I was seeing if anyone has had any experience towing a 5x8 U-Haul trailer with the FiST. I have a 800 mile drive ahead of me and I was looking to bring a couple of bulky items that would weigh ~300lbs.
I understand the FiST isn’t rated for towing but I’ve seen a few people in this subreddit and other forums tow way larger/heavier items than I would be.
I just want more up to date advice since those posts were made a while ago. I drive a 2017 and have a curt trailer hitch receiver already installed on the car. I’ve only used the hitch for a cargo rack.
The EU market Fiesta ST Mk7 is rated for towing with a bumper-pull ball hitch. According to Ford, the towing capacity is 540 kg if the trailer doesn’t have brakes and 650 kg if the trailer does. Also, keep in mind that the bearing load is quite low, with a maximum of 65 kg.
I tow the Home Depot 4x6 trailer with my FiST all the time, but I’d be cautious with a U-Haul 5x8. U-Haul trailers are designed to be heavy-duty and built for durability, but according to their website, the 5x8 is 1000 lbs empty.
As others have mentioned, the real concern isn’t “how much weight can it pull,” but rather “how much weight can it control and stop safely in an emergency,” which is directly tied to speed. Since you’re traveling 800 miles, that’s almost certainly on highways, and I’d advise against driving at highway speeds with a trailer that’s pushing the limits of your vehicle’s capacity.
You could technically drive slowly, but deliberately driving well below the speed of traffic on interstate highways for hundreds of miles is a major inconvenience to other drivers. Nobody likes that guy, and it’s best to avoid being that person.
If you’re determined to do this, I’d suggest finding a non-highway route where you can keep speeds under 60 MPH without causing a hazard. Otherwise, renting a pickup or van from U-Haul for the bulk of the load and using a car hauler or dolly for the FiST might be a safer option. Just remember not to set the parking brake if you use the dolly.
I’ve towed U-Hauls with my ST multiple times and never had any issues. The U-Haul staff always seem a bit hesitant about letting me do it, but they’ve always allowed it as long as the trailer lights are working.
It’s around $30 to drive it around the block, so you can feel it out first. The Fiesta can tow, but there are many other variables and considerations to take into account.