The Ford Excursions, produced between 2000 and 2005, were all equipped with a more "standardized" towing package, reflecting more of the vehicle's robust utility based design. There wasn't much to it but, then again, that was all that was needed for these vehicles, due to the heavy-duty frames and the large engines that they used.
Included In The Tow Package For All Excursions:
This package was consistent across all model years (2000-2005) and was a standard option, regardless of any trim levels, engine options, 2WD or 4WD models or weight ratings. It included only three basic components, which were:
- A 7-pin trailer wiring harness and connector: This feature enabled a seamless connection between the vehicle's wiring and the trailers, ensuring that all lighting and electronic signals, such as brake lights, running lights and turn signals, were properly synchronized.
- A Class IV frame-mounted hitch receiver: This heavy-duty hitch receiver was securely attached to the vehicle's frame, providing a reliable and sturdy connection point for a wide range of trailers.
Class IV hitches are designed for heavy-duty towing and are typically found on full-size pickups, SUVs, and other larger vehicles that tend to have higher towing capacities. They can manage a substantial amount of weight, with a tongue weight capacity ranging between 600 and 1,000 pounds, and a gross trailer weight capacity of up to 10,000 pounds. This makes them ideal for towing large trailers, boats, and other sizable loads, as long as the vehicle can handle those amounts of weight. - A trailer brake wiring/feed kit: This was wiring that was preinstalled within the interior of the vehicle that was ready for a brake controller to be installed. This wiring kit made integrating a trailer brake system for the Excursions much easier and saved a ton of time. The absence of a brake controller meant that owners could choose a controller or system that suited their specific towing needs.
A Note On The Uniformity Of Tow Packages...
Like I mentioned earlier, the Ford Excursion maintained a consistent towing package across all its model years, trim levels, and submodels, making the tow package the exact same for all Excursions. This uniformity in the towing package meant that regardless of the specific version or model year of the Excursion, owners could expect the same towing capabilities and features.
With a class IV (4) hitch being used, you will want to be sure that you have the correct supplementary equipment for towing, especially if you are planning on pulling those heavier loads that are close or at the limits of the vehicle.
Special Equipment & Class IV Hitch Receivers: A class IV hitch can handle up to 10,000 pounds, which is fine for early model years of these SUVs but will exceed the limit of the hitch for later models. As an example, if we look at the towing capacity for the 2000 and 2001 Excursions, we can see that the maximum trailer weight rating is set at 10,000 pounds, which the hitch can handle.
For model years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, the maximum trailer weight was raised to 11,000 pounds (for some models), which exceeds the Class IV hitch's rating by 1,000 pounds. In order to achieve this rating, you must use a weight distributing hitch with your hitch receiver, to balance the trailer load better.