ST170 - can you fit a towbar?

[Rouleur]

Has anyone had a towbar fitted to an ST170, specifically a flange type? It seems as though Ford have never approved it but I wonder whether it can be done anyway.

BTW it's so I can carry a trials motorbike, not for caravanning

TIA

[Justin S]

I would check your V5 for towable weight, it could have issues with your insurance and the law, even if you dont have a caravan a small traler could still be an issue. I have an ST 225 and wanted to fit a towbar for mine for a towbar mounted cycle carrier but have never done it. I would make it removable ball type and hidden electrics etc.Mine has a non towing weight in the V5, so never did.

[Rouleur]

Thanks for the reply. There doesn't seem to be any problem with carrying a trials bike so long as you have a light board and number plate visible, apparently these are all the BiB look out for.

[Gareth350]

I have seen a few ST170's with tow bars & even though Ford didn't list 1 for it, it is the same as the normal Focus. Just checked our listing at work (motor factors) & it lists the ST. The only one you cant put a bar on is the RS. HTH.

[Rouleur]

That's excellent, thanks very much. My worry was that the different exhaust might somehow obstruct the bar but I'll get one sorted now.

Nice RS BTW, that blue is the only colour I like them in really

[checkmate91]

Gareth350 said:

I have seen a few ST170's with tow bars & even though Ford didn't list 1 for it, it is the same as the normal Focus. Just checked our listing at work (motor factors) & it lists the ST. The only one you cant put a bar on is the RS. HTH.

Not quite, neither the Fiesta ST nor the Focus ST were homologated for towing. This does not mean that a towbar for the model will not fit but you won't be insured if you do, that's all.

I can't honestly remember whether this was the same for the ST170 or not. It should be perfectly clear in the owners manual though.

[Rich's Granny]

Just what I was about to say.........

The mondeo ST200 and ST220 arn't homogolated either but the ST TDCi is. I've also seen Puma's with towbars on and they arn't approved for towing and a towbar isn't available but I guess people have found the fiesta one fits.

fit a towbar on a car that isn't type approved for towing and your insurance is invalid.

[Rouleur]

I won't be towing though, I'll just be fitting a rack to it if that makes any difference (doubt it does!). Also the handbook doesn't mention the ST170 in the sections relating to towing/towbars (the ST is covered in the book though where it's different to other models eg. the instruments).

Also manufacturers like Witter list the ST170 with the other specs of Focus, only excluding the RS, which suggests to me that it has been homologated, and the VIN plate has a train weight figure which wouldn't be there if the car wasn't homologated for towing...

[checkmate91]

Ford homologate the vehicles for towing, not Witter. You choose... (not you OP, you want a rack, which is fair enough)

[Gareth350]

Spotted at Brands last week.

[checkmate91]