Thanks Wayne -

I agree that towing even 1,000 lbs. must not be taken lightly but the other uses do not even approach that load...they have more to do with tongue weight and total vehicle cargo load max.

I have spent the last 2 months or more scouring the market place and wrote to the top ten hitch manufacturers in the US and received replies from most. No hitch is available and most are waiting until the FEH is more available until they will begin engineering a solution. The hitches Ford tried for the regular 2005 Escape were priced at about $200 for Class II and $300 for Class III plus the $230 my dealer wanted for install. The less than $300 (installed) hitch from Hitch-Web and Curt is comparable and they understand that they will not become rich off of this. They only want to demonstrate they are responsive and perhaps they might draw people to their other products and services.

I wanted the heavier hitch for the 2 X 2 inch insert rather than have to go back and buy a 2 X 2 adapter.

Ford was unresponsive during these months until Hitch-Web.Com and Curt partnered to come up with a solution. Quickly, Ford became responsive and I did provide their engineering team with photographs and contact information.

I do hope they might move forward to supply a need. It seems that us FEH people are Type A and after waiting months for our car we are not willing to wait months more to accessorize it.

May the new year give Hybrid Owners everything they want and Hybrid Purchasers a short waiting period.

Mike
(SDCTCHER)

Mike Maline - Sdctcher
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Owner
California School Teacher