I know next to nothing about modern cars, so I'll ask those who are probably much better informed. A relative of mine is contemplating a trip across several states to fetch some personal goods (small furniture, boxes of clothes, etc.). Her car is a '95 Ford Escort (4 cylinder). Does a car like that have the guts to pull a small trailer on such a venture? There's certainly not enough room inside the car, and a trailer would be better than a gas hog Suburban if the Escort can handle it.

Recipe for disaster.

My limited experience with old Escorts is history of blowing head gaskets. There probably isn't a traler small enough to safely tow with an Escort. Trailers are evil on a good day.

Check it out here: http://www.fordforumsonline.com/forum/#retired-ford-models

rdr

I was a Ford dealer when that car was new.I would have told anyone that asked about pulling a trailer of any sort with an Escort that they would do so at peril of their life.

I drive a 99 escort ZX2. NO WAY would that pull a trailer. An empty trailer would be more that it could handle!


Bill

Diddn'd Winston advertize [It's whats up front that counts!] Trailers usually in back of a semi are how the goods of this country are moved! Bud.

It has nothing to do with 'go'.It is about 'whoa'.And the effects on steering tongue weight would have.A trailer loaded heavily to the rear of it would actually pull up the rear of a tiny front drive car.'Jackhnifed' is what the newscasters would say after 'fatal accident'. The tail would wag the dog.

Steve,

I guess you should take the advice given. Having said that I have built three escorts out of parts from the yard and fixed one wreck, and pulled trailers with them all. 1 was a diesel sw that pulled good and got close to 50 mpg on a trip.

So if you need a man to do this job I'll do it you pay my expences to where the car is and back home. I don't care what you put in the car or trailer. Pulled trailers small to semi and doubles all my driving life without a problem.

If your using a U Haul the ones I have seen come with the "whoa" built in.

PS: I'm not judging anyone, I just know my limitations....

John

Well similar info to what I have been researching.I have the Focus wagon,a 2000 model and I want to put a receiver hitch on it.Not really to tow with but to use a hitch carrying platform.
The hitchs I have found I think are rated for 2000 pounds.But the cars owners manual says the car can tow 1000 pounds as equiped.So that tells me that a hitch carrier with about 200 pounds on it shouldnt hurt anything.
Since they want 159 bucks and shiping for that hitch,not made like I want it anyhow,I will be building my own in the shop purty soon.google comes in handy to find the instalation instructions for the exact hitch for my car,thus showing me a picture of how it is made and how it bolts up.All a "engineer" needs
I will keep you posted on how it works out.
Frankly,though all jokes aside,after putting front pads on this car yesterday,I would not trust the brakes with a heavy load like 1200 pounds or more for sure.
My friends 96 escort wagon is like my focus,it aint a road rocket,you put extra weight on it,you would about need someone to flag traffic as you pulled away from a stop sign.

Some of you guys just kill me with "knee jerk" advice like, "recipe for disaster" and "peril of their life", blah, blah, blah.....

I think there is just a lot of extreme prejudice here Steve; some folks just plain "hate" trailers and are afraid of them.

Nobody bothered to ask for any more information about this apparently one time, one-way trip with a loaded trailer.

I couldn't agree more that stopping is a major factor and mountain driving would indeed be taking a chance. However, if the route is relatively flat with no severe upgrades or downgrades, and if the speed is kept down and extreme caution is taken, I would think an Escort or most any other similar size car could handle a small trailer on a one time (DAYTIME), relatively slow drive on a fairly flat route.

Everybody marvels (and rightfully so) about the fact that Dean Yoder has driven his Model T all over the continental United States pulling a trailer, and nobody has used terms like "recipe for disaster", etc. Also, consider that small utility trailers have been hauled all over the U.S.A. for many years with cars like 85 hp flathead 6 cyl. Plymouths and such, even back in the '40's and '50's.

Seems to me that if reasonable caution is used, and if the route is reasonably flat, a one-time (DAYTIME) trip could be made without incident. By reasonable caution, I'm talking about not only cautious driving but also being sure you have good tires, a good quality hitch properly installed, and care is used as far as total weight and in loading the trailer in order to maintain appropriate hitch weight and such.

Again, certainly not something to do on a continual basis, but one time, if the route is not too severe, sure; just be very careful in regard to all aspects of such a one-time trip; just my opinion,.......harold

We regularly use 'small' cars such as the Escort size towing trailers. Up hills, Down hills, round corners.

Three things: Don't go fast, Don't overload, and Don't go fast.

These things suggest: Don't go fast, Don't 'cane' or 'thrash' the engine and Take Your Time, ONLY use a small trailer.

We don't have lots of long flat roads, most have hills and corners that keep speed down.

A larger car/truck would certainly be better, and safer too (if you like higher speeds or have large loads - heavy trailers) but we often just have to make do with what we have.

i towed a t on a 4x6 trailer behind a smaller car than an escort! So whatever your relative will do will be fine

No one mentioned that it is imperative that at least 10% of the load be on the tongue. A rear loaded trailer is extremely unstable and dangerous. Escort?? I have reservations. The life cycle on the timing belt is 60,000 miles. If that belt has not been changed and the car has over 60,000 miles, don't leave home without having a new belt installed. IMHO

I agree with Adrian. We tow small trailers behind small cars all the time here in NZ. As they do elsewhere in the world. There's no problem - but don't ask the car to perform as a supercharged GMC truck.

I'm afraid my prejudice is showing. Most women have been trained not to be mechanically inclined. Weight and Balance, what's that?

Some pretty experienced guys have reported on this Forum after having come to grief towing trailers. I've built, owned and towed enough different trailers not to trust any of them to be safe on the hiway.

It's not just the tow car and trailer. Speed limit for big rigs in the West is 75 mph, and getting passed by one of them in a stiff crosswind is good for a change of laundry, at least.

If said small trailer is a Uhaul, it will be so heavy the car will need a push to get away from the curb.


www.Uhaul.com :

Is the Escort classed as a compact, or a subcompact? I think its big brother the Tempo is a compact. Even if I weren't considering Uhaul, I would take advantage of their experience and get a quote from them. The only trailer they rent shorter than 7' is a streamliner that holds "Up to 45 cu. ft."

rdr