Flat towing › Ford › Escape
Four wheels down behind a motorhome
Can you flat tow a Ford Escape?
Only some versions: Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid. The others must not be flat towed.
- “Neutral Tow” mode
- Run the engine every 6 h
- Max 70 mph
From Ford's 2026 towing guide, p. 48 ↗
Photo: Mic from Reading - Berkshire, United Kin…, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsStep by step
How to flat tow the Escape
Hybrid
- 1
Select “Neutral Tow” mode
Select "Neutral Tow" mode – refer to Owner's Manual transmission and towing sections to follow procedures.
- 2
Run the engine every 6 hours
Start the engine and allow it to run for a few minutes at the beginning of each day and every six (6) hours or fewer, thereafter. With the engine running and your foot on the brake, shift into drive (D) and then into reverse (R) before shifting back into neutral (N).
- 3
Stay at or under 70 mph
Maximum speed with hybrid transmission is 70 mph.
- 4
Give it its own brakes
“Ford Motor Company recommends that a separate functional brake system be used on any towed vehicle, including those dolly-towed or towbar-towed.” p. 3 ↗
Steps from Ford's guide, p. 48 ↗. Your owner's manual has the full procedure.
Plug-in Hybrid
- 1
Select “Neutral Tow” mode
Select "Neutral Tow" mode – refer to Owner's Manual transmission and towing sections to follow procedures.
- 2
Run the engine every 6 hours
Start the engine and allow it to run for a few minutes at the beginning of each day and every six (6) hours or fewer, thereafter. With the engine running and your foot on the brake, shift into drive (D) and then into reverse (R) before shifting back into neutral (N).
- 3
Stay at or under 70 mph
Maximum speed with hybrid transmission is 70 mph.
- 4
Give it its own brakes
“Ford Motor Company recommends that a separate functional brake system be used on any towed vehicle, including those dolly-towed or towbar-towed.” p. 3 ↗
Steps from Ford's guide, p. 48 ↗. Your owner's manual has the full procedure.
Every version
2026 Escape: by version
Every version
2025 Escape: by version
What you'll need
A flat-tow setup, piece by piece
1. Base plate
Vehicle-specific brackets bolted behind the front bumper — the tow bar connects here. Look it up by year and model.
2. Tow bar
Connects the motorhome's hitch to the base plate. Tow bars carry a weight rating — check it against your vehicle.
3. Safety cables
Back up the tow bar if it ever disconnects.
4. Supplemental braking
A brake system in the towed vehicle so it helps stop itself.
5. Breakaway switch
Applies the towed vehicle's brakes if it separates from the motorhome.
6. Lights / wiring
Carries the motorhome's brake, turn and tail lights to the towed vehicle.
Find the base plate for your exact year and model: Roadmaster FitMaster ↗ · Demco base plates ↗ · Blue Ox ↗. This list is general flat-towing practice, not from Ford's guide — except the brakes, which Ford recommends.
In the maker's words
Before you tow
- “For safe operation, towed vehicles (or dollies or trailers carrying them) should be equipped with a separate functional brake system.”
- “Some aftermarket camper centers offer kits which may allow vehicles with automatic transmissions to be flat-towed. … Check your new vehicle Warranty Guide, as this could void the warranty of your vehicle.”
- “Individual vehicles have different restrictions and towing procedures. Refer to the vehicle owner's manual or contact your Ford dealer for complete details.”
Other options
Similar vehicles you can flat tow
A version that can't go four wheels down can still travel on a car trailer or, where the maker allows, a tow dolly. Ford adds: “Ford Motor Company recommends that a separate functional brake system be used on any towed vehicle, including those dolly-towed or towbar-towed.” p. 3 ↗
Questions people ask
Can you flat tow a 2026 Ford Escape?
Only some versions. Only some versions: Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid. The others must not be flat towed.
How fast can you flat tow the Escape?
Maximum speed with hybrid transmission is 70 mph.
Do you have to start the Escape's engine while flat towing?
Start the engine and allow it to run for a few minutes at the beginning of each day and every six (6) hours or fewer, thereafter. With the engine running and your foot on the brake, shift into drive (D) and then into reverse (R) before shifting back into neutral (N).
Does flat towing void the warranty?
Some aftermarket camper centers offer kits which may allow vehicles with automatic transmissions to be flat-towed. … Check your new vehicle Warranty Guide, as this could void the warranty of your vehicle.
Source: 2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide (Ford Motor Company, v1 (PDF modified 2026-03-25); retrieved 2026-09-27). Page links open the PDF at the page each number is printed on.
Source: 2025 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide (Ford Motor Company, v5 (PDF modified 2026-05-20); retrieved 2026-09-27). Page links open the PDF at the page each number is printed on.