Trouble Getting Liftgate Assist to Work After Trailer Hitch Install on a 2018 Ford Explorer

Question:

I bought the drawtite hitch recommended for my 2018 explorer. I read the comments of someone asking if the hitch would cancel the liftgate assist. It said it did not. However I installed my hitch and it in fact did cancel the liftgate assist. Other than losing that feature or removing the hitch how can I regain that feature?

asked by: William A

Expert Reply:

When a trailer hitch like the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver # 76034 is installed on a vehicle with the liftgate assist, like your 2018 Ford Explorer, we have found that the function typically still works but you have to kick off to the sides where other sensors are with a forward/backward motion instead of just swiping your foot under the bumper like you did before installing the trailer hitch.

I reached out to my contact at Draw-Tite who said that they haven't received any complaints about this on a 2018 Explorer as of yet so what I recommend doing is trying what I mentioned above in some different locations. I have attached a photo that shows some of the common locations that people have been able to get the liftgate to work when their vehicle has the sensors.

If you still can't get it to work let me know and I can offer further assistance.

expert reply by: Jon G