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Trailer hitch recommendations

33598 Views 79 Replies 30 Participants Last post by  Hammering hank
Hi all, I have a Fiesta hatch on the way, should be at the dealer within 2 weeks. I need to get a hitch on it ASAP for my bike rack (1.25" Yakima Hold-Up), I ride multiple times a week and don't want to be throwing my dirty bike inside a brand new car. I was wondering if anyone had experience with the aftermarket hitches that are currently available for the Fiesta. etrailer.com has 3 available between $150 and 200, none require drilling, but there are a couple other concerns. The draw-tite one says "Hitch crosstube is visible beneath bumper", has anyone seen it? How much does it hang down? The hidden hitch says it requires a license plate adapter, anyone familiar with that? The Curt one doesn't say it hangs down and also doesn't say it requires the license plate adapter, so that sounds like it's the best bet, has anyone seen that one used?

2011 Ford Fiesta Trailer Hitch | etrailer.com

Thanks!
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Pictures moved or removed/ What happened?
I'm not seeing them either.
Towing a motorcycle

So I see some people are attaching the hitch and getting trailers on there, but has anyone successfully towed a motorcycle?

I'm looking to hit up a few local track days this summer and would love to be able to tow my SV650 to the track! I'm estimating a total of about 1000 pounds M/C, trailer and tools combined.

Should I just give up and get a pickup truck?
1000 pounds may be pushing it. I say pushing it cause I can already tell these trans are weak.

I'm blame cheap trailers and people for not checking their cheap trailers before they get on the highway thinking they can do 80mph. If you can tow with this car in Europe then what's the difference here? Just because the Ford says you can't do it, doesn't mean the car isn't capable of towing. I promise if done often you will have trans issues but that's why there are warranties and they can't prove that just because there is a hitch that you have been towing with the car.

I plan on installing one and pulling a very small trailer for my racing kart. So I will let you all know how the car feels on the highway and what negative effects I will come across while towing about 400 pounds including the trailer.

So don't blame the car for accidents while towing. Blame the idiots that are not experienced with driving and inspecting their vehicles/trailers before their trip. I drove 120k lb vehicles for 14 hours while in Iraq and can back short trailers like no ones business.

Just remember a little army term. PMCS: Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services. Check your **** before you leave!! May save someone's life and you a lot of money.
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One fiesta does not simply "tow"
just think, a few years back Ford said you couldn't put a snow plow on an F150. Maybe they still do.
They just want you to but an F250 0r 350.
In the case of the Fiesta towing, they want you to buy an Escape or an Explorer.
"autocrossing would put far more stress on the vehicle than carefully towing a few sheets of plywood back home from a lumber yard or some bags of leaves and grass to the recycling center."
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Cocaine is taxing on the body, but cigarettes aren't in comparison
Pictures moved or removed/ What happened?
If you dont log into your photo bucket account at least once in any 90 day period it considers your account abandoned and deletes all your photos.

That being said, who in their right mind would tow a trailer with a Fiesta? The owners manual states not to tow with this vehicle. Being a motorcycle rider, I don't appreciate cars going down the road that can't stop fast enough not to run me over.

I'll tell you one thing. If any one of you people pulling trailers with your Fiesta ever hits me on my motorcycle, I will sue you for everything you own. And everything you will EVER own. If I can I will press negligent injury criminal charges against you as well, as pulling a trailer with a car not designed to do so is pure negligence.
If you dont log into your photo bucket account at least once in any 90 day period it considers your account abandoned and deletes all your photos.

That being said, who in their right mind would tow a trailer with a Fiesta? The owners manual states not to tow with this vehicle. Being a motorcycle rider, I don't appreciate cars going down the road that can't stop fast enough not to run me over.

I'll tell you one thing. If any one of you people pulling trailers with your Fiesta ever hits me on my motorcycle, I will sue you for everything you own. And everything you will EVER own. If I can I will press negligent injury criminal charges against you as well, as pulling a trailer with a car not designed to do so is pure negligence.
If someone driving any vehicle with a trailer is following close is a complete moron. The way I see it me towing my kart to an event is like having 2 fat guys in the back seat. That being said if it can tow that the fiesta shouldn't have a back seat.

Auto manufactures don't even post tow ratings unless they are over 2,000 lbs. would I tow 2k lbs with a fiesta? **** no! I honestly wouldn't tow any more then 1,000 lbs. like I said my kart with the trailer weighs about 400 lbs fully loaded. With my driving experience I'm fine.

Just so you all know, the Curt hitch is rated at 1500 lbs. don't believe me, look on amazon.
:rolleyes:
If you dont log into your photo bucket account at least once in any 90 day period it considers your account abandoned and deletes all your photos.

That being said, who in their right mind would tow a trailer with a Fiesta? The owners manual states not to tow with this vehicle. Being a motorcycle rider, I don't appreciate cars going down the road that can't stop fast enough not to run me over.

I'll tell you one thing. If any one of you people pulling trailers with your Fiesta ever hits me on my motorcycle, I will sue you for everything you own. And everything you will EVER own. If I can I will press negligent injury criminal charges against you as well, as pulling a trailer with a car not designed to do so is pure negligence.
:rolleyes:
From northern tools website....

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Towing is only as dangerous as the person behind the wheel.

I once had to tow a car so I rented a truck and a dolly, loaded up and then before I started my journey I went on an empty road and did a brake check. It was not good when I hit the brakes hard but a soft touch was fine.

I drove slow and gave myself plenty of room to stop, everything was fine.

If you want to tow with your fiesta, be reasonable with tongue weight and total load, then drive within the capabilities of the car/trailer combination.

I felt like posting this because I read that guys web site about "dangerous towing". He's exactly the type that would want to outlaw 4 wheel ATVs or bungy jumping. I want to add a trailer hitch to a Fiesta just to make him blow a gasket.

I'll tow with it if I feel like it. I won't get sued, cause an accident or hurt anybody because I'm not a dumbass.

And that's what that type of guy thinks you are because they think everyone is just like them.
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I would say that whether you potentially void your warranty is contingent on whether you have wiring in place, more so than whether you have a hitch platform in place (i.e. either a 1-1/4" square receiver tube or a flatbar receiver arrangement). Once you have wiring in place, it is pretty evident that you are towing a trailer. Otherwise, lots of folks use hitch-mounted bike carriers...

If you want the capability of a 1000# trailer (and therefore need the writing) -- I would say the following: If you have the vehicle serviced by Ford, I would say that it is problematic. If it is serviced by others (including yourself) probably no-problem.

If it were me, I would grab the wiring take-offs (for brake, ground, parking lights) from inside the car -- under the rear seat (assumedly the wiring loom passes that way). Make tie-ins, and then use factory-type Molex-like connectors. I would make it such that if you had an engine or transaxle related warranty claim where you would have to approach Ford, you would disconnect the wiring at the takeoff points prior to bringing in the car. Goodness knows, no-one would search for said wiring takeoffs there in the event of awarranty claim.

I don't advocate running the car in a manner that challenges its ability to deal with 1000# of trailer, breaking it, and then expecting Ford to pay. However, with intelligent use, 1000# max would probably be fine (750# would be better).

Remember, Ford will not pay for your clutch, regardless (it's considered a wear part). I would also be careful not to be on the gas, much (rather, coast, instead) when the wheels are cranked over right or left (that's hard on the CV joints). For that matter, goosing it, with the wheels turned much, is hard on the CV joints, regardless of trailer or not.

As for me, I once-in-a-while use my 500# empty trailer for runs to the trash and yard-wastes dump; 250# max payload, downhill all the way... I don't want a mfr telling me how to go easy on my car (I know how to do so).

Tell me if 750# total trailer wt is much different than four 200# people in my car?

Eurofordfan
I have wiring to serve turn lights on my receiver tube mounted cargo carrier. Very safe hauling it with brake light and turn signals working.
Has anyone installed a trailer hitch for the pupose of a bike rack yet?
I have the curt coming hopfully by this weekend.
Yes. I have a dealer installed DrawTite below the bumper receiver type hitch installed on my 2011 Fiesta SES hatch.
Why do you keep bumping this thread? If nobody wants to add to it, let it die.

That being said, HF makes an awesome aluminum hitch carrier that extends the carrying capability of your vehicle. It's ashamed you can't put a hitch on it not to tow, but just carry stuff like that.
I'm sorry, if my enthusiasm for this subject offends you. I must have mistakenly thought it disappeared prematurely. I made an entry and it seemed to disappear immediately. I will never bring up or discuss this subject again. Thank you for letting me know of your feeling about my posts. From now on I will cease to post. I will just read the discussions. I have driven Ford's exclusively since 1957. Oh! By the way, if you don't see any interest in this subject how come there are 8 pages of discussion?
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