question about towing an lights

[tylor2009]

i just recent got my 97 explorer sport. i have a few questions. ok i just also bought a boat its a 21 ft boat i hauled it with the sport is it to much weight for one do i need to find something eles to haul it with, just dont want to hurt it by towing it, i know trailer is 1500lbs. not shure bout the boat. the other thing is there is no plug in under the bumper for towing lights. the guy that had the explorere before me towed with it an wired the trialer plug in to the driver side wires when i hook it up i have turn signals on both sides an parking lights but no brake light on driver side on the trailer, they are new lights i put them on today. is there another wire i need to splice it in to.

 

[bcburlette]

I have never towed anything before so I am unfamiliar with trailer wiring but it seems like you should be able to connect the drivers side brake light to the pass side brake light, after all they should come on at the same time.....

 

[robertoa1a]

Under the bumper near the passengers side taillight there is factory rigging for the trailer lights just waiting. I don't like to go beyond the weight of the truck when towing. And remember you are top heavy. Be careful. Turn the overdrive off if you have it

 

[tylor2009]

i looked under the bumper but didnt see it, my 94 has it but not my 97 sport

 

[robertoa1a]

There should be a factory connector tucked up there in the wiring. I think it something you can plug a pig tail into. It seems like kind of a standard ford thing. Both of mine came with a towing package so I didn't need to buy one. I seen that connector up there though. I think all you need is something from a discount parts store.

 

[gijoecam]

Your truck is pre-wired. If the turn signal worked, but the brake did not, you have a ground issue on the trailer.

 

[tylor2009]

ok i fixed it the people who had the explorer before me had it wired to the wrong wire so i found it, so its fixed now, wish it had the plug in under the bumper like my 94 but not there. so does any one know bout the towing oart is it ok to tow the boat with the explorer

 

[gijoecam]

As already mentioned, you simply need the connector to plug in up behind the driver's side taillight. It's there (or it was originally). The wiring connected to the current connector is (or should be) tied into it.

Can you tow a boat with an Explorer? Yup. Can you tow ANY boat with one? nope. What's it weigh? What's your truck rated to tow? How much tongue weight is involved? What kind of brakes does it have? There are a lot of questions to answer before you can determine if it's too much toy for your Explorer.