trailer hitch on an 07 ford focus?

Prismseed · #1 06/14/10, 09:38 PM

So I got a little sedan and neither the money nor the inclination to get a gas chugging truck. I'm mainly just loking for something so I can haul goats and maybe pigs as largest livestock, or a few bales of hay or odds and ends found free/cheap on craigslist.

So can my little car get a hitch mounted and handle it? Note around here it is mostly flat land with very few hills.

If not I'll have to fall back on asking a buddy with a truck which while functional can be a hassle to both sides.

Tobster · #2 06/14/10, 09:40 PM

I will be interested to see the input on this thread. I am in the same boat only I don't have a buddy with a truck

arabian knight · #3 06/14/10, 09:45 PM

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/...n/CT11294.html

Quote:

DESCRIPTION
Tow up to 2,000 lbs with this Curt Manufacturing Class I Ford Focus trailer hitch. Custom made to fit the Ford Focus, this hitch a has 1 1/4" square receiver-style opening to accept various ball mount heights. This trailer hitch includes all required hardware, a standard height ball mount and hitch pin. All hitches are powder coated to resist rust and corrosion.

Note: The included ball mount accepts a hitch ball with a 3/4" diameter shank. The required hitch pin size (hitch pin is included) is 1/2" diameter.

FEATURES
Custom fit for the Ford Focus
2,000 lb load capacity. that would be MAX on the towing WT. With Trailer weight, and load, I would not go over 1500 in total weight, I added this line myself
Powder Coated
Includes ball mount, pin and hardware
Limited Lifetime Warranty
1 1/4" Square receiver opening

Isn't Goggle.com, and the Internet, a wonderful resource???

Prismseed · #4 06/14/10, 10:40 PM

Good link, thanks arabian. Experiences and advice are welcome to.

Tobster · #5 06/14/10, 10:55 PM

On the "Extreme Composting" thread there is good information on towing, such as weights and things to look for in a trailer. If you are not towing a long distance and your terrain is flat you can probably accomplish the task more affordably.

**clovis** · #6 06/14/10, 11:09 PM

You are going to be limited to a Class I hitch.

Read your Ford owners manual for towing weights.

You'll be able to tow a small trailer, which will be awesome for a small trailer. Perfect for hauling a few goats, or some feed, hay bales, etc.

Don't get illusions of grandure though...this will not be good for towing horse trailers, big farm equipment, tons of feed, etc.

**clovis** · #7 06/14/10, 11:12 PM

Oh, and don't forget to shop your local hitch shops.

Often, those guys can install a hitch CORRECTLY...and one that was designed for your vehicle....for not much more money than you would pay for a hitch in a box that you have to install yourself.

wogglebug · #8 06/15/10, 02:27 AM

Ford Towing Capacity chart

1,000 pounds maximum towing capacity.

Yes, Google is a marvellous tool, and the Internet is a marvellous information resource. Some of the information is even true.

As a general rule of thumb, towed weight for a car should never exceed curb weight of the towing vehicle. However, that's a maximum - there are other considerations like how much strain you'd be putting on engine and transmission which can cut that back considerably, particularly for small vehicles. Still, half a ton isn't bad. There are other considerations though - it isn't quite as easy as a pickup truck. You have to make sure that the load is balanced fore-and-aft of the trailer axle - you need to have weight down on the drawbar, but not much. Make sure you find what the maximum drawbar weight should be - I think likely 100 pounds, but check it. Too much one way or the other and you'll have one end or the other of the car floating. That can be embarrassing if you find you can't steer or brake properly.

When you're getting the towbar fitted, try to have the specifications of the electrical plug for the trailer available in advance - they aren't all the same, and it can be inconvenient to end up with ones for the car and trailer which don't match.

Otter · #9 06/15/10, 07:31 AM

If it helps any, I once put a hitch on an 87 2 door Dodge Aries (K car) It did great till we got to the mountains.

FunnyRiverFarm · #10 06/15/10, 07:43 AM

If it does not have a 6 cylinder engine I would not use it to haul anything. We used our 4cylinder Volkswagon (New) Beetle to haul a small trailer (probably 600-700lb load) and it killed the transmission...cost $5,000 to fix it! Save yourself some heartache and please do not do this...most cars these days are just not made for towing anything...

Ramblin Wreck · #11 06/15/10, 07:52 AM

What wogglebug said. Per Ford's site, the maximum towing capaicity is 1,000 lbs, and that includes the trailer too. If you find a small, mesh floored trailer, you should have 600-700 lbs. of net towing capacity, which isn't too bad.

LFmenagerie · #12 06/15/10, 08:45 AM

I had an '89 Ford Escort Pony (4 speed manual transmission with 4 cylinders) that I had a hitch installed on at a local shop. I used it to pull a 14 ft aluminum boat to lakes and rivers all over northern MN and it never had a problem, even on some pretty steep boat landings. It had a hard time maintaining highway speeds on steeper hills, but overall, it worked very well. As Wogglebug said, it is important not to put too much or too little weight on the hitch - loose front wheels with front wheel drive can get pretty scary. Balancing a load with live animals might be a little trickier, but with a little planning and forethought, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Tom

Katey · #13 06/15/10, 10:02 AM

I have a 6x8 foot aluminum trailer that weighs only 450 lbs, so that I can haul sheet goods with my Subaru. I love that trailer, and so does everyone else who sees it here in the west... I bought it in Maine, where there are serious rust issues, and everybody wants a small, light trailer to haul snow machines.

Stephen in SOKY · #14 06/15/10, 12:01 PM

I suspect you can pull more than you can stop. Make darned sure your brakes are all they can be before hitching up.

HermitJohn · #15 06/15/10, 12:19 PM

Its not hard to find a used pickup cheap that has plenty life left when used sparingly, but mandatory insurance rather kills the thrill on a vehicle you might use twice a month at most. You would think there would be some kind of cheap mini insurance for specialty vehicles driven less than 1000 miles a year if you insure your primary vehicle with the company.

arabian knight · #16 06/15/10, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HermitJohn

but mandatory insurance rather kills the thrill on a vehicle you might use twice a month at most.

Not necessarily. One HAS to check with their insurance carrier and also others companies as well, for the Best Rate.
I have a PU that I drive so Few Miles a Year, I get a Special rate, for just Liability.
Like 11 Bucks a MONTH.~! Now I also have another vehicle getting just liability coverage also, my renters insurance is also from this company. So with discounts I am paying ONLY, 41 bucks a Month for 2 vehicles~! One Primary, One, just a few miles each year.~!
And that is the Now the newest HIGH rates that WI went too. And I sure also point out WI is now a Mandatory Insurance State.
And the insurance company is State Farm...

Silvercreek Farmer · #17 06/15/10, 03:46 PM

I had a 1997 Civic that I used occasionaly to tow a steel 4x8 trailer with a wood bed (probably 3-400 lbs by itself). I never went far, didn't put much more than 4-500 lbs on it and used lower gears (it was a manual) than I would normally, and stayed off big hills. I am now selling the Civic with 221k miles and no compression. I drove this car hard in the mountians and around town on a regular basis, and do not regret all the things I did with it, but do think it would have lasted another year or two if I had been nice to it.

HermitJohn · #18 06/15/10, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabian knight

Not necessarily. One HAS to check with their insurance carrier and also others companies as well, for the Best Rate.
I have a PU that I drive so Few Miles a Year, I get a Special rate, for just Liability.
Like 11 Bucks a MONTH.~! Now I also have another vehicle getting just liability coverage also, my renters insurance is also from this company. So with discounts I am paying ONLY, 41 bucks a Month for 2 vehicles~! One Primary, One, just a few miles each year.~!
And that is the Now the newest HIGH rates that WI went too. And I sure also point out WI is now a Mandatory Insurance State.
And the insurance company is State Farm...

Calling for quotes is many times like pulling teeth though indeed you can save money even doing it every 6 months. Its amazing how much rates can fluctuate between companies. Now with rates you mention, you are still paying over $500 a year for your two vehicles. I am paying for 100/300/100 liability (doesnt cost much more than legal minimum) on two vehicles with no mileage limits for little over $600 a year from Farm Bureau. In 2008, I put less that total of 1000 miles on both vehicles. In 2009, may have went slightly over 1000 total miles. Think about that, thats like 60cents a mile just for insurance.... On other hand as long as I dont neglect maintenence, they should last darn near forever. Now whether thats a good thing or not is another question...

arabian knight · #19 06/15/10, 07:35 PM

It is still cheap if one gets into an accident.
500 a year is peanuts compared to AZ's~! Where ONE car was 90 a Month for the lowest liability coverage and that was with the same company as I had in WI.~!
But the whole idea of my post was someone had said they couldn't afford to insure one for just driving a small amount and I posted yes you can as that one cost me 12 bucks a month That is pocket change for goodness sakes.

**Terri** · #20 06/15/10, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunnyRiverFarm

If it does not have a 6 cylinder engine I would not use it to haul anything. We used our 4cylinder Volkswagon (New) Beetle to haul a small trailer (probably 600-700lb load) and it killed the transmission...cost $5,000 to fix it! Save yourself some heartache and please do not do this...most cars these days are just not made for towing anything...

This is well worth repeating!!!!!!!!

We asked a salesman if a vehicle we were interested in could pull a SMALL trailer.

The answer was "Not unless you want to burn up the engine".