Towing - a lot less hassle than I expected.

[AJ70]

I’ve recently towed ~300kg of boat for 240 miles (120 miles each way) around the UK.

Set off 100% 300 miles indicated, very quickly adjusted.
Arrived with 60 miles left in the battery.
30 mins on a fast charger, near the sailing club took me back to 80%.

Arrived home with 15 miles indicated.
Completely no drama, I’d been worried about how it would perform.

Now I know.

Sponsored

 

[Billyk24]

European owners get the dedicated Mach E hitch allowing7 towing. USA owners do not.

 

[AJ70]

Ford wanted £1500 to fit one,

So, I bought the parts from the Ford eBay store and got the garage I’ve used for 10 years to fit it.

their verdict… great step by step instructions.
https://ebay.us/m/qe2j7U

 

[chariotquant]

I wish it would ship to USA. Then, I would have to just replace the phallic object with square bar and we are all good!

 

[kens]

I wish it would ship to USA. Then, I would have to just replace the phallic object with square bar and we are all good!

You could buy the one that's sold here, the Ecohitch is $427.

 

[Adventureboy]

I have an aftermarket hitch/wiring harness. It Drawtite bolted right on, and the harness plugged right in to the existing harness. The MME tows my dual Sea-doos well. Range takes a pretty good hit, probably a fair bit more than the OP's slippery sailboat. . My setup probably weighs in around 1000-1100kg. Side-by-side Sea-Doos with wheels are around 8 feet wide (read windage).

 

[chariotquant]

You could buy the one that's sold here, the Ecohitch is $427.

I've heard too many frame related issues. I believe the Ford hitch has re-enforcing plates inside the frame tubes

 

[Adventureboy]

I've heard too many frame related issues. I believe the Ford hitch has re-enforcing plates inside the frame tubes

This is a good point.
It's been a few years, but I believe my Draw Tite came with the frame reinforcement inserts. There was some finagling to get them in place for the installation.

 

[chariotquant]

I believe the European hitch requires full removal of the back bumper

 

[AJ70]

​

​

I believe the European hitch requires full removal of the back bumper

Yep,
https://www.macheforum.com/site/att...ow-hitch-installation-2021-mach-e-pdf.162586/

luckily I had the more complete wiring loom that didn’t require going to the front of the car, simply plug the module in and connect the wiring harness.

 

[Adventureboy]

Per @AJ70's post with the Ford installation manual, the Ford appears to be sturdier than my Draw Tite. Draw Tite didn't need the bumper removed, but it came with the plates and a threaded fish wire to pull the top-down plate/bolts in place. I did need to trim the lower fascia. for the hitch

 

[kens]

I've heard too many frame related issues. I believe the Ford hitch has re-enforcing plates inside the frame tubes

This is the only one I know of here that has extra mounting points to the bumper, all the others I've seen only bolt to the frame and are known to have issues. You could also pull the bumper off and add reinforcement like the EU hitches use.

 

[SteveMach-ee]

FYI, Torklift Ecohitch connects to the fame with 8 bolts. Draw Tite only uses four. They both use four of those rectangular reinforcement plates.

Edit, adding two helpful posts:
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/frame-cracking-from-bike-racks-on-hitch.48309/post-1000603

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/frame-cracking-from-bike-racks-on-hitch.48309/post-1007921

 

[RickMachE]

My hitch setup is unique (well, limited to only a few). When I want to tow, I carefully pull the Mach-E into the garage, and back out the Lightning...

 

[HuntingPudel]

My hitch setup is unique (well, limited to only a few). When I want to tow, I carefully pull the Mach-E into the garage, and back out the Lightning...

LOL my tow setup includes a manual transmission and a removable roof.

Sponsored