Introduce Yourself: Tow Vehicles

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Tow Vehicles

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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11138
Printed Date: 20 May 2025 at 7:43am
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Topic: Tow Vehicles

Posted By: gaw0728
Subject: Tow Vehicles
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2018 at 3:06pm

does anyone tow with a Ford Edge or other SUV having a 3500 tow rating.

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gaw0728

Replies:

Posted By: jimandclare
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2018 at 5:07pm

Do you have any specific questions about towing with the Edge? We tow our 2016-178 with a 2014 Edge equipped with the factory tow package. With the transmission in sport mode while towing we average between 12 and 14 mpg with our speed in 60 mph ish range. Started out with only a sway bar on the hitch but upgraded to the Anderson WD hitch with sway control last season. One of the best investments we've made. We love our 178 and have absolutely no plans for another vehicle.

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Jim & Clare
2016 R-pod 178
2014 Ford Edge

Posted By: gaw0728
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2018 at 6:28pm

Do you have any problems pulling the weight of your model 178 which is what we are looking at.

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gaw0728

Posted By: jimandclare
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2018 at 8:23am

Short answer – absolutely no problems towing with our Edge. The vehicle/trailer combination has been perfect for needs. Here in Michigan there are no mountains to speak of though there are some steep grades here and there. Downshifting in sport mode pretty much allows me to keep the speed at a 60 mph target on the expressways.

I have to qualify that answer by saying because of our backpacking experience we travel pretty light and minimal. We don’t carry any unnecessary overweight equipment and never travel with more than 5 gallons of drinking water. Also we have done some mods to reduce the overall weight.

Now, would we tow the pod with the Edge cross country or to Alaska? Probably not. For peace of mind I’d think seriously about upgrading to a larger vehicle.

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Jim & Clare
2016 R-pod 178
2014 Ford Edge

Posted By: RichC
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2018 at 8:51am

Originally posted by gaw0728

does anyone tow with a Ford Edge or other SUV having a 3500 tow rating.

We have a 171, since March 2017, that we tow with a 2008 Toyota Sienna (Tow rating 3500). It tows fine but we do use a sway bar and I have "Airlift 1000" support for the rear suspension. to date we have about 14,000 miles, including Chicago to Montana, Chicago to Ithaca, NY and Chicago to L.A.

Posted By: twodues
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2018 at 10:38am

We have the same set-up as jimandclare except only anti-sway and ditto everything he/she/they posted. It even did well through the Ozarks and NW Arkansas.

Posted By: gaw0728
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2018 at 1:28pm

does anyone tow with a Ford Edge or other SUV having a 3500 tow rating

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gaw0728

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2018 at 4:09pm

I used to tow with a 2016 Ford Escape SE with tow package and 3,500 lb tow rating. I would likely still be towing with it except we encountered ice with a strong cross-wind in Wyoming in December 2016. I don't know if a larger tow vehicle with a higher tow rating would have made any difference. We now tow with a 2010 Nissan Frontier LE Crew Cab 4x4 with 6,100 lb tow rating.

Escape's advantages:
1. The 2 Liter Ecoboost engine is remarkable, especially at higher elevations where it is able to keep going at top power because of the turbocharger. The 4 Liter V6 in the Frontier loses 4% power for every thousand feet in elevation.
2. The short distance between the center of the rear axle and the hitch ball means less force can be exerted by the trailer. Trucks passing were like a gentle nudge, but no problems.

Escape's disadvantages:
1. It (and similar vehicles with a 3,500 lb tow rating) have problems with wind resistance. Look in the owner's manual for towing guidelines. You will find that the R-Pods have a frontal area that is quite large and probably exceed manufacturer's recommendations for maximum frontal area. This can be mitigated a little by using a wind deflector such as Purpleline's AeroPlus or Icon's AeroShield. Still, limiting tow speed to 60 mph or lower will be a great help with mileage. Anything faster than 60 mph, you are looking at single-digit mileage, even on level ground.
2. Stowage: The Escape or Edge or any other SUV will not give you a good place to carry extra propane or, if you have a generator, extra fuel. Neither are really that good to carry inside the SUV with family.
3. Unless you get an All Wheel Drive version, expect traction issues. We had the FWD Escape. Even with a properly adjusted weight distribution hitch, starting out on anything other than dry pavement could have issues. AWD would help. Don't think you can climb hills on dirt roads. If you have to start from a stop on a hill, expect to spin the wheels at least. Snow and ice are to be avoided! I know from experience.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: gaw0728
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2018 at 5:37pm

is w weight distribution hitch necessary we would not be towing in an extreme weather

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gaw0728

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 8:57am

Originally posted by gaw0728

is w weight distribution hitch necessary we would not be towing in an extreme weather

With that low of a tow rating, I would recommend a WDH, but it may not be absolutely mandatory. You would like the stability that it would provide.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 9:10am

Originally posted by gaw0728

is w weight distribution hitch necessary we would not be towing in an extreme weather

For a Ford Edge (or similar 3,500 lb rated vehicles) I believe it to be an absolute necessity--especially if you have front wheel drive. The weather does not matter. Without, you will not have sufficient traction even on dry roads. Please see the https://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/17RV&TT_Ford_Edge_Sep7.pdf - Ford Edge Trailer Towing Guide for more information (2017 version linked). Another consideration is that the Ford Class 2 towing package for the Edge only includes a 4-pin connector. A brake controller and 7-pin (Bargman) connector will need to be installed also.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: texman
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 9:32am

fwiw- i just completed a 750 mile round trip in our 2018 sequoia with WDH and anti sway and our 182g. this is the first trip that i have had the hitch and previously towed the trailer with a Tundra and no special hitch at all. I am really amazed at all the folks that manage with the smaller vehicles to tow the pods. I know highway speeds and winds are the biggest factors that influence the highway experience to me. i was fortunate to have a tail wind coming and going(never happened before). actually more of a diagonal crossing wind on I40 witch is mostly east/west where i am. The sway and WDH made all the difference in the world. Even with the new hitch, i still noticed some sway from wind shadows and passing semi trucks. i blame some of that on the factory tires(just ordered some carlisle tires to fix that) So, my 2 cents is get the WDH for full size and all others as well.

Texman

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TexMan 2015 182g
2018 Sequoia
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9122&title=texman-182g-mods - TexManMods

Posted By: Bully
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2018 at 5:32pm

I will let you know very soon. We just bought a 178 and will be towing it with a 2014 ford edge 3.5 with a factory trailer package. I am installing a 6000 lb wd hitch with sway control when we pickup the trl tomorrow. The Edge is rated at 3500 lb and 350 hitch wt.

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BB

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2018 at 5:36pm

Bully, recommend a WDH with that tow vehicle, last time I weighed my 178, hitch weight was 372. Both my tow vehicles are rated at over 6000.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2018 at 7:28pm

Originally posted by Bully

I will let you know very soon. We just bought a 178 and will be towing it with a 2014 ford edge 3.5 with a factory trailer package. I am installing a 6000 lb wd hitch with sway control when we pickup the trl tomorrow. The Edge is rated at 3500 lb and 350 hitch wt.

Careful Bully. The Ford Edge (I believe) is unibody (AKA monocoque). That is just under the weight rating on the 178 (probably closer to 370 or 380 lbs on the tongue weight, and definitely over 3500 lbs in total weight). You will have to beef it up somehow or bite the bullet and get a bigger TV. In fact, any time you're going above 90% of the weight rating (~~ 3150/315 in the case of the Ford Edge) you are skating on thin ice.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost