Where would I go to get an estimate on adding an aftermarket tow package?

Maintenance/Repairs
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24

I had them put a hitch on in our van and it was just fine and less than 1/2 the cost of a dealer.

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25

Mike, how much did that cost you?

Oscar

26

If I remember correctly I think is was about $150.

27

Thatā€™s reasonable. From a good, local trans shop. Did you do that because you were towing?

28

What is it you plan on towing that requires a 5000 lb. towing capacity ?

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29

You never know. Had to rent a skid steer once, it was 6k lbs, towing capacity was 5k lbs. 12 miles ok except for brakes, There was a blank connection to be made, and would get it connected for anything serious, but flatland tow for the most part worked out fine.

30

Popup camper, my explorer is rated to tow 2000, the popup models we are looking into are in the 3500 range.

31

Pretty strange an Explorer is only 2000 lbs out of the chute . Chrysler minivans are rated at 3600 lbs and they arent even tow vehicles . Also sometimes when done getting the tow gear put on the function for the lighting has to be turned on at the dealer via scan tool .

32

Yes. Had a Trailblazer with a straight 6 at about 290 HP and that was 5400 lbs. My current Dodge Durango 3.6 liter with the tow package is rated at 6200 lbs .

33

Arenā€™t Exploders unibody nowadays?

That being the case, Iā€™m not surprised that a bone stock Exploder without the super duper extra-charge tow package isnā€™t rated to tow much

34

They did switch back to rear wheel drive this year, but still unibody.

35

The Chryslerā€™s require the optional tow package, just like the explorer. Our 1988 Grand Voyager was rated for 4,000lbs with the tow package but magazine tests proved that 3,500lbs was a more realistic limit.

36

As @Barkydog suggested earlier you could get an estimate on the cost of parts and installation from your Ford dealer but there should be a local trailer hitch shop that could install a cooler and wiring. I donā€™t believe you can even get trans/oil coolers normally from U-Haul but Iā€™d rather have a local mechanic install that instead.

A year ago my dad shopped around for the package for his '19 Honda CRV, Dealer wanted close to $1,000 installed, local hitch shop was about $450, U-Haul about half that.

The guy at our local U-Haul was doing a conga line of Hondaā€™s and Subaruā€™s getting trailer hitches and wiring. He recently made a gravel run with the little utility trailer and had no issues pulling the trailer that in total was right at the 1,500lb tow rating. Normally itā€™s less than 1,000lbs including the trailer.

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37

Hereā€™s something to consider, which nobody has mentioned

The aftermarket tow hitches are usually butt-ugly . . . thereā€™s no other description I can think of . . . versus the factory tow hitches

That may not matter to some people, but I know plenty of others that do care about such things

and people shouldnā€™t be condemned if they do happen to worry care about aftermarket tow hitches and other accessories making their vehicles ugly

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38

You wonā€™t get the same tow package from different shops.

Years ago I installed tow packages on Dakota and Durango vehicles that included a radiator with dual transmission coolers, a cooler in both radiator side tanks. Uhaul will only install the hitch and spice into the wiring harness for the trailer wiring.

The pick-up trucks generally only needed a class 3 hitch and a 7 pin tow harness but vehicles today require additional cooling system components.

39

I was comparing the same parts as close as possible, Trailer Hitch/wiring and labor. All vehicles are different but that was the spread for the same vehicle from 3 shops.

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40

And as stated previously uhaul did a fine job with the hitch , and if you want a trans or oil cooler a mechanic is the place to go.
Pics or it did not happen!

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41

Not dadā€™s but same color and hitch that he had on the 2007 CRV,

download

42

OK, Ugly hitch, plan b, stuff that works!

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43

I donā€™t condemn them. but butt ugly for half price is a good deal for me. I have never cared much about good looks in a vehicle only what it does and I also donā€™t care what others think of my car.

When I bought a tent camper to tow behind my minivan, I bought a used hitch on Craigslist for $40 and installed it myself and wired it myself. The wiring cost me nothing , I had lots of trailer plugs and adapters from my trucking days and several wiring harnesses from cars I had junked. The trailer only had surge brakes. I did not bother with a trans cooler because the trailer was only about 1400 lb and the transmission was a three speed Torqueflight.

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