Trailer Hitch access cover removal??

[David Ieroncig]

Hello All!!

How the heck does the access cover for the trailer hitch come off?

I tried this the best I could (in poor weather, mind you) and it felt like the entire bumper was going to come with it?

How do you do this?
What am I not getting or doing wrong?

-DI

 

[dlcorbett]

Jus one good pull and itll come off. Start with the bottom and the top will come off.

 

[edizzle]

Watch the first few seconds!

 

[Artie]

Bottom first, pull out then up. Once bottom is free the top will come out by gently pulling out with a rocking side to side motion. First time is the most difficult.

 

[Bedrck47]

Looks like S*** if you lose the cover

 

[David Ieroncig]

Success!
It was a b#tch to take off.

Hopefully Artie is right... the first time to be the most difficult.
Took a lot of swear grease to pry it off.

Not a very elegant solution!
This will probably make it to the 2018+ Suggestions for Improvement thread.

Thanks guys!

 

[Artie]

Success!
It was a b#tch to take off.

Hopefully Artie is right... the first time to be the most difficult.
Took a lot of swear grease to pry it off.

Not a very elegant solution!
This will probably make it to the 2018+ Suggestions for Improvement thread.

Thanks guys!

I just removed mine for the first time a couple days ago, it was almost like there was some type of adhesive holding the top portion on. When I put it back on and removed it again it was much easier.

 

[Artie]

Looks like S*** if you lose the cover

Agreed!

 

[rcompart]

We need a WT step installed to aid in getting stuff in and out of the back and weren't willing to look at an ugly gaping hole in the back so I modified the hitch cover so it can remain installed while we have the step installed. I'll still have to pull the cover when I'm towing but I'm willing to accept a little ugly then.

 

[Bedrck47]

That looks a lot better than the whole cover missing.

Can you put a hitch pin in place? If so you can get a Ford insert or some sort of cover to cover the opening

 

[rcompart]

The step uses a pin the same as any other 2" receiver hitch. I'd have to remove it for towing because I wouldn't have access to the trailer lighting plugs with the cover in place. I'd never leave it like the last picture, that was just to show how I cut it to fit the step.

 

[Bedrck47]

Was thinking more on the lines of the attached

 

[Artie]

Was thinking more on the lines of the attached

View attachment 23973

Plus if that’s a powered light it will disable the stupid auto start/stop.

 

[rcompart]

Plus if that’s a powered light it will disable the stupid auto start/stop.

Along with the rear parking sensors.

 

[Artie]

Along with the rear parking sensors.

Oh I did know that part, thanks for filling me in on my clear misunderstanding!

 

[Fordalways]

Hello All!!

How the heck does the access cover for the trailer hitch come off?

I tried this the best I could (in poor weather, mind you) and it felt like the entire bumper was going to come with it?

How do you do this?
What am I not getting or doing wrong?

-DI

Welcome to the club. Initially the salesman couldn’t figure it out. When I came back, he had it off, said to pull up and out. He then installed it and I mistakenly didn’t try to get it off myself until I got home. Thought I was going to break something. The dealer is just down the street so I went back and watched him struggle a bit. What worked for him was to place his left knee agains the bumper just left of the cover, left hand pressing agains the bumper just right of the cover and then using the right hand to pull up and out. It’s not going to fall off by itself! Maybe with practice it will be easier or the latched will ease their grip in time.

 

[pohoda]

That looks nice!

 

[texsn95]

We need a WT step installed to aid in getting stuff in and out of the back and weren't willing to look at an ugly gaping hole in the back so I modified the hitch cover so it can remain installed while we have the step installed. I'll still have to pull the cover when I'm towing but I'm willing to accept a little ugly then.

View attachment 23965

View attachment 23966

View attachment 23968

View attachment 23967

Excellent! Was looking for a photo of exactly this, we have our 22 Expy coming next week and are used to having a rear step on our Armada, we rarely tow so this may be a good solution.