Recommended Premium Flat Tow Setup for 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum

Question:

I have a 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum with an EcoBoost Twin Turbo 6 and Adaptive Cruise Control. I want to buy a full flat towing kit with everything I will need to tow four down. It will be professionally installed. Id like to go with a Stay-in-Play unless in your experience you have a better suggestion. I definitely want a fully proportional system and monitoring from the RV is a definite plus. I want at least an 8k all terrain rated aluminum towbar please. I also want a Automatic maybe? battery disconnect, two seven pin plugs, wire, harnesses, diodes and all of the necessary electrical and other safety equipment as well as the ability to charge the Explorers battery using the coach. I dont want to break into the coach hydraulic system. I also want to single-source everything I buy so I can have it all shipped to my installer and not have him or me need to go parts shopping. In other words, I want to buy a complete, pretty much Cadillac system. What can you do for me?

asked by: Jack P

Expert Reply:

Thank you for all of the information regarding what you are looking for to tow your 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum with an EcoBoost Twin Turbo 6 and Adaptive Cruise Control.

For a base plate kit that accommodates the EcoBoost and Adaptive Cruise Control the Demco Tabless Base Plate Kit # DM9519329 is what you need. For an aluminum tow bar that has an 8K capacity and is compatible with this base plate kit we have the Roadmaster Nighthawk All Terrain, Non-Binding Tow Bar w/ LED Lights # RM-676. This comes with safety cables and a 6-Way to 7-Way umbilical. To complete the wiring I recommend the Towing Combo Kit # RM-9284-2 which includes diodes, locks, and a cover for the tow bar.

I know you were saying that you'd like a 7-Way to 7-Way but for flat towing you should just need the 6-Way on your Explorer end. This allows you to wire up the Charge Line Kit # RM-156-25 to the center pin for keeping the battery on your Explorer from draining. The Automatic Battery Disconnect # RM-766 doesn't need to be connect to the socket on the towed vehicle. If you really want to have the 7-Way on your Explorer then you can cut off the 6-Way and use the Pollak connectors # PK12706 and # PK11893.

The SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO # SM99251 as a supplemental braking system is what I recommend going with and meets all of the needs that you are asking about with the LED coach notification and it doesn't require you to connect directly to the hydraulic system on your motorhome.

The only other thing you may need to use is a high-low adapter to ensure that the Roadmaster tow bar is within the 3" safe zone that you see in the attached helpful article. The Demco Dominator Aluminum Tow Bar # DM9511008 has a built-in 1-1/2" rise/drop that can help to eliminate the need for an adapter but this tow bar is rated for 7,500 lbs. Just under what you are looking for. If you are okay with the slightly less weight capacity then you can use the Combo Kit # DM9523057 which is the Demco's version of the kit mentioned above. If you'd rather stick with the Roadmaster then I have attached a link to our selection of adapters that you can filter through if one is needed.

Attached are some review videos that you can check out as well. You can purchase all of these items right here at etrailer.com and have them shipped to your desired location so that you can get this system installed on your Explorer.