Determining Ground Clearance with Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch # 75782 Installed on 2018 Ford Escape

Updated 09/21/2018 | Published 09/20/2018

Question:

Your video shows the hitch being about 16 1/2inch to the top inside of the receiver, is this correct? On my 2018 Escape Titanium with the factory class ll tow package the receiver is inset into the bumper valence and measures about 16 1/2inch to the top inside. I would like to buy a Draw Tite 75782 Class lll but dont see how it can measure 16 1/2inch if it sits below the bumper valence. Could you please verify for me. My best guess is about 14inch or so..... thank you

asked by: Chip

Helpful Expert Reply:

When we installed the Draw-Tite Class III Max Frame Receiver Hitch # 75782 on the 2018 Ford Escape we did indeed measure a distance of 16-1/2 inches from the ground to the top inside portion of the receiver. This measurement is taken with the vehicle parked on level ground so I do recommend making sure your Escape was also parked on level ground when you took your measurement. It's also possible that the Titanium trim model makes for a slightly different ground clearance measurement with this hitch installed.

To help determine where exactly the receiver for the Draw-Tite hitch will sit on your vehicle, I went out to our warehouse to take a quick measurement. From the top of the mounting plate (where the hitch will attach to the vehicle's frame) to the top inside portion of the receiver there is a distance of 7-1/4 inches. What you can do is take this measurement down from where the hitch will attach on your vehicle to see exactly where the top inside portion of the receiver will sit under the bumper.

I have attached an image with this dimension labeled along with a diagram from the installation instructions that shows how the hitch mounts to the frame.

expert reply by: Chris R