Ford Focus anyone?

[nater104]

Has anyone towed with a Ford Focus?
I saw online that it has a tow limit of 1000 lbs. and tongue weight limit of 100 lbs. I was wondering if anyone has experience towing with a Focus?

[angib]

It's the usual story on this car - in Europe the similar car has a much higher tow rating, 2650-2850lb for most versions with a 165lb nose weight limit. Based on the European car's typical kerb weight of 2750lb, the recommended 85% limit for towing a full-size caravan (British word for travel trailer) would be 2340lb.

Now the European and US Focuses (Foci?) are not exactly the same car and the European driver is probably expected to display a great deal more care when towing (and also have a much less aggressive lawyer?), but all the same...

This is NOT advice, merely comment.

Andrew

[nater104]

Anyone else?

[Nick Taylor]

That's the same tow rating as the PT Cruiser and I have no problem towing with my PT. They are about the same size so I would say should be a similar experience.

Only thing I would watch is the brakes. My PT has 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS.

Nick.

[nater104]

My Focus has "Front disc/rear drum brakes with front vented discs." I don't have ABS. I want to build a TD and keep it as much under 1000lbs as posible. You think the brakes would be a problem?
How much weight do you tow with the PT ? How much HP does that have?

[campadk]

Yup probably the same deal as a PT.

Don't know about Europe, but no way would I be towing 2,700 lbs behind a Ford Focus, PT, Beetle etc etc. Gotta be hard on that transmission!

Sure our PT (auto trans) pulls our tear loaded up to about 1060lbs (checked it on the highway weigh scales) but it does have to work a bit on long hills (downshift to 3rd). So it does have to strain. Braking isn't a problem at 1060lbs on the hitch... but much higher than that I might worry.

I worry more about taking my tear up into the mountains. That has got to be hard on the transmission.

While on that... I talked to a PT enthusiast who was big on mods etc and had family working for Mopar. Was sure he said something about PT's being outfitted with 6 cylinders in a year or two.. possible??? I'm looking at buying a runabout (boat) that I would like to tow somewhat short distances and a 6 cyclinder would help. Would also be nice to be able to 'tear' across North America for Shasta and the like...

[Nick Taylor]

My trailer probably weighs about 1000 pounds loaded for camping. I bought it in Fresno and towed it empty home and had no problems over the grapevine or anywhere else. Loaded it is a little slower going up the hills.

You should be fine as long as you keep the weight around 1000 pounds. Also keep the size down as drag is your bigger enemy. The shape of the PT is great for towing a trailer like a teardrop as the trailer drafts the car. You would get the same effect with a Focus wagon.

Nick.

[nater104]

Thanks. I have a sedan.... but I think it will be ok.

[tom]

I tow a utility trailer with both my work van, a Ford e-250 6cyl and a Chevy Astro 6cyl. I dont load the trailer much past 1000lbs with either tools or materials. But what I'm getting at is..with both vehicles I've installed aftermarket auxillary transmission coolers...they run about $50...easy to install..the thing that will kill a tranny sonner than later is heat...this is an add on unit that works in tandem with the colling unit in the radiator..heavy duty ones that are stand alone cost about $100...but are harder to install because of their size..just a note worth mentioning