2017 EXP LTD - Hitch/Plug Question

[Mean_Dean]

Going to look at a 2017 Limited with the HD tow package and cannot find any good pictures on the net of the hitch area. Interested in knowing what plugs are standard, 4 flat & 7 round? I pull a boat with a 5 flat wire harness as it has trailer brakes and want know if I will be spending any $$ to get the right plug installed or if I can use the 7 round to 5 flat converter that I already have.

Thanks!

 

[AllBoostNoEco]

Going to look at a 2017 Limited with the HD tow package and cannot find any good pictures on the net of the hitch area. Interested in knowing what plugs are standard, 4 flat & 7 round? I pull a boat with a 5 flat wire harness as it has trailer brakes and want know if I will be spending any $$ to get the right plug installed or if I can use the 7 round to 5 flat converter that I already have.

Thanks!

All 15-17 Expeditions have a 7- and a 4-pin connector. So you’ll have no issues.

 

[Mean_Dean]

Thanks!

 

[intense98neon]

My 2017 only came with a 4 pin connector..... I had to add the 7 pin and trailer brake controller. So not all 15-17 expeditions come with both.

 

[chuck s]

I would personally fit a new standard 7-pole power cord to the trailer rather than use an adapter. 5 pole connectors are not common and connections are the primary weak point. 7 pole connector includes a good ground and a 12vDC line which with a little wire and ingenuity you can rig to the boat's battery and top off the charge on the road. Not sure how well the Expedition trailer tow electronics respond to only 5 poles or with a 4-to-7 adapter. Mine spotted a bad turn signal light (and knew which one) when I first hooked the new truck to the old trailer.

https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Hopkins/H20046.html

Only Expeditions with HD Tow package have the 7-pole connector. It's an easy way to spot HD Tow when looking at those on a dealer's lot or when buying used.

-- Chuck

 

[Black]

All 15-17 Expeditions have a 7- and a 4-pin connector. So you’ll have no issues.

Nope! All Expeditions came with at least the tow prep package that includes a 4 pin.
Some Expeditions came with the HD towing package including an HD radiator and transmission cooler, plus the 7 pin.

If it has a 4 pin you can easily add the factory trailer brake and wire in the 7 pin.

 

[chuck s]

I think the Limited trim comes with HD Tow standard. Easy to check, just walk to the back of the truck and look for a trailer connector on each side of the receiver. Never seen a LTD Expedition though.

-- Chuck

 

[Flexpedition]

15-17 HD towing was only optional on (fleet) XL and XLT. Included as standard equipment on all other upper trim levels.

 

[Mean_Dean]

Yes it does have the HD tow package and has both the 4 flat and 7 round. Proud new owner of a 2017 Limited!

 

[chuck s]

With the HD tow package you have a very competent tow vehicle. Review the trailer settings in the owner's manual as there may be different trailer brake settings for electrically activated hydraulic brakes (common on bigger boat trailers) than just the electric brakes as on my camper.

You can set up several different trailers on the in dash panel. I have one named for my camper (Roo 23SS) and one marked UHaul. The former uses electric brakes and the latter uses surge brakes. Just select which trailer I'm pulling and the brakes are all set up.

Not sure of the sophistication of the built in sway control but the trailer brake type may influence it. I had a catastrophic tire blow out on the trailer a year ago (beware of old tires! -- 5 new ones now) and easily pulled onto the shoulder. Didn't know to be scared until the guys at the trailer place thought I was some sort of ace driver because of this. Also of interest (to me anyway) is the separate settings keep track of the miles towed with the trailers -- 818 for the Roo since July 2017.

As noted earlier I don't like adapters for the trailer as it adds connectors which are the weak point in any electrical system. A hour's work fitting a standard 7-pole cable to the trailer is all it takes.

Happy towing!

-- Chuck

 

[lbv150]

Nope! All Expeditions came with at least the tow prep package that includes a 4 pin.
Some Expeditions came with the HD towing package including an HD radiator and transmission cooler, plus the 7 pin.

If it has a 4 pin you can easily add the factory trailer brake and wire in the 7 pin.

I have a '16 with only the 4 pin connector... can you please in detail explain how to add the 7 pin and electric brake unit? Thanks!

 

[Black]

I have a '16 with only the 4 pin connector... can you please in detail explain how to add the 7 pin and electric brake unit? Thanks!

Purchase the brake control module.
https://parts.autonationfordwhitebe...pb24meT0yMDE2JnQ9ZWwteGx0JmU9My01bC12Ni1nYXM=

Remove the left cubby in the dash. The harness to plug into the brake controller is usually attached to the back of the cubby if not it is back there somewhere. Plug the harness into the controller pop it into the dash.
Purchase the 4-7 pin adapter of your choice. Splice it into your 4 pin in the fashion you feel is best.
The black (I think but it is the only capped wire under there) trailer wire is capped behind the hitch and wire that to the proper place.

Then using ForScan you can activate the brake controller and add the brake controller gain display to the dash.
https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/forscan-tweaks-2015.32082/

And for under $100 you have the fully functional factory brake controller.

 

[chuck s]

Thread title? Thought it sounded familiar. Here's what the Ford EXP looks like. Not sure there was LTD trim, though.


-- Chuck

 

[Mean_Dean]

LOLZ, you so funny! I remember that car, had a neighbor with one. Built on the Escort.

 

[Flexpedition]

Here is mine. High school car for about a year or so. True story - got a warning ticket for speeding or something. On the ticket the officer wrote Mustang. Showed that warning ticket off to everybody for about a week.




And mine kind of was a Limited model. It was Limited on power, limited on torque. Limited on amenities. Seating was also limited, but so were my friends, so worked out well, LOL.

But - It was a HEMI. Ford's 1.9L had a hemispherical head. Except Ford didn't feel the need to put huge HEMI decals all over it like Dodge does today.