HELP! Wiring Harness for Towing!
Question:
Ok, I asked for help before and got some good responses. My ‘98 Explorer came with Trailer Tow Prep, not Package. The Package has the Wire Harness installed to the bumper and a larger axle ratio. With the prep, I have a plastic connector located at the rear tail lights. When I had my Class III hitch installed, the guy (not dealer) said I would need a power converter b/c I had amber & red tail lights (i.e. separate controls for turns and braking). After posting to this newsgroup, I got advice to buy it from the dealer. I called last week to my closest dealer and he said the part would be available today (price ~$9.00). I called today and now he says it is backordered. I went to Advance Auto Parts and they didn’t have a part either. I called another Ford dealer and asked about the part. He said ~$11.00 and it was backordered. I asked about the power converter and he knew nothing about it. My question is: Since I have Trailer Tow Prep with the plug at the back, do I need a power converter or do I need just a snap plug into the existing plug located behind the tail lights? Any quick info would be helpful since I need to tow a U-haul about 300 miles on Saturday! Thanks, Chuck
Response:
>Ok, I asked for help before and got some good responses. >My ‘98 Explorer came with Trailer Tow Prep, not Package. >The Package has the Wire Harness installed to the bumper >and a larger axle ratio. With the prep, I have a plastic >connector located at the rear tail lights. When I had my >Class III hitch installed, the guy (not dealer) said I would >need a power converter b/c I had amber & red tail lights >(i.e. separate controls for turns and braking). After posting
Normally the problem is connecting a standard trailer with combined turn signal/stop lamps to a vehicle with separate turn signal and stop lamps. It used to be that mostly foreign cars had separate lamps and American cars had combined lamps. Your Explorer has separate lamps. The trailer tow package that came with my ‘96 included the internal wiring to a round connector under truck, behind the rear bumper just right of center. This is not "near the tail lights". An adaptor harness brings this round multipin connection out to the standard Class I trailer flat four pin connector. Relays in the truck convert the separate lamps into combined lamps for the trailer while also electrically isolating the trailer from the truck. That way, if the trailer has a short you won’t blow a fuse that also takes down the truck lights. This ‘96 package also included the 3.73:1 limited slip rear axle. Some have said it also included some beefed up transmission and/or engine cooling, but I’ve never been able to see any difference between my radiator setup and that from an Explorer without the package. So, if your ‘98 with trailer tow "prep" has the relays and such, but not the pigtail adaptor, then I would say you don’t need any external adaptor to light up a normal combined lamp trailer. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->to this newsgroup, I got advice to buy it from the dealer. >I called last week to my closest dealer and he said the >part would be available today (price ~$9.00). I called today >and now he says it is backordered. I went to Advance >Auto Parts and they didn’t have a part either. I called another >Ford dealer and asked about the part. He said ~$11.00 and >it was backordered. I asked about the power converter and he >knew nothing about it. >My question is: Since I have Trailer Tow Prep with the plug at >the back, do I need a power converter or do I need just a snap >plug into the existing plug located behind the tail lights? Any >quick info would be helpful since I need to tow a U-haul about >300 miles on Saturday! >Thanks, >Chuck
Ted Szypulski
Response:
>Snip, >My question is: Since I have Trailer Tow Prep with the plug at >the back, do I need a power converter or do I need just a snap >plug into the existing plug located behind the tail lights? Any >quick info would be helpful since I need to tow a U-haul about >300 miles on Saturday! >Thanks, >Chuck
Chuck, I bought the harness from the local Ford Dealer for $19.00 – sounds like you’re getting a good deal. I towed a U-Haul with it and had no trouble. I had to buy a $3.00 adapter from U-Haul to connect into the open end of the 4 pin harness. This brought out the 4 pins to individual wires so they could be hooked up to the trailer. It was a 5′X12′ trailer and it had individual wires, not a harness. You don’t need a converter. Dick OKeefe ‘98 XLT – Tow prep – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
Response:
on my car with the full towing package, i have my towing wire hooked up all of the time and i hear the relays clicking all of the time, would they stop clicking if i removd the tow harness? if so how would i get that darn thing off?!? i tryed to relese it but to no avail… — Please Visiy My Web Site http://home1.gte.net/1ateam/explorer/index.html 92′ EB Explorer, JBL, 4×4 EVERY Option Avaible! *Even The Engine Block Heater* Remove NOSPAM From Reply… My Views Are Mine And Only Mine…
Response:
Well, thanks for all the advice. I ended up buying a Hoppy Wire Harness that said it worked with a ‘97 Explorer/Mountaineer. The package showed the wire harness in the same location as on my ‘98 Explorer so I decided to give it a shot. The connector fit but I have yet to try it on my trailer. I’ll let the group know if there are any problems. After discussing this with various parties I have decided that the power converter is not needed if you have the connector behind the left rear taillight. This is my opinion (unless something blows while I am towing!!) Chuck
Response:
Well, I had some problems with the ‘97 Hoppy pigtail. Either it was the Hoppy or the U-Haul trailer. The turn signals didn’t work correctly. Only the right side worked correctly. If I switched wires, then the left trailer light would blink when I used the signal to the right. The U-Hual dealer measured the voltages from the ‘97 Hoppy pigtail did not seem to work on my ‘98 Explorer. But, I drove anyway and now have more time to investigate the problems. I’ll keep posting the results. Chuck
Response:
I just bought a ‘98 sport myself. Went to the local U-Haul to have a 4-pin trailer wiring harness installed, and their expert told me that they do not have anything that will work. Apparently, most ’98s are prewired with an adaptor from the 3-circuit wiring of the vehicle to the 2-circuit required by most trailers. This built-in adaptor apparently makes most aftermarket converter/adaptors work erratically if at all. His suggestion was to check with Ford and order the harness designed for the vehicle (same one that they supply if you by their trailering package). Our local Ford Dealer ordered the part for me – $11.95 + tax – much cheaper than the $25 adaptor that U-Haul normally uses. Look under the rear driver’s side fender. Look for a small (about 1/2") covered connector coming off the main wiring harness (it will be aimed downward). If you have such a connector, then your vehicle was prewired for a trailer. e – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Well, I had some problems with the ‘97 Hoppy pigtail. >Either it was the Hoppy or the U-Haul trailer. >The turn signals didn’t work correctly. >Only the right side worked correctly. >If I switched wires, then the left trailer light >would blink when I used the signal to the right. >The U-Hual dealer measured the voltages from >the ‘97 Hoppy pigtail did not seem to work on my >’98 Explorer. But, I drove anyway and now have >more time to investigate the problems. I’ll keep >posting the results. >Chuck
Response:
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