dieseldoc Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 So the wife bought an 08' escape. It has a trailer hitch on it. This may be a truly dumb question but here goes. The painted bumper cover, covers the stupid hitch. Is this a ford deal or a really bad install in the aftermarket? So to remedy this is there a different bracket, a correct hitch, or are you supposed to hack into the freaking bumper. . . . . thanks guys. The reason I ask is we have a little golf car trailer that she uses from time to time to haul her four wheeler. Would be nice for her to be able to use it instead of taking my superduty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam_Dodson Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 It needs to be cut out from the bumper. When they come factory the bumper is notched out there so im guessing it was put on afterwards and not cut out OR had the wrong bumper put on at the factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbriggs Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I think there is a "knock out" formed into the bumper that can be cut out, Unfortunatly from the inside. With the hitch on already that may be difficult. May need to remove the bumper cover to cut it cleanly. It could be possible that the rear bumper cover was replaced at one time and the body shop forgot to cut it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_E Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 You'd be amazed what an AWD Escape can do with a hitch... My uncle uses his to pull his pontoon boat out of the water and tow it from his lake cabin up north back home for the winter. He was telling me how difficult it is sometimes because he has all 4 wheels spinning to get through the sand beach with the big old pontoon behind him. This then prompted me to go home and look at Youtube videos of people launching boats - There are some real gems there boys if you get some free time. I didn't have the heart to tell him what he's doing to his tranny. And yes, the rear bumper cover has to come off. You can then see from the inside a square shape exactly where you need to cut out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Clayton Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 The PTU will go before the trans, if he keeps that up. Those gears in them things are TINY. We replace 2 to 3 PTU's a year from people getting Escapes stuck in snow banks and beating on them trying to "rock" them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseldoc Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Well thanks for the advice guys. What is the preferred method of trimming the bumper. . . . I have another question for you guys. The compass in the dash above the radio does not appear to tell the right direction. Is there a calibration you can perform or just a rather expensive module to replace in order to make it operational? It reads SW most of the time and the only time it changes is when you head E at which point it says you are going W. I do not have manuals for this here "mochine" yet. The input is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 That's a trailer hitch? I thought that was to secure a bike rack! LOL!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Go HERE .... on the left you'll see a link to "Owner Guides". Click that and follow the drop downs. Select "Owner Guide" and on about page 60 it'll tell you how to set your compass zone and calibrate the compass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 That's a trailer hitch? I thought that was to secure a bike rack! LOL!! T'would be circa '06 and new trucks sold a guy both an Escape and the lightest single axle holiday trailer we had... That thing couldn't get out of it's own way. It screamed the message "just because you CAN do something - it doesn't follow that you SHOULD". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseldoc Posted March 17, 2011 Author Share Posted March 17, 2011 There I go not reading all the way through the manual again. Thanks for the directions jim, alway helpful. I tried to get her to drive the four wheeler up the ramps into the pick-up and haul it. I did not consider however that a 1 ton from 1996 is a ways off the ground and there for making a bit of a steep incline. Needless to say she did not want to try, I have no problem driving it up there but than again I am a bit more adventurous with stuff like that. So what your saying is I should leave the bumper cover over the hitch. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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