Trailer Hitch and Wiring for a 2013 Ford E-350 Van

Question:

does your company sell any hitches for the ford e 350 econline van with an 8 bolt mount? so far all the hitches shown are 6 bolt ,factory equiped hitch assemblies are 8 bolt mounted made by hudson industries,can you match a hitch to this????

asked by: Gene

Expert Reply:

All of the trailer hitches we carry for your 2013 Ford E-350 van use 6 bolts to attach to the vehicle frame. The hitches are given their ratings based on several factors, including how they mount to the vehicle so having 6 bolts to mount a hitch does not diminish its rated capacity. But if you want an 8-bolt hitch none of the options we have use more than 6.

The most popular hitch for your van is Curt hitch # 14055 rated for 1,000 pounds tongue weight and 10,000 pounds gross trailer weight. When used with weight distribution it is rated for 1,200 pounds tongue weight and 12,000 pounds gross trailer weight. Check the owners manual for the capacity of the vehicle no matter which hitch you choose. Whichever is lower, the vehicle or the hitch, is the capacity you need to go by.

I have linked a video showing how the hitch installs. If you go with the Curt hitch listed above and plan on doing some towing I recommend etrailer ball mount kit # EBMK2216 a ball mount with a 1 inch rise or 2 inch drop, a 2 inch hitch ball, 2-5/16 inch hitch ball, pin and clip, and storage bag.

If the ball mount kit does not have the right rise or drop to tow the trailer level, use the link I have included that explains how to measure to choose a ball mount to tow the trailer level.

To add a 4-Way flat trailer connector you can use # C56020 or # 118551. The 118551 is a powered unit that requires a direct connection to the vehicle battery. This battery connection is what powers the trailer lights taking the draw off of the vehicle wiring. This helps to further protect the vehicle should there be a short on the trailer wiring. I have linked videos showing installation of both harnesses for you.