trailer lights plug | Ford Explorer Forums

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trailer lights plug

brownbagg

Active Member
Joined
August 20, 2002
Messages
66
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City, State
grand bay, al
Year, Model & Trim Level
96 xlt
I cannot find the plug in wire plug for the trailer. All I can find are f150 and rangers. Will either of these work on the explorer. What I,m looking for is the plug in adapther pig tail that hooks to the harness without having to cut and splice wires.
 



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I am a little unclear.... Do you want the Ford made adapter that plugs into the wire that already runs under the rear bumper, or the aftermarket one you plug into the tailight wiring? Both types do not require cutting any wires.
 






first you must find out if your Ex is equipped with the trailer wiring. You will find that just in front of the rear bumper on the driver side. It's got a cap on it. As far as the actual trailer harness goes, call the local Ford dealer and get one from them. I got mine for like $12.
 






I ended up making my own. My local Ford dealer didn't know what I was looking for, so I figured the only way to go from the plug under the bumper to my four prong trailer was to make one, so I did. If you can get Ford to sell you one for $12, I'd go that route.
 












I got the factory reciever trailer hitch but no electical ( I have only had this truck three weeks)
 






Originally posted by brownbagg
I got the factory reciever trailer hitch but no electical ( I have only had this truck three weeks)

You physically reached up under the rear bumper to feel for a wire with a little cap on it down there?

There should be three wires only down there, two for the licence plate lights, and the trailer wiring.

It doesn't have a trailer plug on it , just a cap....It might be attached to the inside of the bumper with a clip.
 






does my mountaineer have these wires already? if not how do i go about installing them?
 






The Mountaineer should have them under the rear bumper...just feel arond for a wire with a cap at the end of it by the trailer ball hole.
 






I know where it is

On the 99 M if you have it i can tell you where it is. It will cost you though - oh wait I can give this info for free here is what you do. Or here is where it is on mine

Lay on your back with head under the back bumper. Go to drivers side of truck and look up. Close to the rear lights on the drivers side you should see a red nipple plug type thing. Pull in it fairly hard and it should come out. That is where the factory wiring is on the 99's

Well at least if yours is set up like mine anyway
 






Not all Explorers have the trailer hitch wiring plug. My 97 Sport has no facility in the wiring harness to plug anything in. My wiring harness comes straight down the frame to the left tail light, then crosses over to the right. Then you go to the other extreme with my 2001 Sport that has the factory trailer wiring already installed. The terminals are all corroded. However, it's not a PLUG-N-PLAY harness. In order to replace the flat plug with the corroded terminals, I have to splice a new one in. This is due to the harness being all one unit from the engine compartment to the rear including the front door(s) wiring. Pretty darn screwy...:confused:
 






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