Towing, is a Teardrop even possible?

[Anc]

Hello everyone. I've been thinking about a teardrop for a while, but there is a nagging problem. We have an 08 Ford Fusion Auto/V6. According to the manual you can't tow with it. Is this true or not? What if I went with one of the lightweight designs?

Also, we'd be taking it through here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoqualmie_Pass
multiple times a year.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[len19070]

The first thing I would check is if you can get a hitch for your car and what its rating would be.

Even a class 1 hitch is enough for a moderate size Teardrop (2000lbs)

U-Haul or Draw-Tite would be a good place to check.

Ford may not want you to tow but that may not mean you can't It may be a CYA thing with Ford. Its been done before simply to guard them from the Nut Cases who try to tow 20-25' trailers in Fiestas and wreck them.

It may also be that the vehicle doesn't have a Trans Cooler? Something that can be easily added.

There are many many people that tow small to moderate sized Teardrops with 4 cylinder vehicles.

I pull the Scotty in my avitar with a Nissan 2.4 4 cyl. and am not afraid to drive it anywhere.

Start in the beginning.

Happy Trails

Len

[Thawley]

Here's a Fusion forum discussion on the subject.

Couple of thoughts:
• I towed a 700lb+ TD with a 1500cc Civic without issue. With a lightish trailer and good common sense, I wouldn't hesitate. (It's an '08, so I doubt you're worried about voiding the warrantee...)
• Watching/dealing with tranny temps thru Snoqualmie Pass is the real issue IMO – a trans cooler would be a good investment if it is possible to fit one to that vehicle.
• I am a big fan of professional hitch installs. A large Uhaul center or RV shop will have a floor drill that'll get the job done the right way, in short order. I'm a handy guy – with a lot of tools and experience – and that job is worth paying for for me...

[len19070]

Yes, Draw Tite does make a hitch for a Fusion.

http://hitchestogo.com/merchant2/mercha ... Code=24526

With a reputable company like Draw Tite/Reese making the hitch it takes away the "Christopher Columbus" aspect of doing it.

Happy Trails

Len

[Thawley]

Ford may not want you to tow but that may not mean you can't It may be a CYA thing with Ford.

This.

Ford is thinking about all that could go wrong. Teardropers think about how to get it done. It's like product liability attorneys vs. Lewis & Clark. Which Man Are You?

[Yota Bill]

There is also the legal aspect of the question to consider. Towing anything above the vehicles rated towing capacity is illegal. Enter at your own risk.

[Maureenm]

For what it's worth...my wimpy 4 cyl AT 2.0L 2001 Honda Cr-V easily tows my 760# teardrop. I can't even feel it behind me. I've done a few hills, but not up Mt. Hood yet, so I sympathize with the concerns over the pass. I'm anticipating slowness, but making it up there next summer. I will probably look into the transmission modification. It has a tow capacity of 1000#, so no input about the legal issues. You might want to check this out with WA DMV as I know you need to license in WA. Good luck, you'll love the tear!
Maureen

[suckerpunched]

I tow my 500lb tear with a 2003 Ranger with a 2.3 four cylinder....can't use the ac going up hills but all in all does the job. Build and pack light

[Dale M.]

With little tow vehicles always downshift if rpm drops and speed reduces especially going up hill, if you keep engine in 3000 to 4000 rpm range that is where maximum torque and horsepower is usually.... The secret to towing in hill country is to keep engine in its "power band"...

If stopping worries you you can always for a few hundred dollars more add electric brakes to trailer and brake controller to car.....

Dale

[wired]

I got my hitch and wiring package for my wife's '06 Accord 4 cyl. from etrailer.com. Great folks and the best thing is that they have online video tutorials to show how to mount both the hitch and wiring. The hitch took me maybe 40 min. to install, the 4 flat wiring all of 10 mins. If you spend $150 the shipping is free.
Here is the link for the hitch and wiring for your '08 Fusion.


http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2008_Ford_Fusion.htm

[Roly Nelson]

I've got over 30,000 miles of teardrop towing with my 4 banger Camry. Handles well and am looking forward to many more miles in the future. My teardrop trailers weigh 450 lbs, 240 lbs and "85 lbs" :-) Good luck.
Roly ~~

[Mauleskinner]

There is also the legal aspect of the question to consider. Towing anything above the vehicles rated towing capacity is illegal. Enter at your own risk.

Not to argue, but do you have a statutory reference for that?

David

[PhotoGuy]

size is a huge issue. I also have a 30' RV that I tow on family vacations. We just came home from a long weekend trip. I tow my 30'er with a big truck and a huge motor. But in the wind we had today it didn't matter. I was blown all over the place.

The bigger you make it. The harder it is to tow. Even if you have the power to pull it. Keep that in mind when you start your build

[Thomcat316]

Just posted a road report on my recent build - Lite House is only two months old, and already has over 5,000 miles under the wheels.

Check out the last post in the thread first, and if it seems interesting, read the whole mess.

Have fun building!

Whitney

[wa_flyfisher]

Snoqualmie Pass would be farley easy with your Fusion and a Teardrop. Just turn Overdrive off and you are good to go!