does anyone know if a trailer hitch can be installed on a 96 ford escort? it's a small car, but want to be able to tow a small trailer with 1 ATV on it.
you may say the car is too small to tow anything, but when I was in Germany they were towing trailers with mini coopers and towing campers with VW passats and golfs. so I figure as long as I take it easy and keep my speed down, I should be able to tow one quad.

 

yea you should be able too from what ive seen you can get a hitch on anything one atv shouldnt be that bad

 

I would suggest finding a well established shop in your area that installs hitches and ask their advice. If you have an automatic transmission you may want to check on having an add on cooler installed.

 

http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-1996_Ford_Escort.htm

get to it, i ordered mine from there came in perfect

 

It should tow without too much trouble, I tow mine with a Saturn with 5/speed. Total weight of trailer and quad is about 1000 lbs. One word of caution, be prepared to brake early... no problem getting things rolling or keeping them moving, but stopping is another game altogether. I'd consider trailer brakes if I were doing it again.

 

my other option was getting a cheap used truck for about $500 to haul a quad, but then I'ld have to pay insurence on that.
When braking, does downshifting help a lot?

 

yes, but if your not an idiot and realize that your towing a trailer you will be fine, have towed 2 quads with a 93 subby legacy and have no problems

 

Just remember ... if you tow more than your car is rated (get the car and trailer weighted at a truck stop), your insurance company may not pay out on a claim.

 

I should be fine for 1 quad, my escort is rated at 1000lbs. I'm also a good driver, mechanic, have driven everything up to 44 ton 10 wheel drive trucks. I've also towed really big trailers behind a small pickup and had no problems, because I gave it more time for excelleration and decelleration.

 

I wasn't saying anything about your driving ability ... but there's alot of drivers who shouldn't be on the road, and their actions or inaction are uncontrolable by you.

just becareful...