97-03 tow package

[RedDragon777]

What exactly made up the tow package for these trucks? was it just the 7 pin wiring and trans cooler or was there more to it? My truck is a normal XLT i think because it only has a 4 pin harness and the power steering cooler but no trans cooler like my F-250LD has.

I plan to haul a single axle boat trailer with a Tracker bass boat when the family goes on vacation, so around a 2500-3000 lbs load not including gear and people. Would i be stressing out my truck or should i run a trans cooler to help out? I also plan on swaping out the rear diff for a True Trac like the one on my 250, would a gear change help as well?

 

[FordandPolaris]

Personally I think you will be ok. Just don't try to set any acceleration records and you should be good. As far as I know, the only thing constituting the HD towing package is the external trans cooler, 7 pin, and the 3.73 gears. What gears do you have now?

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

from my build sheet.

Towing Package:
2" receiving frame hitch (recall to upgrade bolts in '99/2000)
7-pin connector
Transmission cooler
Electric brake wiring underneath center console
LS rear diff

PanHandler.

 

[RedDragon777]

I do not know exactly what gears i have, i have included pics of my door and diff tags and the 4 pin connection. The tag seems to say "S 930 P" on the first line then "31 9 75 0 A 1 1" on the second line. The other tag just said "70W 140 synthetic oil only"

 

[FordandPolaris]

According to the google machine, your axle code stands for 3.31 non LS rear diff. So yeah, gear change to 3.73's would make a big difference. But with bigger gears comes higher highway RPM's, and therefore lower MPG's. Still it would be worth doing it.

 

[whowey]

from my build sheet.

Towing Package:
2" receiving frame hitch (recall to upgrade bolts in '99/2000)
7-pin connector
Transmission cooler
Electric brake wiring underneath center console
LS rear diff

PanHandler.

This is what my '01 EB had listed on the sale sticker for the tow package. My brake controller wiring is under the dash though.

I've got 3.55 gears. Without my trailer.... its slow to accelerate. With the trailer loaded is glacier slow. But.. I was VERY surprised how well the rear coils took the weight of a loaded car trailer. I was used to having a leaf sprung rear and was nervous about it.

 

[white7wolf]

Anybody know of a way to find out if you have the package or not???

Sent from my galaxy s3

 

[RedDragon777]

Anybody know of a way to find out if you have the package or not???

Sent from my galaxy s3

I guess you do what i did and look through your front bumper ports. In front of your radiator there should be two small coolers. One is the power steering cooler which would be on the driver side and a mid size cooler on the passenger side. If you only have the small cooler on the driver side then you do not have the package.

On a side note, i am looking at the 6.0 Diesel trans cooler upgrade and my original plan of a Detroit True Trac with some 3.73 gears or 4.11s if my Lightning buddy is willing to part with the ones he never installed.

 

[white7wolf]

Well i have both coolers, 3.73 gears, 7 pin connector, and tow hitch. I think mine came with the package... The only thing i cant find is the brake controller wiring? How far is it buried?

Sent from my galaxy s3

 

[RedDragon777]

should not be far behind the OBD II test plug. It should be either mounted on the side of the OBD II plug or somewhere close to it. On my F-250LD the previous owner zip-tied it deep up in the dash but it was still close to the OBD II plug. IF you do not find it and you bought the truck used, the previous owner might have clipped it off thinking it was part of his old trailer brake controller.

 

[The Stinker]

I could be wrong but I think the ones with the tow pkg have a higher total gross weight listen on the door sticker.

 

[whowey]

My plug for the brake controller was on the same bracket as the obd-II plug. Directly next to it.

 

[white7wolf]

Grey female connector next to the obd2 port facing towards the firewall?

Sent from my galaxy s3

 

[RedDragon777]

yup that is the one.

 

[white7wolf]

Cool! not that ill be towing anything for a long time... But still cool to know that this can tow more then the 99 dodge half ton i traded it for =D

Sent from my galaxy s3

 

[RedDragon777]

I was looking at summit racing and found two different Rads for the Expedition. One was a single core the other was a 2-core rad. Which would be the equivalent to the rad that Tow package expys come with? Also anyone have a better Rad to replace my factory one with, i know Mishimoto is making one for the Lightning but i do not know if it will work with my Expy?

 

[Boatright92]

from my build sheet.

Towing Package:
2" receiving frame hitch (recall to upgrade bolts in '99/2000)
7-pin connector
Transmission cooler
Electric brake wiring underneath center console
LS rear diff

PanHandler.

Is that the actual build sheet or a window sticker? And if it’s an actual build sheet not a window sticker where did you happen to find it?