Frame cracking from bike racks on hitch?

[TechWhisperer]

I called this place to get a quote on a tow hitch and they refused to give me a quote because they said they had 2 customers frames crack when carrying bikes.

This is the first time I've heard of this and have been on this forum and Reddit for some time.

Is this a real concern or is it something else, maybe the particular hitch they install or they just don't want to install on an EV and that's how they made me go away lol?

Does anyone here live in the East Bay area near Concord and have a place they recommend to do the installation?

This is the place I called... Mobile Living: https://share.google/TnKmHkv1oB5V1XR3H

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[rhougey]

I called this place to get a quote on a tow hitch and they refused to give me a quote because they said they had 2 customers frames crack when carrying bikes.

This is the first time I've heard of this and have been on this forum and Reddit for some time.

Is this a real concern or is it something else, maybe the particular hitch they install or they just don't want to install on an EV and that's how they made me go away lol?

Does anyone here live in the East Bay area near Concord and have a place they recommend to do the installation?

This is the place I called... Mobile Living: https://share.google/TnKmHkv1oB5V1XR3H

Hey Jarred, what brand hitch are you looking at? Do you have one in mind? Have you already purchased one? Make sure you have chosen a quality product.
Two shops I’ve used in the past (but not for hitches) that would do well for you if they are interested in installing a hitch are Bay Auto Body (near Lowe’s), and West Coast Muffler (on Market Street). Both of these shops are top notch.

Oh, and one more City Mufflers (also next to Lowe’s). A really good guy.

Whoever you use, make it your responsibility to make sure they use the correct jacking points. Don’t assume they know, especially the muffler shops, haha. Drive-on lift recommended.

The Eco Hitch EH66SR on etrailer.com has the highest tongue weight rating of the several they carry for the MachE. FYI.

 

[TechWhisperer]

Appreciate the info. I was looking at the Eco Hitch. The person at Mobile Living did say too that they had totaled their vehicle from the frame cracking. Again, I've have not seen anyone have this problem. Do you think they are telling the truth?

 

[rhougey]

Appreciate the info. I was looking at the Eco Hitch. The person at Mobile Living did say too that they had totaled their vehicle from the frame cracking. Again, I've have not seen anyone have this problem. Do you think they are telling the truth?

There is another thread re hitches and what the car’s frame is able to handle. Plenty of others that have had hitches for quite a while. There is some discussion there re frame failures from overloading. The main point seems to be that no matter how much the hitch can handle, that you cannot load up the hitch with too much weight in bikes. I think the max is two bikes, maybe 3 lightweight road bikes, or one e-bike. And no extensions. If you stick to reason you should be fine.

 

[mkhuffman]

I think I would believe them.

Personally I never had an issue with my hitch, but I only ever transported 2 bikes. I can see huge problems with putting 4 e-bikes on there.

 

[JeffGo]

Well, Ford offers MME hitches in Europe, so I would be very suspect if the frame cracking had really been a problem after 4-5 years on the market. I had an EcoHitch installed a few weeks ago for my 2 e-bike carrier. Not very worried as this still represents a fraction of the rated tongue weight.

 

[WEC]

I believe Ford does not recommend installing a hitch on MME. Am I wrong?

 

[col127]

I called this place to get a quote on a tow hitch and they refused to give me a quote because they said they had 2 customers frames crack when carrying bikes.

This is the first time I've heard of this and have been on this forum and Reddit for some time.

Is this a real concern or is it something else, maybe the particular hitch they install or they just don't want to install on an EV and that's how they made me go away lol?

Does anyone here live in the East Bay area near Concord and have a place they recommend to do the installation?

This is the place I called... Mobile Living: https://share.google/TnKmHkv1oB5V1XR3H

yikes, that’s very concerning…

I’ve been wanting to get a hitch for my Mach e too, but maybe I should get it for my Tesla instead.

I was looking at stealth hitches hitch since I like the ability to Received the receiver but it only has four mounting screws underneath the frame. I think the ecohitch has more mounting points.

 

[Blue highway]

I believe Ford does not recommend installing a hitch on MME. Am I wrong?

https://media.ford.com/content/ford...ng-capacity-boost-as-fords-all-electric-.html

Europe...

 

[RickMachE]

I believe Ford does not recommend installing a hitch on MME. Am I wrong?

You are correct.

 

[stoopid]

I'd think any actual damage from a smaller hitch rated for something like a back rack would come from someone grinding the hitch into concrete, sending enough twisting force into the frame. But there would be visible indications (damage to the hitch) that this happened.

If the manufacturer doesn't outright say "do not do this", then you are 100% good to go. They would specify it somewhere in the owner's manual as adding a hitch to any vehicle is something that's taken into account when designing/engineering the vehicle.

 

[awp0]

If the manufacturer doesn't outright say "do not do this", then you are 100% good to go. They would specify it somewhere in the owner's manual as adding a hitch to any vehicle is something that's taken into account when designing/engineering the vehicle.

I don' t know how much I would trust this logic. There are many damaging things you could do to a car that the manual doesn't expressly tell you not to, and IMHO this one is a gray area. I'm not sure Ford is going to have your back if you crack your frame because you hit a bumpy road with four heavy ebikes on a car that doesn't even have a tongue weight rating in the US.

I carry two mountain bikes on my hitchrack, and I wouldn't go much more than that. They bounce around a lot more than the same rack on my Telluride, and I just don't trust the strength of the frame member they're attached to.

 

[jmcbrew]

Bikes on a rack can put a lot more downforce on the hitch than a small trailer. Just think about a four bike rack… it’s going to stick out about three feet. That’s a huge lever arm. If that’s hard to imagine, then hold that bike mount in your hands and have someone put four bikes in it. That would be impossible to hold up. However, my small trailer with 800 pounds of mulch in it has a tongue weight light enough for me to lift and hold easily.

I’m not saying you can’t do it. I just carried a cargo rack with luggage and camping gear on a 1,600 mile trip. As much as was convenient, I carried heavier items in the car and lighter items on the cargo rack.

Personally, I would not carry four bikes on the hitch. I would rather put them on a small trailer. That would be a lot easier on the car. If loaded properly, 80-90% of the weight would be carried by the trailer axle.

 

[RickMachE]

I'd think any actual damage from a smaller hitch rated for something like a back rack would come from someone grinding the hitch into concrete, sending enough twisting force into the frame. But there would be visible indications (damage to the hitch) that this happened.

If the manufacturer doesn't outright say "do not do this", then you are 100% good to go. They would specify it somewhere in the owner's manual as adding a hitch to any vehicle is something that's taken into account when designing/engineering the vehicle.

From the manual (4 times at least):

Note:Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing. Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.

Note: Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing. Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.

Note: Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing. Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.

Then there is one with a warning sign in front of it, and the text - WARNING: Your vehicle is not approved for trailer towing. Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.

 

[jmcbrew]

From the manual (4 times at least):

Note:Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing. Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.

Note: Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing. Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.

Note: Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing. Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.

Then there is one with a warning sign in front of it, and the text - WARNING: Your vehicle is not approved for trailer towing. Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.

Yeah… you gotta get one of those super special Mach-Es from the UK that is rated, by Ford, to tow up to 1,650 pounds.

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