How to Install the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver on a 2021 Ford Escape

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Full transcript: www.etrailer.c...
Hey everybody, Ryan here at etrailer. Today on our 2021 Ford Escape, we're gonna be showing you how to install the etrailer.com trailer hitch receiver. But before we do that, why don't we check this one out and make sure this is the right hitch for you There are a couple of big questions it seems like a lot of people are wondering and one of 'em is, you know is the hitch gonna work with the hybrid models as well as the standard gasoline model Escapes And the answer is, yes, it's gonna work with both of 'em. So, regardless on if it's a hybrid or not or regardless on whatever type of sub model you have, the hitch just gonna bolt up and work like it should. And that's gonna kind of bring me to my next point. A lot of these have the hands-free lift gate assist where you kick your foot under there and the hatch comes up and makes sense that people wonder about it because putting a hitch back here is obviously where you're gonna kick your foot, right But even with the hitch in place, it is still going to work like it should.
You're just gonna have to kick your foot to either side of the receiver tube opening and it'll pop right open. The Escape is a really popular SUV. A lot of 'em are out on the road and people use them to do a lot of different things. And so, having a trailer hitch back here is gonna let you use your accessories like a bike rack or a cargo carrier. And it's also gonna let you be able to hook up to a trailer to be able to tow around and whatnot.
So, having this back here is gonna open up your opportunities on what you can do with your Escape. I will say this etrailer hitch, this one's pretty new. It's my first time actually seeing this one on an Escape. And I think it's my new favorite. I did a Curt hitch not too long ago.
It's really similar to this, but has a little different finish, I really like that one, but seeing this one now, I think I might like it more. And I say it because this one has a matte black carbide finish and it almost looks factory. It does a really good job. It kind of blends in and matches the plastic here on our bumper. And so in terms of appearance, I really don't think it can get much better than this one.
With this being the class three hitch, it is gonna have the two inch by two inch receiver tube opening. And this is arguably probably the most common size and a ton of different accessories. You're gonna work with it. End of the receiver tube there is gonna have reinforced collar for a little bit of extra support and it is going to use the standard 5/8 pen and clip. Keep in mind though, pen and clip doesn't come included. If you need one, not a huge deal, can always grab it here at etrailer. And I do like these safety chain openings, they're a plate style and they sit vertical almost a little bit further back and so pretty easy to get to. And they're gonna be large enough to allow us to use just about any size hook that our trailer might have on it. Now I'm gonna give you a couple of measurements and you can use these to help figure out which mounted accessories will work best. Go from the ground to the top inside edge of the receiver tube opening. That's gonna be about 14 inches. So if you plan on towing, chances are pretty good you can use a ball mount that has a straight shank or one that even has a slight rise. From the center of the hitch mount hole to the edge of the rear bumper, that's gonna be about five inches and you can use that measurement to figure out exactly if any of those folding type accessories you might have can be stored in that upright position without contacting the back of your Escape. Compared to some of the other hitches available, there's that Curt one like we talked about earlier, pretty much the same deal just that different finish and then there's a draw tight hitch available as well. That one though is completely visible. It's gonna hang down below the bumper. In my opinion, it doesn't look quite as nice as this one, but it does have a little bit higher weight capacity. So, if you really only plan on kinda towing some heavier stuff, that one might give you a little more breathing room as far as that goes. But at the end of the day, it's just gonna be what you like and what you're looking to do. With this setup here, it's a good all around one. Gonna gotta get the job done. As far as the installation goes, really not too bad. There is two holes that you'll have to enlarge just a little bit to get a bolt to go through. But other than that, everything's pretty straightforward, pretty easy to get to. So, really shouldn't run into too many issues. But, if you wanna see how it's done, feel fre

[@MoJazzey]

What is the tow capacity

[@etrailer]

Although the hitch has a 3500 lb towing/525 lb tongue weight rating, you will actually be limited to the towing capacity of the vehicle. The towing capacity will depend on which engine the vehicle is equipped with and the drive system (FWD vs AWD). Here's the specifics: - 1.5L EcoBoost FWD or AWD-2000 lbs - 2.0L EcoBoost AWD 2000 lbs w/o tow package, 3500 lbs w/tow package - 2..5L 1500 lbs Hope that helps! www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/etrailer/e89YR.html

[@fengni8278]

Is it the same for 2022 escape plug in?

[@etrailer]

This will not work on a PHEV. The manufacturer has put out notifications stating this fit excludes the plug in models. They currently do not have a hitch receiver that will fit but they are working on a solution. www.etrailer.com/ If you need anything else you can use our fitguide to find specific items for your vehicle.

[@therealSIRBOOM]

They couldn't have designed the hitch so the bolt hole aligns to the existing frame hole instead of forcing you to grind a hole into your frame? Who decided this?

[@etrailer]

The presence of the muffler hangers that are temporarily removed at the 5:15 minute mark is what makes enlarging those holes necessary. If the hole wasn't enlarged as shown in the video, there wouldn't be enough room to install the rearmost bolts. I couldn't say who decided this, but it's a function of the way the vehicle was designed. www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/etrailer/e89YR.html