Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2017 Ford Focus 2.0L

Question:

Can you use a fixed tow bar with this base plate? You can get a tow bar from Harbor Freight or Northern for about $89 that is rated for 5000lbs. My 2017 Ford Focus is only 3000lbs.

asked by: Bruce

Expert Reply:

The Roadmaster EZ5 Base Plate Kit # RM-524443-5 is designed to be used with a Roadmaster tow bar like the Roadmaster Falcon 2 # RM-520 which is rated for 6,000 lbs and is compatible with the EZ5 kit for your 2017 Ford Focus. Finding some equipment at a lower price can be great, but if you are planning on towing your Focus quite a ways multiple times a year then you really don't want to get equipment to just get by.

For a complete flat towing setup you will need a base plate kit, tow bar, safety cables, vehicle tow bar wiring, a supplemental braking system, and possibly a high-low adapter.

The safety cables that I recommend using are the Coiled Safety Cables # RM-643. These are also rated for 6,000 lbs and the coiled design helps to keep them off the ground and last longer.

The wiring kit that I recommend is the Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit # RM-15267. After the initial installation it is simply a matter of connecting the coiled adapter and you are ready to go!

I did look up the owner's manual for your Focus (2.0L) and it said that you must disconnect the battery before flat towing. To make this process much quicker you may be interested in the Automatic Battery Disconnect # RM-766. Not only does it make the process quicker but it also helps to avoid damaging your battery terminals.

Most states now require the use of a supplemental braking system. I recommend the SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO # SM99251 as it is one of the best braking systems out there. It installs in such a way that you don't realize it is there when using your vehicle normally. This is also quickly activated by a simple connection and the flip of a switch.

The majority of flat towing setups require a high-low adapter for the tow bar to remain level while towing. I have linked our selection of adapters as well as a helpful article that will help you determine which is the best one for your application for you to check out.

Attached are some videos and helpful articles that you can reference. I also recommend checking your owner's manual for specific instructions regarding flat towing your Focus.