Towing Questions

[Duckman]

I recently bought an '07 Expedition EL without the towing package and 7-way plug. It has the standard Expedition hitch receiver and 4-way plug. The intended towing use of the vehicle is to pull a relatively light weight two-horse trailer.

I know the towing capacity should be OK, as loaded weight should be only about 5,000-5,500 lbs. However, most of the bumper-pull trailers with electric brakes I've found have the 7-way plug, which would have been standard on an Expedition with the towing package.

What do I need to do to my Expedition to get it ready to tow a trailer with electric brakes and a 7-way plug?

Can the 7-way be exchanged directly for the existing 4-way?

Does the truck need complete rewiring to accommodate electric brakes?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[FtLaudBlkGT]

I recently bought an '07 Expedition EL without the towing package and 7-way plug. It has the standard Expedition hitch receiver and 4-way plug. The intended towing use of the vehicle is to pull a relatively light weight two-horse trailer.

I know the towing capacity should be OK, as loaded weight should be only about 5,000-5,500 lbs. However, most of the bumper-pull trailers with electric brakes I've found have the 7-way plug, which would have been standard on an Expedition with the towing package.

What do I need to do to my Expedition to get it ready to tow a trailer with electric brakes and a 7-way plug?

Can the 7-way be exchanged directly for the existing 4-way?

Does the truck need complete rewiring to accommodate electric brakes?

Thanks in advance for your help.

You can wire it yourself...

You have 4 out of the wires already, just have to run a power and brake trigger wire I believe and there are diagrams on the web to assist with this.
Under the dash you should still have the trailer brake wiring harness, just have to run the blue wire to the back of the car, as well as auxiliary power and reverse light lead.

 

[DF5.4]

You will also need the brake controller in for the electric brakes.

 

[99 Expy]

Isn't there a plug connection at the end of the harness? I think you might be able to the 4 plug off and get a 7 pin plug with the same plug in that plugs into the harness and swap that in.

Something like this
http://www.gidabo.com/Hopkins_40955_Multi_Tow_FORD_GM_7_RV_Blade_p/Hopkins 40955.htm

And check out post #4 here
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/520986-1997-f150-2005-trailer-wiring-diagram-4pin-7pin.html

those wires go to connections you have to make. for the 12 volt hot, run a wire from the battery to a maxi fuse or circuit breaker, then to the back of the truck.
for the brake wire, you will need to run a wire from the brake controller.
and the aux power is usually tapped into a switched power source, then run to the back . you will need to add and run these wires down the frame.

I've mainly towed with super duties, and I know the brakes are bigger than the expeditions, but I'm not a big fan of the trailer brakes. I've had them lock up on numerous occasions. We went to pick a truck up in Kansas City, a 6 hour drive one way, and they locked up half way down there so we had to disconnect the trailer all together which sucked.

Hope this helps.

 

[FtLaudBlkGT]

Isn't there a plug connection at the end of the harness? I think you might be able to the 4 plug off and get a 7 pin plug with the same plug in that plugs into the harness and swap that in.

Something like this
http://www.gidabo.com/Hopkins_40955_Multi_Tow_FORD_GM_7_RV_Blade_p/Hopkins 40955.htm

And check out post #4 here
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/520986-1997-f150-2005-trailer-wiring-diagram-4pin-7pin.html

those wires go to connections you have to make. for the 12 volt hot, run a wire from the battery to a maxi fuse or circuit breaker, then to the back of the truck.
for the brake wire, you will need to run a wire from the brake controller.
and the aux power is usually tapped into a switched power source, then run to the back . you will need to add and run these wires down the frame.

I've mainly towed with super duties, and I know the brakes are bigger than the expeditions, but I'm not a big fan of the trailer brakes. I've had them lock up on numerous occasions. We went to pick a truck up in Kansas City, a 6 hour drive one way, and they locked up half way down there so we had to disconnect the trailer all together which sucked.

Hope this helps.

I actually have a 4 to 7 adapter that I made when I had my Durango and pulled my car trailer that had a 7 pin connector. I think it cost me like $10 to make.

 

[Racenut]

You should not need to run any wires!

Even thou your expy does not have the 7 pin, the harness that runs to the back already has the wires you need for the brakes and also the charge line and reverse light function if you whish to hook those up. Get under your truck in the back and fallow the harness that runs to the 4 pin until it meets up with the main electrical harness. Once you get to the main electrical harness you will find the other lines "stubbed" from the conector and all you have to do is conect to them ( make sure to use the weather tight terminals, or use heat shrink) and for the charge line you will need to put a relay in the under hood box to get power to it.

Once you have the connector all wired up go and get yourself an "electronic brake controller" and also the premade harness for the conection under the dash ( the conector is located on the same braket as the OBDII conector ). Wire up the controller to the harness and plug it in.

Once all is done then you can use the previouse diagram of the 7 pin conector with a volt meter and check to make sure all of the pins have power when they should ( it helps to have a second person for this, so they can change the turn signals and press the brake etc. )

 

[FtLaudBlkGT]

You should not need to run any wires!

Even thou your expy does not have the 7 pin, the harness that runs to the back already has the wires you need for the brakes and also the charge line and reverse light function if you whish to hook those up. Get under your truck in the back and fallow the harness that runs to the 4 pin until it meets up with the main electrical harness. Once you get to the main electrical harness you will find the other lines "stubbed" from the conector and all you have to do is conect to them ( make sure to use the weather tight terminals, or use heat shrink) and for the charge line you will need to put a relay in the under hood box to get power to it.

Once you have the connector all wired up go and get yourself an "electronic brake controller" and also the premade harness for the conection under the dash ( the conector is located on the same braket as the OBDII conector ). Wire up the controller to the harness and plug it in.

Once all is done then you can use the previouse diagram of the 7 pin conector with a volt meter and check to make sure all of the pins have power when they should ( it helps to have a second person for this, so they can change the turn signals and press the brake etc. )

Duh, should have known Ford would leave them there.. So you know, they run down the driver's frame rails starting around the rear door and work their way back. You will also need a relay and 2 fuses to fuse box to make the trailer brake feature functional, or else the trailer brake box will error out.