Engine idling while towing!

[rream]

At least OP did not spend 40K on a new Jeep Cherokee with the wrong transmission and can not pull it 4 down like another poster on here.
Yikes

[NITEHAWK]

For what it is worth--and I do realize it is much older--our 2006 Saturn Vue is AWD and is a Honda drive train. Towing setup--in the owner's manual--says idle for three minutes, leave shift in neutral, key on, pull ignition fuse. Good for 740 miles, then repeat.
I installed an inline switch and fuse in order to simplify the procedure and do a repeat (idle) every morning we are traveling, just to be on the safe side.

[W8RLM]

We have friends that have an Escape. They went through the same bit with Ford. Supposedly, their transmission was able to handle 4 down towing. On a return trip from Florida to Ohio, the transmission burned out. Since their manual said that it was towable, Ford installed a Remco pump, and they haven't had any problems since. If your manual said that it was towable, then maybe you can get Ford to absorb some or all of the cost. You might want to contact Remco and see what they say and what pump they recommend. They are not cheap, but it might allow you to keep the Escape.

Good Luck
W8RLM - Bob