Tow pkg and wiring kits
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From: Vancouver Wash USA
Tow pkg and wiring kits
I don't know if I have a tow pkg or not since I bot my van used. Is there a code somewhere in the VIN, or on a door tag ? I have a tranny cooler, but I did not have a hitch and wiring. SO, Bage electrical has a 'plug in' converter that plugs in I guess (maybe that's why it's called that huh ?) that terminates in a flat four plug. From there they sell you a flat four to flat 7 (RV type) converter. Here is my question though; does anyone here have an electric brake controller ? Did you use the Ford harness ? Can I buy the Ford harness to wire my brake controller ? I'll need to run a 12V wire back to the flat 7 plug to power the trailer w/12v. Should I run a wire all the way from the front ? Or is there a better place to get power ? Does the Ford harness adapter for the electric brake controller work with a non-tow pkg vehicle ? Thanks for your input, Ken
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From: Washington State
Tow pkg and wiring kits
Ken the best place to ask this would be the towing forum or even electrical/wiring. The 97+ E150 van section may even be able to help further. This is, after-all, a forum dedicated to the V10 engine.
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From: Vancouver Wash USA
Tow pkg and wiring kits
(doesn't it count that I AM towing with my V-10 ???) Hee Hee, thanks for the info, I'll drop by the tranny site and bug those guys. Also the electrical site. I was just thinkin that since all YOU guys here are SO smart, it would save me SO much time,,,,,,,
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
Tow pkg and wiring kits
>I was just thinkin that since all YOU guys here are SO smart, it would save me SO much time,,,,,,,
Thank you and I hope that I didn't come across gruff at all. I actually meant to put this --->
at the end but must have forgotten... 
I knew that you musta been thinking along the lines that you stated but I was hoping that you'd be able to get your question answered quicker and maybe in a more comprehensive manner.
You see, although I cannot speak for others but when I "come in here" (V10) I put on my engine hat. So I tend to only think engines...Ya follow me?? Anyway...I hope you get your answer whether here or there!
Thank you and I hope that I didn't come across gruff at all. I actually meant to put this --->
at the end but must have forgotten... I knew that you musta been thinking along the lines that you stated but I was hoping that you'd be able to get your question answered quicker and maybe in a more comprehensive manner.
You see, although I cannot speak for others but when I "come in here" (V10) I put on my engine hat. So I tend to only think engines...Ya follow me?? Anyway...I hope you get your answer whether here or there!
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
Tow pkg and wiring kits
HMMMM, you certainly got a point there. The 450 part musta slipped past me.
You guys really got put your vehicles in your sig so that we can all rmember what it is that you drive.
Those questions, although seemingly dedicated to his particular truck, still could probably be answered better, quicker and more comprehensive in the towing section.
But when it doubt, what the heck, put it here. I'm sure most of the guys here wouldn't mind helping out with semi-obscure questions like that!
You guys really got put your vehicles in your sig so that we can all rmember what it is that you drive.
Those questions, although seemingly dedicated to his particular truck, still could probably be answered better, quicker and more comprehensive in the towing section.
But when it doubt, what the heck, put it here. I'm sure most of the guys here wouldn't mind helping out with semi-obscure questions like that!
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From: OK
Tow pkg and wiring kits
Rather than half-@$$ing it with adapters & stuff, I'd take the van to an RV or hitch shop and have it wired properly for the trailer you want to pull. Often, if you buy the hitch, they'll do the wiring at a much reduced cost.
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From: Vancouver Wash USA
Tow pkg and wiring kits
Well man I tried that last time. And ended up tearing it all out and doing it by hand, which took 2 entire days. Bage Electrical looks like they have the best quality product out there. Basically you pull the rear light wiring harness apart at the connector plug, insert theirs and you have a flat four plug. The you buy their flat 7 RV type adapter, wire in a 12VDC wire to power the RV, and the trailer brake actuator wire. I know the later Fords came with an under dash plug that had four wires that hooked directly to the four that come out of a trailer brake controller. It makes a nice neat pkg. I did it with my 89, 91, 93 and 95 Ford pick-ups. The last van had no tow pkg, so I took it to an RV shop and let them butcher it. Aint gonna do that again. I was just wondering if any of you all went out and bot the trailer brake Ford plug in harness if you didn't have a tow pkg, or if you even could use it. Ken, 1998 E-350 V-10 15 passenger.
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Tow pkg and wiring kits
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-Jun-02 AT 09:42 PM (EST)]You may want to take a look underneath and towards the rear frame rails for a factory connector for the trailer wire plug.The reason I say this is because on an 01 F-150 I recently had it came with a standard 4 flat.I looked underneath and saw an empty connector.I took a trip to the dealer and low and behold he had in stock the 7 pin connector assembled with the mounting bracket.Just plugged it in and was good to go.
I also had a brake controller already wired with the factory supplied harness that my father kept off of a 97 Expedition he returned after leasing.I looked under the dash on the drivers side and the connector was just waiting for me to plug it in.When I got rid of the F-150 I took it off of it and it is now being used on my 02 SD.
This truck (the 01 F-150) was an XL.Ford has been using a lot of the same harnesses whether you have the options or not because it's cheaper to make them all the same.
I also had a brake controller already wired with the factory supplied harness that my father kept off of a 97 Expedition he returned after leasing.I looked under the dash on the drivers side and the connector was just waiting for me to plug it in.When I got rid of the F-150 I took it off of it and it is now being used on my 02 SD.
This truck (the 01 F-150) was an XL.Ford has been using a lot of the same harnesses whether you have the options or not because it's cheaper to make them all the same.
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From: OK
Tow pkg and wiring kits
Blah- I hate when the supposed "pros" butcher stuff.
If you don't find the plugs that 4x4x4x4 described, I still think it'd be easier to find a GOOD shop & let them do it. Ask some of the other RV'ers to see where they had their wiring done.
If you don't find the plugs that 4x4x4x4 described, I still think it'd be easier to find a GOOD shop & let them do it. Ask some of the other RV'ers to see where they had their wiring done.
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jerem0621
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Feb 18, 2011 11:17 AM