Availability of a 2-Inch Hitch for 2014 Ford Fusion S Hybrid for Transporting a Wheelchair

Question:

I am picking up my 2014 fusion s hybrid soon.. I looked up trailer hitches for it.. Every thing I have for a hitch is 2inch not 1-1/4 .. I am just checking if you have one for 2014 S fusion Hybrid.with a 2inch receiver .. Not towing much need it for a wheel chair , and other added cargo things.. ??? I am a old Marine, and can cut the 1-1/4 off and weld a 2inch one on.. I know I would void the warr. , but we are looking at a lot of dollars for new things.. and if I put a converter on it from 1-1/4 to 2inch it will decrease the weight the hitch will hold...from 350 to 175lb.. Just asking... thanks...Semper fi

asked by: Andy J

Helpful Expert Reply:

You are correct that all of the hitches we have available for the 2014 Ford Fusion have a 1-1/4-inch receiver opening, although we do have both Class I and Class II options. Class II hitch # C12091 from Curt offers a 350-lb tongue weight; this is the highest capacity hitch we offer for your car.

A hitch with a 350-lb tongue weight may not be up to the task of handling the weight of a wheel chair and the weight of the carrier that holds it. (You should also check the vehicle's tongue weight rating - it could be less than the hitch's). A small utility trailer may be a better option although I do realize that this item is itself a significant purchase. Local outdoor and farm stores are a good place to look for a small utility trailer.

You are also quite correct that hitch adapters reduce capacity and that modifications and hitch installation in any manner different from the manufacturer's recommendations will void the warranty. Doing so may also expose you to legal risk in the event of a bad failure.

What is of greater concern for safety reasons is that even if you welded on a 2-inch receiver tube (and even if you did the fine job I expect you'd do) the resulting capacity would be unknown. It would not have been tested and it would not be possible to know its actual capacity. This is why we cannot recommend modifying a hitch.

expert reply by: Adam R