The 2022 Ford Escape did have the capability to tow a trailer behind it and these vehicles even had a tow package that was offered, which is what this article is all about! There wasn't much in the way of what was included with the package, but we will get into the details on what was included and a quick overview of what each component is and what role it plays.
What's Included in the 2022 Escape Trailer Tow Package:
I was able to find a chart that lists the four different components that were included in the 2022 Ford Escape trailer tow package which were: a hitch receiver, a 4 pin wiring harness, an automatic transmission oil cooler and a trailer sway control feature.
1. Available with 2.0L EcoBoost® I4 or 2.5L I4 Hybrid/Plug-in Hybrid (SEL or Titanium) only.
1. Trailer Wiring Harness (4 pin): The four pin wiring harness is essentially a 4 pin connector that is shown in the illustration and is the connection point where you would hook up the connection for your trailer, which would sync your vehicle's lights with the trailer's lights.
You would have brake lights, turn signals, running lights and hazard lights for your trailer when using this connection.
7 Pin Harness: A seven pin wiring harness was not included in the package and if you want one installed you'll have to buy an aftermarket kit and have it installed separately.
If you plan on using electric trailer brakes then you will have to have a 7 pin connector instead of a 4-pin connector, which is something to keep in mind if you plan on going that route, as there will be added costs associated with this.
2. A Hitch Receiver: The hitch receiver is probably the most important element in the tow package itself and gets mounted directly onto your vehicle's frame, providing a very strong anchoring point and is what allows you to pull trailers with your vehicle. The hitch receiver that comes with the 536 tow package for the 2022 Ford Escape uses a 1-1/4 inch hitch receiver tube, which is a little more obscure than the 2-inch hitch receivers, so you will have to match up your accessories accordingly to make sure they fit this size receiver hitch.
Hitch Class: Since the towing capacity for the 2022 Ford Escape is rated at a maximum 3500 lbs., a Class 2 hitch is used, which is properly rated for that amount of weight.
You can see an example of the receiver hitch in the image before it is mounted underneath the vehicle to the frame. There are also aftermarket hitches available if your vehicle did not come equipped with a factory-installed tow package.
Hitch Receiver Dimensions: As I mentioned before, these hitch receivers use a 1-1/4 inch tubing instead of a 2-inch tubing like most other vehicles use, so you will need to make sure that if you are planning on using any accessories with your hitch that they fit those dimensions.
There are many different hitch accessories available that fit a 1-1/4" hitch receiver, and you can find these many different places online.
3. An Automatic Transmission Cooler: If you had an automatic transmission model and had the optional 536 tow package equipped with your Ford Escape, then you have the automatic transmission fluid cooler equipped as well, which is a mini radiator that mounts in front of your standard radiator and looks similar to one of the two images that I have shown below.
4. Trailer Sway Control: The trailer sway control is basically just a feature that you can find on the vehicle itself and it basically is applied by pushing a button on your dash. In a nutshell, it works by applying brakes to individual wheels, while at the same time reducing engine torque to aid the vehicle's overall stability. I was able to find a little bit of information on how it works in the owner's manual and I went ahead and posted an image of what I found below.
How To Turn Sway Control On/Off: I also thought it was worth mentioning how to turn the trailer sway control feature on or off. I was able to find the direction in the owner's manual and wanted to post it here as a quick reference for those of you out there that may be wondering how it works and how you can toggle it on and off.
- Press Features on the touchscreen.
- Press Towing.
- Switch Trailer Sway Control on or off. (The system turns on each time you start your vehicle.)
Resources:
There were only two different resources I used when doing the research for this article and to be honest, I only needed these two resources as they provided me all of the information I needed. Feel free to check these resources out for yourself, as there are tons of useful tips and tricks in there not only about towing related stuff but other important stuff about your vehicle as well.