Can I flat tow 93 Escort?

[Tjekkers]

We found a pretty good 1993 Escort station wagon, 5 speed manual trans, 4 cylinder engine. Can anyone tell me if we can flat tow it without modifications or stopping every 50 miles? Thanks, I look forward to your answers. Linda

[Tjekkers]

We found a pretty good 1993 Escort station wagon, 5 speed manual trans, 4 cylinder engine. Can anyone tell me if we can flat tow it without modifications or stopping every 50 miles? Thanks, I look forward to your answers. Linda

[rvgrandma]

Linda,

We have a 1997 Aspire, 4 speed manual, that we tow with no modifications or stopping. I would not think that the Escort is much different. The website online to do with towing says not to tow over 50 but you know men!!The only negative to towing all for is that it runs the odometer up so you show more miles than you really have driven. Our car has over 100,000 miles so we really don't care what it says.

Just make sure the emergency brake is off!!!! We were hooking up one day, I set the brake and told him. He forgot and we left ruts down the gravel driveway.

[Tjekkers]

Thanks for the reply. Could you tell me what website you're referring to? I have looked all over the internet, called 2 Ford dealerships and Ford customer Service. No one has a concrete answer about towing this vehicle. The Ford customer service person was actually rather rude and had no advice as to where to find the information. The dealerships say it would PROBABLY be OK but won't commit to an answer.

[TXiceman]

It should tell you about towing in the owners manual.

Ken

[Tjekkers]

A good thought about the owner's manual, however, we don't have one, We are looking at this vehicle to purchase, but want to know the answer before we commit. Thanks anyway.

[jimandsandy]

Hi Tjekkers,
Glad to see new ones on this fourm. We tow a 1993 Ford Escort SW. for about 5 years now it is a manual transmission with out any problem from Nc to Ca. to fl about 30,000 miles only way I would get rid of this car is to replace it with one like it with less miles on it, it is showing 210,500 miles on it
Jim

[Tjekkers]

Thank You! Did you have to make any modifications to the car and do you stop every so many miles? I am so happy to finally get an answer. This forum is terrific!<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jimandsandy:
Hi Tjekkers,
Glad to see new ones on this fourm. We tow a 1993 Ford Escort SW. for about 5 years now it is a manual transmission with out any problem from Nc to Ca. to fl about 30,000 miles only way I would get rid of this car is to replace it with one like it with less miles on it, it is showing 210,500 miles on it
Jim </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Tjekkers]

One more thing, is yours a 5 speed transmission?<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tjekkers:
Thank You! Did you have to make any modifications to the car and do you stop every so many miles? I am so happy to finally get an answer. This forum is terrific!<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jimandsandy:
Hi Tjekkers,
Glad to see new ones on this fourm. We tow a 1993 Ford Escort SW. for about 5 years now it is a manual transmission with out any problem from Nc to Ca. to fl about 30,000 miles only way I would get rid of this car is to replace it with one like it with less miles on it, it is showing 210,500 miles on it
Jim </div></BLOCKQUOTE> </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[rvgrandma]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tjekkers:
Thanks for the reply. Could you tell me what website you're referring to?

I can't remember the website - my computer crashed a year ago and I lost the site. But I got it from here. I don't think it was REMCO that everyone is saying to go to but it could be - it has been 2 years ago.

We put our Aspire in neutral and the key in ACC and drive away. We don't stop or do anything else special. Other than having 5 speeds instead of 4 I don't see there should be any other difference. You might try calling a towing company if you have one that has a good reputation.

[BobFL]

We towed a '93 Escort SW-LX manual transmission,from 1995 until last fall. I'd still be towing it but,the A/C went out and it wasn't worth fixing.
It racks up mileage as you tow(who cares) and I thought it was a 4 spd, rather than 5. A great tow car!

[Gary RVRoamer]

Remco Towing is the expert source - just give them a call and they will tell you if any mods are needed or not.

REMCO is 1 800 228 2481.

http://www.remcotowing.com/


We towed a manual shift spire briefly, until the day I forgot to put it in neutral and blew the engine after towing it a mile or so in first gear.

[Tjekkers]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I found an email for Ford and wrote to them and posed the question. They said that we could not flat tow this vehicle without damaging the transaxle. I think it must be due to the fact it is a 5 speed not a 4 speed. Something about the 5th gear being overdrive. I don't think I mentioned that this vehicle is a station wagon. Maybe that is why it has 5 gears and not 4. Anyway, I guess we will keep looking for a toad. Thanks again for all the responses/

[jimandsandy]

Hi Tjekkers,
Our 1993 Escort is a 93 Sw with a 5 Sp. Trans.
As I posted earler we have not had any problem. It is a station wagon we have towed it fore 5 to 6 hrs. with out stopping. The only thing we do is turn the key 1 notch to unlock the steering wheel. Have not done any other changes, I talked to a man camped below us today he towed one also. He was from Ohio and he has never had any problem eather.
Jim