etrailer | Best 2017 Ford Escape Trailer Hitch Options

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Speaker 1: Today we're going to be taking a look at the best trailer hitches available for the 2017 Ford Escape. Here from etrailer we have part number E98866. This is a Class 3 hitch. It's going to be just like our other hitches. From CURT here we have C13186, and then finally from Draw-Tite, part number 75758.Now during the video we're going to go through and tell you the strengths and weaknesses of each of the hitches and try to help you figure out which one's going to be the best for your application. Basically, when it comes to ease of installation, the easiest one of these hitches to get on your vehicle is definitely going to be the Draw-Tite, part number 75758.

This doesn't require a lot of exhaust lowering. You're going to have two attachment points on the side. Definitely easier than the CURT or the etrailer, which do require you to drop the exhaust. You've got three fish wire bolts that you have to put in on each side, whereas with the Draw-Tite, we've got two on each side. So this one's going to be your easiest to get on your vehicle.Now in my opinion, the cleanest looking hitches are going to be one of the more difficult ones to install.

Both the CURT here that has the gloss finish and the etrailer that has the matte finish are going to remain mainly hidden behind your fascia. You're really only get to see the receiver tube opening of the hitches, not really anything else. Your safety chain connection points, of course, are going to be visible, but the crosstube area on both of them is going to be hidden up and behind the fascia. So if you want one that's not going to change the looks of your vehicle very much, one of these are going to be your better option there.In my mind, for the recreational use of your cargo carriers or your bike racks, I like the Draw-Tite hitch that we have here on the bottom. Has a higher weight rating and a higher tongue weight rating, so you're not going to have as much flex if you get larger bike racks and things like that installed.

And for towing, again with the higher weight rating, the Draw-Tite's probably going to be the way to go.Now the CURT and the etrailer are rated for right up to what the Escape is rated for as far as tongue weight rating and as far as gross trailer weight rating, so these would also be very good for both of those things. Just with the higher weight rating, that Draw-Tite's going to be a little bit stiffer of a hitch.With the etrailer hitch and with the CURT hitch, they both offer a 350 pound tongue weight rating. That's the maximum downward force we can put here at our receiver tube opening. With the Draw-Tite, it's 675 pounds, so we've got a higher tongue weight rating with this hitch. As far as gross trailer weight ratings are concerned, or the weight of your trailer and anything that you might load up on it, the etrailer and the CURT are 3,500 pounds.

The Draw-Tite's going to be at 4,500 pounds. Now one thing to keep in mind with this Draw-Tite hitch, it is exceeding your manufacturer's recommendation, so check your owner's manual, see what it's rated for. You don't want to exceed that.All of our hitches are rated for use with weight distribution too. The etrailer and CURT are going to have a 500 pound tongue weight rating, 5,000 pound gross trailer weight rating, whereas with the Draw-Tite, we're going to keep the same 675 pound tongue weight rating, and it's going to go to a 5,000 pound gross trailer weight rating.Now with these all being Class 3 hitches, they're going to have the 5/8 diameter pin hole here. The etrailer and CURT have a single pin hole, but you'll see there's plenty of room around there. So whether you're just going to use a standard pin and clip, a locking hitch pin, or anti-rattle device, there's plenty of room to get that secured.On the Draw-Tite, you'll notice it has two pin holes. We've got our 5/8 diameter pin hole here and our little bit smaller pin hole located a little closer to the rear of the vehicle. This is for use with the j-pin stabilization system. That's another form of anti-rattle device that goes in, and there's just a pin that pushes over on the item you have installed. It's also able to work with just about any type of accessory.Now another thing that lends itself to towing with the Draw-Tite hitch is the tab that's been welded on right here. It has three pre-drilled holes. That'll allow you to attach maybe a seven-pole or