habart

I haven't been back to this site for a couple of years, so here is my experience with towing the Ford Fusion Hybrid, using the Roadmaster Invisibrake. The result is that it usually works, but I experience a serious glitch from time to time. What happens is that periodically, the Fusion will "over brake". It puts on the brakes much harder than the RV brakes are on, and it takes about 5 seconds for them to release. This means that the Fusion is braking the RV, with the consequence of very hot brakes. I have spent a lot of time with both Ford and Roadmaster to try to fix the problem. During the Chandler FMCA Rally, Roadmaster largely rebuilt the system, and reduced the braking force on the Invisibrake. However the problem will still occur, and is "strange" in that I can tow for weeks at a time with no problem, and then suddenly it will occur for 2 - 3 days at a time, then go away again. One of my "hypothesis" is that the electric vacuum brake booster will come on even when the Fusion is turned off (too many computers). Talking with Roadmaster a few days ago, they seem to have come to the same conclusion, and have offered to install a "tow" button which will turn off the vacuum brake boost when towing. Unfortunately I won't be able to get this installed until next April, and it may be more months before I tow any distance, but I will report my findings when it happens. BTW, Ford was of no help when trying to determine what was going on. I have a good service manager, but the dealerships don't seem to have any access into the Ford design process to see how these systems really work. Roadmaster has been very good, and have spend a lot of hours on the problem, with no charge to me.

On my '96 Safari Continental, there was an outlet in the bay where the inverter is located. This had a GFI that controlled all the outlets from one branch of the inverter. The associated problem is that a number of GFI's did not like square wave (modified sign wave) inverters, and would fail every couple of years. If you find a GFI that is causing the problem, and it fails again in a day or so (if it trips right away, it is likely doing it's job), you may have to replace the GFI.

Good luck with the CRV. They are a very good vehicle, and a popular tow vehicle. I likely would have either kept the GMC Terrain or bought a CRV except that my wife hated driving the Terrain. She is quite short and found big blind spots in the Terrain. One last point on towing the Fusion (also C-Max) hybrid is that you should also install a charge line to the battery. On the Ford Fusion blog, there were a number of reports of the battery being flat after 3 - 4 hrs of towing. No real explanation on the blogs, so I am not sure if it is because of the current draw from sources such as the active brakes, or if people were essentially leaving the keyless ignition in the "on" position when towing, which the owners manual could lead one to do.

If you want a hybrid to tow, both the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the C-Max can be towed.

One point to check with an RV tech. I think when you install a charge line, you also need to install some diodes to ensure that the battery in the Towed doesn't back feed into the coach. I just had an RV tech install a charge wire for my set-up (LTV Unity towing a Ford Fusion) and I know that he did this. Sorry, but I don't recall why this back feed can be a problem.

I am currently towing a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid. I think all the current generation Fusion Hybrids (including the C-Max) are towable. The Fusion Hybrid seems to be a great car (I purchased this one as a used car last summer and have been favourably impressed). We have just taken delivery of an LTV Unity (based on a Sprinter Chassis), and have set up the Ford to be towd last weekend. We have just finished towing from Portland to La Quinta Ca with no issues (about 1,000 miles over three days) The one thing to be aware of is that the Fusion has "active" brakes. (This means that the brake power boost is always on, even when the car is turned off). The implication is that the portable units, such as the Brake Buddy and Roadmaster's Even Brake will not work as they will "over brake" the car. These units were designed to work with cars that don't have power brakes when in tow mode. I have just installed Roadmaster's Invisibrake, which seems to work well. One nice feature of this system is that there is no set-up when towing. The unit is permanently mounted. All you do is hook up the car, connect the electric cable, and you are ready to go. No lugging the Even Brake out of the coach, working it between the steering wheel and the seat, connecting the power, the monitor and attaching it to the brake peddle. I found it quite hard to get towing info for the Fusion (and Ford was of no help - and the procedure in the owners manual was very badly written), so I will try and look back in to this thread in a few days if there are further questions.

A quick thought / question, perhaps for one of the senior members. I recall some years ago people using a bunge cord between the steering wheel and some point on the car (such as the seat) so that the bunge cord would help turn the steering wheel back to straight ahead. Would this help. (I just bought a Ford Fusion Hybrid as a Towd - so quite interested in the problem and the solution).