2015 Ford Escape Owner Manual Printing 1 - Page 186

Towing • Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and brake gradually. Avoid parking on a grade. However, if you must park on a grade: Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away from traffic flow. Set your vehicle parking brake. Place the automatic transmission in position P. Place wheel chocks in front and back of the trailer wheels. (Chocks not included with vehicle.) Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter vehicle components: • Causing internal damage to the components. • Affecting driveability, emissions, and reliability. Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime the rear axle has been submerged in water. Water may have contaminated the rear axle lubricant, which is not normally checked or changed unless a leak is suspected or other axle repair is required. TOWING POINTS Due to local market requirements in some countries, some vehicles may be equipped with a recovery hook. • 1. 2. 3. 4. Launching or Retrieving a Boat or Personal Watercraft (PWC) Note: Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer into the water. Note: Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after removing the trailer from the water. When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval: • Do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of the rear bumper. • Do not allow waves to break higher than 6 inches (15 centimeters) above the bottom edge of the rear bumper. Recovery Hook Location If your vehicle is equipped with a screw-in recovery hook, it is located in the luggage compartment under the floor cover. If your vehicle is not equipped with a recovery hook, you can purchase one from your dealer. Installing the Recovery Hook There is an installation point for the recovery hook located behind the fascia. Note: The screw-in recovery hook has a left-hand thread. Turn it counterclockwise to install it. Make sure that the recovery hook is fully tightened. 183 Escape (TM2), enUSA, First Printing