I'm planning to fit a tow bar to my 55 plate Fusion.

I've got no issues with DIY fit but one question is there a socket behind any of the boot lining or is it a splice into the loom job?

I haven't bought the tow bar yet.

Cheers

Wee Man

I cant say for certain on your fusion, but generally you need to splice or buy a car specific wiring adaptor which is a plug in job.

Get the installation checked by a caravan specialist to make sure you have fitted the tow bar correctly.

Jamie

Get the installation checked by a caravan specialist to make sure you have fitted the tow bar correctly.

Jamie

a garage should also be able to offer this sort of service if you need it, i believe that if a towbar is fitted it becomes part of the mot

hi mate im a towbar fitter...and the fussion is a simple job to wire and to fit tbar bumper must be removed for bar and crash beam tbar replaces this holes are in chassis legs so no driling four in total they come on from side holes will be taped over hours job

as for elecs there a cambus system so a protective relay bypass system shound be used basicly it just reads car signal wires and duplicates them you just splice wires into car loom then give the relay a 12v feed earths to chassis this is also a simple job all you need is a basic 12v tester or multimetre if you want i will post colours of veichle and towbar wires save you some time ....tbars are pretty cheap on ebay so are the relays but if you require a good one i will supply one at cost for a forum member this can include prewired plug fuse holder fuse and wire basicly all you need for job....if you decide to go down a plug in kit eg ford or aftermarket these are not as simple as you think theres still a amount of wiring not a plug and play system at all pricey too.

If you could post a wiring colour scheme I'd appreciate it.

I fitted a bar & electrics to my last vehicle (Nissan X Trail) with no problems. I'm an electronic engineer so confident with the slicing in bit.

If you could post a wiring colour scheme I'd appreciate it.

I fitted a bar & electrics to my last vehicle (Nissan X Trail) with no problems. I'm an electronic engineer so confident with the slicing in bit.

not a problem...will pm you that as i said earllier tho fussion is a cambus system so pls buy the relevent relay...as the xtrail is just a case of splice/soilder wires in thanks dean

Just bought a tow bar off ebay for a rediculously low price, it's off a 2010 car so I'm hoping it'll fit, will report how it all goes.

Fitted the tow bar at the weekend (it cost me £30 off ebay).

Rear wheels off and bung it on axel stands.

Didn't have to remove the bumper just drop off the rear exhaust rubber to get the bar cross member under the tail pipe. Loosly bolt in the cross bar attach the side arms (holes in chassis rails are behind the floppy stuff that passes for inner wheel arches) having poked the wee plates with the nuts welded on into the chassis.

Tighten everything up and bobs your uncle. Took about an hour, two cups of coffee and a bacon sandwich.

Haven't tackled the wiring yet but got a kit to fit.

Fitted the tow bar at the weekend (it cost me £30 off ebay).

Rear wheels off and bung it on axel stands.

Didn't have to remove the bumper just drop off the rear exhaust rubber to get the bar cross member under the tail pipe. Loosly bolt in the cross bar attach the side arms (holes in chassis rails are behind the floppy stuff that passes for inner wheel arches) having poked the wee plates with the nuts welded on into the chassis.

Tighten everything up and bobs your uncle. Took about an hour, two cups of coffee and a bacon sandwich.

Haven't tackled the wiring yet but got a kit to fit.

Good result. Thanks for the feedback

Hi i was considering fitting a FORD tow bar ..not a universal one, and it appears it would be straight forwardhowever my fusion has ford reversing sensors built in, and i have noticed on the fuse box under the glove box there is a space for a fuse with the picture of a caravan, if this gets wired up ? would a picture of a caravan hooked up appear on my instrument panellights, if not what is the fuse for, and would my reversing sensors keep going of all the time if i hook up to a trailer once a tow bar is fitted?

thanks

Most likely the extra fuse slot is a sensor bypass so as to stop the sensors working while hitched up.

(maybe also allowing sensors to be fitted to the caravan/trailer?)

Wiring done.

10 minutes with a meter and I'd worked out the wiring.

12N (tow hitch)Colour = Vehicle Loom (colour)

Yellow = Near side indicator (Blue)

Blue = Fog lamp (Green/yellow)

White = Earth (Black)

Green = Off side indicator (Blue/red)

Brown = Off site tail lamp (Orange)

Red = Brake lamp (Green/black)

Black = Near side tail lamp (Orange/white)

Where did you find the wiring loom to do this

Damien

Is fiesta and vision tow bar the same 06

Is fusion and fiesta tow bar the same 06

Late to the party/this discussion but both pleased and puzzled by the thread. I've recently acquired a Ford Fusion Zetec Climate 1400 petrol ('58 plate). It has rear reversing sensors. I would like to fit a towbar to allow me to use a small trailer to take stuff to/from the allotment (yes, I know, old gadgie!). I've called no less than five towbar companies and independant fitters this afternoon and none give the same answer. The responses range from "yes, no problem" to "that model can't take a towbar" (x2) with "I'm not sure" or "I cant find a Fusion Climate on the manufacturer's list" being the other responses. Quite frankly, none inspired confidence. If anyone knows a brand of towbar (Witter, etc) that can be fitted to a '58 plate Fusion Climate with rear sensors please get back to me. Contact details for a reputable fitter in Tyneside / Durham would be a bonus. Much appreciated. Albie.

Hello Albie,

Firstly when asking if they can fit a tow bar I'd just tell them it's a Ford Fusion. The 'climate' just confuses them and it is of no concern.

If you are only going to be towing a small trailer to the old folks home allotment then is it important to you that for the odd time you are going to reverse with the trailer connected that it will trigger the reverse parking sensors ? After all you can always just press the button to turn them off after you select reverse.

So all you need is a very basic tow bar with the basic 8 pin single socket electrics.

Interestingly, all the towbar suggestions on PF Jones exclude Fusions with rear parking sensors.  I wonder if the sensors are 'too close' to the ball and would get set off even without a trailer attached?

Ford Fusion Towbars (pfjones.co.uk)

 

Even the genuine ones on 7Zap state 'less proximity sensors'.

Tow Bar FORD Fiesta 01-08 / Fusion 01-12 (CBK) (7zap.com)

 

The only towbars I've fitted were on cars without parking sensors so this wasn't an issue I came across.

Thanks for the feedback. A couple of points...

TomsFocus does seem to highlight the 'greyness' of the sensor issue. Add to that one fitter who said that I would need to check under the car for oval (?) mounting holes already drilled in the chassis to mount the towbar. No holes = car can't take towbar.

Unofix - I've not had a Fusion before so where would I find the button to switch off the rear sensors?

I must admit that what I'd expected to be a fairly straightforward task is getting more complicated.

Anyway, thanks for your feedback - much appreciated.

Albie

 

Hi Albie, I think you will find page 96 of the owners handbook of interest, it confirms that your car can definitely be fitted with a tow bar. Also it states that if a non-Ford tow bar is used then you will have to switch the sensors off using the switch. -- it's a pity that the handbook doesn't tell you where the switch is !!

Read the section on towing which is just a few pages on from the parking aid instructions, and again it confirms the use of a tow bar on a vehicle with parking sensors.

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/ENUSA_CG3441_Fusion_og_200711.pdf

My best guess is the the switch to turn the parking aid off will be next to the Traction Control switch

I've driven a lot of Mk6s and can't remember ever seeing a parking sensor switch.  ESP was rare too, most just have a coin holder there.

I have found a Fusion with both sensors and towbar on Autotrader.  Can't see a sensor switch anywhere in these images.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207067525023?

Thanks for taking the time to provide the feedback and links - really is appreciated. Eventually got a towbar fitted by a local towbar company - but, even then, they had to check and call back to confirm the 'sensor issue'. Even then, without the trailer fitted, the sensors go off when car put in reverse if chrome cover left on towbar ball (so I leave it off). Thanks again for feedback. Albie