First Hitch Installed on a Mach-E (Torklift EcoHitch)

[dtbaker61]

My install. I have a small trailer and did a dump run. I don't have trailer lights figured out yet though.

lights could be a bit of a challenge since the MME tailights are LED and are fused for very low current. There is no super easy access to the wiring harness, so .... if you do take it on, be sure to post a thread in the DIY forum on how you get it done!

 

[Dr Obnxs]

lights could be a bit of a challenge since the MME tailights are LED and are fused for very low current. There is no super easy access to the wiring harness, so .... if you do take it on, be sure to post a thread in the DIY forum on how you get it done!

I was hoping someone got the CAN bus lighting harness from England or Europe and worked it out.

 

[mkhuffman]

I was hoping someone got the CAN bus lighting harness from England or Europe and worked it out.

How hard was the install for you to do?

 

[Dr Obnxs]

How hard was the install for you to do?

Took a few hours and needed my oldest kid to help lift it into place. It's very doable. About a four on a one to ten scale. Head gasket on an older car being a ten.

 

[mkhuffman]

Took a few hours and needed my oldest kid to help lift it into place. It's very doable. About a four on a one to ten scale. Head gasket on an older car being a ten.

Did you need to jack up the car to have room to work on it?

 

[Dr Obnxs]

Did you need to jack up the car to have room to work on it?

Nope.

 

[Dr Obnxs]

Did you need to jack up the car to have room to work on it?

Nope

Nope.

Car ramps help, but aren't needed.

 

[dtbaker61]

Did you need to jack up the car to have room to work on it?

I wrote up a DIY thread on this a couple months ago when I installed mine.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/diy-install-torklift-hitch-for-bike-rack-etc.5714/

 

[mkhuffman]

I wrote up a DIY thread on this a couple months ago when I installed mine.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/diy-install-torklift-hitch-for-bike-rack-etc.5714/

Very nice! Thank you! (BTW - I was watching that thread from when you originally posted it, but I forgot about it. Of course.)

 

[WPJoe]

@mikeho I installed this hitch last weekend. It was an easy install and looks great. One of the reasons I went with the Eco-Hitch is that once installed there is no hole left on the underside. Yes, it is somewhat visible from the rear. But, since the hitch is black and the rear valance is black, it does blend in pretty well. There is also no affect on ground clearance since the hitch is higher than the lowest point.

With the stealth hitch, you are left with a large hole in the underside unless you fabricate a panel to use when you don't have the receiver in place.

The hitch is rated for a tongue weight of 530 lbs. That is more than sufficient for a 4-bike rack or a box. I'm using mine to hold a 2-bike platform rack. While they rate it with a towing capacity, there's no wiring for lights and Ford doesn't want those of us in the US towing.

In your post you mentioned "the stealth hitch" - sorry if I was confused, but is the Eco-Hitch a self hitch that is reasonably hidden underneath, or is there a separate stealth option?
I have always had hitches on my SUVs but this car is so beautiful I want to make sure I dont end up with something that sticks out in an unseemly way...

 

[AndyR]

Is there a reason one couldn't order the hitch, module, and connector from the UK and install them on a US car?

 

[ChasingCoral]

Is there a reason one couldn't order the hitch, module, and connector from the UK and install them on a US car?

The US frames lack the attachment points.

 

[mkhuffman]

Is there a reason one couldn't order the hitch, module, and connector from the UK and install them on a US car?

The US frames lack the attachment points.

And the towing capacity and tongue weight of the EU hitch are much lower than the EcoHitch. I know, the MME USA version technically has no towing capacity, but the EcoHitch itself is very robust. Have you seen that pathetic EU one?

 

[WPJoe]

Hi - I have been trying to understand one thing...

I know that this hitch has a high enough tongue weight to support my bike rack and 4 bikes, but everything I check says that if the car's tongue weight is lower, it doesnt matter what the hitch tongue weight is...it wont be safe to exceed the car tongue weight.

I have not been able to find information anywhere about the US Mach-e tongue weight and whether I can rely on the hitch tongue weight, or whether the car tongue weight is too low to support those bikes?

Thanks

 

[mkhuffman]

Hi - I have been trying to understand one thing...

I know that this hitch has a high enough tongue weight to support my bike rack and 4 bikes, but everything I check says that if the car's tongue weight is lower, it doesnt matter what the hitch tongue weight is...it wont be safe to exceed the car tongue weight.

I have not been able to find information anywhere about the US Mach-e tongue weight and whether I can rely on the hitch tongue weight, or whether the car tongue weight is too low to support those bikes?

Thanks

The tongue weight is zero, because tow hitches are not approved by Ford.

However, if you examine how the hitch is attached, there is no reason to worry IMO. It is very robust and people have towed trailers with it. I am not going to do that, but four bikes should be no problem.

Sponsored