Towing a 2002 Ford Escape with Dolly

[TaterColo]

My son is turning 16 in a couple months and looking at the 2002 ford Escape 4x4 with a manual tranny (currently a family member owns it). I'd rather tow that than my wife's Acura.

I found the 2002 towing guide online and it said you can tow a 2002 Ford Escape 4x4 - 4 down if it has a manual transmission. My question is can you tow it with a tow dolly? It would seem that if you can tow 4 down you could use a dolly as well? I have been searching the web high and low for the last 2 hours and cannot find a definitive answer. Any insight would be appreciated.

[tentcamper1]

https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/results.asp
this link should get you to the owners manual- hope that is some help.

[TaterColo]

I did look at the owners manual and it states the AWD with manual tranny can be towed 4 down. It does not mention a tow dolly. So my question is - if you can tow 4 down why can't you use a tow dolly?

[edman87k5]

No sure on the escape, but many vehicles that are 4wd/awd can be towed 4 down but not on a dolly. You could always unbolt the rear driveshaft from the pinion yoke, but I am guessing you don't want to do that.
Is it all time awd or does it have a 2wd function? If no 2wd, answer is no.

[Bigglesdaf]

You cannot tow a 4x4 on a tow dolly unless you remove drive shaft to wheels on ground as most suv's have a drive reduction box that splits the main drive from gearbox to the front and rear, if one set of wheels turn it forces other set to turn, if you lock it in dolly then tow you will most likely ruin the drive reduction box and bend the drive shafts, or worse still cause vehicle to lock rear wheels at speed and cause accident with an escape AWD it's 4 down or full 4 up on trailer.