2004 Mountaineer Towing

[joecap]

Hello all, I'm a new member with a 2004 Mountaineer 4.0L AWD without the tow package. I would like to install an OEM 2" receiver so that I can re-use all of my towing accessories, the dealer has 2 part numbers 2L2Z-19D520-AA and -BA. I would prefer to stay OEM and am not looking at aftermarket parts. The AA number is stated for the 4.6L engine and the BA number for the 4.0L engine, the BA number includes oil cooler and wiring harness which I dont need as I am towing less than 3200 lbs which is the tow limit for this vehicle out of the users manual. Will the AA number fit my vehicle too, i.e. is the hitch from the 4.0L and 4.6L the same part, I think the only difference is the addition of the cooler and wire harness.

Thanks!

JC

 

[techieman33]

It's the same part

 

[1_v8_merc]

Dont mean to bring this post back from the dead, but....

I got a 2004 mountaineer v8,AWD too.

I had a stock Class1/2 tow hitch installed on my truck, it was fine at first, cause I got a 2 inch ball, for towing my jetski......which actually weighs alot with a full tank in it, but still easy to pull obviously. I had full tank in the truck, jetski with full tank(which takes as much as my truck!!!!), and I had 4 people in my truck and loaded with gear and stuff......it towed without a problem, acceleration was still good and braking too.......although I could feel alittle strain.(I didnt have the tow button ON.........)
Dumped the rear end in the water and mucky sand multiple times, and it never spun tires or anything....not bad for an AWD.


But recently I bought an aftermarket Reese Class III tow hitch, tubular frame.
I couldnt fit it over the stock hitch, like it was supposed to....
So I took out ALOT of screws around the bumper,etc, and finally got the stock tow hitch out, then bolted up the aftermarket.
And I must say it looks BADASS........
I also got a 6 inch tongue rise and 2 inch ball.

My trucks got an oil cooler too.......not sure if they come with that,cause I thought I didnt have the towing package......

 

[joecap]

V8_Merc,

Could you post a photo of the Reese tube hitch with the Factory hitch removed? The OEM Class 3 hitch is $290 which is just ridiculous. I have seen the aftermarket Cl 3 mounted under the factory hitch and I dont like the look nor do I want to add unnecessary weight to my vehicle. I have been getting by with the Class 2 but it's not a long term solution.

JC

 

[1_v8_merc]

V8_Merc,

Could you post a photo of the Reese tube hitch with the Factory hitch removed? The OEM Class 3 hitch is $290 which is just ridiculous. I have seen the aftermarket Cl 3 mounted under the factory hitch and I dont like the look nor do I want to add unnecessary weight to my vehicle. I have been getting by with the Class 2 but it's not a long term solution.

JC

Here ya go, this should give you an idea, sorry for the delay!!
Heres pics with my BFG M/T's and Tow Hitch its a Class 3 I believe.
I havent towed with it yet, just bought it for when I DO tow my mustang in a couple months.(gotta tow it 5 hours)

 

[joecap]

Thanks a lot V8_Merc, I appreciate the effort!

I took another look underneath mine, it looks like the existing hitch also provides crash support for the rear fascia, but the aftermarket hitch seems to cover close to the same protections (a bit lower and not as wide across though), judging by the photo.

JC

 

[1_v8_merc]

Thanks a lot V8_Merc, I appreciate the effort!

I took another look underneath mine, it looks like the existing hitch also provides crash support for the rear fascia, but the aftermarket hitch seems to cover close to the same protections (a bit lower and not as wide across though), judging by the photo.

JC

Im not sure about crash support.
All I know is I didnt like the stock hitch, so I bought an aftermarket one,lol.

The stock hitch had 3 bolts on each side.
The aftermarket hitch came with 4 bolts for each side.Three bolts per side-rail, then the last single bolts go on the Bottom.(however I never installed them, because that required me to move the hitch alittle or take it off, and I WASNT about to do that after I just got done installing it!!)

It WAS a bit of a pain in the ass to install, because it said it installed UNDER the stock hitch.......but we had trouble sliding it on, and it was too much hassle trying to hold TWO hitches on and put bolts in while keeping it all aligned!!

So we just yanked the old stock hitch off.....which required me to take out like 20 screws....you got 5 screws in each wheel-well that come out(plastic), then you got a few more to get the Tail-lights off....then theres a screw inside the compartment where the headlights were.....and those last screws should enable the bumper to loosen up quite a bit!
I also removed like 12 screws on the top of the bumper....but im not sure if those actually hadda come off,lol...........I just kinda popped screws out until the bumper came loose,
(cause you gotta be able to get the bumper loose quite a bit in order to slide the old hitch out....because it actually slides like 10 inches to the rear before it comes off.)

The hitch I bought weighs 75lbs!!!!(website said 50lbs, but UPS weight said 75lbs.....so im going with UPS........because that sucker is heavy, but managable)

It's an easy project, just the damn bumper had a billion plastic screws you gotta pop off!!

 

[johnboy72]

I have two questions. The wife just bought a 04 Mountaineer 4.6L AWD Luxuary. I'm in Iraq so I have pictures to go off of. It looks like a Class II hitch on it. I'm seeing different things on the internet. What is the max towing weight for this truck? Also, I'm having a hard time finding a hitch for this particular year. Can I just use a 04 Explorer while searching the net? I'm pretty sure it's dang near the same truck. Where did you get your Class III hitch?

I want to be able to tow a compact pickup truck. Right now it has no motor and need to get it from Missouri to GA. That's about it. Maybe the occasional tow to a shop or garage. I'm pretty sure the truck and tranny can handle that! Am I wrong?

 

[1_v8_merc]

I have two questions. The wife just bought a 04 Mountaineer 4.6L AWD Luxuary. I'm in Iraq so I have pictures to go off of. It looks like a Class II hitch on it. I'm seeing different things on the internet. What is the max towing weight for this truck? Also, I'm having a hard time finding a hitch for this particular year. Can I just use a 04 Explorer while searching the net? I'm pretty sure it's dang near the same truck. Where did you get your Class III hitch?

I want to be able to tow a compact pickup truck. Right now it has no motor and need to get it from Missouri to GA. That's about it. Maybe the occasional tow to a shop or garage. I'm pretty sure the truck and tranny can handle that! Am I wrong?

I got the hitch here...
(hitchfinder.com)
http://search.cartserver.com/search...ds=2004&keywords_2=MERCURY+MOUNTAINEER&GO=GO!

It's the hitch all the way on the bottom...
It's a class III/IV


Funny thing is on the website it says towing capacity - 8000
But when I got the actual hitch I swear it said 10,000....

But the actual towing capacity for the 04 mountaineer v8 is like 7,000 or 8,000 I believe.

So towing a compact truck wont be a problem.
(compact trucks usually only weigh like 3000 without an engine)

But if your towing long distances, it's usually a good idea to get a transmission cooler. They are cheap and easy to install.
(i dont think the mountys come with them stock....but I believe it's a dealer option now-a-days so it's possible....)



Theres tons of people on this site that tow gigantic campers and all kinds of crazy things with their mountys and explorers.
The Mountys and Explorers can tow great, the trick is to get a transmission cooler!


And YES, the explorers and Mountaineers have the same frames, so a hitch for an 04 explorer will fit the mounty.....the hitch I got actually was for an explorer according to the paperwork.
(but still use the link I gave you, that way you KNOW it will fit, cause I have that exact one and it fit.)

 

[johnboy72]

I really do appreciate it! I am just cautious since I've have had tranny problems with my 96 Explorer (on my third tranny rebuild).

 

[1_v8_merc]

I really do appreciate it! I am just cautious since I've have had tranny problems with my 96 Explorer (on my third tranny rebuild).

Ouch!
Yea that sucks.

Explorers are notorious for having faulty transmissions.
(I thought it was the 02's+, but apparently not!)

Yea 3 times is excessive.....
I woulda got rid of that thing after the second rebuild,lol.
Because obviously something is wrong...whether it's the person rebuilding it, or driving style, or something else in the driveline causing the transmission to burn gears.



But Ford in general makes bad Automatic transmissions!!
And they usually aren't as fast as a Manual transmission.
(ex: Most v6 mustangs with Auto are 1 second slower in the 1/4 mile than the same mustang with a 5speed!!!)

 

[johnboy72]

Yeah, I bought the Explorer to pull winter rat duty. I went up to NY to visit the family. The tranny went out and I had to take it to AMACO (SP?). They said someone put the wrong valve body on it or something and all the soft parts were trashed! So $1995.00 with military discount. I'm no tranny expert so I bent over.

Then shortly after the warranty was up, the tranny started slipping again. Took it to a buddy's garage in Mo. He said maybe there was some trash that was missed cause the torque converter was shot and the tranny went out. That go round cost me 1300. It has been working good every since. I don't rough house it, I don't get on it. Don't even off road it really either. I guess my truck was built on a Friday?

 

[jeremy.g]

I have a 2004 Mountaineer AWD 4.6L, and I'm currently deployed, however I'm considering buying a boat, Weight of Boat and Trailer is 3800 pounds. Will my Mountaineer be able to handle this?