Why Can't We Tow?

[ctrcbob]

My owners manual says not to tow anything with this (MKZ) car.

 

I'm sure at the Fusion manual says the same thing. Its not because the engine is not strong enough as I've towed with a 130hp 4cyl 1992 Toyota Automatic, which did a good job (2500 miles round trip). Also towed with other "stronger" cars.

 

Doubt if it is because of the Transmission, because I read the owners manual in my sisters FreeStyle which says it can tow (up to 2000lbs I think) and it did not matter if it was using the CVT or the F21 Six Speed Automatic like ours.

 

How about you guys with the 4cyl and the 5speed MANUAL transmission. What does your owners manual say?

 

Class II trailer hitches are available so I'd just like to know Fords reasoning.

[Meelaan]

Why on earth would you want to put a trailer hitch on your $30,000 car? If you were expecting to be able to tow a trailer or boat you should have gotten the Town Car... or maybe a truck (Mark LT, Navigator).

 

Ford isn't saying towing isn't possible... they're saying don't do it. The repercussions are that you stress or otherwise damage some part of the vehicle. If damage occurs doing something they said not to, your warranty is void.

[Crystallas]

It's just to cover their behind. If they say that the car car tow, then people will put massive trailers on the back, break the tranny and blame ford. But the car can tow, it has a 1000lb tow capacity like every other fwd ford. This doesn't mean that you should go off and tow 1000lb GW trailers allover the place without an upgraded tranny cooler.

[ctrcbob]

Speaking of Tranny Coolers, I have no idea where it is located. Have not looked under the car as it has not yet been on a lift. Can't see one from above. It may be located in the cooling tank on the end of the radiator, but I hope not. Will take a good look when car goes in for its first Complimentary oil/filter change and tire rotation. Will get it done within the next couple weeks.

[campjo04]

Hello, I ave the valley hitch rated at 3500# and tow trailers on occasions. Prob around 1500#. The fusion pulls just fine & the tranny adjusts by staying in lower gear. I DO drive slower to compensate and my mpg drops, but it seems to do just fine. I have the SEL w/ 3.0 v6. A lot more power then old VW fox 4 cyc, 4 spd man, which I towed the same trailer. Must just be liabality thing for Ford. Hitch mounts very securely into hardened metal. (tough drilling). It is also very flat where I am so no hills or mtns to add to trany strain.

 

 

 

http://www.racepages.com/performance/baske...pped_brand=true

[ctrcbob]

Campjo04,

 

Thanks for the reply. I know that U-Haul makes a hitch for this car. Don't know who else. Won't put a hitch on as long as we have the Continental, (rated for 1000 lbs) as it does a fine job of towing a 1600-1700 lb load. Went searching for the transmission cooler, and I think it is built into the expansion tank of the radiator. (Like in the old days - piss poor place for a cooler - could be that the AW F21 transmission likes to have the special fluid hotter than other transmissions - don't know). Will leave it be as long as I don't tow. If I do decide to tow, I will install an additional cooler (if I can figure out how to get all those covers off from around and under the radiator and under the engine-transaxle). I checked my sisters owners manual for her 05 Freestyle (all FWD Freestyles use the same transmission) and it says she can tow 1000 lbs, so our cars should be the same. (AWD Freestyles use the CVT, but the owners manual does not differentiate [sp]).

 

Also, one advantage the MKZ has over the Fusion/Milan is that I can lock out the upper two gears (5th and 6th) using the lock out button on the shift knob.

[urnews]

Also, one advantage the MKZ has over the Fusion/Milan is that I can lock out the upper two gears (5th and 6th) using the lock out button on the shift knob.

The MKZ has a lock out for the overdrive? Really? On the shift lever? A darn handy feature. I thought all of the Fusion, Milan and MKZ transmissions and shift levers were the same. Not so?

[ctrcbob]

1. Yes I can lock out 5th and 6th at the push of a button. 60mph in 4th gear is just an "RCH" over 3000 rpm.

 

2. I have a light (700 lb) enclosed aerodynamic trailer that I sometimes use to tow my bike. Loaded, total weight is about 1600 to 1700 lbs. I've towed this trailer with everything from a 2000cc Accord and 2200cc Camry, to a 4600cc Mercury and 3200cc Dodge. (almost forgot my two 4600cc Continentals) Don't matter what I use for towing. I always get 15mpg. (strange!)

[Josh329]

Added a really nice hitch to our Fusion, not to tow, but to hold a bike rack. Hitchfinder (Texas) has two (2) hitch models - we went with "Hidden Hitch" - which is completely hidden from view, except for the 1 1/4" receiver just below the rear bumper. As other posts say, somewhat difficult installation, as two(2) holes need to be drilled into the rear bumper hardened steel - and the fastening bolt has to be "fished" through the end of the same bumper "square tube" using a supplied wire holder. Not technical - just takes time to get the bolt through and fastened properly. Also - the exhaust has to be dropped - but the hangers remove easily with a drop of oil on the rubber mount holes. Clearance between the hitch and the exhaust when re-installed is close, but it works well.

[ctrcbob]

Talking with a friend of mine today who owns an 06 FiveHundred with the same AWF21 Transmission as our cars. He says his owners manual says he can tow up to 1000 lbs.

 

My Continental with a 4 speed automatic also says 1000 lbs, (although I often tow up to 1800 lbs with it [and two previous Continentals] and never a problem).

 

I have no intention of towing with my MKZ (at the moment) however if the day ever comes that I need to tow, I have a "Ford Racing" Stacked Transmission Cooler sitting in a box in the trunk (keeping it in the trunk in case I am ever on the road and I buy something and need to rent a trailer, I can have a garage install it) and I can get a trailer hitch installed at any U-Haul, plus others.

 

For now, if I plan to tow, I will use the Continental.

[dkopesky]

I was all set to buy a used 2006 Milan Premier 4 cylinder. Having read that you can't tow with the vehicle I guess I will go back to an Altima, my second choice unless I get a satisfactory answer from the Mercury Dealer. I was hoping to put on a 1,000 pound hitch just to tow a light trailer on rare occasions and to have a receiver for my bike rack.

[Meelaan]

I was all set to buy a used 2006 Milan Premier 4 cylinder. Having read that you can't tow with the vehicle I guess I will go back to an Altima, my second choice unless I get a satisfactory answer from the Mercury Dealer. I was hoping to put on a 1,000 pound hitch just to tow a light trailer on rare occasions and to have a receiver for my bike rack.

 

Both vehicles are rated at 1,000 lbs maximum towing capacity, as are just about any passenger vehicle. But you just don't tow trailers with a four-cylinder sedan. Unless you are ok with risking the transmission, suspension, and alignment. I'm not sure why this is so hard to understand.

 

Want to tow? Get a V6 powered SUV or truck. Or how about a Grand Marquis? Something that can stand the abuse. It's common sense.

[Dyoct]

Hey I actually agree with this guy. Get yourself a real towing vehicle.

 

[Drake]

I was all set to buy a used 2006 Milan Premier 4 cylinder. Having read that you can't tow with the vehicle I guess I will go back to an Altima, my second choice unless I get a satisfactory answer from the Mercury Dealer. I was hoping to put on a 1,000 pound hitch just to tow a light trailer on rare occasions and to have a receiver for my bike rack.

 

Let us know when the Altima's CVT melts on you from towing.

[miner53]

Hello, I ave the valley hitch rated at 3500# and tow trailers on occasions. Prob around 1500#. The fusion pulls just fine & the tranny adjusts by staying in lower gear. I DO drive slower to compensate and my mpg drops, but it seems to do just fine. I have the SEL w/ 3.0 v6. A lot more power then old VW fox 4 cyc, 4 spd man, which I towed the same trailer. Must just be liabality thing for Ford. Hitch mounts very securely into hardened metal. (tough drilling). It is also very flat where I am so no hills or mtns to add to trany strain.

http://www.racepages.com/performance/baske...pped_brand=true

[miner53]

Hello, I ave the valley hitch rated at 3500# and tow trailers on occasions. Prob around 1500#. The fusion pulls just fine & the tranny adjusts by staying in lower gear. I DO drive slower to compensate and my mpg drops, but it seems to do just fine. I have the SEL w/ 3.0 v6. A lot more power then old VW fox 4 cyc, 4 spd man, which I towed the same trailer. Must just be liabality thing for Ford. Hitch mounts very securely into hardened metal. (tough drilling). It is also very flat where I am so no hills or mtns to add to trany strain.

http://www.racepages.com/performance/baske...pped_brand=true

I saw the same advisory on the official Ford website. I'd like to tow my motorcycle trailer occassionally, and found several hitches that are sold by aftermarket suppliers for the Fusion. I can't believe the car is any weaker than some of the other Ford models.

[otaku]

I have no desire to tow with my vehicle my parents cars can handle that (or my aunts or various friends haha) lots of vans, trucks etc around here for me to rent/borrow when needed (rarely)

[floridacyclist]

Buying or borrowing another vehicle makes no sense if all I want to do is run to Home depot for a sheet of plywood or two or to move a piece of furniture. This vehicle was looking like a strong contender to the Altima as the replacement for my Taurus, but probably not if I'd have to buy a 2nd vehicle just to pull a 500lb trailer.

[notquitesane]

I must say that when I was looking for my 2008 Fusion I was shocked it couldn't tow yet the lowly Focus of that year could tow 1,000 lbs. Browsing on the Ford website today shows they've removed the ability to tow from that too. I'm not looking to tow a 30' trailer or anything 'heavy duty' enough to need an SUV or a Mercury Grand Marquis, like was kindly suggested. I just wanted the ability to throw a small utility trailer on the back and haul away small items. An SUV or full sized V8 powered car is overkill for that. Besides, all the folks in Europe get along just fine towing with small cars. I'm fairly certain it's just Ford covering themselves. Who wouldn't in a sue happy country.

[TomV]

I installed a hidden hitch. I had to cut a small square in the rear ground effect valance, but the supplied rubber plug covers it when not in use. I use it to tow that jetski to the lake in the spring and home in the fall. My route is relatively flat ground, and it's only twice a year... and the car has no problems with it.

 

 

[Bob B.]

I installed a hidden hitch. I had to cut a small square in the rear ground effect valance, but the supplied rubber plug covers it when not in use. I use it to tow that jetski to the lake in the spring and home in the fall. My route is relatively flat ground, and it's only twice a year... and the car has no problems with it.

 

Hello Tom V, (or others)

Did you have any trouble with the wiring for the trailer brake/tail lights etc. I recall some other post regarding difficulty with the wiring. Something about single wires rather than the old two wire system.

Edited March 2, 2010 by Bob B.

[Blank Ron]

I must say that when I was looking for my 2008 Fusion I was shocked it couldn't tow yet the lowly Focus of that year could tow 1,000 lbs. Browsing on the Ford website today shows they've removed the ability to tow from that too.

 

I know, old thread, but in case other people find it the way I did (researching putting a light hitch on my 2007 AWD) I'll note that Ford only has towing info on their site for trucks and SUVs now, though I've seen plenty of Fusions and Tauruses towing trailers. As was said, this is quite probably a liability issue.