Installed Hitch for Bike Rack

[jeffo65]

I finally got around to installing the hitch on our FFH for the bike rack. I picked the hitch up from AutoAnything for about $100 delivered. It only took 30 minutes for my wife and I to install it. It was easy and straightforward.

 

Here is a picture with the rack and her bike on the FFH. I was only able to get one picture before she left for her ride with the girls.

 

Very happy with the hitch and rack. The rack is a Kuat Sherpa 2 bike rack. It only weighs 29 pounds.

 

[acdii]

Gives it a whole new meaning to being green.

[jeffo65]

It does not appear to have affected the mpgs much either. On her drive home she got 66.9mpg over the 23 mile drive. I am sure it will have some effect over a much longer trip when we head to Door County with 2 bikes on it. But it will still be more than we were getting with the old car when carrying the bikes.

[shaggy314]

That's THE key, using a hitch mount for bikes and not the roof rack. I see a lot of people leaving in roof rack place, it's a giant sail slowing you down.... even without a bike.

[storksb]

Jeffo65, what brand of hitch did you buy? Can you post a picture without the bike rack on so we can see how it looks?

 

Thanks

[jeffo65]

Jeffo65, what brand of hitch did you buy? Can you post a picture without the bike rack on so we can see how it looks?

 

Thanks

I bought the Curt hitch. Very easy to install. I will try to get a picture without the rack tonight.

[dalesky]

I see that hitch there. Did the install require any drilling? Online reviews say you just fish the bolts into existing holes. Do you think it makes the car more susceptible to scraping on curbs? Thanks

[jeffo65]

I see that hitch there. Did the install require any drilling? Online reviews say you just fish the bolts into existing holes. Do you think it makes the car more susceptible to scraping on curbs? Thanks

No drilling at all. Very easy with the fish wires. Just insert the fish wires before attaching the bolts to them. We have not scraped the hitch yet. It is about 2.5 inches lower than the bottom lip of the bumper.

[usererror]

I just placed my order for this hitch as well from Autoanything.com. I am hoping it arrives by Friday (used free shipping) so I can install it this weekend. Otherwise installation will be delayed a week while I am in N. California for work.

 

Update: less than 24 hours later. My hitch is here! WOW. They must ship from somewhere near Michigan.

Edited May 27, 2015 by usererror

[tr7driver]

With the bike on the rack, do you get any false back-up or cross traffic alerts (IF you car is equipped with these)?

[jeffo65]

With the bike on the rack, do you get any false back-up or cross traffic alerts (IF you car is equipped with these)?

 

It picks up the bike and hitch, as expected, so the alerts are not helpful at all. But I can still view, through the camera, while backing up.

[usererror]

Got mine installed this evening. Piece of cake, even doing the job solo. Thanks for the info from this thread!

[notgonepackin@gmail.com]

2015 SE bike rack/trailer hitch question:

Etrailer sells two hitches; Curt, rated at 350 pounds tongue weight and; Draw Tite Sport rated at 200 pounds tongue weight.

Reviews and install comments indicate that the heavier rated Curt requires removal of a body panel while the lighter Drawtite indicates the need to do some trimming on that same panel ...but it remains in place.

 

If one is only going to use the hitch for a bike rack (not to tow something) it seems the Draw Tite is the way to go if a person wishes to keep the body panel and its aerodynamic properties.

 

Anybody have any experiences, suggestions, or comments?

[storksb]

I had my dealer install a Curt hitch, they did remove the under side body panel, but after 6 weeks I gave seen no impact on MPG. I like the look of the Curt hitch though, it is barely noticeable and works great with my bike rack.

[jeffo65]

2015 SE bike rack/trailer hitch question:

Etrailer sells two hitches; Curt, rated at 350 pounds tongue weight and; Draw Tite Sport rated at 200 pounds tongue weight.

Reviews and install comments indicate that the heavier rated Curt requires removal of a body panel while the lighter Drawtite indicates the need to do some trimming on that same panel ...but it remains in place.

 

If one is only going to use the hitch for a bike rack (not to tow something) it seems the Draw Tite is the way to go if a person wishes to keep the body panel and its aerodynamic properties.

 

Anybody have any experiences, suggestions, or comments?

I also removed the under panel to install my hitch. I am sure if I really wanted to, I could cut the panel and fit it back on, but no need to.

[usererror]

As soon as I have the free time, I would like to get back under the car and see about cutting and re-installing the cover I removed during the install of the hitch. I'd like to keep it there to keep dirt/grime from getting tossed up, especially come winter in Michigan...

[Cobra348]

That's THE key, using a hitch mount for bikes and not the roof rack. I see a lot of people leaving in roof rack place, it's a giant sail slowing you down.... even without a bike.

Question ... are hitch racks or roof racks the ONLY option we have? Aren't there any trunk racks that will work? I'm thinking particularly of the Saris Bones model. Although our trunks don't have a metal lip under the rear license plate that hooks can use, mine at least has 4 slots in the underside of the rear deck edge.

 

Can a strap hook be slipped in there to anchor the end of a trunk rack? Then the lower straps simply wrap around the edge and the rack goes into place as expected - leading edge and side straps as needed. Anyone know at all? The Saris site for their Porter rack just said it can't work because no lower lip to hook ... but I think those vent slots or whatever might be the trick.

Edited August 6, 2015 by Cobra348

[jeffo65]

I had a Saris rack from a previous car and could not get it to work on the FFH due to the trunk lid shape. Plus you have a better chance marring the paint with a trunk rack.

[Cobra348]

I had a Saris rack from a previous car and could not get it to work on the FFH due to the trunk lid shape. Plus you have a better chance marring the paint with a trunk rack.

I can report that there IS a trunk rack that will work on the FFH! My girlfriend and I picked up a Saris Porter 2-bike rack. Out of the box, it will not work, however there are straps with a dumbbell shaped padded weight on one end called Hatch Huggers that can replace the lower straps on Saris Porter or Bones (possibly Thule or Graber as well). The weighted ends drop into the trunk, tighten the lower and upper straps then setup the side straps.

 

Works like a champ. It took about 10 minutes fiddling around at her bike shop with the guy and we found the solution. Next weekend we're going to try it on her Camaro although I think the rear deck panel (with the plate on it) is too shallow. Altho that car has a lip we're going to try with the Hatch Huggers any way.

 

So, now I'm off to drop a line to Saris as a gal on their site asked about fitment of the Porter on her '15 Fusion.

Edited August 9, 2015 by Cobra348

[notgonepackin@gmail.com]

After reading forum comments about which hitch, I opted for the Drawtite hitch so I could keep the factory plastic underpanel.

Ford design engineers must have put that panel there for a reason!

After removing and marking the panel I used a 1 5/8" wood bit to accomodate the hitch mount rear hex nuts.

 

The Fusion is so low it is imperative to get a hitch to fit as high as possible and, after scraping it shortly after the install we are keenly aware of the need to get a rack with a bent neck to optimize clearance. The best we have found (so far) is the Yakima StickUp 2 bike hitch. The fact is a driver will have to pay attention to steep driveways.

[jeffo65]

Have not dragged the hitch in a year and a half. Our Kuat rack has a upturned neck.

[RTimothy]

With the bike on the rack, do you get any false back-up or cross traffic alerts (IF you car is equipped with these)?

 

Yes the alert alarm stays on when ever in reverse. Can the alarm be silenced?

[corncobs]

Isn't there a window popping up on the left dash screen with an option to turn "reverse aid" (or something to that effect) off when you put in reverse?

[jeffo65]

Isn't there a window popping up on the left dash screen with an option to turn "reverse aid" (or something to that effect) off when you put in reverse?

I believe you are correct. No plan to turn mine off. It just gives my wife an extra warning that her bike is on the back of the car.

[hybridbear]

Isn't there a window popping up on the left dash screen with an option to turn "reverse aid" (or something to that effect) off when you put in reverse?

That pop up window only turns them off for that one time in reverse, IIRC. Once you shift out of reverse the sensors are back to being active.

 

Yes the alert alarm stays on when ever in reverse. Can the alarm be silenced?

In the Driver Assist section of the Settings menu on the Left Dash Screen you can turn off the back up senors. Be aware that they will be off all the time then.