DW has a Civic that when we take it along needs to be towed on a dolly. Despite its versatility a dolly can be quite a pain. It takes a long time to get it loaded and don’t ask me about how it slid while trying to load in the snow and it caused $900 worth of damage to the plastic bumper. That car is extra difficult to dolly because it sits so low. So she is looking at the Ford Focus or Fiesta. Both can be towed 4 down. Looks like I can get a blue OX setup – plates and bars for about $900 (What I paid for the dolly). Does anyone have any experience with these cars in general and as a toad? Any experience in mounting the base plates? She loves her Honda but likes the Focus too after driving one last night. Not as much as the Honda but she still likes it. The CRV is out. She didn’t care for that at all. She’s really a small car type of gal. Frankly I am a Ford man, I never liked her Civic but my opinion only matters if it agrees with hers. Any feedback is appreciated.

I tow a 2013 focus, great car. have the blue ox base plate. If you dont want to screw around get a manual tranny, no muus no fuss. they dont even have stearing collum locks any more, just put it neutral lock it up and go.

I have the Ford Edge, V6, auto. Great for towing, no problems in 30,000 miles.

hanko wrote:I tow a 2013 focus, great car. have the blue ox base plate. If you dont want to screw around get a manual tranny, no muus no fuss. they dont even have stearing collum locks any more, just put it neutral lock it up and go.DW can't drive a stick. I am told either tows just fine. N, and start every six hours or something. So you don't need the key in the ignition to unlock the column? That would be great. I plan on running a dedicated set of lights from the coach so no toad wiring at all.

I'm getting ready to set my 2013 Fiesta for towing. Here's what the owners manual says:Vehicles with an Automatic Transmission but No Push Button StartSystemNote: There must be battery power to properly move the transmission’s internal components to N (Neutral) in Step 3. Also, moving the gearshift to the N (Neutral) position without first turning the ignition to the on (II) position limits the towing capability to 35 mph (56 km/h) and50 miles (80 kilometers).1. Release the parking brake.2. Turn the ignition to the on (II) position.3. Press the brake pedal, then move the gearshift to the N (Neutral)position.4. Wait for TRANSMISSION READY to appear in the multi-functiondisplay, then turn the ignition to the off (0) position and release thebrake pedal.5. Disconnect the negative (black) cable from the battery. (Theanti-theft system is disabled until the battery cable is reconnected.) Refer to Battery in the Maintenance chapter when disconnecting and reconnecting the battery cable.• The maximum towing speed is 70 mph (113 km/h).• There is no limitation on towing distance.When done towing, start the engine within 15 minutes of reconnecting the battery cable. When reconnecting that cable, tighten it until it’s snug against the terminal; be careful not to overtighten.Vehicles with an Automatic Transmission and Push Button Start SystemNote: There must be battery power to properly move the transmission’s internal components to N (Neutral) in Step 3. Also, moving the gearshift to the N (Neutral) position without first turning the ignition to the on (II) position limits the towing capability to 35 mph (56 km/h) and50 miles (80 kilometers).1. Release the parking brake.2. Activate the ignition by pressing the START/STOP button, but notapplying the brake pedal.3. Press the brake pedal, then move the gearshift to the N (Neutral)position. Release the brake pedal.4. Wait for TRANSMISSION READY to appear in the multi-functiondisplay, then deactivate the ignition by pressing the START/STOP button.Then same as above.

Neighbors tow 2013 Focus with AT and have great reviews. Only trouble was in higher elevations in Co. where they ran into a lot of snow. Snow was thrown up into wheel wells and it got packed enough to cause some steering resistance. They had to stop the coach and kick the packed snow out of the wells to allow proper steering. I would suppose you could experience the same driving the Focus in heavy snow but no report on that.

Ford Focus and Fiesta as Toad and in general - feedback

hanko
Explorer
Apr 03, 2014
rdthompson1 wrote:
brake buddy plugs into cigarette lighter. So no go.

My cig lighter was wired hot all the time for my blue ox brake jobber doo. My coach has a hot line at the plug, keeps battery charged while towing.
rdthompson1
Explorer
Apr 03, 2014
brake buddy plugs into cigarette lighter. So no go.
Effy
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2014
bsinmich wrote:
Won't you need some kind of hookup or cable for the brake system?

Who are you asking? I would imagine a brake buddy or any other system would suffice.
bsinmich
Explorer
Apr 02, 2014
Won't you need some kind of hookup or cable for the brake system?
jaxd153
Explorer
Apr 02, 2014
Have 2013 Focus with remote start. Simple procedure to put transmission in the tow mode. Instructions in owners manual. When you get it in the tow mode is gives you "transmission ready" message. Need to install a battery disconnect switch to prevent electronic transmission from jumping into gear.
robertbenita
Explorer
Apr 02, 2014
With a standard shift (stick) no need to disconnect battery. And like someone else mentioned, very light car, never know its even back there! Mine is also a Roadmaster base plate on the Fiesta too.
Dune_Hauler
Explorer
Apr 02, 2014
Photo
Another Vote for the Fiesta Roadmaster base plate and Battery disconnect on the negative cable. If I didn't have a rear camera I would not even know its there, very light car easy to tow.
ezgoin
Explorer
Apr 02, 2014
Don Don wrote:
wannavolunteerFT wrote:
For the fiesta, that requires disconnecting the battery, could you put a battery disconnect switch? Lots of folks put them on boats and TT's, so why not put on car, to make it easier than having to make actual connection/disconnection.

Yes you can. I have a cut off on mine.

Don,

Sent you a PM.

Bill
Don_Don
Explorer
Apr 02, 2014
wannavolunteerFT wrote:
For the fiesta, that requires disconnecting the battery, could you put a battery disconnect switch? Lots of folks put them on boats and TT's, so why not put on car, to make it easier than having to make actual connection/disconnection.

Yes you can. I have a cut off on mine.
tjholyoke
Explorer
Apr 01, 2014
We towed a Focus for years...it was awesome. Easy to pull, easy to drive. Now we have another Ford, a CMax Hybrid. It is also easy to tow. Had to get a charge line installed so the battery wouldn't drain as we tow, but once we did that it is great. A little heavier than the Focus but not substantially different to tow.

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