Google Ford Explorer removal of rear bumper or tow hitch installation.
I cant find it now...but...
I was just looking at a tow hitch install for a 5th gen Ex where it was a DIY tutorial and the car is on the ground.
(Many are shown with the car on a lift, and if so you dont need to remove the bumper.)
He showed how to remove bumper and molding to get access to the rear
areas for a tow hitch mount, and wrapped up by showing how he cut the bumper area for the tow hitch to stick out.