Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

I may need to tow a U-Haul motorcycle trailer with the FEH soon. Already have the Valley 2" hitch but I need the trailer wiring. Researched all the threads here and it looks like this is the kit to get: http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-V...eid=2007303097

The local hitch shop wants $200 parts and labor to install.

Just wondering how difficult this install would be as a DIY without a way to lift the vehicle? Thanks for any info.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

Hardest part is stringing a wire from the battery to the rear of the vehicle. I just drove my FEH onto a couple of 2x6s and slid underneath to route the wire. I used some flexible sheathing and wire ties to suspend it. Total job took me an hour or so.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

Thanks, good to know. I was thinking of using these wire clips for the long run to the battery: http://www.etrailer.com/p-464600.html

Do you happen to know if the FEH tail lights are operational without the wire being run to the 12v battery? I'm assuming that the 12v connection is only to power the trailer lights and would not be necessary for normal operation of the vehicle lights.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

Right, the power for the FEH lights comes from the current wiring and powers what is essentially several relays to control and power the trailer lights from the battery.

Some here have reported just tapping into the FEH wiring and powering the trailer lights off the same circuit, but I have not tried this.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

I bought a trailer wiring harness from Amazon.com and did it myself. This took all of about 15 minutes! You simply unplug the tail lights and plug in the trailer wiring harness to the tail lights. Then you plug the tail light wires into the trailer harness. Nothing could be more simple. A couple of plastic wire ties to hold the harness to the vehicle completes the job. No tools necessary.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

It all depends on how much amperage the trailer lights pull. If trailer current draw is very light you can get away with this. If current draw is heavy, you need the harness that pulls directly from the battery and is controlled by the vehicle lights.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

I have a trailer with 14 incandescent marker lights.
I used the tap & splice method on my 2005 FEH and it has worked fine for 2 years and ~12,000 miles of towing.

If your trailer uses LED lights, I recommend for sure DIY tap & splice and not pay good money for something you don't really need. LED's take a fraction of the power of incandescent bulbs.

Once in a blue moon I get an error message on the dash to "check turn signal" or something like that, but I just hit the set button to reset the message and keep driving, and my bulbs all keep working. NEVER blown a fuse in all those miles.

You need to get creative if your trailer has 2 wire / 2 bulb stop & turn signals.
The FEH 2005 has 3 wire / 3 bulb rear lights.

Most trailers use the red stop light also for the turn signal.
The FEH has a separate amber light for turning.
I used the tap & splice with a 99 cent diode between the amber & red stop bulb wire, and it works fine. (I put both the amber bulb wire, and the red stop bulb wire to the single red trailer light. ) Make sure you get high power diodes. Your local Radio Shack has them in stock.

This is very cheap, but if you are confused, buy a commercial product.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

I don't have my own trailer and will be renting from U-Haul. Not knowing how the rental trailer will be wired, it seems safer for me to go with the battery powered wiring kit from E-Trailer.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

U-Haul uses a standard "flat 4" connector. Just 4 wires for their trailers.
You can find these connectors at any store with auto parts.

1) Ground
2) marker / tail lamps
3) Left signal
4) Right signal

About as simple as they come.

If you don't buy anything, and this is a one time event, U-haul will offer to crimp into your taillamps with "vampire" crimps, and use "bullet" connectors... for free when I did it several years ago.
Fine for a one time use.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

I did inquire about that approach, but the U-Haul guy consulted a manual and determined that the Escape required the wiring kit that connects to the 12v battery. I'm going to ask again since this is really just a one time towing event. Thanks John.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

Well there is a "best way" and there is a satisfactory way.

U-Haul may go by Ford's recommendation.... the "kit" way.

Funny, even though I have the 2005 hybrid Escape, U-haul says it has the same towing capacity as the V6 Escape.

I "believe" that is true after field testing my Hybrid, but we all know that is NOT Ford's "recommendation" so you have to take U-Haul's opinions with a grain of salt.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

The U-Haul site's hitch finder doesn't even ask what engine one has with the FE, unless they changed it! Ford's specs for towing isn't the same for the I4 and V6.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

Just had a hitch installed with the wire running up to the battery.Pulled the trailer twice with no problem.Then today,I plug the harness together and the marker/tail lights come on on the trailer.Go up front to check the light switch and it's off.So I turn the park lamps on and the trailer lights go out.Turn and brake light on trailer work.Tail lights on the FEH work ok.Cecked fuse on batt wire and it looks ok.?????

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

I'd double check all my grounds. Trailer light problems are frequently a grounding problem.

Re: Trailer Hitch Wiring?
 

The guy that installed it thinks it's the electronic Modulite box,so he ordered another one.Grounds are fine.The trailer lights are coming on with no active light circuits from the vehicle.The only power source would be from the hot wire from the battery thru that modulite box to the trailer harness.So,we'll see.