Flat tow an AWD vehicle.

[Reyfeo]

Have a 2020 Ford Escape AWD hybrid.....towed it behind Class A last weekend and this weekend, the Ford is throwing a Powertrain warning that requires immediate attention by service (according to the book).......

Did I stumble into a problem by not asking the question that I didn't know I needed to ask.....Ford salesman showed me that the Escape had a "neutral Tow" option.

Above-mentioned book has nothing about NOT flat-towing the vehicle..

Any thoughts appreciated.

[1st-tt2018]

Towing 4 down for emergency only....sounds like a new transfer case and transmission is in your future.

[Steve-W]

According to the Ford towing guide once you are in neutral tow mode the only requirement is to run the engine at the beginning of the day and every 6 hours.

[harleyjt]

Did you have the transfer case in Neutral? Most AWD systems I’ve seen do not have a neutral position and cannot be towed 4 down. I suspect you are going to be replacing a transfer case at the very least and quit possibly the transmission as well.
jt

[Mr_D]

You may have to have the tow kit installed. Some vehicles do need it and it is a dealer option.

[NXR]

Not all Escape transmissions can be towed four-down but the 2020 Hybrid one can. Even the Good Sam guide notes that.

Per the 2020 Ford Escape Owners Manual under Towing, page 282, found at: http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo...US_07_2019.pdf


If you tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground:

• Tow only in the forward direction.

• Release the parking brake.

• Place your vehicle in Neutral Tow mode with the following steps:

• Switch your vehicle on in accessory mode.

• Press the menu button on the controls on the steering wheel.

• Select Settings.

• Select Neutral Tow.

• Follow the instructions on the information display.

• Fully press the brake pedal.

• Shift into neutral (N).

• Switch the ignition off.

• Do not exceed 70 mph (113 km/h).

Note: Switching on Neutral Tow mode requires battery power.

Note: If the parking brake is applied, a message appears in the information display

Note: If your vehicle has an ignition key, you cannot remove the key from the ignition when the transmission is in neutral (N) and your vehicle is off.

Note: Start the engine and allow it to run for a few minutes at the beginning of each day, and every six hours or fewer. With the engine running and your foot on the brake, shift into drive (D) and then into reverse (R) before shifting back into neutral (N). Before continuing to tow, re-enable Neutral Tow mode

Does that sound like what you did?

Interestingly, that last note has a modified procedure after running the engine and requires moving the gear shift and re-enabling Neutral Tow mode.

Ray

[mike brez]

I thought only the hybrid was towable. The fwd can be towed 4down or a dolly and the awd only 4down

[Reyfeo]

Originally Posted by 1st-tt2018

Towing 4 down for emergency only....sounds like a new transfer case and transmission is in your future.Attachment 327787

Thanks.....please id source of that pic.....

[mike brez]

Originally Posted by Reyfeo

Thanks.....please id source of that pic.....

that's for non hybrid

[mike brez]

Only the HF45 transmission can be towed 4down. The hybrid only comes with one transmission the HF45.

[NXR]

Originally Posted by mike brez

I thought only the hybrid was towable. The fwd can be towed 4down or a dolly and the awd only 4down

Correct. While the title does not say it, his first sentence does:

"Have a 2020 Ford Escape AWD hybrid ..."

The OP said he was able to put the vehicle in the Neutral Tow mode. Vehicles without the ability to be towed safely four-down would not even have that function available.

Ray

[1st-tt2018]

Originally Posted by Reyfeo

Thanks.....please id source of that pic.....

Just a google search...i missed the part about you having the hybrid.

[Palmeris]

Following as we needed a new vehicle and purchased a 2020 escape hybrid titanium. Thinking that if we ever decided to exchange 5th wheel for class A we would have an awd toad that is 4 down capable . Have gone through the sequence to put it in tow mode but no actual towing experience in the 6 months we have owned it. Please let us know what you find out

[NXR]

I had a dealer ask me if I knew the procedure to put the car into flat tow mode. I pulled out my phone, opened "RV Checklist" and proudly proclaimed I had both a connect and disconnect checklist so I wouldn't miss anything. He laughed and said he wished more people did that.

If you do not have any kind of written or electronic checklist, create one up before you go to the dealer. If the dealer claims you did something wrong, show them the checklist and say that's why you have a checklist. You already seem to know what needs done but the world runs on documents.

Ray