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Purchased a 2000 xlt 5.0, some ?s

tcruarceri

Active Member
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February 16, 2011
Messages
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City, State
Long Island, New York
Year, Model & Trim Level
2000 xlt awd 5.0
Got a good deal on a white 2000 xlt 5.0 awd explorer for my gf to drive.
Was wondering if all the trucks came pre wired for trailer lights or just tow package ones... Just installed a hitch and need to wire la trailer harness for future use, looking for the most straight foward way.

Have also removed the steps, cheap looking brush gaurd, put in a kn&n drop in, had the front ball joints and upper arms replaced. Truck runs great but sits high in the front right. Might be adjusted unevenly. Truck also pulls left, would one cause the other?
 



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Got a good deal on a white 2000 xlt 5.0 awd explorer for my gf to drive.
Was wondering if all the trucks came pre wired for trailer lights or just tow package ones... Just installed a hitch and need to wire la trailer harness for future use, looking for the most straight foward way.

Have also removed the steps, cheap looking brush gaurd, put in a kn&n drop in, had the front ball joints and upper arms replaced. Truck runs great but sits high in the front right. Might be adjusted unevenly. Truck also pulls left, would one cause the other?

Alot of them sit high in the front. Mine does too.

Was it running boards or just steps?

Probably just needs an alignment if it pulls left or one tire could be super flat.
 






Just on one side though?

Running boards. Couldn't think of the word at the time.

My thoughts were alignment as I've already checked the pressure. It's not a hard pull, just one you. Olive if you let go of wheel. Truck has very wide tires (275r17s iirc) so I've also got some spacers I want to out on and move them 1 inch outbound. Might do shackles just for the hell of it if I'm trying to level it. She really isn't interested in lifting it... I am, but figure no rush since god knows when I'd get to converting it to 4x4...
 






The most straight forward/easiest way to install a trailer harness is to go to Ford and purchase the pigtail. Remove the driver's side tail light (2 screws on top and pull the assembly straight back toward you) and remove the red plastic cover you'll see on the tail light wiring. Plug in the harness and, other than attaching the small bracket to the bottom of the bumper, you're done.

All my trucks (with and without the towing package) now have the harness for my trailer.

Assuming yur truck doesn't have the self-leveling suspension option - As far as the back being low, get yourself a set Monroe load-leveler shocks. They have a coil spring around the shock that helps support the rear of the truck. Many here have installed them and like them. Only other option is to replace/re-arch your rear springs.
 






Just on one side though?

Running boards. Couldn't think of the word at the time.

My thoughts were alignment as I've already checked the pressure. It's not a hard pull, just one you. Olive if you let go of wheel. Truck has very wide tires (275r17s iirc) so I've also got some spacers I want to out on and move them 1 inch outbound. Might do shackles just for the hell of it if I'm trying to level it. She really isn't interested in lifting it... I am, but figure no rush since god knows when I'd get to converting it to 4x4...

What did you do with the holes left when you took off the running boards?
can you snap a pic of what it looks like with them removed.
 






What did you do with the holes left when you took off the running boards?
can you snap a pic of what it looks like with them removed.

will do! Painted bottom 2 inches with rubberized style weatherproof paint after a light sanding.
 






Just to make it clear, the truck only sits high in one corner. the front right. makes me think that the torsion bar is already cranked on that side or that the one on the driver side is more worn (which seems unlikely). No load leveling suspension, but i noticed there were three shocks in the rear? 2 normally mounted and 1 mounted like an upper control arm...
 






The most straight forward/easiest way to install a trailer harness is to go to Ford and purchase the pigtail. Remove the driver's side tail light (2 screws on top and pull the assembly straight back toward you) and remove the red plastic cover you'll see on the tail light wiring. Plug in the harness and, other than attaching the small bracket to the bottom of the bumper, you're done.

All my trucks (with and without the towing package) now have the harness for my trailer.

Assuming yur truck doesn't have the self-leveling suspension option - As far as the back being low, get yourself a set Monroe load-leveler shocks. They have a coil spring around the shock that helps support the rear of the truck. Many here have installed them and like them. Only other option is to replace/re-arch your rear springs.

thanks. is this what ford is going to sell me?
http://www.suspensionconnection.com/55241-ford-explorer-curt.html?gclid=CIWi58zx-8cCFYORHwodzncGww

My truck has no air suspension, but has the front and rear sway bars and a tranny cooler. did they all come with these?
 






check the torsion bar bolts. I just bought a 98 and it pulled hard to the right and had a destroyed sway bar link.
Someone had cranked the torsion bar bolt about 15 turns on the drivers side while the passenger side was only 7 turns up or so. Backed them both back down to 5 turns and replaced the sway bar links on both sides. The pull went away.

edit: i should note 5 turns in sits pretty low. you may want higher than that. heck i probably want it higher than that. just trying to get the thing driveable.
 






koda2000 added these to my amazon wish list: Monroe load-leveler shocks
 






Just to make it clear, the truck only sits high in one corner. the front right. makes me think that the torsion bar is already cranked on that side or that the one on the driver side is more worn (which seems unlikely). No load leveling suspension, but i noticed there were three shocks in the rear? 2 normally mounted and 1 mounted like an upper control arm...

the "fifth shock" is a 4-door thing. It's actually a damper for the rear axle.
 






thanks. is this what ford is going to sell me?
http://www.suspensionconnection.com/55241-ford-explorer-curt.html?gclid=CIWi58zx-8cCFYORHwodzncGww

My truck has no air suspension, but has the front and rear sway bars and a tranny cooler. did they all come with these?

Trailer pigtail - Something similar. Ford's pigtail comes with the bracket to hold the plug under the rear bumper. Some clips to hold the wire, a piece of zip-loom to cover the wires and a built-in plug cover. IDK what Ford gets for it.

Sway Bars and trans cooler - Yes they all came with them.
 






Trailer pigtail - Something similar. Ford's pigtail comes with the bracket to hold the plug under the rear bumper. Some clips to hold the wire, a piece of zip-loom to cover the wires and a built-in plug cover. IDK what Ford gets for it.

Sway Bars and trans cooler - Yes they all came with them.

thanks. really appreciate it.
will try and get some photos up of the truck but i didnt plug the holes up with anything. this is supposed to be a low maintenance cheap vehicle while my g.f waits for a good job... (then im going to cut it up, convert it to 4x4 and put a bonus built body on it or so i wish)
 






Yes Id say if its just sitting high on the one side you can try an crank the torsion bar down on that side until its level. Then Id say for sure go get an alignment then you know you aren't wearing out your tires. That should correct your pull.
The trailer connector is behind the tail light. You will see the red cap on the connector if you crawl underneath and look up. And there should actually be one on both side of the truck, at least its on both side of mine. Then you can put the connector on whatever side you want.

Edit: Also for the height mine I added a leaf in the back and cranked up the torsion bars slightly. It makes it look a little tougher and sit right. If you want to go that way.
 






Yes Id say if its just sitting high on the one side you can try an crank the torsion bar down on that side until its level. Then Id say for sure go get an alignment then you know you aren't wearing out your tires. That should correct your pull.
The trailer connector is behind the tail light. You will see the red cap on the connector if you crawl underneath and look up. And there should actually be one on both side of the truck, at least its on both side of mine. Then you can put the connector on whatever side you want.

Edit: Also for the height mine I added a leaf in the back and cranked up the torsion bars slightly. It makes it look a little tougher and sit right. If you want to go that way.

instead of doing shackles? any particular reason?
 






i was thinking about just getting shackles since mine sits higher in the front already
 






Here is the way my 98 sat stock.
xy34w.jpg


This is with a SkyJacker add a leaf.
11iojr9.jpg


I did an add a leaf to get my EX to stop riding like it was a bowl of jelly. No need for a car like ride in a 4x4 IMO.

The ride now is perfect, no more Cadillac mushy feel but not rough like my lifted 79 bronco.
 






[MENTION=277199]SWIGIN[/MENTION] How much did the add a leaf cost.

mine sits like that stock as well. This seems like a good fix.
 






I had a 79 custom, loved that bronco.
 



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[MENTION=277199]SWIGIN[/MENTION] How much did the add a leaf cost.

mine sits like that stock as well. This seems like a good fix.

I think they are around $100 but I got mine for free from a buddy.

EDIT..... The Add a Leaf only took 2-3 hours to install and really help with the ride unlike shackles.
 






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