Gmac
We tow a 2013 Cmax Hybrid. Our coach hitch point is about 9 inches taller than the Blue ox baseplate. I have always used a drop hitch since buying the car. We have driven it 36000 miles and towed it 12-14000.We have had problems dragging the hitch so I had a welder adapt my original 6 " drop down to 3 1/2" and I don't drag as often but I must be very careful. At ride height my tow bar is right at 3" slope from coach to car.
My hitch was also kind of loose until I bought and installed 2 hitch stabilizers. However, according to several Ford dealers I had already cupped the tires and now we have a lot of "road noise" when we drive the toad.I have been holding off on new tires but 'Im getting close to 50000 total miles on the original so I will change them soon.sure hope we get rid of the road noise but I suspect it may come back after some more flat towing.
We also had one disturbing "shaking" occurrence in Florida last year after getting fuel.After reading your post I was re-thinking the episode. The entire coach shook violently until I pulled over and stopped. We looked all around and under and saw no problems. I was at a very bad place on the highway so I decided to "limp" down the road a little to a safer place.
We didn't shake at all as we moved down the road a little and since I was scheduled into Alliance for some repair work and only 40miles away I decided to drive it on. I never exceeded 45 mph and I never got anymore shaking.Alliance mechanics could find nothing wrong with the coach. We all blamed it on the Blue Ox Tru-center stabilizer that had failed. But now I wonder since I never really ever used that stabilizer since I bought coach. We didn't even know was there!
It makes we wonder about the Cmax now. The fuel stop was tight and I had to maneuver in and out to get the fuel and the shaking started as soon as I got up to speed leaving the station. I will be interested in hearing more about this issue.
We like our Cmax other than this stupid road noise and the hitch height.I just get a stomach ache every time I think about trading it for another set of problems and buying all the towing package and brakes,etc.i