).

Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.

Towing a trailer places an extra
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation.

Load Placement

To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
•

Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.

•

Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires.

•

Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.

•

Select a ball mount with the
correct rise or drop and load
capacity. When both the
loaded vehicle and trailer are
connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.

When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
manual. See Load Limit (page
202).

You can also find information in
the RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.

RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online

http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/

Website

TRAILER SWAY CONTROL

(If

Equipped)

WARNING

Turning off trailer sway control
increases the risk of loss of vehicle
control, serious injury or death. Ford

does not recommend disabling this feature
except in situations where speed reduction
may be detrimental (such as hill climbing),
the driver has significant trailer towing
experience, and can control trailer sway
and maintain safe operation.

Note: This feature does not prevent trailer
sway, but reduces it when it begins.

Note: This feature cannot stop all trailers
from swaying.

Note: In some cases, if your vehicle speed
is too high, the system may turn on multiple
times, gradually reducing your vehicle speed.

The system applies the brakes to the
individual wheels and reduces engine
torque to aid vehicle stability. If the trailer
begins to sway, the stability control
warning lamp flashes and a message
appears in the information display. See
Information Messages (page 96). Slow
your vehicle down, pull safely to the side
of the road and check for correct load
distribution.

You can switch this feature off in the
information display. When you switch the
ignition on, the system automatically turns
on.

RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS

Note: Do not exceed the trailer
weight for your vehicle
configuration listed in the chart
below.

Note: Be sure to take into
consideration trailer frontal area.
Do not exceed 20 feet

2

(1.86

meters

2

) if your vehicle is not

equipped with a towing package or
30 feet

2

(2.79 meters

2

) if your

vehicle is equipped with a towing

package.

Note: For high altitude operation,
reduce the gross combined weight
by 2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)
starting at the 1000 foot (300
meter) elevation point.

Note: Certain states require
electric trailer brakes for trailers
over a specified weight. Be sure to
check state regulations for this
specified weight. The maximum
trailer weights listed may be limited
to this specified weight, as the
vehicle’s electrical system may not
include the wiring connector
needed to activate electric trailer
brakes.

Your vehicle may tow a trailer
provided the maximum trailer
weight is less than or equal to the

maximum trailer weight listed for
your vehicle configuration on the
following chart.

Maximum trailer

weight

1

Maximum GCWR

Powertrain

1500 lb (681 kg)

5351 lb (2427 kg)

2.5L 2WD

2000 lb (907 kg)

5862 lb (2659 kg)

1.5L GTDI 2WD

2000 lb (907 kg)

5957 lb (2702 kg)

2.0L GTDI 2WD

2

3500 lb (1588 kg)

7457 lb (3382 kg)

2.0L GTDI 2WD

3

2000 lb (907 kg)

6005 lb (2724 kg)

1.5L GTDI 4WD

2000 lb (907 kg)

6091 lb (2763 kg)

2.0L GTDI 4WD

2

3500 lb (1588 kg)

7591 lb (3443 kg)

2.0L GTDI 4WD

3

1

Calculated with SAE J2807 method.

2

Without trailer towing package.

3

With trailer towing package.

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS

Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•

Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).

•

Consult your local motor vehicle laws
for towing a trailer.

•

See the instructions included with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment
specifications.

•

Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer. See your scheduled
maintenance information.

•

If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives
you.

You can find information on load
specification terms found on the tire label
and Safety Compliance label as well as
instructions on calculating your vehicle's
load in the Load Carrying chapter. See
Load Limit (page 202).

Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of your vehicle load
when calculating the total vehicle weight.

Hitches

Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle.

Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the
total trailer weight is on the tongue.

Safety Chains

Note: Never attach safety chains to the
bumper.

Always connect the safety chains to the
hook retainers of your vehicle hitch.

To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross
them under the trailer tongue and allow
enough slack for turning tight corners. Do
not allow the chains to drag on the ground.

Trailer Brakes

WARNING

Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to your
vehicle's brake system. Your vehicle

may not have enough braking power and
your chances of having a collision greatly
increase.

Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them to
the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.

The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.

Separate functioning brake systems
are required for safe control of towed
vehicles and trailers weighing more
than 1500 pounds (680 kilograms)
when loaded.

Trailer Lamps

WARNING

Never connect any trailer lamp wiring
to the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; this
may damage the electrical system

resulting in fire. Contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible for assistance
in proper trailer tow wiring installation.
Additional electrical equipment may be
required.

Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working.