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Please Note: This wiring harness will not work on vehicles with backup sensors!
If your vehicle has the tow package and backup sensors, use Modulite wiring harness 118551. Another option is to turn off the backup sensor with the switch in the car, and hardwire a standard 4-pole connector to the tow package plug in the back of the vehicle.
Tow Ready Tow Package Replacement Vehicle Wiring Harness by Draw-Tite, Hidden Hitch and Reese
Can be used with 5-pole, 6-pole or 7-pole adapters.
Installation: The connection point is located underneath the vehicle, behind the rear bumper on the driver's side. Connector will have a protective cap that will need to be removed. The 4-pole trailer connector will be stowed under the vehicle close to the trailer hitch. A mounting bracket is recommended.
Tech Tip: It is always a good idea to apply a small amount of grease to all electrical connections to help prevent corrosion.
Note: If your vehicle does not have the factory tow prep package, you will need 3 relays (TR38665 - sold separately) to be able to install this wiring harness.
California residents: click here
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (239 Customer Reviews)
Simple addition to my 2008 Ford Escape to extend the factory trailer wiring harness from behind the bumper down to my new Drawtite trailer hitch reciever. I was fortunate enough to have the wire harness already installed including the fuses and relays. Might have taken 5 minutes to install and came with 2 zip ties to secure the extra wire. No tools needed.
Excellent product. Delivered fast and painless. Fits perfectly. Please note the factory will usually leave the required fuses and relays uninstalled even if you have the Tow Package. My 2009 Escape needed 2 mini fuses (1 - 15A and 1 - 20A) and 3 relays to energize the harness. These were available from the auto parts store. Refer to the photos. Photos #1&2- The two pages from the owner's manual that describes the sizes and locations of the fuses and relays. Photo #3- A photo of the fuse box located under the hood (front -left) with the fuses and relays installed. Photo #4- The installed connector.
Overall the product was delivered in a timely manner and in good condition. The only that was wrong was the box was all damaged. There were holes throughout the box, the box was crushed in certain spots, and the box was taped all over with the product sticking out of the box. When I received the package I expected the box to be in good shape not torn and damage-just lucky the hitch part that was sticking out was not bent
I plan on giving it to my husband as a Christmas gift so he can put a hitch on his vehicle.
Colleen
Fits perfect - and shipped quickly!
Standard shipping was fast and product was as described. Zip ties are a little wimpy and short but worked.
the trailer hitch lined right up, Very easy to put in. I bought this to pull my little trail when I need to pick up plants ,trees, shrubs ect. Always a great product from etrailer. This is my 3rd from them for each of my cars.
After going to every shop in town (including the dealer), e trailer came through with the part I needed and quick shipping, when no one else even knew what I was talking about. Their product video made it easy to install the part, too! I love this solution and the fact that I didn't have to splice into any break lights.
Note of caution: The pre-wiring in the 2009 Escape is not powered, so you have to buy 3 relays (Ford part # 5L3Z-14N089-AA or package for all 3: 8L8T-15A416-AB). Make sure the relays have connection in your fuse panel first, though (locations 31C, D, and E). My Ford did not come with the OEM tow package, but the relays and this part worked great!
Great communication. Received shipping information and delivery schedule with tracking information within a few hours after placing the order. Both the hitch and wiring harness were delivered right on schedule and I installed them both on my own without a lift in a little less than the 40 minutes indicated. Definitely will use etrailer again.
Mike R.
6/12/2015
Fantastic! Exactly as I wanted.
Overall a good experience, it should list some where that the tow package is required from the factory in order for this harness to work. As all escapes and tributes are wired from the factory, but they don't necessarily have the left turn, right turn and break light relays in the fuse box for towing (fuses 31c,d, and e). E-trailer has a good website, customer service and products though, and I would buy from them again.
Judi
6/11/2014
What fuse amps did you put in your fuse box to make the plug work?
Matt C.
6/16/2014
It was a while ago, but Im pretty sure they were 5 amp fuses.
The product was easy to install; exactly as shown in the video. Until I looked on your site I was not aware that the 2008 Ford Escape was tow-ready. I plugged in the wiring harness, installed the three relays under the hood and I was ready to go.
Herb M.
6/6/2014
I do not use the hitch all that often, but when I do, it is great. The original reason I purchased it was to help move my son from Cincinnati, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia. We rented a trailer, hooked it up, loaded up his stuff, and finished the move. I have no regrets purchasing these items.
Execellent wireing kit. Direct fit . Plug and play. Very ez to install ! (Hint: my truck did not come with trailer package from the factory, had to install relays in underhood fuse box)
Daniel B.
12/11/2017
STILL WORKING AS WHEN NEW, PRODUCT HAS HELD UP THROUGH ALL 4 SEASONS OF MICHIGAN WEATHER
Clicked right in and worked fine once the additional relays were added to the under-hood fuse box of our Escape. If you didn't order your car with a hitch the required relays may not be installed and power won't flow to this harness. You can get the relays from auto stores, your auto maker, or [on-line].
Heather A.
8/1/2018
The 3 relays you will need to activate the tow package on the 2009 Ford Escape are 12 volt 4 terminal relays which you can find at an Auto parts store.
Good price exactly what I wanted and it arrived when they said it would.
Got my harness fast it was inexpensive and was easy to install just watch the video and Cathy T. ext 381 was knowledgeable and pleasent to talk to
Joe L.
11/14/2015
Everything still works perfectly
This worked perfectly on my 2008 Mercury Mariner that did not come with a factory hitch, however was already equipped with all necessary relays for functioning trailer lights. All I had to do was connect this to the existing port behind the bumper, zip-tie the excess wire to the bumper support for a nice clean look, and I was good to go with perfectly functioning trailer lights. Thank you etrailer for this product, it delivers and is well worth the cost.
Excellent and easy to install. Hardest part was getting the factory cap off the factory connector.
I wish I had poked around on the etrailer website a little more and had learned about the need for the three relays (31C, 31D, and 31E) and the two fuses (#8 and #14) before I ordered my hitch and this wiring kit. I would have ordered the relays along with everything else. They are about one-third the price from etrailer as they are at my local parts store.
Caution!! Check your Fusebox!!Be very careful with this product, unless your fuse box has the recievers for the relays (which you have to buy extra from FORD!!), it will not work!!
Even tho my 2008 Ford Escape had the wiring harness in back, I had to buy fuses and relays ($23/ea and you need 3 of them), my fusebox was NOT equiped with the recepticles for the relays OR fuses. I have to now go back and buy a different harness.
I just wasted $15 and 2 weeks messing with this one.
Patrick B.
11/29/2012
This harness is intended only for Escapes that have the factory tow prep package. Though most Escapes have the port, if they do not have the prep package, the rest of the electrical system may not support the rear port.
Bill Titus
Order #105192362
Not a good experience.
Part (118251) quality looked good and it fit the factory plug.
Problem was it is useless in my case. (and many others on the internet)
My vehicle has factory trailer plug – but also needs 3 relays and 2 fuses. Problem is Ford does not wire the fuse box for them.
This is what all the people on the Internet experienced.
Lucky I did not buy the expensive relays as some did!
I guess I need to order 118551 kit.
I feel I should have had that info. at the start.
Saying the kit is for vehicle with factory tow package is not enough info. If you have tow package – why do you need your plug?
MRT
This item, and shipping costs, were well priced, very well packaged and everything worked perfectly.
Even more so, the product was had to find locally and was not only available with etrailer, but was so easy to find though the website.
This was for a 2009 Ford Escape and other reviews suggestions to look in the fuse box to see if it contained the three relays required to power the trailer harness was a good tip.
Mine did not have the relays but it did have the female connectors in the sockets meaning that fuse box was wired for them.
The relays (x3) can be purchased from etrailer # TR38665 and work perfectly.
I was blown away at the prices ($300-$400) I received to install a hitch on my vehicle (2008 Ford Escape) from 2 local shops. when I learned from etrailer.com (through your instructional video) how I could install the hitch myself I knew I was back in business. The hitch price was far cheaper and the installation was as simple as your video showed. All I needed was a 2nd pair of hands to help hold the hitch during installation and I borrowed a neighbors torque wrench. Now with my hitch installed I can finally get my boat and trailer to the lake!!
George have received all of my orders. Every thing is of the very best quality. Items were shipped and delivered in a very timely matter, videos were extremely helpful for installation, i have to say what a snap for all the wiring and installation of the E trailer hitch. Should any one ask I can only give you your staff, and your equipment a excellent , and superb. A Five Star rating is hardly enough. Thank You. Tom Sanders
Good idea, but a lot of extra wires. I can’t say for all Escapes but when I was about to hook this up I found a factory splice point. I’m assuming for a factory towing package. With some simple wiring knowledge, I was able to tap into that, eliminate a bunch of extra wires and disassembly.
Excellant service and assistance. The part I ordered did not fit my vehicle as the connector on the vehicle did not match the etrailer connector. I called and spoke to J Cole who expertly diagnosed that the vehicle connector was most likely not a factory installed part.
She directed me to another etrailer part, re-ordered the new part, explained the return process, and sent me follow-up e-mails accordingly.
Thank you for your excellant and speedy service. Hopefully the new part will solve my connector problem.
Happy Holidays to all of you. Ray S.
this product did not meet my needs, it was falsely advertised and did not match my vehicle as claimed. I was forced to purchase a second adapter to complete my installation.
Mike L.
6/17/2019
This particular harness will only work on your 2011 Ford Escape if its equipped with the factory tow package. If it doesnt have the tow package, youll need 118551 instead.
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Larrry M.
1/9/2013
OK, here is my experience. I have a 2009 Ford Escape that did not have a factory hitch, but had the factory wiring. I looked in the fuse box under the hood and there were not relays in locations 31C, D, and E. I went to two Ford dealers looking for the OE relays and thank goodness they did not have any. I looked further on e trailers website and saw a Relay-4 Terminal 12v TR38665 listed. I ordered three and just plugged them in. Yes, you do need to check to see if you have the corresponding fuses in place - see owners manual. Very happy got three relays for $21 instead of $90 from Ford and I am able to use the factory wiring with the $15 Draw-Tite kit.