I just bought a escape hybrid 4wd. I read in the owners manual that you can tow it 4 wheels down by putting it in nutural. The quest ion I have is isn't there anything else that needs to be done? Usally the key is in a certain position.

If anyone has towed the escape hybrid 4wd would you give me some reassurance on what I NEED TO DO.

Thank You,

Ron j.

 

I know you can tow it without the key- I think it's described on a supplement to your owner's manual. John (gpsman) describes it in this thread: https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...ad.php?t=13250

 

It is still up for debate on what you are supposed to do with the steering column though. Maybe there is a trick for that too, or maybe it can stay locked?

 

There should be no debate. If you leave the steering column locked, the towed vehicle cannot turn and the force on the column in turns will probably break the lock mechanism. It must be unlocked while towing so the vehicle can follow.

 

Aren't you supposed to use a tow bar with some sort of linkage system the hooks to the front wheels and actually turns them when you go around corners? You can't just let the steering wheel flop... it would just turn all the way to one side and then you'd be dragging the front wheels sideways.

 

I've never done it, but that's why I'm confused.

Totally unlocked steering sounds just as hazardous, or worse, than locked.

If you have RWD, you can tow with the rear up, front down, steering locked.
If you have FWD, you can tow with front up, rear down, steering locked ( but also in the air ).

If you tow with front wheels on a dolly, the steering column is normally locked, right? And the dolly wheels don't steer, so they are locked, right?

So how is towing with 4 down much different than towing a trailer?
Isn't the car towed behind just a fancy trailer?

I know what you all say about the wheels needing to turn around curves, but I'm still confused! It would 'probably' work either way, but which is the best way???
I think highway type curves 4 down with steering locked would be A-Ok. But sharp curves such as left and right city turns???

 

I got the ford service mgr to research what to do.

1 turn key on
2 move gear selector to nutural
3 turn key off- key stays in the ignition.

If the tow brackets get installed in time I will be trying it out this weekend.

also I'm going have a blank key made. i'm told that this will turn the ignition on so I can shift to nutural, but not start the car.

Thank everyone for your answers.

Ron j.

 

You may need to hold the wireless key nearby briefly, initially, but otherwise your technique should work.