04 Expy Class III vrs IV hitch, does this tell me if I have HD tow pkg?

[cdherman]

OK, been reading. Please correct me if I am wrong...

HD tow pkg of course adds tranny cooler (or just a larger one?) HD radiator, and as far as I can tell, a class IV hitch rated to 8750 lbs

From what I understand, the presence or absence of the 7 pin connector does not necessarily tell you what you have, as the 7 pin connector was not installed, but instead just in the glovebox. If it was never installed, it might have been lost etc. And conversely, someone could have installed a 7 pin connector on a truck that did not have the rest of the package...

Here is the part that I am curious about: If the Expy has the heavy hitch, with the rateing to 8750 stamped on it, does that pretty much assure me that the rest of the HD towing package is in there?

I am specifically looking for an Expy for heavy towing and of course, everyone thinks theirs has the "tow package". In reality, a lot of them don't, but less well informed people think that a receiver hitch and a plug equals a tow package. I need a pretty sure fire of figureing this out, as I cannot figure it out from the VIN...

I suppose someone could have put a class IV hitch under a standard expy as well.... But that's less likely I'd think....

Thanks in advance...

 

[bobthegod]

Take your serial number down to your local dealer and run it, that'll tell ya. Do you have a 5.4? What year is it? Also remember most people don't tow things that weigh exactly what the vehicle it rated to tow. Just cause you have a 8750 rated hitch doesn't mean what your towing weighs 8750. So what are you towing and how much do you think it weighs. Better yet take it to the truck scales and weight it, it's cheap to do.

 

[cdherman]

Yep, in the meantime, I have learned quite a lot more -- read on to learn what is likely INCORRECT in the first post:

This is for 04 or 05 w/5.4, which is the only years I have thouroughly researched. I now own a 2004 as of today.

First, they ALL got the same receiver hitch in those years. It is a Class III-IV hitch rated to 8750 according to the label, but that may be just because that is the limit of the vehicle when properly equiped.

If if did NOT get the Heavy Duty Tow Package, it rated to only 6000 lbs.

And to get to those top ratings, you need a load leveling hitch. Ford produced a good "RV and Trailer Towing Guide" for all years from 2002 - 2010. Its a the fleet Ford site. Will tell you how to calculate etc.

As for the HD Towing package -- it adds a 22 plate HD tranny cooler in place of the 14 plate cooler that is standard on ALL 2004-05 vehicles. So just seeing the tranny cooler does NOT mean its got an HD towing package.

Also the HD Towing package added a heavier, 1.4" deep radiator (supposedly stock was 1") and it comes with both 7 pin and 4 pin plugs by the hitch.

Finally, in the glove box originally, was a pigtail harness that adapts the factory wiring harness up front to the right of the steering wheel to an aftermarket electronic brake controller.

What I do not still understand is:
-- I saw several 2004-2005 vehicles without the 7 pin connector that appear to have the same size cooler as the one I bought. The one I bought, I went to the dealer as discussed, and ran the VIN. It shows factory HD package, has the 7 and 4 pin connectors in rear etc. But the tranny coolers all looked the same. Either my truck did NOT get a 22 plate like it as supposed to, or some other trucks that did not have the 7 and 4 pin connectors, got the HD cooler in spite of that. Hard to tell.....

 

[bobthegod]

Very odd about the cooler and wiring. I would tell the dealer "Hey they left this off and I want it" give'em the old "Hey I paid for it and I want it". You may also check with the parts department and actually look at both coolers and see if there is a real outside differance, it may all be all internal.....never know.