Etrailer hitch installed on FFH

[VonoreTn]

I just installed a class 1 etrailer hitch on my FFH. If anyone is interested, email me, I have installation pictures. It took me about 1 hour, and cost $141.47 including shipping. I installed it to mount a bicycle rack on the back. Per readers comments below, don't try to pull a trailer with it, the FFH Owners Manual forbids it.

Edited October 15, 2010 by VonoreTn

[Fuze-ion]

Did you have to drill holes or did it attach to holes that already existed? I'll admit, I haven't really looked under the rear end of the vehicle, except at the Exhaust and muffler.

[VonoreTn]

Did you have to drill holes or did it attach to holes that already existed? I'll admit, I haven't really looked under the rear end of the vehicle, except at the Exhaust and muffler.

I did not have to drill any holes. It used existing holes. And the way you get the bolts and washers inside the closed channel is really clever. Both bolts on each side go through the larger of the two existing holes. They send you special wires that attach to the bolt thread to accomplish this. You can get the muffler out of the way pretty quickly, it is just supported by two rubber hangers. (actually I probably made that sound too easy since there is a trick to that).

 

Now that I know all the tricks I bet I could do a second one in 20 minutes. And if I had some help, like someone to hold the hitch in place as I get the nuts started, 15 minutes.

[paulbuck]

I just installed a class 1 etrailer hitch on my FFH. If anyone is interested, email me, I have installation pictures. It took me about 1 hour, and cost $141.47 including shipping. A class one is good for 2000 lbs, which would be a small trailer with a motorcycle, a small sailboat, etc. I mainly installed it to mount a bicycle rack on the back. Any trailer is going to mess up your fuel mileage, be careful there. I guess this hitch would fit any 2010 Fusion.

Be aware that the Ford does NOT recommend towing a trailer with the FFH (see your owners manual). See also my post about this previously.

My dealer said it was because of the CVT, not lack of power. I needed to tow a small trailer also, but I'll wait until my warranty is up, as they said towing could

void the warranty if any tranny issues arise.

[btygte]

Be aware that the Ford does NOT recommend towing a trailer with the FFH (see your owners manual). See also my post about this previously.

My dealer said it was because of the CVT, not lack of power. I needed to tow a small trailer also, but I'll wait until my warranty is up, as they said towing could

void the warranty if any tranny issues arise.

I just use my hitch on my FFH for the bike rack and a spare luggage rack. Works very well for that...

 

Brian

[rfruth]

I suspect if you go into a dealership for something unrelated they may note the hitch even though the weight of a couple bikes+the hitch+wind drag is less than that of a couple passengers, do they disallow carpooling ? Can't blame FoMoCo for trying to protect themselves.

Edited October 15, 2010 by rfruth

[VonoreTn]

Be aware that the Ford does NOT recommend towing a trailer with the FFH (see your owners manual). See also my post about this previously.

My dealer said it was because of the CVT, not lack of power. I needed to tow a small trailer also, but I'll wait until my warranty is up, as they said towing could

void the warranty if any tranny issues arise.

Thanks for the heads up on the owner's manual warning. I kind of assumed that, and never had any intention of pulling a trailer. I have too many friends with pickups and trailers who owe me favors to ever consider using my FFH as a trailer hauler. I guess when I was describing the definition of a class one trailer hitch, I was thinking that other non-hybrid Fusion owners might benefit from my experience, and they might land at this topic in a general fordfusionforum search. Maybe this topic should be moved out of the hybrid section, I don't know how to do that at this point.

 

The installation pictures are at:

My link

[xmech2k]

I think they nixed towing for ALL Fusions. Though I still like the bike rack usage. Wonder what the dealer would say, in case of a transmission issue. Think I'll ask when I go in for my next service soon. I have an I4 bte, but still interested in this hitch.

[VonoreTn]

Yeah, these days if you have plans to tow a trailer, you should be thinking about buying a cross-over or an SUV. I think the Lincoln Towncar would still pull a class 3 trailer as late as 1997, when they went to electric radiator cooling fans in 1998, which are better for cooling the AC condenser at idle, but worse for pulling a heavy trailer at low speeds. Ford figured if you were serious about pulling a 6000 lb trailer, you should probably be looking at an Explorer, Expedition, F150, or an E250.

 

I think they nixed towing for ALL Fusions. Though I still like the bike rack usage. Wonder what the dealer would say, in case of a transmission issue. Think I'll ask when I go in for my next service soon. I have an I4 bte, but still interested in this hitch.

[paulbuck]

Yeah, these days if you have plans to tow a trailer, you should be thinking about buying a cross-over or an SUV. I think the Lincoln Towncar would still pull a class 3 trailer as late as 1997, when they went to electric radiator cooling fans in 1998, which are better for cooling the AC condenser at idle, but worse for pulling a heavy trailer at low speeds. Ford figured if you were serious about pulling a 6000 lb trailer, you should probably be looking at an Explorer, Expedition, F150, or an E250.

I have a small 5'x9' trailer that I carry various items in (kayak, bags of dirt, junk,etc.); after I traded in my Accord for the FFH, I put a hitch on my Civic, which does fine pulling the trailer. Just think I should be able to pull it with the FFH without worries about my warranty. It was my bad anyway, as I never thought of asking the salesman about towing capacity before I purchased.

[VonoreTn]

I have a small 5'x9' trailer that I carry various items in (kayak, bags of dirt, junk,etc.); after I traded in my Accord for the FFH, I put a hitch on my Civic, which does fine pulling the trailer. Just think I should be able to pull it with the FFH without worries about my warranty. It was my bad anyway, as I never thought of asking the salesman about towing capacity before I purchased.

 

Here's what it says in the FFH owners manual, page 205:

 

TRAILER TOWING

WARNING: Never tow a trailer with this vehicle. Your vehicle is

not equipped to tow. No towing packages are available through

an authorized dealer.

[oldschool1962]

I suspect if you go into a dealership for something unrelated they may note the hitch even though the weight of a couple bikes+the hitch+wind drag is less than that of a couple passengers, do they disallow carpooling ? Can't blame FoMoCo for trying to protect themselves.

 

I contacted my dealer and explained the use of the system. Mine was actually installed by U-Haul and I opted for the light kit incase I carry something on the luggage rack that blocks the tail lights. Turns out this was a smart move because the cargo carrier is actually wider than the vehicle and ....at least in Virginia.....I need lighted side markers for the carrier.

 

I've had the car into another dealer while on a trip and they mentioned my home dealership made a notation about the use of the hitch. No problems.

[lolder]

I contacted my dealer and explained the use of the system. Mine was actually installed by U-Haul and I opted for the light kit incase I carry something on the luggage rack that blocks the tail lights. Turns out this was a smart move because the cargo carrier is actually wider than the vehicle and ....at least in Virginia.....I need lighted side markers for the carrier.

 

I've had the car into another dealer while on a trip and they mentioned my home dealership made a notation about the use of the hitch. No problems.

Oldschool, how's this car working?

[oldschool1962]

Oldschool, how's this car working?

 

Hey Lee,

Not to hijack the thread but since you asked.....Not one single issue that presented itself in the last one has done so in this one. Just crossed over the 7000 mile threshold. Actualy we do get a BLIS error every now and then but it resets itself when I cycle the off and on after stops. Happens about every 2000 miles. I told the Service guys about it when I was in for the 5000 service so they know about it. I have been having more fun in this car. Airing it out so to speak every couple thousand miles. This one is far more responsive than the last. Mileage is holding in the high 30's to low 40's too...that is depending on my foot being leaded or not. Hehehe

[lolder]

Hey Lee,

Not to hijack the thread but since you asked.....Not one single issue that presented itself in the last one has done so in this one. Just crossed over the 7000 mile threshold. Actualy we do get a BLIS error every now and then but it resets itself when I cycle the off and on after stops. Happens about every 2000 miles. I told the Service guys about it when I was in for the 5000 service so they know about it. I have been having more fun in this car. Airing it out so to speak every couple thousand miles. This one is far more responsive than the last. Mileage is holding in the high 30's to low 40's too...that is depending on my foot being leaded or not. Hehehe

Glad to hear that. I think some of the BLIS problems are an rf interference problem on perhaps a shared spectrum that is not a fault of the car and is probably unsolvable.

[gl3]

I just installed a class 1 etrailer hitch on my FFH. If anyone is interested, email me, I have installation pictures. It took me about 1 hour, and cost $141.47 including shipping. I installed it to mount a bicycle rack on the back. Per readers comments below, don't try to pull a trailer with it, the FFH Owners Manual forbids it.

 

What brand trailer hitch and is there a specific brand that fits the receiver or are they standardized? Leaning toward this option. Does it make the camera and proximity useless?

[VonoreTn]

What brand trailer hitch and is there a specific brand that fits the receiver or are they standardized? Leaning toward this option. Does it make the camera and proximity useless?

Oops, I let your question languish for 5 years. In case you or anyone else is still interested, it is an etrailer.com part number 24837 trailer hitch mount. The hitch is standardized, 1.25 inch square. You can get the just the hitch at Walmart or any auto store. I also modified a Walmart hitch mount luggage carrier that I use. I cut it narrower, it was too wide as bought from Walmart for about $50. It's rated at 300 lbs. I stack a few suitcases on it in large garbage bags when I have 4 or 5 of us in the car all with luggage. It does not seem to hurt the mileage, being shielded by the body for air drag, and still within the luggage weight allowed in the owner's manual. I think I have more info and pictures on another topic for the luggage rack. I used a metal chop saw to narrow it, and just nuts and bolts to re-structuralize it.