Hitch and Wiring for 2017 Ford Escape with 2.0L EcoBoost AWD

Question:

I have a 2017 4 wheel drive 2.0 liter ecoboost Ford Escape. It doesnt have a factory tow package. Id like to have a hitch and 4 pin harness installed. The factory package has an electronic sway control that can brake and reduce engine speed if it senses sway. Can the electronic sway control feature be activated now? Does not having the factory package reduce the 3500 lb.towing capacity or can I still maintain that 3500 lbs. The factory hitch is class 2. What after market hitch and harness would you recommend? Would you also recommend some sort of mechanical sway control if the factory sway control cant be utilized. I plan on towing a 16foot deck boat, trailer and engine with a combined weight of 2170 lbs Thank you

asked by: Bill O

Expert Reply:

For your 2017 Ford Escape we offer several 2-inch Class III hitches that are shown on the linked page. As long as your Escape doesn't have the factory Class II towing package you can install Draw-Tite hitch # 75758 and 4-pole wiring harness # C56320.

If your trailer has electric brakes you will also need a brake controller like the Prodigy P2 # 90885 along with installation kit # ETBC7. These two items added to the 4-pole kit above will give you a fully-functioning 7-way connector with brake power for electric drum brakes.

Page 205 of the online edition of the owner's manual for the 2017 Ford Escape indicates maximum allowable trailer weights and for the 2.0L AWD without the tow package the maximum trailer weight the car can tow is shown as 2000-lbs. Your printed manual may indicate a different capacity so you can check it to be sure, or contact your local dealership with the car's VIN, which allows them to look up all the equipment in it and thereby confirm its towing capacity. Naturally you do not want to exceed the car's capacity under any circumstances so double-check your boat and trailer weights. Also, on page 206 the manual notes trailers over 1500-lbs must be equipped with brakes.

If your manual says that the car can tow higher weight with a mechanical weight distribution system in use, then it may be able to pull the boat trailer. Check with Ford or your manual to be sure. If so, once you advise the loaded trailer's tongue weight (you can measure with scale # e99044) I can help you choose a system suited to your trailer.