Upgrading Factory Hitch

[wildmanoutdoors]

First off get the tranny service done. Change that fluid every year and if you can afford it, use synthetic fluid.

Tranny coolers are anywere from 45 bucks to 300 depending on what you get. there easy to install also. You dont need a 300 dollar one. I see good kits for 50 bucks. Just stop in a auto parts store.
Your Explorer already has one. Its just small. You need a larger capicty one.

Trailer brakes are actual brakes built on the trailer axles. They are either opperated with a master cylinder built into the tounge of the trailer (This is a surge brake) or electronicaly.

Your Ford likely has a flat 4 way plug? Thats just for lighting and not brakes. Electric brakes require a 7 way round plug.

[firefighter4607]

As the others has stated you should have no problems towing what you have listed. As far as the 7 way, 4 way flat plugs go here is a diagram so you can see what we are talking about:
 http://www.rvupgradestore.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/1wiring.jpg

Depending on how big/old your travel trailer is it might not even have electrical brakes. I am sure if you ask nice enough someone on here that is close to where you live would be willing to install the items for you. If you and Smossy where around here I would help you guys out.

[Becky]

Thanks everyone definitely know a lot more now..

-Get compatible class III hitch
-Transmission flush w/synthetic fluids
-Larger transmission cooler
-Trailer breaks, gear swap etc are not needed for what I want
-Beg, plead, and bat eyelashes for someone local with tools and previous know-how to possibly help 

[wildmanoutdoors]

-Beg, plead, and bat eyelashes for someone local with tools and previous know-how to possibly help 

Lol, Smossy, If your woman dosent find ya handy, she better find ya handsome!

[Becky]

-Beg, plead, and bat eyelashes for someone local with tools and previous know-how to possibly help 

Lol, Smossy, If your woman dosent find ya handy, she better find ya handsome!

RED GREEN!
lol he's both ... just not mechanically inclined as he'd like to be, no experience with something like this. He probably could do it though if we had the right tools etc.

[Alchase]

-Beg, plead, and bat eyelashes for someone local with tools and previous know-how to possibly help 

Lol, Smossy, If your woman dosent find ya handy, she better find ya handsome!

RED GREEN!
lol he's both ... just not mechanically inclined as he'd like to be, no experience with something like this. He probably could do it though if we had the right tools etc.

OH NO!
You just broke the Man rule No.1 (for women) Never, ever, imply, hint, or even  insinuate that you man is not "Mechanically Inclined"

That would be compared to a man saying:
 "That woman can't cook"
Or
"she can whine with the best of them"
or God forbid "don't you have enough shoes?"

See every man is taught from birth, to never admit you can't fix something (when a woman is within ear shot) and if she is, and you can't, just grab a big tool, lift the hood on it, touch a few things so your hands get real dirty while saying a bunch of highly technical terms, act all mad and shut the hood saying it is beyond help, take it to the dealer!

 

[Becky]

-Beg, plead, and bat eyelashes for someone local with tools and previous know-how to possibly help 

Lol, Smossy, If your woman dosent find ya handy, she better find ya handsome!

RED GREEN!
lol he's both ... just not mechanically inclined as he'd like to be, no experience with something like this. He probably could do it though if we had the right tools etc.

OH NO!
You just broke the Man rule No.1 (for women) Never, ever, imply, hint, or even  insinuate that you man is not "Mechanically Inclined"

That would be compared to a man saying:
 "That woman can't cook"
Or
"she can whine with the best of them"
or God forbid "don't you have enough shoes?"

See every man is taught from birth, to never admit you can't fix something (when a woman is within ear shot) and if she is, and you can't, just grab a big tool, lift the hood on it, touch a few things so your hands get real dirty while saying a bunch of highly technical terms, act all mad and shut the hood saying it is beyond help, take it to the dealer!

 

I think I can get away with it, he tells EVERYONE I can't cook    ... I just said he's not as capable as he'd LIKE to be?? That's gotta pass, every man always strives for better right?

HAHA this whole thing is awesome.

[Alchase]

Got me on a technicality 


 

[Smossy]

-Beg, plead, and bat eyelashes for someone local with tools and previous know-how to possibly help 

Lol, Smossy, If your woman dosent find ya handy, she better find ya handsome!

RED GREEN!
lol he's both ... just not mechanically inclined as he'd like to be, no experience with something like this. He probably could do it though if we had the right tools etc.

OH NO!
You just broke the Man rule No.1 (for women) Never, ever, imply, hint, or even  insinuate that you man is not "Mechanically Inclined"

That would be compared to a man saying:
 "That woman can't cook"
Or
"she can whine with the best of them"
or God forbid "don't you have enough shoes?"

See every man is taught from birth, to never admit you can't fix something (when a woman is within ear shot) and if she is, and you can't, just grab a big tool, lift the hood on it, touch a few things so your hands get real dirty while saying a bunch of highly technical terms, act all mad and shut the hood saying it is beyond help, take it to the dealer!

 

Not me, I cant fix squat when it comes to car, I barely know how to check the oil.
Sure as heck dont know how to do an oil chance or tranny flush... And my girl sure dont know how to cook.
But when she attempts to, its usually tastey.

[wildmanoutdoors]

To get the fluid out of the tranny completely you really need to have a shop do it. Its not that expensive. When you just drain it and pull the pan, all your doing is getting rid of about half the fluid. The converter and such still have the old fluid in them.

You want all new fresh fluid! Even a jiffy lube can do this...

[TheHunt]

If it has been over 100K in miles and you have not ever flushed it.  You are gambling...  The flush uses pressure to push it all out which will churn a lot of crap that has been in the bottom.  If you car/truck has more than normal trany issues you might want to consider if that is a good idea.

I did this with an old Camry and it messed up the trany.  I flush the Toyota Pickup and the Ford.  BUT I do not flush the Lexus as it has a documented issue with that year.  I drain it, run it for a week, then drain it again.  As long the fluid is red and not black it is good.

[NRA4LIFE]

If you are anywhere near Kent, WA take it to Tork Lift and have them install it.  And if you are going to hook up to electric brakes you'll need an electric brake controller installed somewhere near the drivers seat.  If the truck came with the harness and a towing package, it's a piece of cake to install one.  If not, then it could be a large problem.

[Becky]

If it has been over 100K in miles and you have not ever flushed it.  You are gambling...  The flush uses pressure to push it all out which will churn a lot of crap that has been in the bottom.  If you car/truck has more than normal trany issues you might want to consider if that is a good idea.

I did this with an old Camry and it messed up the trany.  I flush the Toyota Pickup and the Ford.  BUT I do not flush the Lexus as it has a documented issue with that year.  I drain it, run it for a week, then drain it again.  As long the fluid is red and not black it is good.

I haven't had it very long, maybe only put 100 miles on it myself. I honestly have no clue what's been done and hasn't.. but I'm planning on a tranny flush at the least. It IS acting up when in reverse so that's kind of bothering me... >_<

Wait so a tranny flush messed up your vehicle??

[Skillet]

Wait so a tranny flush messed up your vehicle??

Yeah, that does occasionally happen.  It is one of those services that really sounds like a good idea, but in the real world it a hit/miss proposition with bad consequences if your trans doesn't like it.  I really like the drain/fill, run hard for a week or so, then drain and fill again method.  Or I used to, before I had to start putting the $7+/quart synthetic fluid in my TorqueShift trans... I just change the filter, drain and replace in that one.  Still shifts like new.

[Becky]

Wait so a tranny flush messed up your vehicle??

Yeah, that does occasionally happen.  It is one of those services that really sounds like a good idea, but in the real world it a hit/miss proposition with bad consequences if your trans doesn't like it.  I really like the drain/fill, run hard for a week or so, then drain and fill again method.  Or I used to, before I had to start putting the $7+/quart synthetic fluid in my TorqueShift trans... I just change the filter, drain and replace in that one.  Still shifts like new.

... ugh. I'm so overwhelmed with this dumb exploder already lol.