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Recreational Towing (behind a motor home)


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I just ordered a C Max for everyday use and to tow behind my motor home. Ford has apparently approved towing it four wheels down, just like they did for the Escape Hybrid and for the Fusion Hybrid. Both Blue Ox and Roadmaster have tow brackets in process but are not selling them yet.

 

Is anyone else planning to tow a C Max and if so what are your concerns?

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  • 1 month later...

I just ordered a C Max for everyday use and to tow behind my motor home. Ford has apparently approved towing it four wheels down, just like they did for the Escape Hybrid and for the Fusion Hybrid. Both Blue Ox and Roadmaster have tow brackets in process but are not selling them yet.

 

Is anyone else planning to tow a C Max and if so what are your concerns?

I'm having blue ox base plates installed on my cmax next week.  Texas RV Supply had no problem getting base plates and wiring kit for the car.  My problem was getting an answer from Ford as to how the car is setup for towing if you have the push to start button.  The owners manual only gives procedures for a car with a keyed ignition.

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I think all you have to do is put it in neutral, then push the button.  It goes into a sort of "Accessory" state where the engine and most stuff is off.  I think after a few minutes, everything shuts off and you're good to go.  

 

Just got mine last night so haven't fully checked it out.  Let me know what you find out from Ford.

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I just ordered a C Max for everyday use and to tow behind my motor home. Ford has apparently approved towing it four wheels down, just like they did for the Escape Hybrid and for the Fusion Hybrid. Both Blue Ox and Roadmaster have tow brackets in process but are not selling them yet.

 

Is anyone else planning to tow a C Max and if so what are your concerns?

Just got my cmax setup to tow behind the motorhome. Had Blue OX base plates installed.  Towed it home with no problems.  Took two weeks to get a firm answer from Ford on proper procedures to setup the car for towing I.E. placing the ignition in accessory mode.  Owners manual only explained a keyed ignition, I have the keyless push button.  Was told they should be adding those procedures in the owners manual in the future.   For those who want to know the procedure, I was told is to start the engine and run it for five minutes then shift into reverse and then into drive, then into neutral.  Leaving it in reverse and drive for several seconds.  Once you are in neutral take your foot off the brake and then push the start button to shut the car down.  You should run the car for five minutes about every 5 to 6 hours if continuing to tow the car.  Hope this helps and if anyone was told a different procedure chime in here and let us know.

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I have a couple of questions.

 

1) Did mileage accumulate on your odometer while towing?  I'm pretty sure it won't, as that was the case on the Escape Hybrid and the earlier Fusion Hybrid, but I'm curious to know if it works that way on the C Max.

 

2) If you don't mind telling me, what did they charge for the base plate installation?  I'm considering doing it myself (it's winter, so what else do I have to do) but might consider letting a Blue Ox or Roadmaster dealer do it.  Installation instructions are available online and it doesn't look too bad, just a lot of fiddly work with all those plastic fasteners holding the body parts on.

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Another thought on Ford's response.  This is basically the same verbiage from the Focus Owner's Manual.  While it sounds good, there is a problem.  I don't know how we can get the C-Max to idle for 5 minutes.  It just won't do that, as far as I can tell.  

 

The fact that someone at Ford told you to do this makes me guess that they were not familiar with the hybrid system and were just parroting something they read in the Focus manual. This "idle for 5 minutes" is pretty common among the limited number of manufacturers who allow flat towing.  Even my 1993 Geo Tracker's manual says the same thing.  The idea is to get fluid circulated around prior to towing.  Clearly a good idea, but will be hard to implement on our new C-Max's.

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I have a couple of questions.

 

1) Did mileage accumulate on your odometer while towing?  I'm pretty sure it won't, as that was the case on the Escape Hybrid and the earlier Fusion Hybrid, but I'm curious to know if it works that way on the C Max.

 

2) If you don't mind telling me, what did they charge for the base plate installation?  I'm considering doing it myself (it's winter, so what else do I have to do) but might consider letting a Blue Ox or Roadmaster dealer do it.  Installation instructions are available online and it doesn't look too bad, just a lot of fiddly work with all those plastic fasteners holding the body parts on.

1. I forgot to check that so I won't know until the next time I tow it around mid January.  2. they installed the base plates and wired the lights for me. Parts, labor, and tax was $1144.00. I;m 1600 miles from home and no place to work on it.  Never change out your toad while you are on the road.

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"Never change out your toad while you are on the road" is no doubt good advice.  Base plate installation and wiring is a big job and you need plenty of room and time if you plan to do it yourself.  Definitely not the kind of thing you'd want to do lying in the grass/gravel at the campground.  Not to mention all the spectators/experts that would gather round to "help" you. You made the right decision to have it done.

 

Regarding mileage accumulation - checked that today on a long hill by kicking it into neutral and shutting down.  Result - no miles accumulated. Handled pretty well too, steering not oppressively heavy.

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  • 1 month later...
Howz the Towing Behind a Motor Home stuff workin' out for you guys??

I've only towed the Cmax once after the brackets were installed.  Going through San Antonio traffic I did not even feel it back there. I see your in Austin, we plan on wintering in Georgetown next year.  We used a tow dolly for a couple of years and found that flat towing for us is easier and more simple.

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I've towed mine about 750 miles this week.  Tows fine, nothing burned up so far.  Mine is an SEL, so I just put it in neutral and push the button to shut it off.

 

But - here's the rest of the story:

*Towed 160 miles, unhooked it, it started fine.

*Next day, towed another 160 miles, unhooked, started fine the next morning.

*Next day, towed 180 miles, stopped for lunch, started it up to circulate fluids, no problem.

*Same day, after 160 more miles, unhooked, no start, battery apparently dead.  Hooked up Stanley Simple Start and after about 1 minute, it started fine.

 

And, here's a caution note.  Battery dead, doors wouldn't open of course, so I pried out the metal key to manually unlock the doors. Problem is, the emergency key doesn't really have a head on it and was impossible for me to turn with my bare hands.  Luckily, lots of tools in the motor home so pliers did the trick.

 

By the way, Simple Start was on sale at Menard's for $19.00.  Regular $40.  Glad I picked one up.  Don't leave home without some sort of emergency start gizmo if you drive a C-Max.

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And, here's a caution note.  Battery dead, doors wouldn't open of course, so I pried out the metal key to manually unlock the doors. Problem is, the emergency key doesn't really have a head on it and was impossible for me to turn with my bare hands.  Luckily, lots of tools in the motor home so pliers did the trick.

 

I thought you were supposed to re-insert the key into the slot perpendicular to the remote and use the remote as a lever.

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Towing update - After being on the road a week, it appears that towing more than 3 hours kills the battery and it won't start.  Don't really know what to do right now, but I will probably add a simple battery shutoff when I get home in a few weeks. For now, the Stanley Simple Start is worth its weight in gold.

 

Haven't checked the voltage yet, but it appears that the battery isn't all that low.  Just a few minutes on the Stanley and all is well so I doubt that the battery is completely drained.  Just guessing right now.

 

I'm reluctant to add a charge line from the coach for fear of some kind of weird interaction between the car system and the motor home system.  That fear is what led me to install separate bulbs in the tail lights, wired direct to the motorhome instead of the usual diode system.  No connection to the coach at all.

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I'm just starting the information gathering process.

I try to do all modifications myself, worked fine for our F250/5th wheel.

 

 

A couple of questions, more in the next few months I'm sure.

 

1. Any word from Ford (or anyone) about which fuse or fuses to pull?

 

2. What did you do about brakes?

 

 

Thanks and any other info will be greatly appreciated.

wab

 

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Just an update on towing this thing.  Two weeks traveling now, 3 hours seems to be about the limit before the battery gives up. Today, I towed about 2.5 hours and it started fine at a rest stop.  Ran the engine a bit to stir up tranny lube and recharge battery.  Later, after 1.5 more hours driving, it was dead.

 

Something strange going on here, no doubt.

 

Re previous poster's question, I haven't talked to Lord Motor Company re what fuses to pull.  Probably a waste of time trying to track someone down who actually would know what to do.

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Oh yeah, I forgot - I no longer lock the doors while towing.  Too much grief digging out the metal key, etc, to unlock the doors when the battery inevitably runs down.

I'm going to ask my Forest River forum about the fuse issue.

LOTS of very knowledgeable people over there.

 

Maybe there are some Fusion owners and they will have solved the problem.

 

You might ask this question on your RV forum.

 

wab

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