Today on our 2011 Ford Explorer, were going to add the Hopkins 7-pole connector part number 37185. To do this, well also use the Tow-Ready bracket part number 18136. Our vehicle is already equipped with a 4-pole connection. Well go ahead and assemble our 7-pole bracket and then add our Tow-Ready bracket so that we can mount it to our hitch. The install kit comes with both the bracket and the hardware. Were going to install all four fasteners and nuts.
Once we get them installed, well go ahead and tighten them down. Now with the 7-pole bracket mounted, well go ahead and attach our Tow-Ready bracket so that we can mount it to the hitch. The Tow-Ready bracket also comes with the necessary mounting hardware to attach it to our 7-pole bracket and our clamp to attach it to our hitch. Now well go ahead and tighten those down also. Now were ready to go ahead and take our clamp and mount it to the hitch.
First Im going to go ahead and take my 4-pole connector and run it in behind the hitch to get out of the way until we can get our connector and bracket installed. As part of my install, Ill go ahead and feed my wires up over the hitch. Well go ahead and get our 7-pole in position then we can take our clamp and install it. Now that I have it in position, we can go ahead and tighten it down. Now with our clamp tightened down, we can go ahead and cut the excess off from the clamp to get it out of the way.
We just need a pair of tin snips to make this cut. With the clamp trimmed, we can go ahead and start making our connection. For this application, we will not be using the blue wire which would be to your brake controller, the black wire which would be a hot lead or power lead from the battery. Our purple would be reversed. These three wires are going to get taped up and not used.
To make it a little easier to tape this up, Im going to go ahead and cut some excess off from the purple wire. Ill use a little black electrical tape just to single these out and tape them together. Now were ready to take the white wire with the pre-fastened ring terminal and mount it to the frame. To do this, well follow the hitch to the frame and attach it up above the exhaust. Anytime youre routing your wires, you want to be careful to stay away from moving components such as steering or suspension or excessive heat such as the exhaust. Were going to stay as far away from it as we can. Now with our ground wire secured, we need to go back and well take a few black zip ties to secure our wires. Now with our ground wires secured, we can go back and take our original 4-flat from the vehicle and plug it in to our new 7-pole connector 4-flat connection point. Then Im going to take some black tape, not only tape up the connection but the wires as well. To do this, I need to remove the cover off the original 4-plug flat. Now weve got our wires tapes up, we need to go ahead and secure them. We can then go ahead and bundle them up and secure them behind and/or above the hitch. Once weve got that secured, we can take our side cutters and cutout the excess from our zip tie. Thatll complete the install of our Hopkins 7-way connector part number 37185 with our Tow-Ready bracket part number 18136 on our 2011 Ford Explorer. .
Trailer Wiring Harness Installation - 1994 Ford Explorer
Today on this 1994 Ford Explorer we're going to install part number 118324 from Tow-Ready. First thing we need to do is go ahead and open the back hatch and get inside the vehicle. Now we're going to need access to the jack storage compartment. We'll remove the panel and then we'll go ahead and remove the jack itself. Next we're going to go ahead and remove the tail light. There's two screws on top we'll have to remove so that we can get access tot he grommet that's on the inside because eventually we're going to run our wire to the outside.
Trailer Wiring Harness Installation - 2012 Ford Explorer
Today on our 2012 Ford Explorer, we'll be installing the Tow Ready T1 Connector, part number 118540. First, we'll go ahead and identify the connector. It's on the passenger's side next to the muffler. Then we can go ahead and press on the locking tab of the connector and separate the two connection points. Now, if we take our Tow Ready T1 connector, you'll notice that the connectors match identically to the manufacturers and we can plug in line with the manufacturer's wiring. With that completed, we'll now run the 4-pole over to the center of the vehicle and down to the hitch.
Trailer Wiring Harness Installation - 2011 Ford Explorer
Today we are working on the 2011 Ford Explorer. We are going to install the tow ready T-One connector part number 118540. First step is to locate the manufacturers connection point on the passenger side of both of the exhausts inside the fender well. Then were going to press the locking tab and disconnect the two connection points. Now we can take our tow ready connector which will have identical plugs on either end matching the manufacturers. And we will plug it in line with the manufactures wiring.
Trailer Wiring Harness Installation- 2000 Ford Explorer
Today we are working on a 2000 Ford Explorer. We will be installing Tow Ready T-One Connector part number 118241. With this particular application, the simple plug in place style. We will locate the vehicle tow connector, brand new out of the factory. There will be a plug on this that will need to be removed first. With our application, the plug has already been removed. We can simply take our new Tow Ready Connector and see that it matches up with the manufacturer plug and connect them together. We are now ready to route our 4 pole connector. 0:31
Trailer Wiring Harness Installation - 1996 Ford Explorer
Today we are going to install part number 118241 from Tow Ready on our 1996 Ford Explorer. This one has a tow package on the vehicle and we will show you how to identify it. On our 1996 model here we have the actual tow package is located right here. It is pretty handy it basically plugs in and you are ready to go. However some other models it could be under one of the tail lights. It should be on either the left or right side. On those models they usually have the plug sometimes on both sides. One of them is active and one of them is not. This is about here sometimes you will find this plug also it could be here or it could be on the driver side. Simply plug it in then route the harness the way you want on the way to the opposite side. We will use zip ties to hold everything in place. There you have it for part number 118241 from Tow Ready. Install on our 1996 Ford Explorer.
