Project Tow Hook ..... or mitigating a $28,000 worry

[jc1000]

This may work in the Bay State area, but in snow country none of that will hold up.

Also, for those of us that are retired / empty nesters, we aren't interested in buying the 7 year old... ? #GrandparentsGetToGiveThemBackWhenTheFunIsOver

Are you interested in 12 year old twin girls ? LOL just kidding

Sponsored

 

[zhackwyatt]

Just FYI, a lot of this stuff is cheaper on Etsy.

• https://www.etsy.com/listing/506881343/242-tow-arror-any-size-or-color-custom
• https://www.etsy.com/listing/969759735/lift-here-sticker-vinyl-decal-4-pack-10
• https://www.etsy.com/listing/1157232275/do-not-touch-mobility-aid-sticker

 

[All Hat No Cattle]

If you are debating whether or not to put a towing hook on the rear of your MME, but figure that getting towed from the back is rare, it does happen.

Yesterday, at 3 PM (daylight), a speeding Dodge Challenger blew thru a red light here in Las Vegas. He killed himself, his passenger, and 7 other people in 6 other vehicles.

I only mention it because one pic stood out, you will see why.

Even a less violent front-end accident could screw up access to the front tow points.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local...r-speeding-muscle-car-runs-red-light-2521066/

 

[Mr. Toejam]

It was a nice morning, and so the kids and I decided to implement Project Tow Hook, my solution to the problem caused by the various holes and lack of tow hook screw on the US-spec Mach-E. You've seen the rare horror stories of unfortunate owners who have called Ford for a tow, and have been left with a ruined battery pack and a $28,000 bill that various parties will argue over covering.

Now I know you folks could be saying that I'm over-thinking and over-worrying, or "who ever needs a tow?" That's cool, you don't need to do this to your Mach-E if you believe that. However, I would be kicking myself if I was left with a $28,000 bill and a dead car for months while on the middle of a road trip and I hadn't tried some simple things to prevent something I knew could happen.

I think I've mitigated this risk (even if I'm not around to ensure the tow truck operator makes the right connection) by the following super-high-tech simple mods.

Materials Needed:

• 2 x PVC Laminated Sticker Red Tow Arrow B 72 stickers $10.99
• Gorilla All Weather Outdoor Waterproof Duct Tape $6.07

Optional:

• One 7-year old interested in cars (not for sale)

We did the following:

1. If you send your 7-year old poking under the car on the sides (or you can stick your head under yourself....) you'll notice 7 holes in "rails" on the sides of the battery pack. These rails and the holes in them are there to provide a deformable crash structure that will weaken and absorb energy instead of crash forces transferring to the battery pack. These are the holes that are not made to hold the force needed to winch your car. We cut pieces of the Gorilla tape and covered each hole up. This tape is really sticky and I'm pretty confident it should hold up well enough to prevent the holes from being seen as a tempting tow point.

2. We took the awesome TOW stickers and put them under the front of the car just forward of the 2 winch points that Ford intends tow operators to use, and which might be less apparent if you're looking under the car. They are a bit "recessed" up from the plastic undertray in the front of the car.​

I feel these simple changes, which took us 15 minutes including talking about tow trucks with my kids (always a crowd pleaser!) will make it really obvious to anyone where they should winch.

I hope this will never have to be tested with Mach N Cheese!

Any chance that taping up the rail holes will trap water in the rails promoting rust? Also, I don’t see TOW. All I see is WOT (WIDE OPEN THROTTLE). At least that is what this Mustang guy sees.

 

[dono]

I used Chevy engine orange paint, which I always have on hand, and painted a circle around the tow points. Catches your eye when you look under there. Will last longer than the tow sticker in Minnesota's winters.

 

[scoopman]

Any chance that taping up the rail holes will trap water in the rails promoting rust? Also, I don’t see TOW. All I see is WOT (WIDE OPEN THROTTLE). At least that is what this Mustang guy sees.

WOT LOL

Yah thought about moisture, but not a real concern for me:
1. I watched the Munro video where he takes out the battery pack and the floor above is smooth and there's no explicit drainage channel into those holes, they appear to be only for crash deformity reasons.
2. I live in sunny CA, where it's an event if there's a day of REAL RAIN, even in winter time. My car sees more moisture from my OCD washing than from precipitation.
3. Car has been great so far .... but I fully expect / hope to turn it in with Ford Options in 3 years for something that has better thermal management and a solid state battery ....... Well before it'll rust out here.

If you're really concerned, leaving the middle hole on each side uncovered will probably do the trick, I can't think of any reason for a tow truck to try and hook you in the middle of the car. Nearest the wheel wells are most likely ones that need covering.

 

[scoopman]

I used Chevy engine orange paint, which I always have on hand, and painted a circle around the tow points. Catches your eye when you look under there. Will last longer than the tow sticker in Minnesota's winters.

I guess it's always a plus to have Chevy orange engine paint on hand!

 

[MWJunior]

It was a nice morning, and so the kids and I decided to implement Project Tow Hook, my solution to the problem caused by the various holes and lack of tow hook screw on the US-spec Mach-E. You've seen the rare horror stories of unfortunate owners who have called Ford for a tow, and have been left with a ruined battery pack and a $28,000 bill that various parties will argue over covering.

Now I know you folks could be saying that I'm over-thinking and over-worrying, or "who ever needs a tow?" That's cool, you don't need to do this to your Mach-E if you believe that. However, I would be kicking myself if I was left with a $28,000 bill and a dead car for months while on the middle of a road trip and I hadn't tried some simple things to prevent something I knew could happen.

I think I've mitigated this risk (even if I'm not around to ensure the tow truck operator makes the right connection) by the following super-high-tech simple mods.

Materials Needed:

• 2 x PVC Laminated Sticker Red Tow Arrow B 72 stickers $10.99
• Gorilla All Weather Outdoor Waterproof Duct Tape $6.07

Optional:

• One 7-year old interested in cars (not for sale)

We did the following:

1. If you send your 7-year old poking under the car on the sides (or you can stick your head under yourself....) you'll notice 7 holes in "rails" on the sides of the battery pack. These rails and the holes in them are there to provide a deformable crash structure that will weaken and absorb energy instead of crash forces transferring to the battery pack. These are the holes that are not made to hold the force needed to winch your car. We cut pieces of the Gorilla tape and covered each hole up. This tape is really sticky and I'm pretty confident it should hold up well enough to prevent the holes from being seen as a tempting tow point.

2. We took the awesome TOW stickers and put them under the front of the car just forward of the 2 winch points that Ford intends tow operators to use, and which might be less apparent if you're looking under the car. They are a bit "recessed" up from the plastic undertray in the front of the car.​

I feel these simple changes, which took us 15 minutes including talking about tow trucks with my kids (always a crowd pleaser!) will make it really obvious to anyone where they should winch.

I hope this will never have to be tested with Mach N Cheese!

 

[MWJunior]

Thanks for the great advice. Lacking an adventurous 7 year old, I opted just for the "TOW" stickers. I hope I'll never need them but you never know.

 

[dtbaker61]

If you are debating whether or not to put a towing hook on the rear of your MME, but figure that getting towed from the back is rare, it does happen.

Yesterday, at 3 PM (daylight), a speeding Dodge Challenger blew thru a red light here in Las Vegas. He killed himself, his passenger, and 7 other people in 6 other vehicles.

I only mention it because one pic stood out, you will see why.

Even a less violent front-end accident could screw up access to the front tow points.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local...r-speeding-muscle-car-runs-red-light-2521066/

even a non-injury slide off the road into a ditch or snowbank can bury the front towhook holes. Part of the reason I went ahead and solved two problems by installing a tow hitch in the rear.

 

[MyLittlePony2022]

I love this forum. ? I was just thinking that when I get my car, how will I mark the tow and lift points. I do not have to do too much research now. @scoopman thanks for starting this thread.

 

[dtbaker61]

I love this forum. ? I was just thinking that when I get my car, how will I mark the tow and lift points. I do not have to do too much research now. @scoopman thanks for starting this thread.

for rear tow, I'd highly recommend a hitch... even if you dont ever put a bike rack or tow anything.

for lift points I would highly suggest modifying a set of tesla lift pads. Install'em and leave them in for tire shops, your dealer, or if if ever jack up the car for any reason.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...lift-pads-to-protect-mme-battery-rails.14455/

 

[MyLittlePony2022]

I liked all the suggestions about stickers for lift and no lift/tow points. I spent a few minutes on ETSY and found some great options.

I liked the idea of a tow hook sticker but wanted something a bit fancier and with options for colors. I went with fluorescent yellow.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/216512415/tow-stickerdecal-6-wide-x-35-high

I also wanted a sticker to put on or pointing toward the rails so someone did not use them as a lift point or a tow point. Found a great custom shop ( BeherVinylCo ) via ETSY that worked with me to do some basic arrow stickers. Great customer service, great price and quick turn around. We talked via email, came up with the concept and they sent me back proofs. Cannot recommend them enough. The protective slightly opaque film is still on these so they do not look as bright as they really are.

Yellow triangle to put on the bottom of the battery pack for fun.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1001507050/danger-high-voltage-yellow-triangle

 

[zhackwyatt]

I liked all the suggestions about stickers for lift and no lift/tow points. I spent a few minutes on ETSY and found some great options.

I liked the idea of a tow hook sticker but wanted something a bit fancier and with options for colors. I went with fluorescent yellow.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/216512415/tow-stickerdecal-6-wide-x-35-high

I also wanted a sticker to put on or pointing toward the rails so someone did not use them as a lift point or a tow point. Found a great custom shop ( BeherVinylCo ) via ETSY that worked with me to do some basic arrow stickers. Great customer service, great price and quick turn around. We talked via email, came up with the concept and they sent me back proofs. Cannot recommend them enough. The protective slightly opaque film is still on these so they do not look as bright as they really are.

Yellow triangle to put on the bottom of the battery pack for fun.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1001507050/danger-high-voltage-yellow-triangle

I ended up going with these on the battery rail (although they are expensive), but I am interested in the yellow lift here sticker once they get put on etsy.

 

[CommittotheIndian]

If you are debating whether or not to put a towing hook on the rear of your MME, but figure that getting towed from the back is rare, it does happen.

Yesterday, at 3 PM (daylight), a speeding Dodge Challenger blew thru a red light here in Las Vegas. He killed himself, his passenger, and 7 other people in 6 other vehicles.

I only mention it because one pic stood out, you will see why.

Even a less violent front-end accident could screw up access to the front tow points.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local...r-speeding-muscle-car-runs-red-light-2521066/

This vehicle is very likely totaled already. I can't see airbags but they should have deployed in this crash and airbag deployment almost always totals a vehicle.

If it's already totaled, does towing it properly really make that much difference? Guarantee that's the tow truck driver's thought process.

Sponsored