Ford Focus and Fiesta as Toad and in general - feedback

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.

2013 Ford Fiesta standard shift transmission (stick) has worked great! No steering wheel lock, so put in neutral and lock the door. I installed separate lights within the taillight lenses and power from RV only. Installed tow plate on Fiesta myself and relatively easy, but took some time and amazing how much a person can tear down the front of this vehicle. RV already had the tow set-up, so that was easy! By the way, getting 40.3 mpg in the Fiesta just by keeping it under 70 mph on highway. And a last note, close the vent in the Fiesta to keep the diesel/gas exhaust out of the car. Good luck!

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

I dont think the OP was asking about the Edge

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.

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 Start
System
Note: 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) and
50 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-function
display, then turn the ignition to the off (0) position and release the
brake pedal.
5. Disconnect the negative (black) cable from the battery. (The
anti-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 System
Note: 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) and
50 miles (80 kilometers).
1. Release the parking brake.
2. Activate the ignition by pressing the START/STOP button, but not
applying 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-function
display, then deactivate the ignition by pressing the START/STOP button.
Then same as above.

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

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.