Question about installing Hitch on Mach E - hitch sag?

[col127]

Hey y'all,

I have a new 2024 Ford Mach E Premium AWD Extended Range and am loving it...!

I want to install a hitch on my car so I can move my two ebikes around .. Each bike is 50lbs each and I think my hitch is about another 60-70lbs (so it should be around 150lbs - let's say worse case, 175 lbs) altogether.

I saw this post on Reddit about trailer hitch sag on the Mach E and it made me nervous about installing it, or if the frame of the Mach E would support the weight of a Hitch properly... Some people guessed the metal of the car isn't strong enough for hitches ? Shrugs.

This is the post I saw

Also saw some "hitch bounce" on this video :

I've had hitches on my other cars, where you remove the bumper and that seems like a much more secure place than under the frame... But what do I know.

Would love your thoughts. I have a 2018 Tesla Model 3, so I could get a hitch for that car instead, but would prefer doing it on my Mach E.

Thanks!

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[MacherAWD]

Hey y'all,

I have a new 2024 Ford Mach E Premium AWD Extended Range and am loving it...!

I want to install a hitch on my car so I can move my two ebikes around .. Each bike is 50lbs each and I think my hitch is about another 60-70lbs (so it should be around 150lbs - let's say worse case, 175 lbs) altogether.

I saw this post on Reddit about trailer hitch sag on the Mach E and it made me nervous about installing it, or if the frame of the Mach E would support the weight of a Hitch properly... Some people guessed the metal of the car isn't strong enough for hitches ? Shrugs.

This is the post I saw

Also saw some "hitch bounce" on this video :

I've had hitches on my other cars, where you remove the bumper and that seems like a much more secure place than under the frame... But what do I know.

Would love your thoughts. I have a 2018 Tesla Model 3, so I could get a hitch for that car instead, but would prefer doing it on my Mach E.

Thanks!

I had uhaul install a hitch on my MME. It was less than $250. No sag, no bounce, I do not have e-Bikes, but have had 4 mountain bikes on it. One issue, the back hatch would hit my rack if I open it, so I have a 7inch hitch extension I sometimes use, that can cause wobble, but if I am careful and fully tighten then it does not.

 

[RickMachE]

Umm, you can't "remove the bumper"...

Most of the Mach-E hitches have weight limits, which includes the bike rack. 175lbs should be fine, but I believe some are 200. Easy to find online.

 

[col127]

I had uhaul install a hitch on my MME. It was less than $250. No sag, no bounce, I do not have e-Bikes, but have had 4 mountain bikes on it. One issue, the back hatch would hit my rack if I open it, so I have a 7inch hitch extension I sometimes use, that can cause wobble, but if I am careful and fully tighten then it does not.

Okay, I'm glad to hear no sag or bounce on yours. How long have you had your hitch?

 

[col127]

Umm, you can't "remove the bumper"...

Most of the Mach-E hitches have weight limits, which includes the bike rack. 175lbs should be fine, but I believe some are 200. Easy to find online.

I meant on my other installs on prior vehicles: I did remove the bumper to put on the hitch.

For my Tesla Model 3, you would have to remove the bumper to install a trailer hitch. More secure in my opinion then underneath the frame.

 

[RickMachE]

I meant on my other installs on prior vehicles: I did remove the bumper to put on the hitch.

For my Tesla Model 3, you would have to remove the bumper to install a trailer hitch. More secure in my opinion then underneath the frame.

Still not following. Whether you remove a bumper or not, the hitch bolts to the frame/body of the car.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Truly, the Mach-E has no frame. It is a monocoque (“unibody”) design. The EU version has an available trailer hitch, which mounts to the same points on the monocoque as the commercially available hitch receivers in the North American market. So, the mounting points are not really an issue.

The main issue I can see with the photo from Reddit is that the combination of the rear luggage compartment and the hitch is over-loaded, causing the rear springs to compress to the point of riding on the jounce bumpers.

Hitch bounce/wobble/sway is caused by a poor fit between the receiver and the hitch itself. There are clamps that are designed to reduce the yaw (which will help wobble and sway). Bounce is an issue that can only be solved by a tighter fit between the receiver and the hitch. This is not a Mach-E issue but an issue between the hitch and receiver. Shims can be fitted to the hitch in order to tighten the fit, but that requires a competent welder and possible machine work.

 

[col127]

Still not following. Whether you remove a bumper or not, the hitch bolts to the frame.

I suppose you could see it that way , but the location makes a big difference from my POV.

Putting it behind the bumper is way more secure than simply underneath the frame - behind the bumper, there's no way that thing is coming off.

But if you don't follow, that's fine. It's a moot point anyways since the Mach E only can have it installed underneath.

 

[MacherAWD]

Okay, I'm glad to hear no sag or bounce on yours. How long have you had your hitch?

My hitch has been on 3 years. They had to cut a hole in the plastic and the hitch comes out of that. I thought I had some pics but cant find them. It looks very clean installed, the hitch is always visible, it is below my bumper, and is basically flush with the back of the car.

 

[Mach-Lee]

That hitch is sagging because he’s using an adapter which extends the hitch too far back, and because he has too much weight on it. The center of mass for the bike rack needs to be within about 1 foot of the bumper (not too far back), and believe the maximum vertical load spec is 75 kg or 165 pounds. The bike rack plus the bikes need to be less that that.

Too much vertical load with too long of lever arm behind the hitch can bend the sheet metal frame of the Mach-E, so you have to be careful about limits. Keep in mind if you hit a bump the G force can cause overloading (150 pounds of load can become 300 pounds of force at 2g) and things will bend.

 

[HuntingPudel]

I suppose you could see it that way , but the location makes a big difference from my POV.

Putting it behind the bumper is way more secure than simply underneath the frame - behind the bumper, there's no way that thing is coming off.

But if you don't follow, that's fine. It's a moot point anyways since the Mach E only can have it installed underneath.

This is a reverse of the logic used with most trucks and real SUVs (i.e. ones built on truck frames like my K/5). If the bumper itself is not going to be replaced with one with the receiver built in, it is stronger to have a properly engineered receiver bolted to the main structure of the vehicle rather than rely on the bumper bolts and a likely under-designed bumper to support the load.

Regardless of that, the first photo is of an obviously over-loaded car and it’s dangerous.

 

[awp0]

My two-bike Kuat rack bounces around on my MME noticeably more than my Telluride with same rack and 35-pound bikes. The Kuat rack has a tightening mechanism that eliminates play between the rack and the hitch. The bouncing is entirely where the hitch mounts to the car, and it really just doesn't inspire confidence.

One of the more alarming comments in that Reddit thread form the OP: "The back bolts of the hitch started to punch through the frame."

I'm comfortable carrying two 35-pound bikes. I'd probably convince myself that two 50-pound ebikes is safe enough. But I definitely wouldn't do four 35+ bikes, which not only more weight but a much longer lever arm acting on the mount points.

 

[col127]

This is a reverse of the logic used with most trucks and real SUVs (i.e. ones built on truck frames like my K/5). If the bumper itself is not going to be replaced with one with the receiver built in, it is stronger to have a properly engineered receiver bolted to the main structure of the vehicle rather than rely on the bumper bolts and a likely under-designed bumper to support the load.

Regardless of that, the first photo is of an obviously over-loaded car and it’s dangerous.

oh interesting!

So it’s better to have it on the frame underneath the vehicle than behind the bumper ?

I don’t know anything about engineering.

I just want to make sure I put the hitch on the right car

we love the Mach e and prefer to use it but after seeing that Reddit post it made me scared to do it

 

[col127]

That hitch is sagging because he’s using an adapter which extends the hitch too far back, and because he has too much weight on it. The center of mass for the bike rack needs to be within about 1 foot of the bumper (not too far back), and believe the maximum vertical load spec is 75 kg or 165 pounds. The bike rack plus the bikes need to be less that that.

Too much vertical load with too long of lever arm behind the hitch can bend the sheet metal frame of the Mach-E, so you have to be careful about limits. Keep in mind if you hit a bump the G force can cause overloading (150 pounds of load can become 300 pounds of force at 2g) and things will bend.

ah okay. My bike rack is just for two bikes so I’m guessing that’s small enough to have the centre of gravity near maybe 1.5 ft away from it.

I think I’m safe with the rack and two bikes. I could always remove the bike batteries to make them lighter..?

do you have a hitch on your Mach e ?

 

[col127]

My two-bike Kuat rack bounces around on my MME noticeably more than my Telluride with same rack and 35-pound bikes. The Kuat rack has a tightening mechanism that eliminates play between the rack and the hitch. The bouncing is entirely where the hitch mounts to the car, and it really just doesn't inspire confidence.

One of the more alarming comments in that Reddit thread form the OP: "The back bolts of the hitch started to punch through the frame."

I'm comfortable carrying two 35-pound bikes. I'd probably convince myself that two 50-pound ebikes is safe enough. But I definitely wouldn't do four 35+ bikes, which not only more weight but a much longer lever arm acting on the mount points.

yeah hearing that comment you referenced
Is definitely of concern. Wouldn’t want to do that to my new car….!

I guess I haven’t seen anyone else mention that though except him, so maybe I’m overthinking this..

I’m curious why ford didn’t rate the Mach e to have towing capability though.

That’s why I’ve been nervous about installing this.

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