Trailer Hitch Cover Removal - What's the secret?

[Andy B]

I have a brand new Limited SPP.

Today for the first time I tried to remove the trailer hitch cover. I couldn't get it to move!

I read the manual. I pulled upward and outward from the bottom of the cover. There is a finger grip recess so I know I was in the right place. I pulled REALLY hard until the entire rear bumper cover started to flex outward.

Then I crawled under. I see there are 2 tabs that hold it in so I tried pulling hard AND pressing on the tabs upward at the same time. No luck.

I am afraid to pull much harder for fear of hurting something.

Is there a "trick" I am missing?
Anyone else have this problem?


(This also seems like a supremely cheesy solution for a $90K vehicle. )

 

[GixxerJasen]

Supposedly it's hard the first time. Gets easier afterwards. Insert "That's what she said" joke here.

 

[BSarchet]

I had the same exact experience. It will eventually come off and it is easier after a few times. What I had to do was pull on the hand grip at the bottom with one hand and then with the other feel under and behind that and you will feel a seam where the two pieces come together. Pry your fingers in there at the same time or use something flat to gently pry in there while you pull. Then the bumper isn’t flexing out. You’ll get it.

 

[CDNRabbit]

Feel around just past the seam under the bumper and locate the tabs from the cover that slot into the bumper. Keep tension on the cover by pulling on the slot and release each tab one at a time by pressing up on them. You don't need much force at all and definitely no tools.

 

[Deadman]

Mines much harder to get on than it is to get off. Lining up all those stupid tabs that you can't see is annoying.

 

[JoeM]

I had the same problem with a 23 Expedition......as stated above, you need to press in on the two tabs that are on the cover and then pull out using the hand grip
Makes more sense if you get look under there the first time

 

[Southpawhd]

I used a trim removal tool to gently pry it apart.

 

[Andy B]

I used a trim removal tool to gently pry it apart.

This helped a lot!

I have plastic trim removal tools with nice soft edges. I used one in the seam while pulling the handle and it popped right off. Thanks.

 

[Andy B]

Wow, the 4th gen trailer hitch is significantly higher than the previous gen. I am going to need a draw bar with at least an 8 inch drop.

 

[BSarchet]

Wow, the 4th gen trailer hitch is significantly higher than the previous gen. I am going to need a draw bar with at least an 8 inch drop.

Same. I had to buy an 8 inch drop for my hitch for the boat.

 

[TheDoug]

I used a trim removal tool to gently pry it apart.

This is what I did for the first 5 or so times and now it's able to be removed with my hand.

 

[Pete Costanza]

I have to use a 4” drop ball mount for our 20 Expedition to tow our pop up camper. My 22 F150 uses a 2” drop to tow the same camper. Hitch is definitely high on these. Keep in mind the suspension is softer on these than a truck, so expect the hitch to be a little lower with the Expy loaded up and with trailer tongue weight.

 

[ROBERT BONNER]

Pro tip: If the truck has been driven through mud/dust since the last time you've taken it off, reach under with a hose and rince the mud/dust off first. much better than getting a face full of dirt while working the tabs from underneath...

 

[lkTN]

Agree 100% about the "Cheesy Solution"! Also about the precipitous DROP hitch required! After talking to a detailer, Got a set of the trim removal tools at Harbor Freight. Using some of the aforementioned techniques - but with the help of the non-marring plastic tools, found the "trick" to removal!

 

[duneslider]

I don't remember them every being that hard to pull off. I generally take mine off in the spring and don't put it back on until its snowing again. The bike rack goes on in the spring and only comes off to put the trailer hitch on.

 

[robmrk1]

I used a trim removal tool to gently pry it apart.

Where did you get the trim removal tool? I’d like to get one and do the same.

 

[Andy B]

Where did you get the trim removal tool? I’d like to get one and do the same.

I ordered a cheap kit of plastic trim removal tools from Amazon. They have come in handy many times when I need to "gently pry" without marring surfaces.

Mine is gone from amazon, but something like this:

Pry bar kit

 

[LanceExp2025]

Lance here (new member). I just found this thread from a Google search. Otherwise, couldn't find it through forum (don't know the ropes yet, I guess).

I too have the same hitch cover removal problem with our new 2024 Expedition MAX Limited and it was aggravating! It seemed like the whole lower bumper plastic was going to break off because I had to pull so hard causing it to flex out greatly and unnecessarily. I never got it off until I crawled under and pushed up on the 2 latch tabs. Very poor and crappy Ford design for $80K! That's for sure! I am guessing it looked good on paper to the Ford engineers? Don't know?

Has anyone tried putting some kind of sheet metal brace/bracket behind this lower plastic bumper to hold it in place more rigidly while pulling? It seems like that may help?? Don't know?

Yes, we just sold our 2012 Expedition Limited EL and replaced it with this wonderful 2024 Expedition MAX Limited, which we love but will have to get used to, it seems. But, as many of you have mentioned, I am unfortunately going to have to buy two (2) new drop-hitches. One (1) for our 2" small cube/feed trailer and one (1) for our 2-5/16", 3 horse drag trailer. Thanks, Pete Costanza, for the heads up on the possible softer 2024 suspension lowering from the trailers "tongue weight". I hadn't thought of that and will test this prior to buying any new drop-hitches.

One last thing of interest: It seems like this 2025 Expedition MAX is a little "rougher riding" than our previous 2012 Expedition EL. Has anyone else noticed this rougher riding, as well? At first, I thought it may be because of the 2024, 22" wheels and 'lower profile' tires but I measured our previous 2012 standard 20" tires and they were only 1/2" taller than the 22" lower profile tires (5" for 2012 & 4.5" for 2025 tires - measurement from the rim to tread of tire). We can live with it but, still curious if anyone else has noticed this. NOTE: My daughter has a 2024 Expedition (short length - NOT MAX) and she notices the same thing about a little rough riding too.

Thanks in advance for all your forum knowledge and help here. Once I learn how to navigate this forum better, I will be better at learning important thing about these new great Expeditions. Lance

 

[Andy B]

Lance here (new member). I just found this thread from a Google search. Otherwise, couldn't find it through forum (don't know the ropes yet, I guess).

I too have the same hitch cover removal problem with our new 2024 Expedition MAX Limited and it was aggravating! It seemed like the whole lower bumper plastic was going to break off because I had to pull so hard causing it to flex out greatly and unnecessarily. I never got it off until I crawled under and pushed up on the 2 latch tabs. Very poor and crappy Ford design for $80K! That's for sure! I am guessing it looked good on paper to the Ford engineers? Don't know?

Has anyone tried putting some kind of sheet metal brace/bracket behind this lower plastic bumper to hold it in place more rigidly while pulling? It seems like that may help?? Don't know?

Yes, we just sold our 2012 Expedition Limited EL and replaced it with this wonderful 2024 Expedition MAX Limited, which we love but will have to get used to, it seems. But, as many of you have mentioned, I am unfortunately going to have to buy two (2) new drop-hitches. One (1) for our 2" small cube/feed trailer and one (1) for our 2-5/16", 3 horse drag trailer. Thanks, Pete Costanza, for the heads up on the possible softer 2024 suspension lowering from the trailers "tongue weight". I hadn't thought of that and will test this prior to buying any new drop-hitches.

One last thing of interest: It seems like this 2025 Expedition MAX is a little "rougher riding" than our previous 2012 Expedition EL. Has anyone else noticed this rougher riding, as well? At first, I thought it may be because of the 2024, 22" wheels and 'lower profile' tires but I measured our previous 2012 standard 20" tires and they were only 1/2" taller than the 22" lower profile tires (5" for 2012 & 4.5" for 2025 tires - measurement from the rim to tread of tire). We can live with it but, still curious if anyone else has noticed this. NOTE: My daughter has a 2024 Expedition (short length - NOT MAX) and she notices the same thing about a little rough riding too.

Thanks in advance for all your forum knowledge and help here. Once I learn how to navigate this forum better, I will be better at learning important thing about these new great Expeditions. Lance

After removing the cover a few times it does get easier. I put a little silicon lube on the tabs you need to push. That helped. I also use a plastic trim prying tool to help pull the cover out while pushing the bumper trim the other way.

 

[LanceExp2025]

Thanks for the tip, Andy B!
OK, I did as you said and put some silicone paste lube on the 2 bottom latch tabs and it works 20 times easier now. That was easy, thanks again. I do know that before I did this, there was absolutely NO WAY my wife was ever going to get this cover off by herself!

I also measured the difference in heights on the trailer hitch ball and there was a 2" difference in height from our 2012 Exp at 19' (top of ball to ground) to the new 2024 Exp at 21", w/ the old drop hitch. I hooked up the small, cube/feed trailer and this trailer tongue weight dropped it only 1/2". So, I will need to buy one new drop hitch that is a 5-1/2" drop (the old one was a 4" drop - measured from the top of the square tube to the bottom of the balls flange, bolt-down surface). This 5-1/2" drop hitch is NOT any costly deal because it is medium duty. This is because the cube/feed trailer is only 450# + 2000# (1 ton) of cubes = 2500# Total. The 7000# 3-horse tailer is going to be another story w/ 7-800# of tongue weight. I have not tested the rear suspension drop in height with the 7-800 # tongue weight of the 3-horse trailer yet but I am so thankful that Pete Costanza brought that important consideration to mind. Thanks again, Lance