You are here: Forums SUVs Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Liberty vs Ford Escape vs Saturn Vue

Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Liberty vs Ford Escape vs Saturn Vue

4940 messages,  Last post on Sep 24, 2009 at 9:33 AM

You are in the Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Liberty, Ford Escape, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Saturn VUE, SUV

#3377 of 4940 Anybody tow anything of consequence by lumbar Oct 25, 2002 (10:15 am)
with a Forester. Sorry if this has been asked before (I know the specs say 2000lbs), but I'm looking for real world experiences. For me, it's the missing piece with the vehicle.
#3378 of 4940 Towing by ateixeira Oct 25, 2002 (11:38 am)
PWCs, the slammed Civics of the water?   Bob: the new Expedition brochure mentions "massive towing power", and later "tow up to 8,900 lbs. (when properly equipped)" is mentoined twice, but with no explanation of exactly what that means.   Worse, they write "Add a hitch...and Expedition is towing-ready". No metion of trailer brakes. They show a swivel tow hitch on the accessories page.   Maybe if you buy the option, the manufacturer should include a towing manual.   I have towed with my Forester. I borrowed Bob's 5'x8' trailer (700 lbs dry weight), and hauled 3 cubic yards of wood chips in it on each of two trips. My guesstimate for the total weight is about 1500 lbs. It pulled it easily, in fact I'm sure the brakes are more of a limiting factor than the engine. I could accelerate even up a steep hill near my house, no problem.   I took a 3rd trip to home depot and Toys R Us to pick up a sand box and 6 bags of sand (50 lbs each, plus 8 4"x4"x8' pressure treated lumber, probably about 1200 or so pounds that time.   My payload is 1020 lbs, so a 200 pounds tongue weight still leaves a useful 820 lb payload to haul 4 big guys.   A RAV4, for instance, has just 760 pounds of payload, so a heavy hitch might reduce you to just 560 lbs available payload, not even 3 big males would fit. Something to consider.   -juice
#3379 of 4940 Juice... by rsholland Oct 25, 2002 (12:10 pm)
8900 pound towing is for 2WD models. 4WD models is slightly lower.   BTW, I looked at the Expedition brochure again, and there's a picture in there (page 15?) of a child in a child's seat, with that center section of the middle seat moved forward, like I mentioned.   Bob
#3380 of 4940 by ateixeira Oct 25, 2002 (12:19 pm)
No asterix to specify that, they do say "up to" though.   My cousin's husband has a whole fleet of Fords in his construction company, and I found it funny that they use 2WDs because they have higher payloads. They usually get the rear LSD, but not 4WD.   I showed my wife that feature, she thought it was neat. But the center console is huge, so you'd still have to get out of your seat to reach the child. That plus I bet the kids would be more comfortable in the two outboard positions. The center seat seemed narrow and no too comfortable for adults.   -juice
#3381 of 4940 by p0926 Oct 25, 2002 (12:27 pm)
Scape2- I tow my personal water craft (2 of them) just fine behind my Escape. Including 4, sometimes 5 passengers, gear ontop and in the rear. The V6 is wonderful and pulls confidently....   Maybe but you also definitely exceeded your max allowable payload. While the acceleration might be fine, watch out if you have to attempt either emergency maneuver or braking.   -Frank P.
#3382 of 4940 by ateixeira Oct 25, 2002 (12:27 pm)
Nah, Fords with Wilderness tires are fine, they never get too hot!   -juice
#3383 of 4940 GVW & payloads by rsholland Oct 25, 2002 (12:38 pm)
It's common for 2WD and 4WD trucks/SUVs to have the same GVW. So yes, a 2WD will be lighter, and therefore have a higher payload.   Bob
#3384 of 4940 P09 by scape2 Oct 26, 2002 (7:17 am)
My towing max is 3,500lbs with the Escape. I estimate my total towing weight to be around 1800lbs. Payload... I don't understand.. I swear the Escapes Payload was rated at about 1200lbs.. its now 978??? I know because I used to use this in comparison battles with other utes of this size. Now you have my curiosity peaked. I am going to hunt on the internet and find out what is going on?? anyway. I have towed and hauled this for almost 2 years now with no problems. The v6 torque and HP give the Escape and the driver the confidence to pull/haul/tow...
#3385 of 4940 grammatical nitpicking by anonymous02 Oct 26, 2002 (7:23 am)
horsepower might peak torque might peak leaf season might peak   ...   ... ...but I think your curiosity piqued.   Also, "The v6 torque and HP give the Escape and the driver the confidence to pull/haul/tow... " doesn't mean it gives the vehicle the actual ABILITY to pull/haul/tow safely. Confidence is a little different.   Sorry for the nitpicking, but that was bugging me.
#3386 of 4940 P09 by scape2 Oct 26, 2002 (7:25 am)
Found it!! Edmunds has once again decided to short the Escape in the max payload category, as it continues to do in the ground clearance category.. the 978lbs if for the lowest model of the Escape. The Escapes max payload is actually 1,175lbs... per MSN.. and my owners manual....

You are here: Forums SUVs Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Liberty vs Ford Escape vs Saturn Vue