Let's talk Fiesta ST hitches

[Cneu]

Napa has the curt hitch for $190 so I snagged it. Install took about 30-35 minutes. It's simple. The curt instructions were adequate.

Get exhaust out of the way(remove hangers), remove heat shield, trim heat shield with tin snips, install trimmed heat shield, fish bolts/plates thru and into position, lift hitch into place, secure with nuts/bolts. Done.

I did it alone. Insert the hitch from behind the car, not from below, and then "hang" it off the exhaust to put the driver side into place. Then go finish up on the passenger side.

The worst part was the 8 or 10mm heat shield fasteners. They're annoying for whatever reason. Also I had like 40lbs of dirt that fell onto me so be aware of that maybe.

 

[Downsy]

Pretty low profile too.

 

[NOVA_Ranger]

My car had one installed when I bought it. No plans to use it but left it on.

 

[Downsy]

Mine will eventually wind up with one. I've got a few smaller trailers that a Fiesta would be perfectly capable of towing with a light load. Something like tools and tires for a track/autocross day.

 

[Intuit]

My last Ford that lived in the rust belt, where they use copious amounts of salt (like here), rusted out ass-first. Rust is what took it off the road.

For those whom this will apply, remember to use some extra rust "proofing" on the frame where you're mounting the hardware.

It's inconsequential but my bumper, beneath the bumper cover has more rust than paint at this point.

 

[Cneu]

My car had one installed when I bought it. No plans to use it but left it on.

Right now it's purpose is for this platform storage option. I have my rear seats taken out for storage as well, along with a roof top box I can utilize. I do a lot of backcountry/outdoor stuff and having more storage is super nice.

I'm ~220lbs and it takes my bouncing weight just fine, so I'd consider it a decent hitch so far. I think the capacity is like 500lbs or something.

The only modification I had to do was to the platform itself, so nothing to do with the hitch. I used a 1 1/2 to 2 inch riser extension which put the platform hitch pretty high and it bumped my rear bumper, so I had to lop off a few inches of the 2" square tubing.