Tow Package for 2006
 

Last week I purchased a brand new 2006 F-150 Lariat 4x2 from a local dealership. The one that I picked did not have the tow package but I explained to the salesperson that I wanted everything in the tow package. I asked him what I needed to add to make it exactly the same as the ones that come with tow package. He said all I had to add was the tow hitch which at the dealership would cost $600 but I could get it aftermarket for about $300. I asked him an additional 3 times before signing the contract and asked him to make sure. He left for about 5 minutes and came back and told me that everything was the same except for the tow hitch. I purchased the truck that night.. The next day I was on the computer and was browsing around some ford sites to read about my new truck.. I quickly learn that not only do I need the hitch (which turns out to be over $700 installed) but I also need a different battery, a different radiator, an additional wiring harness in the rear, and possibly an auxilliary transmission cooler.
I immediately contacted the sales manager, and he told me the cost on all of the above would be over $1500.. Needless to say I was furious.. But he said as a good guy he would let me bring the truck back (even though it would be a huge loss for them and let me pick out a different truck).. Well I thought that was reasonable until he told me he would charge me $3800 more for a truck that only had $1500 more in options than my original truck... After I told him that was unacceptable he said that he would install the appropriate equipment to make mine just like one with a tow package, and split the cost of doing it. So he told me that would be $840 after tax... Frustrated, I agreed. I dropped the truck off to them Thursday morning of last week and it was supposed to be completed by noon today (Monday). I called them up at 12:30 today, and they hadn't done a single thing to the truck. They claim because the 2006 truck is so new they can't get a hold of the appropriate hitch.
Any help on ideas or what i should do would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

They will try to bs you if it means getting rid of something on the lot. When my son started looking for a truck we told the salesman of our local Ford dealer that it had to have a factory tow package. He gave us a spiel about how the only thing you needed was the hitch and wiring. Also 72 amp batt. He left out the aux transmission oil cooler. Granted, we were looking for a 6cyl which does not get the upgraded radiator, but there's no way in hell you can get all that stuff, especially with an 8 cyl for 350 bucks. By the way, we ordered one from Jeff. Hey Jeff, truck here yet?

Rego,

Man, I'd be livid of that happened to me.

I'm shopping for a 2004 or 2005 right now and let me tell you: I'd say that 90% of the salesmen I deal with don't have a clue about these trucks - or how to "sell" anything. I've been lied to about limited-slip, trailer towoing packages and rear-end gear ratios.

Conclusion: You MUST know exactly what you want and how to identify this BEFORE you go to the dealer becasue they don't have a clue, and as experienced, will bald-face lie to you.

Do you know EXACTLY what parts are needed to convert your truck to that with a TT package? Are you POSITIVE? If not, you better do some more research (including some pics) because they will lie to you again just to shut you up.

Sad, but true.

Good luck and please keep us posted as to what they do.

CMOS

the 2004 thru 2006 use the same hitch and tow package! You are getting a story!

Actually the hitch is different on the 2006. Well the hitch it's self is not different,but how the bumper connects to the frame is. The bumper and the rear of the frame are different from the 04-05 MY and the hitch is built into the bumper. So it is possible the dealership does not have the proper parts. Although if I was in charge of the dealership I would just take a bumper from another truck to make the customer happy and wait for a new one for the other truck.

update
 

They are now going to install all the neccessary items but use an aftermarket tow hitch. I told them to call me with the type of hitch before the put it on... So I can at least research if the tow hitch is any good. The new price for all of this is $600. We will see if they try and put me in to a really inexpensive hitch and then raise the price on me when I object.
Thank you guys for the replies and the support.

I agree with you Dearborn.. I asked them to take one off another truck - they declined.

Browse the sites, check the specs and different configuration BEFORE you buy the truck.

It's called doing your homework.

The salesman is just trying to move product and make a buck. Don't expect honesty on the sales floor. It's not going to happen, not now, not ever, from ANY manufacturer.

Sorry - disagree - Just looked at one, the bumper could never support class IV weights. The 06 I looked at had the same class IV hitch as my 04, bolted directly to the frame and hugs the underside of the bumper! The bumper is setup for a lower class tow!

Heres what is in the tow package for more then 5,000lbs
Includes Class IV trailer hitch receiver, 7-pin wiring harness, heavy-duty 72-amp battery, upgraded radiator and upgraded auxiliary transmission oil cooler (requires 4.6L or 5.4L Triton® V8); auxiliary transmission oil cooler only with 4.2L V6 A/T

Dealers will not pull off vehicles with them already installed, because there is to much to pull off!

heavy duty tow. requires the 5.4 engine 9.75 rear end and must have 3.73 rear gears, extra cooling radiator, 72 amp battery, 4 pin and 7 pin, class IV 2'' hitch,tranny cooler and trailer brake wiring.

The 3:73 is only required if you want max tow capacity, you can get the above tow package without the 3:73 and on the 3:55 rear.

3.55 is the stock ratio it is the minimum 3.73 is the option.

How old is the contract you signed in Texas you have 48 hrs to tear up the deal, and go find another truck with the options you need.

Sorry-disagree-I build them. The class IV is also buit into the bumber but has the added stength from also being bolted to the frame. The 06 is different in design as it secured to the frame the same way for both bumpers. An 06 bumper of any kind will not fit on an 04-05 model. Trust me when I say that the class IV hitch is already in the bumper when it comes to the plant.

Actually you only have to undo three nuts on each side and disconconect the three or four wires that go to the bumper. A 10-15 minute job.