Complete Towing Setup for a 2020 Lincoln Nautilus

Question:

I have a 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and I am looking for a trailer hitch and wiring harness that allows me to control the brakes on my trailer.

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Expert Reply:

I am happy to help you setup your 2020 Lincoln Nautilus for towing. You are going to need a receiver hitch, wiring harnesses with a 7-Way connector, brake controller, and a ball mount.

I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver Item # C78KR. This is a custom fit receiver that attaches to your vehicle through preexisting holes and requires no cutting or drilling into your frame. It has a maximum gross trailer weight of 4,500 lbs and a maximum tongue weight of 675 lbs. The Curt receiver has a gloss black powder coat finish over protective base coat that offers superior rust resistance.

I also recommend the Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector item # C66CR. You will be able to quickly and easily install a 4-way trailer connector on your 2020 Lincoln Nautilus with this custom harness. This harness will provide you control over your vehicles lighting functions. The T-connector plugs directly into existing wiring requiring no cutting or splicing of wires. The powered converter reduces strain on wiring system and is made using SMT to ensure superior performance.

The second harness you will need is the Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires item # ETBC7. The kit includes a pre-wired 7- and 4-way trailer connector that mounts easily at the rear of your vehicle with an included bracket. This kit is designed for use on a vehicle with an existing 4-way flat trailer connector and plugs directly into it. You will then connect one wire to the blue wire on the brake controller and then connect one wire to the positive post on the vehicle's battery via the included 40-amp circuit breaker. This will provide you with the ability to control your trailer's brakes and also provide you with a 12v power wire for you trailer's reverse lights.

For your brake controller I recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller item # 90195. This is a proportional brake controller that works with trailers having up to 4 axles. The brake controller activates your trailer brakes in proportion to your vehicle's braking action. It automatically adjusts the trailer's braking based on deceleration of your vehicle. The brakes activate immediately, there is no pausing like with time-delayed brake controllers. The Prodigy P3 has 5 Storable settings that allow you to customize the controller for multiple trailers, varying loads or different drivers. The 3 boost levels setting lets you adjust initial braking power and aggressiveness.

To round out your towing setup I recommend the Curt Towing Starter Kit for 2" Hitches item # C45534. This towing kit will provide you with a 2" Ball, a fixed ball mount with a 3/4" rise and 2" drop, and is rated for up to 7,500 lbs. It also includes a hitch pin and clip, hitch receiver lock with keys, hitch cover, and a storage case.