towing rv

[nicknick]

I have a '07 Escape and want tow a tent trailer but i need a tailer hitch. Just wondering what all i need for this and if it would be somthing i could do myself?

[rgoers]

Sort of depends on your camper. I put a hitch on my Explorer. The wiring kit was procured at Wal-Mart. Because the camper had electric brakes, I also installed an electronic brake controller. It wasn't very difficult.

I have seen Class III hitches for the Escape, for around $150. They just bolt on. I've read that the bumpers have a punch-out for the hitch already there. The wiring would be pretty easy, and if you needed an electronic brake controller, that's pretty straight forward as well. The only thing which you might want to look into would be an additional transmission cooling unit...

Anybody know what the factory "towing package" includes???

[nicknick]

The camper is a 10' tent trailer and i believe it does"nt have elc. brakes. It does have 2 way fridge and lites and furnace so it requires aditional wiring for that and i've learned the hitch comes through the bumper. However i am going to get Uhaul to do the job for me as their price is around $350 for everthing installed. Whereas the Ford dealership here in Winnipeg wants $425 for the hitch alone plus 2 hours shop time that does'nt even include the harness.

[bud121156]

I tow a 12 ft, 2100lb (empty) Fleetwood Westlake pop-up with my 07 Escape. I have a class 3 Drawtite hitch that comes out under the bumper. The trailer has brakes and I use friction sway control. I am satisfied with the way it pulls and stops! Considered other pop-ups weighing 200-500lbs more, but we are glad we decided on this one.
Had a local tire/brake shop install the hitch and 4-pin electric hookup for a utility trailer ,for couple hundred bucks and the RV dealer installed the 7-pin coupler and brake controller a year or so later when we bought a camper for more $$$.

[rgoers]

Originally Posted by nicknick

The camper is a 10' tent trailer and i believe it does"nt have elc. brakes. It does have 2 way fridge and lites and furnace so it requires aditional wiring for that and i've learned the hitch comes through the bumper. However i am going to get Uhaul to do the job for me as their price is around $350 for everthing installed. Whereas the Ford dealership here in Winnipeg wants $425 for the hitch alone plus 2 hours shop time that does'nt even include the harness.

10' is tiny. You should be fine towing that!

I'd look for another quote on the hitch install though. $350 seems crazy high to me! You could save at least $150 doing it yourself... Most hitches come with hardware, and just bolt right on. There's usually no drilling involved, as the manufacturer already has already put the holes in the frame for the hitch. Sometimes, they even put nut-plates in ahead of time. On a scale of 1-10, I'd say installing a hitch is somewhere around a 3 or 4.

If you have any mechanical ability at all, I'm sure you could do it. On the other hand - if you're wealthy enough to pay someone else, and don't really care about spending money, then go for it. I guess I'd just rather spend the extra money on something else... like a really nice campsite. :-)

[nicknick]

Yep 10' doesn't even have brakes. Sounds like easy install but i found a place to do it the same day i called, the ol'lady booked a campsite this weedend so just happy its done. I ended up paying $425 installed incudes wiring which is pretty good compared to what the Ford dealership wanted. The hitch comes out from under the bumper which is nice. I didn't even look at the underside yet have to check it out

[bud121156]

I think I would want the hitch under the bumper too. Made it a little lower so had to turn the draw bar "drop" into a "rise", inserting the draw bar upside down as you can barely see here.