Help a newbie with trailer wiring on '94(searched)

[tyrolkid]

Hey guys-

I just picked up a very nice '94 Explorer with 30k on it

It's an automatic with 3:08 open rear(checked), a tranny cooler(factory), and a hole in the rear bumper for a ball.

I've searched for the connector under the rear bumper for trailer lighting to no avail. I checked the left hand side rear compartment for an open connector, and there is nothing there either

What do I need to do to wire the trailer?

Thanks!

 

[mmsdrummer]

I not the most sure on this, but theres an harness that you buy that plugs in between the left taillight connectors. You'll find this in the jack compartment. I think you just unplug the taillight and this harness will plug in on both ends. Don't quote me on this because I didn't ever do it myself.
I'm pretty sure your X doesn't have the towing package with 3:08 gears though. Thats pretty high gears if you are going to do much towing.

 

[tyrolkid]

The 3.08s are getting swapped out for 3.73s shortly. I'm also upgrading to Bilstein shocks, and better brake pads to help with towing. I have also added a Permacool trans cooler in addition to the factory one.

I double checked the rear compartment and there is nothing in there in terms of wiring/harness etc. What can I do?

Thanks!

-Mike P

 

[Bill Kemp]

On 96X the wiring was accessable from under the rear drivers side fender by the tail light. As mentioned there is a T connector that you have to buy and put between the light & body harness where they plug together. Then the trlr. lgts. plug into the T connector. I hope a 94 is the same.

 

[jrgaylor]

here is a photo of where my trailer wire connects on my 91, I removed the factory connection and hardwired mine in place, it is a good thing I bent my bumper out yesterday, it made it easy to get a picture. I pulled the wires up inbetween the bumper and gate, hope this helps.

 

[tyrolkid]

Thanks for the help, guys

I just ordered a T connector, a modulite, and some other stuff from Drawtite. I'm sure I'll get it to work somehow......

Now on to the 3.73s!

-Mike P

 

[Crankcase]

Eek....THe 94 has a special relay set up for the tralier towing. When you plug in the Ford plug, it will activate the fused Tralier relays...you hear them clicking in the jack compartment.

If you do the T connector, it messes the sytem up....Look really hard for this:

 

[tyrolkid]

Thanks, crankcase.

I pulled the bumper off today. The only wires behind the bumper are for the license plate lights. This wire goes up the left side and connects inside the left hand side compartment(inside the truck). What am I missing then?

-Mike

 

[KC7FEQ]

I just wired in a plug for my new utility trailer today on my '92 Navajo. I just pulled the tail light housing out of each side and spliced into the existing wiring, then ran the trailer wires down underneath the bumper. I drilled a 3/8" hole in the bumper to the left of the license plate and put a rubber grommet in the hole, then ran my wires through there to the plug. When splicing into the existing wiring, if you look at where the plug goes into the tail light housing, it should say MAJOR, MINOR, and GND, for brake/turn, tail, and ground, respectively. You can figure out from there which wires to splice into.

Some sort of T fitting would have been nice, but I didn't have the time to mess with it, since I need to haul some stuff this weekend.

 

[Crankcase]

Originally posted by tyrolkid
Thanks, crankcase.

I pulled the bumper off today. The only wires behind the bumper are for the license plate lights. This wire goes up the left side and connects inside the left hand side compartment(inside the truck). What am I missing then?

-Mike

Well shucks, you must be missing it....just use the T connector then