'05 Explorer Trailer Brake Connection

Hi! I recently replaced my '94 Explorer with an '05. Lots of things I read say that I can get a Ford wiring harness for my Tekonsha Prodigy and just plug it right in. I tried it this evening, and I can't find where the wiring harness plugs into the Explorer. Could anyone enlighten me? I'm excited to see how the increased torque and horsepower will pull our trailer. But I also want to make sure it will stop! Oh, and where do most people mount these things? All I saw under the dash was plastic. The metal parts are pretty recessed up under the dash. They also looked like aluminum, not steel. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thanks!

Richard Minami '05 Ford Explorer XLT Sport 4x4 '94 Honda Accord LX '97 Coleman Yukon

Reply to
Richard Minami
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Does your Explorer have the Class III/IV Trailer Towing Prep Package?

TRAILER TOWING PREP PACKAGE ? CLASS III/IV (53G) Availability: ? Optional on XLT, XLT Sport, Eddie Bauer and Limited ? Optional (Fleet only) on XLS and XLS Sport Includes: ? 3.73 Non-Limited Slip axle ? 7-pin trailer wiring harness and connector; 7-pin to 4-pin adapter ? Frame-mounted hitch receiver (weight carrying capacity ?

5,000 lbs.; weight distributing capacity ? 7,160 lbs.

TRAILER TOWING PREP PACKAGE ? CLASS III/IV (53G): Not Available with: ? V6 Eddie Bauer and Limited units with 3rd Row Seat (87T), Moonroof (439) and Auxiliary Climate Control (67C) ? V8 Eddie Bauer and Limited units with 3rd Row Seat (87T) and Rear Seat DVD (90C)

If you don't have this package, you won't be pre-wired for the Trailer Brake Controller.

Regards,

Ed White

Reply to
C. E. White

Yup, it's got the full trailer towing package. I forwent (is that a word?) a Honda Pilot, thinking the Explorer would tow better. The lights work when connected to the trailer. But I just can't find where the connector is for the trailer brake wiring harness. Thanks! Richard

Reply to
Richard Minami

On my 92 it's up underneath and in front of rear bumper on the driver side. I have to climb underneath to plug the pig-tail in.

| >

| > Richard Minami wrote: | >>

| >> Hi! I recently replaced my '94 Explorer with an '05. Lots of things I | >> read | >> say that I can get a Ford wiring harness for my Tekonsha Prodigy and just | >> plug it right in. I tried it this evening, and I can't find where the | >> wiring harness plugs into the Explorer. Could anyone enlighten me? I'm | >> excited to see how the increased torque and horsepower will pull our | >> trailer. But I also want to make sure it will stop! Oh, and where do | >> most | >> people mount these things? All I saw under the dash was plastic. The | >> metal | >> parts are pretty recessed up under the dash. They also looked like | >> aluminum, not steel. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. | >> Thanks! | >

| > Does your Explorer have the Class III/IV Trailer Towing Prep | > Package? | >

| > TRAILER TOWING PREP PACKAGE - CLASS III/IV (53G) | > Availability: | > . Optional on XLT, XLT Sport, Eddie Bauer and Limited | > . Optional (Fleet only) on XLS and XLS Sport | > Includes: | > . 3.73 Non-Limited Slip axle | > . 7-pin trailer wiring harness and connector; 7-pin to 4-pin | > adapter | > . Frame-mounted hitch receiver (weight carrying capacity - | > 5,000 lbs.; weight distributing capacity - 7,160 lbs. | >

| > TRAILER TOWING PREP PACKAGE - CLASS III/IV (53G): | > Not Available with: | > . V6 Eddie Bauer and Limited units with 3rd Row Seat (87T), | > Moonroof (439) and Auxiliary Climate Control (67C) | > . V8 Eddie Bauer and Limited units with 3rd Row Seat (87T) | > and Rear Seat DVD (90C) | >

| > If you don't have this package, you won't be pre-wired for | > the Trailer Brake Controller. | >

| > Regards, | >

| > Ed White | |

Reply to
John Riggs

Yeah, that's where the pigtail connected on my '94 also. That's all included in the trailer prep package on the '05s. But I'm still in search of the connector for the brake controller. Thanks! Richard

Reply to
Richard Minami

Oh...the brake controller that would hook under the dash? Good question. Maybe Jim has an idea on that. An old hand like him ought to know all of that stuff.

| > | >

| > | > Richard Minami wrote: | > | >>

| > | >> Hi! I recently replaced my '94 Explorer with an '05. Lots of things | I | > | >> read | > | >> say that I can get a Ford wiring harness for my Tekonsha Prodigy and | > just | > | >> plug it right in. I tried it this evening, and I can't find where | the | > | >> wiring harness plugs into the Explorer. Could anyone enlighten me? | > I'm | > | >> excited to see how the increased torque and horsepower will pull our | > | >> trailer. But I also want to make sure it will stop! Oh, and where | do | > | >> most | > | >> people mount these things? All I saw under the dash was plastic. | The | > | >> metal | > | >> parts are pretty recessed up under the dash. They also looked like | > | >> aluminum, not steel. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. | > | >> Thanks! | > | >

| > | > Does your Explorer have the Class III/IV Trailer Towing Prep | > | > Package? | > | >

| > | > TRAILER TOWING PREP PACKAGE - CLASS III/IV (53G) | > | > Availability: | > | > . Optional on XLT, XLT Sport, Eddie Bauer and Limited | > | > . Optional (Fleet only) on XLS and XLS Sport | > | > Includes: | > | > . 3.73 Non-Limited Slip axle | > | > . 7-pin trailer wiring harness and connector; 7-pin to 4-pin | > | > adapter | > | > . Frame-mounted hitch receiver (weight carrying capacity - | > | > 5,000 lbs.; weight distributing capacity - 7,160 lbs. | > | >

| > | > TRAILER TOWING PREP PACKAGE - CLASS III/IV (53G): | > | > Not Available with: | > | > . V6 Eddie Bauer and Limited units with 3rd Row Seat (87T), | > | > Moonroof (439) and Auxiliary Climate Control (67C) | > | > . V8 Eddie Bauer and Limited units with 3rd Row Seat (87T) | > | > and Rear Seat DVD (90C) | > | >

| > | > If you don't have this package, you won't be pre-wired for | > | > the Trailer Brake Controller. | > | >

| > | > Regards, | > | >

| > | > Ed White | > | | > | | >

| >

| |

Reply to
John Riggs

From

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"2005 Ford Explorer with Tow Package: The brake controller connector is on the passenger side, under the dash, tucked up behind the glove box. Mine was taped, connector side up, to another wire so it was not obvious.

"To get the connector to the driver side, thread it through the small opening on the engine side of the center console at the floor. (You'll need to move the carpet and rubber gasket aside on both sides. Shine a light through.) Have someone help."

Ed

John Riggs wrote:

Reply to
C. E. White

Why can't your dealer help with this?

Reply to
Big Bill

Thanks! I'll take a look this evening. Richard

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Reply to
Richard Minami

It's a long distance call (I'm just cheap!) from work, and I keep forgetting to call when I get home. My 2 kids always want to play games when I get home! I did send an e-mail to their service department, but haven't had a chance to check if they've replied yet. Usenet is so much faster! Thanks for all the info! Richard

Reply to
Richard Minami

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