adsm08
Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2009
- Messages
- 34,623
- Reaction score
- 3,613
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Dillsburg PA
- Vehicle Year
- 1987
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Engine Size
- 4.0
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Tire Size
- 31X10.50X15
Ok, so a series of poor decisions on the part of me and my wife today (along with 6 inches of new snow) led me to the discovery that there really is nowhere I can hook onto the Escape to pull it without doing damage, unless I remove the grille.
I was poking around and here is what I found as far as hooking up:
The actual structural piece that constitutes the bumper runs behind the chrome bar under the grille. I can get a strap around it and through the grille, but it puts too much stress on the grille when pulled. I can tell just by tugging it by hand that if I hooked up to a tow vehicle it WILL damage the grille.
Now, it is not hard to take the whole front bumper cover and grille off, if you can remove the wheels (so not while it is stuck in the snow). I do have enough room to drop a clevis ring back there so I have something real the grab the next time she gets stuck. I just have to watch how far is sticks out back, the convener is right there, about 1.5 inches away. I just want to know if there are any brands or suppliers that are preferred. Anything I need to stay away from.
I could hook on with a tow hook, but I am not a fan of hooks. I also know it is preferred to hook up to the frame, but the unfortunate fact of it is that the Escape just doesn't have one. The bumper is the most structural component available. Don't worry, I'm not this guy:
FWIW though, the Escape is grounded for the duration of this storm, and will be getting some better tires when the current ones wear out. In the mean time I will make her drive a real vehicle, something with low range, direct throttle input, and no traction control. The RBVs both walked right out of deeper stuff than the Escape got itself stuck in.
I was poking around and here is what I found as far as hooking up:
The actual structural piece that constitutes the bumper runs behind the chrome bar under the grille. I can get a strap around it and through the grille, but it puts too much stress on the grille when pulled. I can tell just by tugging it by hand that if I hooked up to a tow vehicle it WILL damage the grille.
Now, it is not hard to take the whole front bumper cover and grille off, if you can remove the wheels (so not while it is stuck in the snow). I do have enough room to drop a clevis ring back there so I have something real the grab the next time she gets stuck. I just have to watch how far is sticks out back, the convener is right there, about 1.5 inches away. I just want to know if there are any brands or suppliers that are preferred. Anything I need to stay away from.
I could hook on with a tow hook, but I am not a fan of hooks. I also know it is preferred to hook up to the frame, but the unfortunate fact of it is that the Escape just doesn't have one. The bumper is the most structural component available. Don't worry, I'm not this guy:
FWIW though, the Escape is grounded for the duration of this storm, and will be getting some better tires when the current ones wear out. In the mean time I will make her drive a real vehicle, something with low range, direct throttle input, and no traction control. The RBVs both walked right out of deeper stuff than the Escape got itself stuck in.