Does anyone have the Fiesta ST roof rack? I bought a second hand one off ebay but there are no insructions. It is the genuine locking ford item.

I take it you just pull the black strips off and replace these with the ones uspplied, also does anyone know if there are already holes in the roof to take the racks?

Cheers

Stuart

From what I've seen and ones fitted to STs its just a mk6 Fiesta roof rack and you fit it by taking the black strips out. I got this pic from Ford PartsUK...does that look like what you've got?



http://www.fordpartsuk.com/shop/fiesta_mk6_lockable_roof_bars_kit_193.htm

a roof rack on an .....noooooooooo dont do it! suppose it could be worse you could want to tow a caravan!

Yeah thats the one, cheers - I have managed to source the information, the only worrying part is that the mounting holes are under paint and filled with sealant that has to be removed/picked out. I would imagine it would be difficult to get the old bits back in straight too.

I know it will spoil it by putting a roof rack on but I like my mountain biking and the car is a bit small to be carrying it in (both wheels off) and I want to try and keep the interior nice and clean. This time of year the bike is very dirty too and it is a pain to be dismantling it to get it home. Those rear mount racks are a recipe for disaster too - seem to leave scratches everywhere.

Stuart - I'm also dead keen on mountain biking but so far I've been throwing the bike into a bike bag and putting down the rear seats (it just about fits in).

Thing is that now the misses has a bike so I'm looking at alternatives. Personally I think the rear mounted racks are leathal and could damage paint (they never go around spoilers properly). Honestly I think the roof bars and top mounted carrier is the way forward but I want to be able to take it on and off easily so as not to effect fuel consumption for day to day driving.

Also worth having a look at tow bar mounted options - I know the ST can't legally tow, but nothing to say you can't mount a carrier off a tow bar!

I couldn't find anyone to fit a tow bar to a ST , something about the rear bumber. (though i think the bar mounted solutions are best)
I am having the bars fitted by ford this week (also a biker)
I will have to put the thule proride carriers on myself though !

Agree about the rear carrers that strap on. after watching my Intense bounce down a duel carrigway at 70 i always stick it in the back now. (ouch)
Also the paint on the back of the family car (cmax)is wrecked when it fell off the rubber bump strips and had metal on metal for 50 miles...

a stitch in time saves a bloody heafty repainting job.

LOL - Try fitting 2 hardtails into the back of a fiesta - its possible, but only just!

I think the tow bar can be fitted (its the same bumper as the ZS) but finding someone to do it could be tricky as it will be a "computer says no" moment?!

My mate had his bike come of a rear carrier - not a pretty site at all!

There have been towbars fitted to ST's before, and I have seen a picture before of one pulling a trailer. However, it's not designed to. The problem is that the bumper is just too low and because it's been lowered with stiff suspension, when you pull a caravan or a trailer then this makes the back end go too low (it could pull up the front) and it's considered dangerous.

When you look in the Fiesta manual it lists the tow weight of an ST as not applicable, and this is because Ford won't supply or fit one, although you would be able to get someone to custom make you one. If anything went wrong however, then the warranty would be invalid.

As said, its not leagl to tow in the ST, but I don't think the issue is with the bodywork and ride height as the ZS is identical and can tow.

I think (and I'm not sure) that each engine type has to be tested in the car seperately for maximum tow weight and I suspect when Ford developed the ST that this was an un required test with added cost. I think also that tow weight is actually a fuction of engine torque or power as at altitude your legal tow weight reduces.

In theory at least, the ST should be a much more suitable car to tow with compared to the others in the petrol line up but the day I see an ST with a caravan in tow is the day mine's being sold! (unless the carvan has matching stripes and then it would be quite cool!)

Crickey, the ST wheelspins like mad as normal, Imagine what it would be like with a caravan hitched on the back.

Lol the ST wheel spin? How about this baby?

That has got to be photoshopped... surely?

That's what I thought... who on earth would do that?

I mean, you'd neveer be able to tell if the caravan has fallen off what with the restricted rear view...

I think a dodge viper currently holds the towing world record