Recommended Complete Towing Setup for 2018 Ford Explorer XLT

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Question:

We are looking to prep our 2018 Explorer XLT for towing. The car has nothing on it now. We need a hitch, wiring, hitch ball and MAYBE a brake controller. We're looking at two small lightweight travel trailers. both are within the Explorer's towing capacity. one has electric brakes and one does not have any brakes. Can you get us set up for either one?

asked by: Edward

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Expert Reply:

The best hitch for towing with your 2018 Ford Explorer is the Draw-Tite # 76034 because it has the highest weight rating of all options but is just as simple to install. This hitch is rated for tongue weight (TW, which is down-force on the hitch) of up to 675-lbs and towing weight of up to 4500-lbs. Your Explorer can be rated from 2000 to 5000-lbs towing capacity depending on its factory equipment so this hitch will work great for your ultra-light travel trailer so long as it does not exceed the 4500-lb hitch rating.

Written installation instructions, a helpful article and a complete video showing a 2018 Explorer are linked to help you with the install. Please note that the tools needed are detailed in the written instructions from Draw-Tite. You can see the nice appearance of the installed hitch in the photo provided.

For a wiring harness you will definitely need a 4-pole kit no matter which trailer you end up choosing. Tekonsha kit # 118540 offers the easiest plug-in installation which is shown in the included video.

If you do select the trailer that has electric drum brakes you will then need to add a trailer brake controller and an installation kit for it. I recommend the proven Prodigy P3 controller # 90195. This item is simple to set up, intuitive in use and supremely reliable. It even lets you store specific braking power settings so you can call them up at any time. This is great if you will tow in the hills where you might like a certain mix of power and boost settings for those long downhill grades.

You'll wire this in using the all-inclusive kit # ETBC7. This kit both converts the 4-pole wiring to the 7-way format and allows complete installation of the P3. No other items are needed for the wiring and brake controller.

You will need a ball mount, hitch ball, hitch pin or lock and a set of towing mirrors to complete your setup. Since you're not sure which trailer you'll end up with I recommend the Ball Mount Kit # 989900 because it gives you 2 hitch ball sizes, 2 ball mounts and a basic hitch pin, all in a handy storage bag. I do suggest you add anti-rattle locking hitch pin # 63232 in place of the standard pin.

Towing mirrors # KS3990 from K-Source will install easily on your factory mirrors to provide you with a wider field of view behind you for the trailer and other motorists. Rubber pads protect your vehicle's mirror housing from scratches and the ratcheting mounting system securely tightens the mirrors to the car. No tools are needed to install them. A video is included on this item as well.

expert reply by: Adam R

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Answer 1

There is a trailer hitch receiver that fits your 2016 Ford Explorer which will still allow your Hands-Free liftgate to work, but you may have to kick to the side of the receiver, as opposed to the exact center where the receiver is. What you will…

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Answer 2

With the installation of a trailer hitch on your 2016 Ford Explorer like the part #C13386 that you referenced you will still be able to use the hands free liftgate option, but you will need to kick your foot to the sides of the trailer hitch…

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Answer 3

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #C13386 replaced C13100 due to a slight design change between the 2017 and 2018 Ford Explorer models. Curt trailer hitch #C13386 is supposed to rest just below the rear fascia on your 2017 Ford Explorer meaning that it…

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Answer 4

You can determine if you have a tow package by reaching out to a Ford dealer or by checking the undercarriage of Explorer. If it does have the tow package there will be a trailer hitch receiver and either a 4-pole or 7-way wiring harness visible as…

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Answer 5

For your 2018 Ford Explorer the trailer hitch I recommend is the etrailer.com part #e98867 because it's made in the USA, has a 2 inch opening, has plenty of towing capacity, and allows the hands free liftgate to still work as long as you kick to…

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Answer 6

The Draw-Tite #76034, Curt #C13386 and etrailer.com #e98867 trailer hitch receivers that are designed for your 2018 Ford Explorer will allow the hands free lift gate sensor to work. However, you will need to activate it by putting your foot to the…

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Answer 7

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 8

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 9

Yes, we do. To add a hitch to your 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch item #C26VV. This hitch is custom fit and bolts to your Toyota with included hardware. This is a class III hitch with a 2" receiver. It has a…

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Answer 10

Class I and Class II hitches both have a 1-1/4 inch receiver opening. The difference is that a Class I hitch has a lower tongue weight rating, usually 200 pounds and a lower towing rating, usually 2,000 pounds. A Class II hitch usually has a tongue…

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Answer 11

Yep, so long as your 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is not a hybrid both the Curt and etrailer hitches will fit: - Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #C13382 - etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e98912 The only difference besides price is the finish; the…

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Answer 12

Lance does have a proprietary plug, but many customers see a standard 6-way or 7-way round and notice it doesn't fit their factory 7-way as well. I've attached an article to help if you have one of the 7-way or 6-way round connectors which we…

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Recommended Complete Towing Setup for 2018 Ford Explorer XLT

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